Benjamin Cooper, MD

Hometown: Shreveport, LA

Med School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine - Shreveport

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Private Practice Teleradiology

Hobbies: Reading, lifting weights, local music

Thoughts about our program: Good real-world preparation, high volume and procedural experience

Connor Griggs, MD

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Med School: University of Nebraska School of Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Radiology

Hobbies: Walking my dog

Mason Kirkland, MD

Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Med School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Private Practice General Radiology

Hobbies: Hunting, hiking, sports

Thoughts about our program: I did a rotation as a medical student and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ultimately the people were the reason I chose Baptist Health.

Esther Song, DO

Hometown: Huntsville, AL

Med School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Radiology

Hobbies: Running, yoga, walking, eating out with friends

Thoughts about our program: As a PGY-5, I’ve had some time with the residency program and am really glad I came here. I’ve met some of my really good friends and had experiences in and out of residency that I’ll carry with me for a long time. My training has been sufficient, and I believe I am ready to go and serve my community.

Caleb Carroll, MD

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Med School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Private Practice Radiology

Hobbies: Golf, music, family, Ole Miss football

Thoughts about our program: Baptist Health Radiology offers excellent training in the community/private practice setting, with great co-residents and attendings. Birmingham is also a nice place for a resident to live, especially with a family, being affordable with plenty of things to do.

Gray Crosthwait, MD

Hometown: Houston, MS

Med School: University of Mississippi School of Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology

Hobbies: Ole Miss sports, cooking, reading

Thoughts about our program: I chose this program because it is a private practice focused residency in a great small city

Joe Gaines, MD

Hometown: Athens, GA

Med School: Medical College of Georgia

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Radiology

Hobbies: Playing guitar, writing songs, golf, college football

Thoughts about our program: You make independent clinical decisions daily, which builds confidence. Two distinct patient populations provide a high volume and wide spectrum of pathology. Very hands-on, setting you up to handle a private practice job.

Christian Law, MD

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

Med School: Eastern Virginia Medical School

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology

Hobbies: Pickleball, concerts, discovering new restaurants, video games, hanging out with my girlfriend

Thoughts about our program: Viewbox teaching - no remote readouts. Private practice-oriented training. Great moonlighting opportunities. Birmingham is a great city.

Levi Aldag, MD

Hometown: Wichita, KS

Med School: Kansas University School of Medicine - Wichita

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology

Hobbies: Hiking, video games, weightlifting, camping, whitewater rafting, breweries, golf, reading, etc.

Thoughts about our program: Preparedness for private practice and independence. Extremely hands on. Great moonlighting opportunities.

Mina Alvi, DO

Hometown: Peachtree City, GA

Med School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology

Hobbies: Traveling, nature walks, spending time with friends and family

Thoughts about our program: Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Devin Cummins, MD

Hometown: Conyers, GA

Med School:  Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology

Hobbies: Movie watching, nature walks

Thoughts about our program: The program is very willing to accommodate for family life. The attendings and administration are actively striving to make changes that benefit residency as a whole.

Conor Miles, DO

Hometown: Greenville, TN

Undergrad: East Tennessee State University

Med School: Lincoln Memorial DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: General Radiology

Hobbies: I enjoy being outside and spending time with my wife and kids. I like to play video games with my wife when I get the time and watch anime together.

Thoughts about our program: I have enjoyed my time at this program so far. The GME staff really try to make sure everyone is taken care of and has what they need to succeed. Birmingham has felt like home as a whole and has plenty of stuff to do in the city as well as activities outside.

Benjamin Benita, M.D.

Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: Working out, golf, watching TV

Thoughts about our program:Baptist Health is a tight knit community where everyone wants to see each other succeed, which makes it an excellent learning environment. The attendings are superb mentors and role models and do a great job teaching the residents how to be successful.

 

 

Palmer Ford, D.O.

Hometown: Huntsville, AL
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: Golfing, traveling, spending time with family and friends
Thoughts about our program: I chose this program because of its strong commitment to a family-type culture and clinical training. Having rotated here for two years during medical school, I experienced firsthand the supportive environment, dedication to patient care, and the culture that made me feel most welcomed.

 

Donovan Lewis, M.D.

Hometown: Greenville, SC
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine - Greenville
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Abdominal or Neuroradiology
Hobbies: Home projects, yard work, audiobooks, skiing, soccer
Thoughts about our program: I chose Baptist Health Radiology because I knew I wanted a career in community private practice radiology, and this program is specifically geared toward that. All attendings are subspecialty trained, and there is high image volume and robust procedural opportunity from day one. They also have a great track record with fellowship placement. A welcome and advantageous surprise has been the partnering of our program with a locally-owned, Southeast-wide Teleradiology group, Coaxion, with access to their AI-enabled PACS system and further subspecialty remote overreads and teaching. Additionally, the internal moonlighting is the best anywhere I interviewed, which is very important for my family of 4.

 

Andrew Zhang, M.D.

Hometown: Charleston, SC
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: Soccer, piano, pickleball, spending time with family and friends
Thoughts about our program: I was impressed by how the faculty and residents seemed to get along very well together, which was important to me during the residency interview trail. My experience thus far has been positive during my rotations, and I am very grateful to have matched here. Birmingham has also been a nice place to live with plenty of activities, restaurants, and events.

 

Nina Collier, M.D.

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Neuroradiology but open and excited to explore!
Hobbies: Exploring Birmingham's restaurants, going to the movies, cooking

Thoughts about our program:I was seeking a combination of a robust radiology training program and a supportive, community-oriented culture where I felt residents and faculty were genuinely invested in one another's success. It felt like a place where I could receive excellent clinical training while thriving both professionally and personally.

 

 

Dhruv Khetarpal, M.D.

Hometown: Nashville, TN
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: I have enjoyed travelling, playing and watching different sports (getting into the FIFA World Cup was so much fun), keeping up with new movies, and recently started dabbling in Lego sets!
Thoughts about our program: This is a great place to build relationships with your co-residents and get a lot of exposure to different atmospheres and clinical environments. You will also get a lot of time with your attendings, and the prelim year is really tailored to your specific interests.

 

Ryan Rauch, M.D.

Hometown: Hoover, AL
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: Hiking, playing guitar, reading
Thoughts about our program: The faculty at Baptist Health are genuinely invested in helping residents grow to become great physicians, and they will go out of their way to make sure you have the tools you need to succeed.

 

Annie Rexha, D.O.

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Career Interest or Chosen Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Hobbies: I enjoy exploring local music scenes, collecting records, cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes, and cross-stitching.
Thoughts about our program: What stood out to me most about Baptist was the people. During my audition rotation, I immediately felt welcomed by the radiology faculty and residents, and it quickly became a place where I could see myself training. I'm excited to spend the next five years learning from a supportive group while receiving outstanding training that prepares residents for success in private practice.