Alumni Spotlight

Kim Werner Billet (MD '10)

Service is often seen as a duty — for Kim Werner Billet, MD (MD ’10), it was a predestined calling. As a young girl, Dr. Werner Billet knew she wanted to help others. Her passion first emerged during childhood play, when she would don a toy stethoscope and play doctor. She was raised by artistic parents who nurtured her creativity and proclivity for learning. As an American living abroad, her primary and secondary education laid the groundwork for her future success as a medical student and dermatologist.

“There was a drive toward academic excellence while matriculating through the international school system,” said Dr. Werner Billet. “Emphasis was placed not just on academic excellence, but also on becoming a well-rounded student. I could’ve cruised through my education, but my dad always pushed me to stretch beyond expectations."

Encouraged by her father, Dr. Werner Billet pushed herself to excel, often surpassing her peers. When her family returned to the U.S., her accelerated academic track continued, and she enrolled in college-level courses while still in high school. As her academic journey unfolded, the calling to serve others amplified. While pursuing her pre-med studies at William & Mary, Dr. Werner Billet enlisted in the Army National Guard — an experience, she said, prepared her to make a difference in the lives of civilians and future patients.

As a student and reservist, Dr. Werner Billet encountered a familiar pressure she experienced in her early education. However, she realized she needed an environment that supported balance over burnout to succeed, influencing her decision to apply to Eastern Virginia Medical School, now part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, where she felt her commitment to excellence and well-being would be valued.

“EVMS’s program was academically rigorous yet nurturing,” she said. “That’s a challenging balancing act — one they have mastered well.”

With the support and collegiality, she experienced at Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU, Dr. Werner Billet was thrilled when asked to participate in the Alumni Relations mock interview program for M4 students preparing for residency. Inquisitive by nature, the mock interview  process piqued her curiosity.

“I was curious to see the new generation of medical students. I wanted to reassure myself that EVMS instilled the values promoted during my time in medical school among today’s students,” she said.  “My curiosity was satisfied.”

Though curiosity led her to participate in the mock interviews, the connection she sparked with a then-M4 student, Ryan Saal, MD (MD ‘25). Dr. Saal matched with Johns Hopkins University; today, he’s in his initial year of residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU as a Dermatology resident.

“The most impressive part of the mock interview experience was getting to know Ryan as an individual,” she said. “It was a pleasure seeing how multitalented he is and indulging in that common drive for what medicine is all about — a shared passion for improving patients’ lives and empathy for the human condition. You don’t see that often in today’s medical landscape.”

As a veteran and physician, Dr. Werner Billet attributes much of her life’s philosophy to values instilled by Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU. Whether serving patients or looking forward to serving future M4 students through mentorship, she recognizes the impact of alumni showing up in numbers.

“I recommend that my fellow alumni participate in the mock interview experience,” she said. “It could help you recalibrate your passion and serve as a reminder of what inspired you to practice medicine.”

Your experience can make a lasting impact on future physicians and healthcare professionals. Answer the call — become a mock interviewer today.

To learn more about the value of the Alumni Relations mock interview program, please contact Nicole Pellegrino or Megan Pocta at 757-965-850 or email us at VHS-Alumni@ODU.edu. Be sure to keep an eye on your email for upcoming alumni events!

Ryan Saal, MD (MD’25)

As a Norfolk native, Ryan Saal, MD (MD ’25) felt a deep connection to the local arts community. Growing up, he found his home on stage, where his love for tap and musical theatre shined. But over time, his passion led him from performing to patient care, drawing him to the art of medicine. 

At Eastern Virginia Medical School, now part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, Dr. Saal found community and purpose. He volunteered at the HOPES Free Clinic, the student-run free clinic providing primary and specialized care to underserved  communities across Hampton Roads. He also gained valuable hands-on clinical experience at Pariser Dermatology. Still, the true test of his skills came when it was time to apply for residency. 

As a former theater student, Dr. Saal understood the value of preparation — insight that served him well ahead of his dermatology residency interviews. Knowing interviews would begin in December, he started prepping early. In August 2024, he participated in the Alumni Relations mock interview  process, beginning with a conversation that would set the tone for the months ahead: a one-on-one with Kim Werner Billet, MD (MD ’10). 

“It is important for M4 students to be prepared. You landed the interview, but you need to put your best foot forward,” he said. “The mock interview  with Dr. Werner Billet in addition to the four other interviews with my mentors helped me prepare for the challenging residency process.”

