Frontier Residents
Where are you from?
Chicago, IL
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
I came to Cahaba UAB FMR because of the program’s mission to train physicians who can provide comprehensive care in resource limited settings. The program’s strong obstetric training, its commitment to procedural and inpatient skill development, and the opportunities it has to participate in community-centered initiatives really made Cahaba stand out. It’s affiliation with UAB is a plus as it has access to academic resources while reserving the spirit of community-based practice. Overall, the strong mentorship, welcoming environment and the community engagement opportunities Cahaba holds confirmed that this is the right place for me to grow as a compassionate family physician.
Undergrad:
N/A
Med school:
Khyber Girls Medical College
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I love to spend time with family and friends and explore new places to dine in.
What is your favorite food to cook?
Peshawari kabab
What is a destination you’d like to visit or live?
Hawaii
What drives you?
My desire to make a meaningful impact in communities where access to healthcare is limited and the need is profound. I’m motivated by the belief that everyone deserves compassionate, high-quality care, no matter what resources they have or where they live.
What is your post residency plan?
Primary Care
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Myanmar and my ethnicity is Karen. My wife and I relocated to the US in 2020 and settled in Geogia.
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
After graduating from medical school, I went on to practice medicine in an organization called Earth mission Asia where they care for the under-served and underprivileged population in remote Karen areas. During my practice there, I had the privilege of serving in the war torn country side of Myanmar. It was there that God showed me the needs of impoverished communities, and the impacts I could make there. After practicing there for several years, I wanted to further my knowledge and skills in order to give quality healthcare. I prayed diligently for that and God opened a door for me to pursue residency in the US. As an international medical graduate, my path to residency was not smooth sailing, but my God is faithful. I was alble to match at Cahaba where I can grow medically and spiritually.
I was introduced to Cahaba FMR when I was shadowing some amazing doctors at ethane clinic in Atlanta. After reading through their mission statement, I knew I wanted to join Cahaba. I also connected with some amazing people at the GMHC conference and was able to get an opportunity to rotate with the Frontier track. My rotation experience at Cahaba surpassed my expectations and solidified my desire to complete my residency here. I am truly grateful to be part of this family.
Undergrad:
N/A
Med School:
University of Medicine 1, Yangon
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I enjoy spending time with my two little kids and wife or charging myself with a daily dose of scriptures and sermons. You will see me cooking my favorite Burmese dishes or playing my PS5 on weekends. Soccer and volleyball are my two favorite sports.
What is your favorite food to cook?
Burmese beef curry
What is a destination you’d like to visit or live?
I want to visit England and fulfill my dream of watching a Manchester United game at Old Trafford. I would love to explore southeast Asia and go back to Myanmar when peace and democracy is restored.
What drives you?
Knowing that God loves me, my faith, my family, friends, relatives and people I’ve met along my life journey.
What is your post residency plan?
I am not sure yet. I am interested in pursuing a fellowship in either emergency medicine or international medicine. I would love to work internationally in areas where I am needed the most.
Where are you from?
Jordan
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
Joining Cahaba UAB FMR was driven by my deep passion for serving others. From day one, I was welcomed by kind faculty and residents, and I immediately felt a strong sense of support. It became clear to me that this is a place where I can truly grow into the physician I’ve always hope to become.
Undergrad:
N/A
Med school:
Hashemite University, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan.
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
Outside of medicine, I really enjoy spending quality time with my family. It brings me the most joy. I also love cooking and trying new recipes.
What is your favorite food to cook?
Mediterranean food
What is a destination you’d like to visit or live?
There are several places I’d like to visit but three of them would be Switzerland, UAE, and Italy.
What drives you?
God’s guidance gives me strength, peace, and purpose each day.
What is your post residency plan?
I’m currently interested in an OB Fellowship.
Where are you from?
Originally from Nigeria. Previously lived in Atlanta, and more recently, in Houston.
Why did you come to Cahaha UAB FMR?
