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MARGARET BALDWIN, M.D.

MARGARET BALDWIN, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Hoover, AL
UNDERGRADUATE: University of Mississippi
MEDICAL SCHOOL: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
BIO: Hey y’all! I grew up in Hoover, Alabama, which is just outside of Bham, and attended the University of Mississippi (Hotty Toddy!) for my undergraduate degree. I attended medical school here at UAB and knew I was interested in Emergency Medicine since the very beginning. I have always loved the mix of procedural skills, and that each shift brings something new, from the teammates you get to work with to the presentations you will see. When interviewing for a residency position, I looked for a program where I knew I would be challenged, encouraged, and supported throughout residency. UAB outpaced all other programs with how personable and caring all of the staff and faculty were, and I knew that this program would make me the best physician and person that I can be. When I am not on shift, I love to run on Lakeshore and Jemison trail, go to the Pepper Place farmer’s market, and host game nights with my fiancé.

SARAH BALKCOM, M.D.

SARAH BALKCOM, M.D.

HOMETOWN: 
UNDERGRADUATE: 
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Lincoln Memorial University
BIO: 

CALEB GATWOOD, M.D.

CALEB GATWOOD, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Hattiesburg, MS 
UNDERGRADUATE: Mississippi State University 
MEDICAL SCHOOL: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
BIO: I grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi which is about an hour north of the gulf coast. In high school, I was able to work as an ED technician, which lead me to choose a career in medicine. I attended college at Mississippi State University (Hail State!), which is where I met my now fiancé, Savannah. After college, I attended medical school in my hometown at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are many reasons why I chose to pursue a career in EM. I would say the main reason would be getting the opportunity to help patients through what is normally a very vulnerable and critical point in their lives. After I spent a month here in Birmingham at UAB during my 4th year of medical school, I knew it would be a perfect fit. The culture and supportive atmosphere that I experienced here was truly unmatched. Every day I’m challenged to be better than I was the day before. The exposure of high patient volume, high acuity cases, and procedure opportunities are second to none. My experience in this program so far has been more than anything I could have asked for in an EM residency. Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching college sports, golfing, hunting, or simply hanging out with friends.  

ANUPA GHIMIRE, M.D.

ANUPA GHIMIRE, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Nepal
UNDERGRADUATE: Alabama State University
MEDICAL SCHOOL: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
BIO: I grew up in Nepal, a beautiful country known for its mountains, culture, and incredible food. I moved to the U.S. for college. During college, I worked as a scribe at Baptist Health in Montgomery and Prattville, where I discovered my passion for emergency medicine. I love the pace, the teamwork, and the chance to be there for people in their most critical moments. The organized chaos made me feel at home, which is why I decided to apply to medical school and then eventually choose EM for residency. I chose UAB for residency for its strong clinical training, supportive environment, patient acuity and a chance to stay close to my dad in Montgomery. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, being outdoors and I LOVE rafting—even though I still haven’t learned how to swim! My interest in EM include Ultrasound and Global Health. I also hope to incorporate medical mission trips into my career, combining my love for travel with a passion for serving underserved communities around the world.

JOHN HEARD, D.O.

JOHN HEARD, D.O.

HOMETOWN:
UNDERGRADUATE: 
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of Mississippi
BIO: 

JANIE HUBBARD, M.D.

JANIE HUBBARD, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN
UNDERGRADUATE: Vanderbilt University
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of Tennessee
BIO: I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee as the oldest of 5 children. I attended Vanderbilt University for undergrad (Anchor Down!!) where I majored in Medicine, Health, and Society. For medical school I moved to Memphis to attend the University of Tennessee. As a visiting student at UAB, I was quickly struck by the skill, humility, and camaraderie among both the residents and faculty. I was impressed by the welcoming, encouraging, and supportive environment. Everyone I interacted with genuinely enjoyed their work and colleagues. Additionally, Birmingham had everything I was looking for in a city and allowed me to stay close to family. When I’m not on shift you can find me at a coffee shop, hanging out with friends and family, and going on walks with my mini labradoodle River!

ELLE KARTZMARK, M.D.

ELLE KARTZMARK, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Easley, SC
UNDERGRADUATE: University of South Carolina
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of South Carolina - Columbia
BIO: I grew up in Easley, South Carolina and attended the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!), where I majored in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. After undergrad, I worked as a microbiologist for two years at a pharmaceutical plant before returning to UofSC for medical school. Although I didn’t rotate at UAB, it quickly became clear after my interview that this program was something special. The high acuity, early autonomy, and supportive culture made it an easy choice. I’m very excited to be training at UAB and to grow alongside such a talented and welcoming group of residents and faculty. Outside of the hospital, my fiancé and I love exploring everything Birmingham has to offer. We’re big fans of the local food scene and are always on the lookout for new restaurants to try. On weekends, you’ll often find us hiking with our dog; Oak Mountain is one of our favorite spots. Birmingham has quickly become home, and we’re excited to keep discovering new things about this city together.

KRISTEN LINARES, M.D.

KRISTEN LINARES, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Plano, TX
UNDERGRADUATE: Texas A&M University
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Baylor College of Medicine
BIO: I grew up in Plano, TX. I attended Texas A&M University for undergrad where I met my wonderful husband. When I started medical school at Baylor, I was not sure what specialty I wanted to go into. I enjoyed a lot of aspects of different specialties but none felt like the right fit until I did my EM rotation. I chose UAB for many reasons. First, I felt that UAB emphasized wellness and I knew that was going to be really important for me in residency. Secondly, my husband and I loved the area and thought the people at UAB were very genuine after we came for Second Look. We also wanted to get out of a big city and felt Birmingham was a great fit for us. We loved how much nature is in this area which made the location even more attractive. Lastly, UAB has a fantastic reputation and I knew I would get great training here. I am so glad I get to be a part of UAB EM! Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, camping, and hiking.

