By: Chief Medical Residents
It is interesting how a year initially seems very long until you begin reflecting upon it. Suddenly, you begin to realize all the things that have changed in such a short amount of time. As we look back at our chief year, we proudly reflect on how our residents have grown and the ways our program has developed to support them.
The year started with an abundance of excitement as we welcomed the interns to their new UAB home. Their eyes were full of enthusiasm and fear as the rising PGY2s and PGY3s grew to take them under their wings. During orientation, in the CVL simulations, EMR trainings and social lunches, it was clear that this class would develop a bond similar to so many others before them. As they stepped on to the wards, we watched them slowly integrate and merge so effortlessly into the program, bringing medical insight, new ideas, and, most importantly, laughter.
While the residents transitioned their focus on to patient care, we started our first endeavor to improve clinic continuity. The charge was led by Alejandra and Jen, as they discovered the inner workings of CPRS and the IM4 scheduling office. Through extensive problem solving, an eye for detail and pure determination, we were able to discover a fault in the CPRS code which was easily remedied in a matter of minutes. Additionally, we were able to push forward our monthly schedule timeline to allow for residents to schedule patients on their known clinic days, up to 120 days in advance! These dedicated efforts led to a *** % increase in clinic continuity this year and overall patient/resident satisfaction.
Aside from improving the core curriculum and patient care, we also had two more drastic changes that came to support our residents. The first was the addition of the POCUS elective. In response to the ever-growing uses of ultrasound within Internal Medicine, Dr. Smola and Marshall worked to develop a curriculum that not only built on the current use of POCUS, but encouraged residents to develop and use ultrasound in other facets of practice. The residents not only were ecstatic about additional POCUS curriculum, but also motivated to participate in the one month elective for additional training.
Secondly, the program happily announced the implementation of an additional week of vacation. This not only allowed residents to take much needed time away from work to be with family and friends, but also displayed how our program values resident wellbeing and mental health. With some creativity and perseverance, we were able to implement this in to the 2025-2026 academic year.
Throughout this year, we have been honored to dedicate our time to the improvement and development of the residency program, but our main joy and pride has come from our residents. We have watched each of them matriculate into the next year with motivation for continued learning and passion for patient care. They have supported their patients in ways that have gone above and beyond, being recognized by multiple patient family members, faculty and staff. During times of adversity, we have also seen them come together to support one another. This year has been an unprecedented year of loss, as many of our residents have been forced to say goodbye to those they love most. We have watched residents stand strong next to them, pick up shifts and work overtime to cover them and travel long distances to attend funerals in support of them. While it has been disheartening to watch some of our residents grieve, it has been so also heartwarming to see the UAB family growing stronger and supporting one another.
As this year comes to an end, we are incredibly grateful to have been able to spend time with the residents, learn more about leadership staff and experience life with each other. It has been an experience that we will always hold dear and proudly reflect upon throughout our careers.
To the current residents and those graduating, CONGRATULATIONS! You have survived another year and are well on your way to making great physicians. For those of you going into practice, you have finished an incredible residency program that has not only instilled in you the necessary medical knowledge but also provided you with an array of friends and providers that are here to support you. Use them as they are one of your greatest assets!
For the pre-chiefs, enjoy your year. Set goals with intention when you start because the year will pass faster than you imagine. Focus on what you can do to help the program become better, but also take notes on how to lead effectively, support those you care about and work on a unifed team with a common goal of making this program even better.
UAB will always have always be a special place to each of us and we are forever thankful to have been entrusted with this opportunity. As we move into this next chapter, we will hold on and continue to emphasize the legacy and motto of UAB Internal Medicine, E = hH2. Excellence without ego.
Kyle Meissner will be staying at UAB for his fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He, and his partner Emerson, are excited to remain in Birmingham at their UAB home. He will miss his co-chiefs but is excited to see what this next chapter in life brings.
Jennifer Girard will be moving to Kansas City to work as an academic hospitalist and be with her husband, Andrew, who is currently working as a Cardiology Fellow. They welcomed their son, Thomas, in to the family earlier this year and are excited to all be together under one roof. Jen is sad to say goodbye to her UAB family, but hopes to help instill similar values into the residency program she will be joining as faculty.
Alejandra Osorio will be starting her hematology fellowship at the Emory University in Atlanta. UAB has been a formative experience for her growth as an individual and a physician—she will always be grateful to have once called this place home.
Chandler Pride will be remaining on staff at UAB and the Birmingham VA as a hospitalist and teacher. He is excited to continue his contributions to the program and looks forward to becoming heavily involved in ultrasound curriculum development and resident teaching, through didactics and inpatient rounds.