While the new nursing program signifies the University’s commitment to producing health care professionals for the future, several alumni have already paved a pathway to success as health care providers and practitioners. UM alumni have made their mark in medicine, nursing and physical therapy, among many other fields, from a solid foundation on the red brick streets as undergraduate students.
In the Fall/Winter 2024 issue of Montevallo Today, we highlight several Falcons who are making a difference in hospitals and clinics around the world.
Justin Barrick ’19, who majored in both biology and chemistry, is a post-anesthesia care unit nurse with WellStar MCG Health in Augusta, Georgia. He also earned a master’s degree in nursing at the Augusta University College of Nursing. Barrick works as a part-time faculty member at the Augusta University College of Nursing while currently working toward a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.
Christopher Boulden ’17, who earned an associate’s degree in registered nursing at Jefferson State Community College in addition to his bachelor’s degree in health promotion, is a critical care nurse with UAB Medicine in Birmingham. Boulden is a former UM men’s track and field standout.
Dr. Corey Duke ’13 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and later earned a medical doctor degree at UAB Medical School and a doctor of philosophy at UAB. He is a resident physician in pediatric neurology (M.D./Ph.D.) with Boston Children’s Hospital.
Misty (Bailey) Edwards ’06 is a wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) nurse at Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham. Edwards graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Samford University and completed WOC education at Emory University in Atlanta. Edwards serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Chapter of the WOCN® Society and is the treasurer for the Central Alabama WOC Nurses Association as well as the local race director for the Alabama Run for Resilience: Ostomy 5K.
Dr. Eli Fox ’13 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology and later earned a medical degree from Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and pediatrician with UAB Pediatrics in Huntsville.
Dr. Mechay R. Gray ’13 is a dentist and the co-owner of White Oak Family Dentistry in Homewood. Gray graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She earned her DMD (Doctora of Dental Medicine) at The University of Alabama School of Dentistry.
Dr. Tiffany Rudeseal Hethcox ’07, M.Ed. ’12 is a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) with the Frank Rudeseal, M.D., office in Hoover. Hethcox graduated from UM with a bachelor’s degree in biology as an undergraduate student before obtaining a master’s degree in secondary education in 2012. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a doctor of nursing practice degree at the Samford University Moffett and Sanders School of Nursing.
Dr. Cheyenne (Thompson) Pirrello ’17, a former women’s cross country and women’s track and field standout who was inducted in the UM Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023, is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) currently in residency for Family Medicine with HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville, Florida. She graduated from UM with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She also earned a master’s degree and a doctor of osteopathic medicine from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dasi R. Price ’00, who majored in both biology and secondary education, is the director of student experiences at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville. She also earned an education specialist degree in secondary education at UAB.
Gretchen Rudeseal-Arnold ’07 is a certified family nurse practitioner (FNP-C) and certified professional coder (CPC) with the Dr. Frank Rudeseal, M.D., office in Hoover. Rudeseal-Arnold graduated from UM with a bachelor’s degree in biology and later earned a master’s degree in nursing at UAB.
Dr. Heather (Huot) SanInocencio ’02 is a Physical Therapist (DPT) with Olympic Sports & Spine in Seattle, Washington. SanInocencio is a former UM women’s soccer standout and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. She also earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the UAB School of Medicine, with a specialty in dry needling.
The University of Montevallo has established a stellar reputation for producing professionals who are making significant contributions across various fields within the health care industry. Our alumni are not only excelling in their respective domains but are also driving innovation and improving patient care. Here is a list of several additional alumni who earned a Bachelor of Science in biology or chemistry working in the health care industry.
Additional UM Alumni Working in Health Care
| Nathan Alvis ’06, Research Scientist, Avanti Polar Lipids, Alabaster |
| Aashish Bharara ’99, MD, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta |
| Randall Buff ’02, Chemist, PCB Lab, Pell City |
| Sean Bui ’00, DMD, Issy Dental, Houston |
| Bryan Cartmell ’08, Pharmacist, Nashville Veterans Hospital |
| Mary Margaret Clapp ’07, MD, DCH Regional Medical Center, Tuscaloosa |
| Nikolaus Cordes ’05, Research and Development, Los Alamos National Laboratory |
| Jennifer Dees ’00, Chemist, Southern Research Institute, Birmingham |
| Evan Dixon ’16, MD, PGY-2 Resident, University of Louisville School of Medicine |
| Jared Ebert ’14, MD, Ophthalmologist, University of Cincinnati Medical Center |
| Rachel Ethridge Sabo ’07, MD, Colon and Rectal Surgeon, Grandview Colon and Rectal Specialists, Birmingham |
| Jason Fain ’07, MD, Pulmonologist, Birmingham Pulmonary Group |
| Hayley Gant Patridge ’11, Physician Assistant, Trauma/Acute Care Surgery, Jacksonville |
| Amanda Gosnell ’12, Pharmacist, Wal-Mart, Pelham |
| Adam Graham ’01, DMD, Alabama Family Dentistry, Gadsden |
|
Leanne Gray ’04, Account Executive, OptumRx, Irvine, Texas William Hamrick ’13, DO, Emergency Medicine, St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Birmingham |
| Johnna Headley ’06, Optometrist, Columbiana Eye Care |
| Josh Headley ’12, DMD, StoneCreek Dental Care, Vestavia Hills |
|
Jacqueline Litwiniec ’09, Pharmacist, CVS Health, Birmingham Whitney Lowe ’13, Optometrist, Eyecare Associates, Birmingham |
| Correa Norbert ’97, MD, World Medical Services, Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
| Hayes Palacio ’18, Pharmacist, CVS Health, Selma |
| Kristina Panizzi-Woodley Blackwell ’94, Ph.D., Director, PROSPER-MEd2ED Program, UAB |
| Pete Panizzi ’96, Ph.D., Professor, Harrison College of Pharmacy at Auburn University |
| My An Pham ’07, Pharmacist, Grandview Medical Center, Birmingham |
| Anthony Phelps ’03, Pharmacist, VA Birmingham Health Care |
|
Chris Pirrello ’15, Associate Dentist, Dr. Warman DDS and Associates, Bradenton, Florida Pavel Barahona Rubio ’15, MD, Family Medicine, Huntsville Hospital |
| Randall Quinn ’97, MD, Family Medicine, Cullman Regional Medical Center |
| Karl Schroeder ’03, MD, Pulmonologist, Cullman Regional Medical Center |
| Jeremy Smith ’01, MD, Anesthesiologist, Southern Anesthesia Management, Birmingham |
| Jarod Speer ’00, MD, Family Medicine, Childersburg Primary Care |
| Valerie Trotter ’05, DMD, Rivera Dental Care, Foley |
| Shannon Webb ’95, MD, Family Medicine, Roebuck Family Practice, Greer, South Carolina |
| Ashley Weil ’07, MD, Family Medicine, HCA Florida West Primary Care, Pensacola, Florida |
| Jason Williams ’98, Senior Manager for Discovery Bioanalytical Chemistry, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Birmingham |
| David Wilson ’97, MD, Internal Medicine, Clinic W, Clanton |
If you know any UM alums who also work in the health care industry, please let us know by sending an email to today@aksarayyeralticarsisi.com.