Cahaba UAB Family Medicine Residency resonated with me during my initial search for programs. I was drawn to it’s innovation, the unique opportunity to learn through a longitudinal integrated curriculum and the chance to practice full spectrum family medicine. I also deeply value the program’s emphasis on faith and its strong commitment to serving under-served communities.
Undergrad:
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Med School:
Obafemi Awolowo University College of Health Sciences, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
Life outside of medicine involves traveling with family and experiencing other cultures. I also enjoy listening to music, reading, autobiographies and motivational books, staying active through exercise, and engaging in outdoor activities.
What is your favorite food to cook?
I love to make yam with stew sauce.
What is a destination you’d like to visit or live?
Bali, Cape Town, Monaco
What drives you?
Faith, family, and friends and making positive impacts in people’s lives.
What is your current post residency plan?
I envision a career as a primary care physician and am also open to pursuing a fellowship. Furthermore, I am passionate about contributing to global public health in some capacity, particularly in under-served communities.
Where are you from?
Atlanta, GA
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
The opportunity to get extensive clinical training and experience. Cahaba has a strong connection with the undeserved population and global health. It's Christian values and involvement in missions also drew me. Faculty and residents are approachable, kind and very smart. The community is like home for me, and the environment is supportive. Our long term goals align.
Undergrad:
University of Benin, Benin City
Med School:
Uniben Medical School
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
Listening to music, spending time with family and friends, playing chess, and cooking.
What is a destination you'd like to visit?
Mount Sinai, Hawaii
What drives you?
Love for God and striving to do His will.
What is your current post residency plan?
Practicing in a rural community, medical missions.
Where are you from?
Daphne, AL
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
Being where I am needed most has been a consistent motivator for me. It steered me toward medicine, then family medicine, and then to Cahaba where not only the need is great but we are specifically trained to serve communities most in need. I couldn't have found a better match.
Undergrad:
Studied Biomedical Sciences at University of South Alabama
Med School:
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Whether we're finding new adventures in our local area or getting caught up in a great series or game, there's nothing better.
What is your favorite thing to cook?
I enjoy making a modified stuffed pepper recipe my family has come to call "Pepper Boats". It's a common household request for any meal in the day.
What is your current post residency plan?
After residency I hope to continue serving communities in need and finding opportunities to help my patients and colleagues grown and learn.
Where are you from?
I was raised in the small town of Enterprise, AL. Then moved to Birmingham for college.
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
I chose to join Cahaba UAB Family Medicine Residency with a clear purpose and a deep-rooted passion for serving others. My journey into medicine began with uncertainty, but a pivotal moment during my second year of medical school changed everything. When my wife suffered a dislocated hip and a broken joint capsule, I was able to reset her hip, alleviating her excruciating pain and enabling her to walk down the aisle just one week later. This experience ignited a profound desire within me to help patients dealing with significant pain, such as arthritis, and empower them to regain their quality of life. During my third year of medical school, I volunteered at a local free clinic in Jackson, where I witnessed the trans-formative impact of providing care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. This reminded me of my own upbringing, where seeking medical care was reserved for extreme circumstances. It reaffirmed my commitment to delivering comprehensive care to all patients, especially those who are under-served. In pursuing a residency at Cahaba UAB FMR, I am drawn to the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population and contribute to a community that mirrors the farming community I grew up in, in lower Alabama. I believe that returning to UAB and a similar community will allow me to cultivate relationships built on trust and compassion, while addressing the unique healthcare needs of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. My ultimate goal is to become a family physician who not only provides exceptional medical care but also understands the social and economic factors that impact the health of my patients. I am dedicated to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the care they deserve. By joining Chaba UAB FMR I am confident that I will receive the comprehensive training and mentorship needed to become a well-rounded and compassionate family physician, capable of making a meaningful difference in the lives of my patients and in the community as a whole.
