New students with great expectations listened attentively to the dual welcome extended by Dr. Ronald Franks, Vice President for Health Services and Dr. Samuel Strada, Acting Dean of the College of Medicine. Their advice was direct: study, do not get behind, take care of yourself, and ask for help when needed. The sophomore committee organized the two-day event sharing tried and true advice on how to survive the first year of medical school. According to Mark Scott, Director of Admissions, not only is this the largest freshman class (74 new students), it is also academically talented. Two students maintained perfect 4.0 GPA’s, and most were on academic scholarships and in honor programs.

The majority of this freshmen class matriculated to the College of Medicine with majors in biomedical sciences (biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, behavioral biology, neuroscience, psychology). Other majors include: German, engineering, philosophy, nursing, and sociology. Several students had non-traditional paths to medical school including a transplant nurse, paramedic, high school teacher, several financial investors and two attorneys.

Class of 2011
76 students (33 female, 43 male)

Undergraduate schools represented: Alcorn State, Athens State, Auburn (16), Birmingham Southern, David Lipscomb, Duke, Emory (3), Florida State, LSU, St. Louis University, Samford (2), Spelman College, Southern University, Springhill College (4), Troy State, Tulane (2), Univ. of Alabama (12), Univ. of California, Univ. of Central Florida, Univ.of Georgia (3), Univ. of Mobile, Univ. of Montevallo (2), Univ. of Notre Dame, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Univ. of Richmond, UAB (3), Vanderbilt (3) and the University of South Alabama (9).

Alabama counties represented: Baldwin, Barbour, Chilton, Colbert, Covington, Cullman (2), Etowah, Hale, Houston (5), Jackson, Jefferson (8), Lauderdale, Lee (3), Madison (9), Marshall, Mobile (15), Montgomery (2), Morgan, Russell, Shelby (5), Tuscaloosa (3), Walker, and Washington