Chief Residents

I’m originally from India, where I completed medical school before heading to New York and Texas for electives and research. If you had told me back then that I’d end up in Florence, Alabama, I probably would’ve laughed — but somehow, this quiet Southern town won me over. The weather is great, the people are kind and ‘Southern hospitality’ is definitely not a myth.

As someone interested in pursuing Pulmonary and Critical Care, I’ve really valued the strong hands-on training here. There’s a real sense of autonomy — you’re trusted, challenged and given room to grow. Whether it's managing critically ill patients or making independent decisions, the learning feels real and meaningful. Outside the hospital, I enjoy cooking, hosting and exploring the outdoors — Florence has been surprisingly perfect for all of it.

If you're considering this program, my advice is: try to enjoy the process — you might just end up loving a place you never saw coming.

Moving to the United States with my family to begin my internal medicine residency was both an exciting and daunting experience. As an Egyptian, I was stepping into a world vastly different from my own—not just in terms of medical practice, but also in everyday interactions, traditions, and cultural nuances. Everyone I knew kept asking, “Why are you moving to the United States after having a well-established career in Egypt and starting all over again?” To be honest, I asked myself the same question at one point and wondered if it would truly be worth it.

I found my answer as soon as I joined North Alabama Medical Center. I was genuinely impressed by the hospital’s high standards of care. The quality of medical education, the abundance of resources, and the strong mentorship available to residents opened my eyes to a whole new world of medicine I hadn’t experienced before.

Here, hard work truly pays off. I was honored to be selected as one of the chief residents—a deeply meaningful moment that reflected the trust of the leadership and gave me the opportunity to grow and contribute to the improvement of our program. The support and guidance I received from faculty and program coordinators was nothing short of exceptional. It made me feel like I was part of a family. Florence has become a home to me, and I know I’ll be back—perhaps to settle here for good.

Coming into residency at North Alabama Medical Center felt like coming home, but with even more heart. Having lived in Huntsville, Alabama, before residency, I was already familiar with the warmth and kindness of Southern hospitality. But moving to Florence added a whole new dimension. Here, I found not just colleagues and faculty, but a deeply rooted community—people who genuinely cared about my growth, both as a physician and as a person.

Within the hospital, I was able to sharpen my clinical skills through the diverse pathology I encountered, and the program supported me in every pursuit: from presenting research at national conferences to leading peer education sessions and contributing to quality improvement initiatives. I was continually impressed by the accessibility and strength of subspecialty support across all major disciplines. I was honored to serve as a Chief Resident, a role that allowed me to hone my leadership skills, advocate for my peers, and make a meaningful contribution to the program's culture and structure.

Outside the hospital, the slower pace of life in Florence taught me to appreciate stillness, reflection, and joy. Being surrounded by nature, having access to multicultural cuisine in nearby cities, and perhaps most importantly knowing that my family was happy and thriving in this area made the experience all the more fulfilling. NAMC hasn’t just been where I trained: it’s where I truly grew into myself.