MONTGOMERY – Rising seniors in medical school are often faced with mixed emotions – the joy of soon-to-be new graduates and moving one step closer to achieving their dreams of becoming practicing physicians, and the challenge of finding a residency program that will be a perfect match for them academically and psychologically. Students will often travel across the state to across the country to find a residency program to meet their needs. The financial burden of this search can be overbearing.
The Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama wanted to help these rising medical scholars take their next step on their educational journey by creating an enduring scholarship to assist with travel and expenses while on the search for their residency programs.
“As a member of the medical family and having experienced this difficult situation with my husband many years ago when he was a rising senior, it was very important to me that we find a way to support medical students enrolled in a training program in our state,” said Nita Maddox, immediate past Scholarship Fund Chair for the Alliance. “Trying to find a residency is a most difficult time for medical students, and our hope is that the Alliance and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama can provide support for students proving that we care about them when they need a hand most. It is also a great tool to introduce these students to what we do with the hope they will participate in organized medicine when they start their practice.”
The first scholarship, awarded through The Medical Foundation of Alabama and funded through joint efforts of the Alliance and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, was awarded this year to Robert Levy of Birmingham. Levy earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa before completing a year of ophthalmology research at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Levy, who is currently attending the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, already has plans for the scholarship money.
“Because I chose ophthalmology, a very competitive field to apply to, I will be applying to around 60 schools. At $35 per application, this will cost more than $2,000 in application fees alone,” Levy explained. “Hopefully I will get quite a few interviews. Depending on how many interviews I attend, I will most likely have to take out even more loans called ‘Residency Relocation Loans.’ Those applying to the ophthalmology specialty, along with other very competitive specialties, will likely have to spend $5,000 to $10,000 on airfare and accommodations. These loans have outrageous interest rates but are the only option for many people like me. I hope to match anywhere that will take me right now, but my ideal location is the Southeast. As you can imagine the Alliance scholarship has given me the opportunity to apply to more programs to enhance my chance at obtaining a residency in ophthalmology.”
Representatives of the Alliance first approached MASA in 2010 about joining resources to create a scholarship fund for Alabama’s future physicians. Previously, the Alliance had participated in the American Medical Association Alliance’s program to raise scholarship funds that were then distributed back to Alabama’s medical schools. For decades, the Alliance was second in the nation in fundraising for the scholarship fund, but changes in the way the AMA Foundation accepted donations prompted the Alliance to look for alternatives.
“The Alliance has a long heritage of giving back to medical students with scholarships supporting them in medical school. We realize that times have changed and the avenues of giving are no longer valid for us, yet the need is still there. It has taken the Alliance years of effort and the support and giving of MASA to provide this scholarship. It is our hope that the giving will continue to be a priority for physician families, and that we will be able to provide support at a time in need for students,” Maddox said.
Applications for the Alliance scholarship may be obtained from the Dean’s Office in Alabama’s medical schools. The scholarship will be awarded annually during MASA’s Annual Session each spring.
The Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the oldest and largest organization representing physicians and medicine in Alabama, exists to serve, lead and unite physicians in promoting the highest quality of healthcare for the people of Alabama through advocacy, information and education.
The Alliance to the Medical Association of the State of Alabama is an affiliate group of MASA’s physician spouses that assists in programs for the advancement of preventive medicine and securing adequate medical legislation. Since 1923, the Alliance has worked in partnership with MASA to promote health education and support health-related charitable endeavors.

For more information, please contact MASA Director of Communications Charlotte Morris at (334) 954-2500.

Prior award recipients include San Francisco’s AT&T Park, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park and Memphis’ AutoZone Park
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Birmingham Barons have announced that Baseballparks.com has named Regions Field as their Ballpark of the Year for the 2013 season. Regions Field is the 16th ballpark to earn this award since 2000, joining previous winners AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park In Pittsburgh, PETCO Park in San Diego and Minor League ballparks including AutoZone Park in Memphis and Pensacola BayFront Stadium in Pensacola. 
 The honor is awarded annually to the new baseball stadium with the best combination of superior design, attractive site selection and fan amenities. The plaque representing the award will be presented by Joe Mock, site webmaster of Baseballparks.com, at a Birmingham Barons home game in April of next season.
  “The 2013 season and the opening of Regions Field has been an incredible moment for the Barons’ organization and the Birmingham community,” the Logan family said in a statement. “To receive this national recognition is quite an honor. There are so many people and organizations that have contributed to the development, design and construction of this ballpark and this award, along with the local support and reaction, definitively proves that Regions Field is a one of a kind ballpark that offers something for everybody.” 
 “We are so proud of the success of Regions Field,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “To see the diverse crowds, the excitement and the good old fashioned fun at the stadium has really generated a sense of community. We look forward to many years of success for this field.” 
 Mock, who wrote the review of Regions Field which appeared on both Baseballparks.com and in the May 8-14 edition of USA Today Sports Weekly, used words like “ground breaking” and “game changing” when describing the ballpark while adding, “everything about Regions Field is a special touch. That’s what creates the magic.” When his review was posted in early May, a record number of visitors and increased traffic temporarily crashed the site, something that had never happened before in the site’s history. 
 Regions Field is the second straight Southern League ballpark to win this honor, with Pensacola Bayfront Stadium having earned the award in 2012. That fact wasn’t lost on league president Lori Webb. “I’m looking forward to attending another plaque presentation ceremony,” she exclaimed when told of the news.    
 “It was exciting to learn that Regions Field was chosen by Baseballparks.com as the 2013 Ballpark of the Year,” Webb added. “Regions Field is a beautiful, tremendously functional park and one that our league, the Barons and the entire Birmingham community can be very proud of.  They have definitely raised the bar, once again, in the Southern League and throughout Minor League Baseball.”
 HKS Architects were chiefly responsible for the ballpark’s design. “HKS couldn’t be more excited by the news,” said Andy Henning, Associate Principal at the firm. “Our experience working with the Birmingham Barons and (the) City of Birmingham was incredibly rewarding because it was based on a shared passion for creating a ballpark of Birmingham. We are so pleased with the results and thrilled to see how well the facility has been received by fans of the Barons and those throughout the Birmingham area and beyond.”
 “The architects of the parks that were finalists all did outstanding work,” added Mock. “In the end, Regions Field was the one that was groundbreaking. Its views of the skyline and Red Mountain, incredible banquet hall and steel-mill exterior are just a few of its outstanding features.  Truly, Minor League parks of the future will be measured against the new facility in Birmingham.”
 “Regions is proud to have been a part of the team that brought Regions Field downtown,” said Regions North Central Alabama Area President Bill Horton. “Its development and the growth we’re seeing around it has been great for this community. We applaud the citizens and fans of the Barons for coming out and making this great venue a success.” 
 “Regions Field, an extension of Railroad Park, embraces the City and community with its many views into and out of the ballpark,” said Creig Hoskins, Owner of the Birmingham-based Hoskins Architecture. “This award will bring great recognition to the ballpark and the surrounding community.”
 
 
For more information about Regions Field or to purchase tickets, call (205) 988-3200 or visit www.barons.com, www.facebook.com/birminghambarons or follow us on Twitter at @bhambarons.