The UAB General Surgery Residency Program recognized outstanding residents, faculty, advanced practice providers, and staff during its annual Awards Day celebration. Together, members of the UAB Department of Surgery honored excellence in patient care, education, research, leadership, mentorship, and service throughout the academic year.
Awards were presented in a variety of categories, highlighting achievements in clinical performance, medical student education, scholarly activity, teaching, and departmental collaboration.
“Awards Day is one of the most meaningful traditions in our residency program because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of our residents and recognize the faculty, staff, and advanced practice providers who contribute to their success,” said General Surgery Residency Program Director Britney Corey, M.D., MACM. “We are incredibly proud of each awardee’s achievements and look forward to seeing the continued impact they will have on the field of surgery.”
Division Awards and Clinical Excellence
Pediatric Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery Resident of the Year: Brittany Walker, M.D.
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
- Trauma Intern of the Year: Dakota Williams, M.D., M.S.
- Trauma Burn ICU (TBICU) Resident of the Year: Mahala Walker, M.D.
- Trauma Resident of the Year: Stephanie Rakestraw, M.D., MSPH
- Emergency General Surgery Chief Resident Award: Rongzhi Wang, M.B.B.S.
- Emergency General Surgery Chief Resident Award: Adam T. Lucy, M.D., MSHQS
- Emergency Medicine Trauma Award: Logan Beach, M.D.
- Anesthesia Trauma Award: Jordan Patrick, M.D.
- Burn Intern of the Year: Louis T. Runge III, M.D.
Vascular Surgery
- Vascular Surgery Resident of the Year: Michelle Holland, M.D., MBA
Endocrine Surgery
- Endocrine Surgery Award: Kimberly Byrnes, D.O.
- Endocrine Surgery Award: Wendelyn Oslock, M.D., MBA, MSPH
Operating Room Team Recognition
- Operating Room Choice Award: Burke Smith, M.D., MSPH
Medical Student Teaching Awards
- David A. Rogers, M.D., MHPE Endowed Award for Surgical Medical Student
- Teaching Excellence: Kristen Wong, M.D.
- Resident Excellence Award in Undergraduate Medical Education: Nicole Rademacher, M.D.
- Resident Award for Clinical Instruction in Undergraduate Medical Education: Rongzhi Wang, M.B.B.S.
Resident Research Awards
- Tyler and Brooke Wahl Resident Research Award for Most Outstanding Presentation: Alizeh Abbas, M.B.B.S.
- Outstanding Basic Science Research Award: Ali Eakes, M.D., MPH
- Outstanding Clinical Science Research Award: Nicole Rademacher, M.D.
- Outstanding Clinical Science Research Award: Autumn Beavers, M.D.
Outstanding Rotation Awards
- Most Outstanding PGY-1 Rotation: Colorectal Surgery
- Most Outstanding PGY-2 Rotation: Highlands
- Most Outstanding PGY-3 Rotation: Thoracic Surgery
- Most Outstanding PGY-4 Rotation: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)
- Most Outstanding PGY-5 Rotation: Acute Care Surgery (ACS)
General Surgery Office Awards
- General Surgery Residency Collaborator of the Year: Jarrad Rowse, M.D.
- General Surgery Residency Collaborator of the Year: Samantha Baker, M.D., MSHPEd
Endowed Awards
- Herb and Harriet Chen Academic Achievement Award: Rongzhi Wang, M.B.B.S.
- Junior Resident Teacher of the Year: Wendelyn Oslock, M.D., MBA, MSPH
- Senior Resident Teacher of the Year: Kelsey Montgomery, M.D.
- Adam and Kimberly Beck Intern of the Year Award: Louis T. Runge III, M.D.
- John R. Porterfield Chief Resident of the Year: Janet Julson, M.D.
Residents' Choice Awards
- Outstanding APP Award (Selected by Junior Residents): Matthew Huhn, NP
- Faculty Teaching Award (Selected by Junior Residents): Manu Kaushik, M.D.
- Outstanding APP Award (Selected by Senior Residents): Matthew Huhn, NP
- Faculty Teaching Award (Selected by Senior Residents): Martin J. Heslin, M.D., MSHA
- Marshall M. Urist Junior Faculty of the Year: Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI
- Kirby I. Bland Senior Faculty of the Year: James M. Donahue, M.D.
- Resident Choice Award: Jorge Garcia, RFNA
- Mark H. Deierhoi Faculty Mentor of the Year: Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI
- Non-Surgical Faculty of the Year: John Briggs, M.D., MSHA
Photos from this year's Resident Award Day can be found here.