 

IAN MCCULLOUGH, M.D.

IAN MCCULLOUGH, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Navarre, FL
UNDERGRADUATE: University of South Alabama
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
BIO: Growing up in an Air Force family, my family and I moved frequently until settling down in Navarre, FL when I was in middle school. At that time, I wanted nothing to do with the medical field or the military…funny how things work out. My junior year of high school I participated in a human anatomy and physiology course that piqued my interest in a career in medicine, either in the pre-hospital environment or in the ED. While completing my pre-med coursework at USA, I started looking into military medicine and was amazed at the diverse and unique experiences afforded to physicians in the Air Force, particularly to Emergency Medicine physicians. Whilecompleting a gap year (the best part of which was meeting Nye, a woman who would eventually become my wife) I made the decision to apply to the Uniformed Services University and commission into the Air Force. My time at USU really solidified my interest in Emergency Medicine. As I completed my clinical rotations across the country, I constantly found myself drawn to the ED but tried to keep an open mind. However, about halfway through my first shift on my EM selective in third year, I knew the ED was the place for me. I loved the people that work in the ED, the massive array of presentations we got to see, and I felt it was an honor to take care of people on what may be the worst day of their life. When it came time to apply for residency during fourth year, I was ecstatic to find that UAB was an option for military graduates again. Every interaction I had with the program I came away increasingly impressed with their commitment to education, wellness, and maintaining a strong, healthy, and open culture, and more and more eager to earn a spot. When I opened that envelope on match day, I was so grateful to be a part of this incredible team, family, and institution for the next couple years. Outside of work I enjoy any outdoor activity, weightlifting, watching sports or movies with my wife (even though one of us falls asleep before the end at least half the time), and grabbing drinks or a meal with friends. Nye is a bartender and we both enjoy cooking, so having folks over to experiment with new food and drink recipes is always a treat!

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NICK ORRIS, M.D.

NICK ORRIS, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Cumming, GA
UNDERGRADUATE: University of Georgia
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Medical College of Georgia
BIO: I grew up just north of Atlanta in Cumming, Georgia, and attended the University of Georgia for my undergraduate studies (Go Dawgs!). After earning a degree in Biology, I went on to medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. During my clinical rotations, I found something to appreciate in every specialty, but I was ultimately drawn to emergency medicine for its pace, complexity, and the opportunity to care for a diverse range of patients and conditions. UAB stood out as the ideal place to train, offering high-acuity clinical experience, strong academic and research resources, and a supportive leadership team—all while allowing me to stay close to my family and my fiancée, who is currently in veterinary school at UGA. Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching college football, spending time outdoors, exercising, and trying new recipes with my fiancée.

LIZ PITTMAN, M.D.

LIZ PITTMAN, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Nashville, GA
UNDERGRADUATE: 
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Mercer University
BIO: Hey, y’all! I’m originally from the small town of Nashville, GA, where I first discovered my passion for medicine while volunteering at our local hospital. I completed both my undergraduate and medical education at Mercer University, where I deepened my commitment to serving rural and underserved communities. During my time at Mercer, I also met my husband, Preston—we’ve been married for five years now. I knew UAB was the right place for me after completing an away rotation here. The supportive culture, outstanding faculty, and incredible residents made it an easy decision to call this place home for my residency. When I’m not working, you can usually find me spending time with family or playing outside with our two dogs, Doodle and Beau. I also love cooking, landscaping, and antique shopping. I’m so thrilled I get to call Birmingham home!

THOMAS SANDERS, M.D.

THOMAS SANDERS, M.D.

HOMETOWN: 
UNDERGRADUATE:
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of South Carolina - Columbia
BIO: 

SHAHN WASHINGTON, M.D.

SHAHN WASHINGTON, M.D.

HOMETOWN: Alabaster, AL
UNDERGRADUATE: UAB
MEDICAL SCHOOL: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
BIO: I grew up in Alabaster, Alabama, a suburb about thirty minutes south of Birmingham. After high school, I started volunteering with Saginaw Fire, a small department near my home. That led me to become a licensed paramedic and firefighter with the city of Birmingham. In April 2011, during a major tornado outbreak across Alabama, I was working in Pleasant Grove when a large tornado hit. I ended up running a triage outpost, helping care for hundreds of people and coordinating with teams of healthcare workers to treat the injured. That day sparked my first thoughts about becoming an emergency medicine physician. Over the next several years, I continued to read, learn, and pursue additional EMS and fire certifications, all while the idea of medicine grew into a dream. In 2015, I married my wife, and we soon welcomed a daughter. I realized there would never be a perfect time to return to school, so with her encouragement and support, I took the leap. Over the next eight years, I completed my undergraduate degree and medical school at UAB, and along the way, we welcomed a son. When it came time to choose a residency program, the decision was easy: it had to be UAB. From my early days as a paramedic student training in UAB ED, to the countless EMS patient drop-offs over the years, to my rotations as a med student, I’d come to know and love this program and the people in it. I’ve seen firsthand the camaraderie among residents and faculty; it is a true family environment. I’m also excited by the high acuity of patients, strong critical care exposure, and the exceptional EMS and ultrasound programs. When I’m not in the hospital, I love spending time with my family, mountain biking at Oak Mountain, and whitewater kayaking on whatever river is running.”