Mohamed Shoreibah, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
The UAB is a tertiary referral center like no other in the state and probably the region. Despite the fact that it is located in a metropolitan area, it serves a diverse group of patients from the state of Alabama and beyond, including patients with complex medical conditions and patients that come from medically underserved areas. Beyond providing direct medical care, scientists at the UAB conduct research that eventually guides medical care across the nation and the world. For example, I serve as the site principal investigator of the ACCELERATE-AH Consortium, whose research establishes best practices for liver transplanting patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis. Finally, a unique aspect of the UAB is that throughout the years it has been instrumental enhancing not only the medical well-being of our society but also the social well-being aspect, by lending its voice on important societal issues.
Why is DEI important in your practice of medicine or area of research?
We often say that health calamities hit us all the same, but the truth is that their effects can differ depending on an individual’s identity and circumstances. One of my current areas of research that addresses this concept is investigating how variability in access to care impacts different patient populations with chronic liver disease.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
There is nothing quite like following a group of mentees throughout their three years in residency and witnessing how they flourish and evolve and develop—both in their professional skills and in their soft skills. It’s a source of great inspiration and I learn and develop myself along with each group. On a lighter note, I’ve been so impressed with the UAB’s Internal Medicine Residency Program that I once asked the program director if I could go back and do my residency here at UAB (she said yes).
Jori May, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
The sense of community. Whether it’s a challenging patient case or a particularly hard day, there is always someone there to support me.
Why is DEI important in your practice of medicine or area of research?
We are fortunate to care for a diverse patient population, so I enjoy both working to meet individual patient needs as much as possible while also working to build and maintain a diverse group of providers that reflect our community as well.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
Working with residents makes me a better physician. Questions from residents about patient care, core concepts, and new literature push me to know more and provide better care.
Amanda Schnell, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
The people - UAB has a very collegial environment and there are so many great communities to be a part of at UAB. Not to mention, we have access to top resources and scientific innovations.
How do diversity, equity and inclusion impact your practice of medicine or area of research?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is very important to the practice of rheumatology. We have to really understand our patients’ backgrounds and their social determinants of health to provide the best care and ensure our patients have access to medications and treatments.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
I love teaching trainees about rheumatology and seeing them grow throughout their residency and (hopefully) rheumatology fellowship!
Stefan Kertesz, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
UAB's Department of Medicine fosters warmth and support among colleagues. The very close and collaborative linkage to our VA Medical Center, which is just across the street, allows us to experience and compare two health care systems, and to develop thoughtful research.
Why is DEI important in your practice of medicine or area of research?
My research on homelessness, pain and addiction routinely requires asking "how is it that our health services fail to serve people with challenges due to disability, illness, lack of money, or trauma occurring across the lifespan? How do we serve them better?" Answering that question routinely draws us to think about lack of equity in opportunity not just early in life but also in the chance to get health care for conditions that require care. This can reflects racial disparities, and often also results from how our society and major institutions respond inadequately to disability, poverty, addiction and pain. I try to work on all of these issues.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
The residents encourage and support the nurturing environment fostered by our residency program directors. Plus, I learn from every single one of them.
Leah Leisch, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
I love the team growth atmosphere and the approachability of even the most senior faculty. Personally, in this atmosphere, I have blossomed from an easily intimidated first generation college graduate to now functioning in many leadership roles including the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program Director and the Medical Director role of an integrated clinic that houses substance use disorder clinical care and research for underserved patients. My metamorphosis involved multiple mentors, sponsors and a plethora of encouragement from all levels of faculty and staff here. I love the way my UAB colleagues see and foster potential in trainees and each other!
How do diversity, equity and inclusion impact your practice of medicine or area of research?
While a General Internist by training, I have done prior research work in HIV care and currently work primarily in Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorder care- all diseases steeped in stigma and disproportionately affecting those on the fringes of society. All also diseases that create a feeling of intense isolation in patients that suffer from them. Thus, in all the clinics I function in, we strive to create a sense of belonging. This work has taught me that it is only through diversity that inclusion can occur.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
This program has created an amazing culture of Excellence Without the Ego. We are somehow able to recruit extremely intelligent physicians that are also joyful, positive, gracious, humble team players. I would describe our program's culture as one that works phenomenally hard but considers it a joy because we truly love what we do. I find it inspiring, fun and energizing to see future generations of physicians equally as energized by a desire to improve patient and population health and medical education. I feel privileged just to be a member of this amazing team.
Patricia Ajayi-Fox, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
I enjoy the varied backgrounds and complexity of my patients, and the collegial department. It is very easy to collaborate on projects, or just to reach out to another physician when taking care of mutual patients, and everyone is very friendly
Why is DEI important in your practice of medicine or area of research?
