Boxberger, John, M.D.

Hometown: Austin, TX (with roots in Kansas)
Undergrad: Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
Med School: University of Texas School of Medicine - San Antonio
Career interest or chosen specialty: Open to anything
Hobbies in residency: Basketball, movies, skiing, kayaking, anything that gets me outside.  
Thoughts about our program: The two primary factors I looked for when evaluating programs were collegiality among the residents and strong foundations in General Surgery. I did not know much about the program prior to applying, but a peer of mine suggested I look into it. Just in my brief interactions with the residents during my interview, it was clear that the relationships built at this program were different from what I would find elsewhere. The residents were more than just colleagues. Once I saw the early surgical experience residents received combined with the overall numbers they achieved over 5 years, I was sold. From the moment I got here, expectations were clear, and I received every opportunity to participate in all levels of patient care. This is simply not something you will find at every program.

Fennell, Heather, M.D.

Hometown: Oxford, AL
Undergrad: University of Alabama, Finance;University of Alabama at Birmingham, Biology
Med School: University of Alabama School of Medicine
Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided but interested in General Surgery and Colorectal
Hobbies in residency: Jogging, weight-lifting, decorating my new home, being outdoors especially hiking or spending time with my family at the lake
Thoughts about our program: BBH is an excellent training program because it offers the “best of both worlds.” We have the volume that a larger city offers, private specialty surgeons who are willing to teach, and ample opportunity to operate early in our careers.

Watlington, James, M.D.

Hometown: Shelbyville, TN
Undergrad: Middle Tennessee State University
Med School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Career interest or chosen specialty: General Surgery/Trauma
Hobbies in residency: Take the dog for a walk/run, watch Marvel movies, build plastic models (current one in progress is a 2.5ft WWII submarine), piano, video games
Thoughts about our program: We have a great training environment and plenty of operating cases/experience. It’s an awesome group of residents/attendings who are willing to help you succeed.

Watts, Steve, III., M.D.

Hometown: Valdosta, Ga
Undergrad: Valdosta State University
Med School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Career interest or chosen specialty: General Surgery/MIS/CTS
Hobbies in residency: Hiking and anything outdoors, golfing, exercising, taking my dog to park, eating great food, visiting all the great Birmingham breweries, spending time with friends/family.
Thoughts about our program: While my time in this program has been short thus far, I can say with confidence that you will not find a program that provides a better operative experience. In my first month as an intern, I scrubbed and assisted on over 30 cases, 6 of which were Whipples. This is a non-malignant learning atmosphere in which there is incredible intraoperative and bedside teaching with a great mix of didactic and hands-on learning. There is a level of camaraderie among residents and attendings that makes you feel like you are part of a big family. Birmingham is an incredible place to live with so many fun and exciting things to do. You will not regret choosing this program.

Daughtry, Brock DO

Hometown: Perry, Georgia

Undergrad:  Auburn University

Med School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided

Hobbies in residency: Baron's games, breweries with co-residents, hunting

What drew you to the program? I actually had the privilege of rotating through as a student so I had a pretty good idea of what I thought the program was like coming into intern year. Now that intern year is over, I can say the program is everything I hoped it would be and more. We have excellent operative experience and get to work closely with our attendings early. We see a large variety of general surgery including minimally invasive operations as well as several subspecialties including vascular, surgical oncology, cardiothoracic and plastic surgery. Overall it is an excellent program that will prepare you to be an excellent surgeon.

Fain, Trevor MD

Hometown: Wildwood, MO

Undergrad:  University of Alabama

Med School: University of Louisville School of Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided

Hobbies in residency: Movies, golfing, hiking, and trying new restaurants

What drew you to the program? The people. I got along great with everyone I interacted with at my interview, and the strength of the relationships among residents was evident at the pre-interview dinner. I wanted to go to a place where I would get along with my co-workers, and I am excited that is the case.

Harris, Kathleen MD

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Undergrad: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Med School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided

Hobbies in residency: Running, gymnastics, hiking, just being outside and active, reading, traveling, watching college basketball

What drew you to the program? The hospital system and program have an excellent reputation for strength of training and for being a supportive and welcoming environment. Additionally, I am excited about the amount of surgical experience available early in training. I am glad to be able to train at a great program and have the opportunity to stay close to my friends and family in Birmingham!

