On August 16, we had the privilege of welcoming our newest class of medical students during our annual White Coat Ceremony. Cheered on by family and friends, each student crossed the Alabama Theatre stage and was helped into their new white coat (generously provided by our Medical Alumni Association) by representatives from the school’s regional campuses in Huntsville, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. It is always moving to witness our new students take their symbolic first step into the lifelong journey of learning and service that is the medical profession. As we remind the students each year at the ceremony, the white coat is more than just an item of clothing—it represents the trust patients place in physicians, the commitment to ethical practice, and the responsibility to uphold the highest standards of compassion and professionalism.
The ceremony included two award presentations. Ritika Samant, a medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine, received the 2025 Sara Crews Finley, M.D., Endowed Leadership Scholarship. Established by Dr. Sara Crews Finley’s family, this prestigious scholarship is a full-tuition award honoring a rising third-year student who exemplifies academic excellence, integrity, leadership, and service, qualities that define Dr. Finley’s legacy.
The Brewer-Heslin Award for Professionalism in Medicine was established by the late Governor Albert Brewer to recognize clinical faculty who exemplify the highest ideals of our profession. The 2025 recipient of the Brewer-Heslin Award is Amy Warriner, M.D., a professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, director of UAB Weight Loss Medicine, and medical director of both the UAB Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Clinic and the UAB Gender Health Clinic. Dr. Warriner’s dedication and empathetic approach to patient care, particularly for individuals facing stigmatized or vulnerable health conditions, has earned her multiple UAB Patient Experience Excellence Awards and recognition as a Top Provider in Communication.
Our medical students arrive at a particularly exciting time as we celebrate the opening of the Volker Hall Atrium. It represents the first street-level Volker Hall entrance from University Boulevard in recent history and bears signage featuring the Heersink School of Medicine name. Made possible in part by a gift from the Heersink Family Foundation, the atrium’s architecture is characterized by sleek, modern lines while the interior includes all-new furniture and light fixtures, a 24-foot-tall living plant wall, and the Morning Grounds coffee bar.
I also want to extend a warm welcome to the 347 residents and fellows who joined 84 residency and fellowship programs across the Heersink School of Medicine this year. Our residency and fellowship program directors along with our GME Office do a wonderful job welcoming these learners and helping them transition to the next, critical phase of their training journey.
As we begin this new academic year, the energy and promise of our incoming students, residents, and fellows remind us of the enduring mission of the Heersink School of Medicine—to educate, to innovate, and to serve. I look forward to the contributions they will make and the ways in which they will shape the future of medicine.