Unfortunately Alabama, and Birmingham has a history that has created a lot of health disparities, so I try to gear my practice to acknowledging this and trying to address this both clinically, and in my research/educational avenues. Most of my clinic is at Cooper Green, which is the county clinic with a high rate of uninsured/under-insured patients and a greater racial and socioeconomic diversity. I involve trainees in my clinics there so they can be exposed to patients from diffrent backgrounds. Additionally, DEI is important in my practice as I believe our health care teams should mimic the patients they serve, so always strive to encourage more URiMs into the medical field and specifically my subspecialty.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
The residents are fun to work with! And the IM residency program is very collegial and open to new ideas and partnerships
Steven Fox, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
1) UAB is a pillar of health in the community, the state, and the region, and I am proud to be a part of that 2) The UAB mission includes a focus on excellence in patient care as well as medical training, which are both core to how I would like to practice 3) ease of collaboration between division/departments to work together effectively and accomplish greater things than could be done individually 4) inspirational colleagues that help to bring out the best in those around them.
Why is DEI important in your practice of medicine or area of research?
Through medical training I have observed such a tremendous gap in healthcare depending on a patient's circumstances, ranging from seemingly impossible capabilities of modern medicine, to limited ability to access any healthcare at all. It seemed that a high yield way to improve healthcare would focus on improving access and equitable care for patients with barriers to quality care. As a resident I completed a global health and underserved populations track, and when I completed training I sought a faculty job that put me in a position to address disparities in pulmonary care and critical care. As faculty at UAB this includes working in the pulmonary clinic at Cooper Green, partnering with rural hospitals via tele-critical care, working to improve health disparities training in our fellowship program, and exploring global partnerships for sustainable clinical education. So much of this involves working with patients and colleagues of a variety of backgrounds, which makes immediately apparent the importance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
I have always felt inspired by residency training, from when I was a med student all the way until now. Through the responsibilities of patient care, learning is of immediate relevance to the resident (and their patients), and there is so much to be learned all the time, making this such a high-yield time for medical training. When I was a resident I noticed firsthand the positive impact from faculty who demonstrated dedication to resident education, and since then I have always strived to be one of those faculty. I am fortunate now to have the opportunity to work clinically with residents so often and to be involved in resident curricular initiatives on a larger scale.
Winn Seay, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
As an eternal student of medicine, I love being surrounded by world experts from whom I can learn and seek guidance to ensure I am providing the best care possible for my patients.
How do diversity, equity and inclusion impact your practice of medicine or area of research?
Kidney failure disproportionately affects Black Americans and certainly does not spare other minorities. It’s thus important these groups be represented amongst our clinical staff, if only to offer perspective enabling us to connect with our patients and be better physicians.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
Fostering clinical reasoning. The residents here have immense potential, and I find their intellectual curiosity and growth into independent practice so satisfying.
Latesha Elopre, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
I really enjoy the colleagues and collaborative culture at UAB. It makes it a joy to practice medicine and allows for more success when conducting research.
How do diversity, equity and inclusion impact your practice of medicine or area of research?
My research focuses on improving equity in access to HIV prevention services for the most disenfranchised communities in the country. I feel like this is a calling and absolutely believe that diversity is necessary within health equity research to ensure we are reaching these communities.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
I really love being able to engage with residents on Tinsley Harrison. It is a privilege to provide healthcare to patients and our goal should always be to optimize health outcomes. Getting to teach residents and watch them become more confident in their ability to provide the stellar health services UAB is known for is one of the best experiences for me as an attending.
Carla Copeland, MD
What do you enjoy the most about practicing medicine and/or conducting research at UAB?
I love the people here at UAB and the warm and welcoming environment they create. I also love the diversity of patients and pathologies we see here and that we get to serve such a vast portion of the state of Alabama, which is largely underserved, as well as some of the surrounding states.
How do diversity, equity and inclusion impact your practice of medicine or area of research?
We see a very ethnically and socioeconomically diverse group of patients in our interstitial lung disease clinic as we are the only center of excellence for the state of Alabama and for some of the surrounding states. As many of our patients travel from a long distance, it takes careful planning to make sure that they are set up ahead of time with all of the testing they need on the same day of our clinic visit to make the most out their visit. We also do a fair amount of discussion with patients and management outside of clinic visits to ensure they get the care they need without having to make multiple long trips within a short time frame.
What do you enjoy the most about participating in UAB Internal Residency Program and educating the next generation of physicians?
Working with residents and fellows is the best part of my job. I love getting to learn from them and watching them grow in their skills and their careers. It is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.