Holt, Kenneth MD

Hometown: McCalla, AL

Undergrad:  University of Alabama at Birmingham

Med School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided

Hobbies in residency: Reading, exercising, hiking, fishing, going to concerts, eating at any of the great restaurants in Birmingham

What drew you to the program? I really enjoyed working with the residents while I did a rotation during my 4th year. I was looking for a program where the residents were a tight-knit group and where I could also get a well-rounded general surgery experience, and this was the perfect place for both. I was also very impressed with the amount of OR experience the interns got while I was rotating here. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to match into, and I’m looking forward to the years to come!

Nelson, Sara DO

Hometown: Dothan, AL

Undergrad:  Troy University

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine at Auburn

Career interest or chosen specialty: General Surgery/Undecided

Hobbies in residency: Running, soccer, playing with the dogs, hiking, trying new restaurants, traveling, Alabama football - Roll Tide!

What drew you to the program? The comradery in the program is undeniable. Great support from attendings and co-residents. Opportunities at two different hospitals allows for a wide variety and a large volume of cases. Looking forward to the years to come!

Reece, Claren Harper, M.D.

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Undergrad: Florida State University
Med School: Florida State University College of Medicine
Career interest or chosen specialty: General Surgery/Endocrine Surgery/Undecided
Hobbies in residency: Gardening, Crafting/Painting, Bargain Shopping, Sleeping, Harry Potter on repeat
Thoughts about our program: Overall I've been very happy with the training I've received at Baptist. As an intern, I performed cases in the OR start-to-finish, I placed 100+ CVLs and arterial lines, and I spent a month (on surg onc) where I scrubbed in the OR every single day of the rotation. The surgical experience has only increased ad I've progressed through the program. During my PGY-2 year, I spent two months functioning as a chief resident on one of our many general surgery services, with no senior residents to compete for those cases. Now as a PGY-3, I'm in the OR every day and have been able to more consistently develop skills at the robot console. Our attendings are generally down-to-earth, I enjoy spending time with my co-residents in and out of work, and my husband and I love Birmingham. Also, we have great snacks.

Coleman, Madi MD

Hometown: Acworth, GA

Undergrad:  University of Georgia

Med School: Medical College of Georgia

Career interest or chosen specialty: Still figuring it out!

Hobbies in residency: Music, art, the outdoors, decorating my house, exploring Birmingham, visiting family, Georgia football (Go Dawgs!)

What drew you to the program? My mentor in medical school encouraged me to apply to more community-based surgery programs for residency and I am so glad he did. Since day one I have felt incredibly supported, and I could not imagine a better place to carry out my surgical training. The truth of every surgery residency is that the work is hard, the hours are long, and there is more to learn than you could possibly imagine. Luckily, I spend my time at the hospital working in a team that has my back, teaches me constantly, and makes me belly laugh every single day. On top of that, I've gotten great experience in the OR and have been given a lot of autonomy in patient care. This is an environment that fosters learning, autonomy, growth in surgical skills and clinical reasoning, and friendship. I am so thankful to be a part of it and I can't wait to see what the next 4 years brings.

Garriga, Galen MD

Hometown: Mobile, Alabama

Undergrad:  University of South Alabama

Med School: University of South Alabama Medical School

Hobbies in residency: Running, Hiking, Biking, Golf, & Travel. Spending time with family and active at local church.

McNair, Chris DO

Hometown: Chattanooga, TN

Undergrad:  University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided, maybe bariatric surgery

Hobbies in residency: Playing guitar, collecting fountain pens, spending time with my wife and our two children

What drew you to the program? I got to rotate here during my fourth year of medical school and really felt like a great fit for what I was looking for in a residency program. We get to operate early on and get exposure to a vase amount of surgical pathology and our attendings are excellent teachers. All of the residents here are cohesive and look after one another.

Switzer, Jacob MD

Hometown: Fairhope, AL

Undergrad: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Med School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Career interest or chosen specialty: Undecided

Hobbies in residency: I enjoy fishing, hiking, and spending time outdoors. I play guitar and appreciate a wide range of musical genres.

What drew you to the program? The reputation of the hospital system and the training opportunities it offers are fantastic! I’ve fallen in love with the city of Birmingham over the past eight years, so it is a great blessing that I have the opportunity to continue to train at a premier institution in such a great place to live.

