Whiddon College of Medicine names new Aequitas Health Medical Honor Society members
Posted on August 4, 2026
The Whiddon College of Medicine has selected six medical students from the Class of 2027 as new members of the Aequitas Health Medical Honor Society. The students were recognized for documented work advancing health equity through community engagement, education, research, service and mentorship.
The University of South Alabama chapter is led by President Dr. Ashley Williams and supported by the Whiddon College of Medicine Office of Health Advancement and Dr. Melody Petty, assistant dean for health advancement. Aequitas Health is a national medical honor society founded in 2021 to recognize medical students who address health needs in their communities through action, research and service.
Class of 2027 members
- Ashley Bates
- Nia Booth
- Taryn Hartley
- Jay Herrin
- Lien Kimbell
- Megan Kirby
Addressing Health Disparities Through Action
The following examples reflect health-equity work completed by the new members of the Aequitas Health Medical Honor Society Class of 2027:
- Designed and delivered accessible health education, including doctor-visit preparation for PASSAGE students, age-appropriate sessions for youth, and multilingual skin-cancer materials for local clinics.
- Supported care navigation by helping with medical paperwork and symptom communication and connecting people with transportation, child care, food, utility, behavioral-health and other community resources.
- Organized women’s health outreach at a Mobile shelter serving women experiencing homelessness and at reproductive health fairs, sharing education on preventive care, reproductive health, breast cancer, stroke recognition and menopause.
- Contributed to maternal and infant health efforts through Fetal and Infant Mortality Review work, community education on risk factors, safe-sleep resources and connections to local behavioral-health services.
- Conducted research and quality-improvement activities examining health literacy, skin-cancer prevention and screening, local health discrepancies affecting LGBTQ+ people, and differences in delivery pathways.
- Mentored premedical students through application support, mock interviews, career-skill development and networking, helping address gaps in guidance for health professions training.
- Served alongside providers at free clinics in Dominican Republic communities, including Spanish-speaking patients, helping address limited access to care and communication barriers.
These activities reflect the new members’ ongoing work to address practical barriers to health and health care. Over the next year, chapter leadership and new members will organize a community project to address locally identified health needs.