Undergrad:
UAB
Med School:
William Carey University
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I love to travel and see new places and things with my wife and kids. When at home I love to cook and spend time with my family. I also enjoy going bowling or to Topgolf with Kendall, my oldest child. My son Cole and I love to see animals at the zoo and aquarium.
What is your favorite food to cook?
Honey-glazed Chicken Alfredo
What is a destination you'd like to visit or live?
Tokyo, Japan or London, U.K.
What drives you?
I have always enjoyed serving others. During medical school, I volunteered in a free clinic in Jackson that sought to provide free care to the urban under-served community. I have also enjoyed pursuing advancing legislation and have attended multiple events, such as D.O. Day on the hill. I worked with the Mississippi State Medical Association as a delegate from my school. I also worked with those at my school to expand the availability of medical care within the state and pushed to further the art of medicine. I am committed to playing a role in making access to high quality healthcare a reality for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstance.
What is your current post residency plan?
Currently, I am planning going into a sports Medicine fellowship.
Where are you from?
Tuscaloosa, AL
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
I chose Cahaba UAB Family Medicine Residency for the loving and family oriented atmosphere. I specifically chose the Frontier Track because our goals in healthcare aligned. I've always wanted to practice in an under-served and underprivileged area in Alabama. Here at Cahaba UAB, I feel that I am going to be training with the best physicians to accomplish this goal. I know that Cahaba UAB is going to prepare me to be proficient in serving any community whether it be a rural area or even a big city.
Undergrad:
Stillman College
Med School:
VCOM-Auburn
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
Spending as much time as possible with my wife and children. I recently picked up fishing for when I need "me" time.
What is your favorite food to cook?
My favorite meal to prepare is anything my wife is craving.
What is a destination you'd like to visit or live?
I've always wanted to go on a European tour and Hawaii is definitely on the bucket list.
What drives you?
My family drives me through all of life's obstacles and successes.
What is your current post residency plan?
My plan is to be a small town doctor serving my community.
Where are you from?
I was born in Pakistan and moved to New York at a young age. After completing my undergrad in NY, my family relocated to Austin, Texas where I worked as a high school math teacher.
Why did you come to Cahaba FMR?
Cahaba’s mission – providing care to underserved communities – aligns with my personal philosophy. I have lived and worked in similar communities, and would like to continue on this trajectory as a physician. In addition, during my interview, the environment was very supportive and friendly which further reinforced my decision to join the Cahaba family.
Undergrad:
State University of New York at Potsdam
Med School:
Dow International Medical College
What does your life look like outside of medicine? Reading, planting, listening to podcasts, watching crime detective series, and spending time with my family.
What is your favorite food to cook? I try to cook Mediterranean food and love to bake.
What is a destination you'd like to visit or live?
Antalya, Turkiye
What drives you?
People and their stories of resilience and perseverance.
What is your (current) post residency plan?
Rural Medicine. Academia.
Where are you from?
I hail from a suburb just north of Dallas, Texas where my brother and I grew up on the same street with all 14 of my cousins as we wreaked havoc on the neighborhood. Since then I've hopped around the Great State for school, living in Bryan-College Station and Fort Worth.
Why did you come to Cahaba FMR?
In undergrad I found a community of people who lived different than anyone I had met before. Their career aspirations, authenticity, vulnerability, and involvement in underserved communities and each others' lives, was radically intentional as they strived to practice the way of Jesus. This kind of unselfish ambition was refreshing and inspiring. Simultaneously, I was exposed to experiences where I saw first-hand, the massive need of vulnerable populations overseas and within our own cities and how physicians used medicine to impact that disparity. These experiences solidified my decision to pursue medicine as a means to a greater end of seeing transformation in communities.
Cahaba UAB FMR embodies this kind of vision from the faculty to the residents to the administration. I came to Cahaba UAB FMR for their intentional community and kingdom-minded mission. I knew that here, I could grow into the kind of physician that is compassionate, thoughtful, intentional, and visionary because those are the kind physicians that will be training me . Aside from the amazing people, they offer the kind of broad-spectrum family medicine that you can only get working in underserved populations where the patients are medically complex. With access to the abundance of specialties at UAB in our block rotations, we also have the opportunity to learn from and bring academic medicine into the front-lines of the community.
