By Staff Reports

The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences’ (CCHS) Rural Health Leaders Pipeline recently welcomed 18 students from rural Alabama who want to become primary care physicians and dentists in the state’s rural communities. Among them was Rutledge native, Kailand-Ascia Brown.

Brown is a graduate of Luverne High School who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical sciences and psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and a Master of Science in multidisciplinary biomedical sciences at UAB.

The Rural Medical Scholars Program is a five-year medical education program exclusively for rural Alabama students who want to become physicians and practice in rural communities. The program leads to obtaining a medical degree and includes a year of study and a master’s degree in rural community health at CCHS, after students receive their undergraduate degree, as well as early admission to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.

Rural Medical Scholars spend their first two years of medical school at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s main campus in Birmingham and return to CCHS for their third and fourth years of medical school, which are known as the clinical training years.

“We are excited to welcome the 29th class of Rural Medical Scholars to campus,” said Dr. Antonio Gardner, director of education and evaluation for CCHS Rural Programs. “We are thrilled to contribute to their academic and professional development before they matriculate to the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Our hope is that they will return to rural Alabama to practice medicine and improve health access and health outcomes in those areas.”

The 2024-25 class includes Will Akin, of Hanceville; Marcy Birge, of Slocomb; Ally Brewer, of Florence; Kailand-Ascia Brown, of Rutledge; Townley Cornelius, of Cullman; Lauren Hay, of Clanton; Natalie Moon, of Centre; Max Moussad, of Russellville; Boyd Ogles, of Ashland; Trey Pinkerton, of Fayette and Angela Vincent, of Birmingham.

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.