Dr. Gregory Payne
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Payne, Associate Professor of Medicine and cardiovascular physician-scientist, earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Yale University in 2005, followed by an MD and PhD in cardiovascular physiology from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2011. During his clinical training, he distinguished himself as the 2015 UAB Chief Cardiology Fellow and received the Northwestern Cardiology Young Investigator Award in 2016. He joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) faculty in 2018, where he has excelled as a physician-scientist. He currently serves as Chair-Elect of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology Early Career Committee. Nationally recognized for his research on vascular inflammation, he has led pioneering work in vascular spatial transcriptomics. His studies on atherosclerosis and vascular biology have earned national recognition and significant support, including the inaugural AHA/Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program Career Development Award, the Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and ongoing funding from the NIH and VA. In addition to his research and clinical practice, Dr. Payne serves as Director of the UAB Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center (CCVC).

PRESENTERS

Medical School Admissions
Learn about what it takes to get into medical school directly from the source. This session will answer questions about what medical schools are looking for in an applicant, the application process, pathway programs, and more.
Krystal Johnson, MEd

Undergraduate Admissions
Are you wondering how many schools to apply to and how to put together that perfect list of schools? Do you know how to prioritize what you are looking for? Come hear from UAB's Director of Undergraduate Admissions to help determine what college is best for you and how to improve your chances of acceptance.
Andrew Colson

Public Health
Are you interested in learning more about the field of Public Health? Public Health 101 will discuss the basics of public health, the role of public health practitioners, and the intersection of public health and medicine.
Dr. Jessica Chambliss, PhD, MPH

School of Nursing
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? UAB School of Nursing will discuss the role and scope of practice of a nurse, along with the different nationally top-ranked programs UAB has to offer.
Dr. Samantha Berrien,
DNP, MSN, BS, RN

Dentistry
Are you interested in applying to dental school or learning more about the exciting and diverse field of dentistry? Come hear from current UAB School of Dentistry students about the admissions process, their journey in dentistry, and more!
Tamara E. Montes, MA.Ed., M.S.

Optometry
Learn more about the role of optometrists and eye health from current UAB School of Optometry students. They will discuss the educational pathway to becoming an optometrist and why you should consider the field.
Ashley George

Pharmacy
Learn about the field of pharmacy from a current Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy student! They will discuss the successful applicant, the role of pharmacists, different settings pharmacists can work in, and more!
Alma Calvillo

Graduate School of Health Professions Admissions
Learn about the School of Professions, what careers fall under this school, and what programs they have to offer. This session will answer questions about what health professional programs are looking for in an applicant, the interview process, and more.
Taylor England Calvert

Disability Advocacy - Come Roll with Me
Come Roll with Me is an organization known for “bridging gaps in communication, appreciation, and respect for how wheelchair users engage in everyday activities.” This workshop will educate participants on the various experiences of differently abled patients, and the different techniques and tools Occupational and Physical Therapists use for their patients on a daily basis.
Dr. Will Brooks, PhD
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Sports and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound
Dr. Colorado, DO, MPH, Chief of Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine here at UAB, will be going over the role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) in sports medicine and the basics of POCUS imaging. His team of residents will lead small groups to practice using the POCUS devices.
Dr. Dale Colorado, DO, MPH
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Suturing Workshop – AWS
During this workshop, you will receive instructions on the different techniques of suturing and then be allowed to perform your own sutures! The presenters will be there throughout the workshop to help and answer questions. At the end, students will have the opportunity to ask questions to a panelists of current UAB medical students going into surgery about their journey. This session is lead by the UABHSOM chapter of Association of Women Surgeons.
Audria Wood, MPH

Narrative Medicine
The Narrative Medicine workshop will introduce participants to the field of Narrative Medicine, an interdisciplinary field that capitalizes upon the therapeutic effects of storytelling and literary analysis. It applies literary and humanities-based skills to clinical practice to improve healthcare by understanding and responding to patients' stories. It involves attentive listening, reflective writing, and empathetic engagement with patients' experiences of illness to foster trust, improve communication, and promote healing for both patients and providers. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to define and identify examples of stigma and bias in clinical settings, and they will be able to use tools from narrative medicine, such as active listening or narrative reflection, to address and reduce them.
Lexi Witherspoon & Mykala Walker, MS