Thomas, Evan DO

Hometown: Auburn, Alabama

Undergrad:  University of Mississippi

Med School:  Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hobbies in residency: Spending time with friends and family. Cooking, exercising, fishing, hunting, golfing, & intramural sports.

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bland, Sydney, M.D

Hometown: Columbia, SC

Undergrad:  Clemson University -UG

Med School: University of South Caroline School of Medicine Greenville

Hobbies in residency: Enjoys working out, skiing, cooking, and reading

Clements, Austin, D.O

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Undergrad:  University of Alabama

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine -Auburn Campus

Hobbies in residency: Enjoys carpentry, golf, coffee, & aluminum model sculpting

Touros, Kiara, DO

Hometown: Vero Beach, Florida

Undergrad: Florida State, Tallahassee

Med School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hobbies in residency: Hobbies Paddle boarding, hiking, FSU football

White, Ashlyn, D.O

Hometown: Greenville, SC

Undergrad:  University of South Carolina

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine –Carolinas Campus

Hobbies in residency: Enjoys distance running, beach volleyball, & mountain climbing

Xu, Jeffrey, D.O

Hometown: San Jose, CA

Undergrad: University of California, San Diego

Med School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hobbies in residency: Enjoys spending time with his wife and son,video games, drumming, & being outdoors

Howard, Hannah, M.D.

Hometown: Lowndesboro, AL

Undergrad: Huntingdon College

Med School:University of Alabama School of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:I enjoy reading, indoor cycling, and baking. Also, my husband and I recently bought a new home so lately my free time is spent working on it.

Why I chose Brookwood Baptist Health: BBH stood out to me for several reasons. First, it was obvious that the residents truly got along with each other and supported their co-residents. Further, I was looking for a program that emphasized early and often operative experience, and it was evident that BBH residents were operating from the beginning of intern year. I also liked that research and surgical education are prioritized. Finally, it was important to me to that my future program be high-volume and create independent surgeons ready for practice at the end of residency, which is one of the biggest strengths of this program. Additionally, we are well-supported if we choose to pursue fellowship following residency. I feel so fortunate to have matched here and to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of people.

Lawson, Damon, M.D.

Hometown: Knoxville, TN

Undergrad: University of Tennessee

Med School:University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Soccer, skateboarding, playing with my dogs, trying new coffee shops, and watching Tennessee football.

Why I chose Brookwood Baptist Health: When looking for a program to train in, I emphasized programs that would have me in the OR early and often. BBH hits that mark as I have scrubbed into cases nearly every day of residency as an intern. Attendings here are very supportive, and they foster resident learning through early autonomy with patient care and intraoperative training.

Mason, Jack, M.D.

Hometown: New Albany, MS

Undergrad: University of Mississppi

Med School:University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Spending time with family, watching Ole Miss sports, golf, video games

Why I chose Brookwood Baptist Health: I chose Brookwood Baptist Health because of their early operative experience, case volume, and similarities to my career goals. Also, Birmingham is a great city.

Thomas, Sam, M.D.

Hometown: Talladega, AL

Undergrad:Auburn University

Med School:University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Cooking, baking, video games, clay shooting, spending time with family and friends

Why I chose Brookwood Baptist Health: I chose Brookwood Baptist Health for my surgical residency because it instills strong surgical skills including ample exposure to robotic surgery. It is also a close-knit program that is truly a big happy family!

Vobbilisetty, Vijay, M.D.

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Undergrad:University of Michigan

Med School:University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Hiking, running, pickleball, tennis

Why I chose Brookwood Baptist Health: Early operative experience. Good exposure to robotic surgery. Great cohort of residents.

Chambers II, Fred, M.D.

Hometown: Mobile, AL

Undergrad: University of South Alabama

Med School:University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Hart, Susan, M.D.

Hometown: Murray, KY

Undergrad: Western Kentucky University

Med School:University of Louisville School of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Hiking/ trail running

Webb, Adam, M.D.

Hometown: Hartsfield, GA

Undergrad: University of Georgia

Med School:Mercer University School of Medicine

Hobbies in residency:Reading history biographies, exercising, hanging out with my wife and son, and watching SEC football on Saturdays