Undergrad:
Texas A&M University (Whoop!)
Med school:
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
Being an extrovert with people, admiring mountains or any increase in elevation or any large rock, hiking, bouldering, traveling to national parks, learning to cook Filipino food, attempting to amass a collection of giant indoor plants, curating my playlist of lofi chill indie christian hip hop, reading books about the spiritual disciplines, watching Latino TV shows
What is your favorite food to cook?
smoothies-- especially avocado!
What is a destination you'd like to visit or live?
I'm a mountain man, take me to Patagonia
What drives you?
The hope that this world of toil and suffering will be restored, redeemed, and resurrected and we have a meaningful part to play in that right now.
What is your (current) post residency plan?
I would love to work internationally in some capacity somewhere and somehow.
Where are you from?
LaFayette, Georgia
Why did you come to Cahaba FMR?
I became interested in medicine during my sophomore year of college due to medical missions.Thus, I decided to go on a medical mission trip to Honduras in 2017. It was an amazing experience and confirmed my desire to do medical missions in the future. Fast forward to medical school, I decided to finish my clinical rotations at the Dalton branch of the Northwest Regional Campus of the Medical College of Georgia. I rotated in many small towns during my time there. Being from a small town of around 7,000 people myself, I enjoyed how the attendings integrated themselves in their respective communities. In fact, several of their patients were on a first-name basis with their physician since they knew them outside the clinic (church, school sports, etc.). These small-town experiences during my third and fourth years of medical school cultivated my interest in rural medicine. Given my career goals, the Frontier Track of Cahaba Family Medicine offered an exciting opportunity to do missions work (with financial support!) as well as learning full-spectrum family medicine in rural Alabama. Moreover, the residents, attendings, and staff cultivate a familial atmosphere. This will certainly make the challenges of residency easier to bear in the coming years. I am grateful for how God led me to this program and my new family!
Undergrad:
Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee
Med school:
Medical College of Georgia
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I enjoy music immensely. In fact, I play drums very loudly. I must say, it is a great way to meet your neighbors! I also enjoy live music, hiking, basketball, football, and a variety of motorsports (Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR).
What is your favorite food to cook?
Homemade buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy. It is a recipe handed down to me by mother. It is truly a salve for the soul!
What is a destination you’d like to visit or live?
I would love to visit the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, the Great Plains, and the Pacific Northwest, all areas I have not had the pleasure of exploring yet. Regarding a destination I would like to live, a mountainous area would be great! I am thinking North Georgia, Western North Carolina, West Virginia, East Tennessee, etc.
What drives you?
Glorifying God wherever life leads me!
What is your (current) post residency plan?
I am not sure of the specifics; however, I am interested in practicing in a small town or city. Part-time medical mission trips, both domestic and abroad, would be exciting too!
Where are you from?
Oxnard, California
Why did you come to Cahaba UAB FMR?
I came to Cahaba UAB FMR in order to be exposed to both urban and rural medicine in underserved communities and for the opportunity to do international rotations. During the interview, interactions with faculty and residents revealed a friendly, welcoming culture that I see myself thriving in. The full spectrum family medicine curriculum and affiliation with UAB are appealing because of the breadth of experience that I will receive during training.
Undergrad:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Med school:
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
What does your life outside of medicine look like?
I enjoy traveling, hiking, watching sports, and collecting unique hot sauces.
What is your favorite food to cook?
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
What is a destination you'd like to visit or live?
Syria
What drives you?
Using the practice of medicine to dramatically improve a patient’s mental and physical well-being. I believe working directly with patients is an incredible privilege which provides me with purpose.
What is your (current) post residency plan?
I plan to enter private practice and eventually open up my own clinic.