Much like screen-test  before a live audition, that early feedback was critical. Continued guidance from Drs. Robert Pariser and Molly Smith, helped him grow. The preparation paid off, as Dr. Saal successfully matched into a highly competitive Internal Medicine-Preliminary Dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins University and Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU. But another source of support came from an unexpected place: a gift from Cindy Earhart, a longtime supporter of the medical school, allowing him to enroll into medical school without the added weight of financial stress. 

“Receiving that gift is hard to put into words. I am forever grateful to Mrs. Earhart,” he said. 

Now beginning his intern year at Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU, Dr. Saal is eager to work alongside many of the Internal Medicine physicians who once mentored him as a student, and to serve the community he has always called home. 

“The values I learned at EVMS will stay with me,” he said. “I will be the best representative I can be.” 

Gain the confidence you need to make a successful match! Sign up for a mock interview today.

To learn more about the value of the Alumni Relations mock interview program, please contact Nicole Pellegrino or Megan Pocta at 757-965-8500 or email VHS-Alumni@ODU.edu. 

Andrew Curtis, M.P.H., ‘06 (M.P.H. ‘08)

Andrew Curtis is the chief of staff to the Senior VP of CareFirst Government Programs, leading the Government Programs Transformation Office. He works with executives to enhance operations and drive growth in Affordable Care Act Medicaid and Medicare, ensuring quality care in the National Capital Region.

With leadership experience at Elevance Health and in Virginia’s public health sector, Andrew is also a serial entrepreneur, having owned multiple businesses, including a non-emergency medical transportation company. He continues to consult for service-based small businesses.

Andrew holds a B.S. in Biology from Old Dominion University and an M.P.H. from Eastern Virginia Medical School, now a part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. He lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and six children, enjoying travel and family time.

Q. What led you to choose the EVMS/ODU Joint M.P.H. Program as an applicant? 
A. Two years before applying to the program I participated in an EVMS summer internship program for pre-med students as a sophomore at ODU. This program exposed me to a wide range of specialty doctors but also gave me a glimpse into public health. By the time I got to my senior year I was burnt out in science classes, but knew I wanted to work in healthcare. I recalled a few medical students from that internship that talked to us about the EVMS dual MD/M.P.H program, which led me to dig more into focusing on an M.P.H. The more I learned, the more interested I became in just getting my MPH. I applied to the joint program and the rest is history, as they say. 

Q. What is your favorite memory from your time as an M.P.H. student? 
A. My favorite memories were the late-night study sessions with friends that I still have, especially for Epidemiology classes. Without them I would not have made it through, my focus was public health management because numbers and data analysis were of no interest at the time (laughter). 

Q. What is the most valuable piece of advice you received as a student? 
A. Stay open to opportunities and pursue purpose and passion as you build your skills. Public health has evolved over the last 15–20 years, offering careers beyond government roles. When I started, options were mostly in local, state, or federal government with modest starting salaries, requiring years of career building. Now, hospitals, insurers and consulting firms actively seek public health professionals. With 17 years across government, private and now a nonprofit health insurer, I’ve found rewards, challenges, and growth in every role, while also supporting my family and enabling my spouse to be home during our six children’s early years.

Q. How did your educational journey, from earning your undergraduate degree at Old Dominion to completing your Master of Public Health at EVMS, shape and prepare you for your current career
A. My educational journey was shaped primarily by my increased level of engagement in student activities and clubs with each successive year. While my classes were extremely important and I had some wonderful instructors, I built a strong foundation in leadership, emotional intelligence, and a passion for service through memberships and roles in the Pre-Health Club, Pre-Medical Honor Society, Student Government and as a Resident Assistant. Having a balanced college and graduate school experience helped grow my perspective on life and helped me find direction early in my career.

Kimberly Span (MD '07, Internal Medicine Residency '10)

Kimberly Span, MD, earned her undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology from the University of Virginia in 2003 before attending Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), where she graduated with the Class of 2007. She continued her training at EVMS, completing her Internal Medicine residency in 2010.

Now serving as the medical staff president and chief hospitalist for Sentara Medical Group’s Hospital Medicine program at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, Dr. Span leads a team of physicians and advanced practice providers, ensuring high-quality care for hospitalized patients. She is also a trailblazer — recently becoming the first woman in the hospital’s 60-year history to be elected medical staff president.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
A: A true Hampton Roads local, I was born at Sentara Virginia Beach Hospital, the hospital in which I currently practice. At the age of 16, I had surgery at CHKD to correct scoliosis. With a lot of anxiety around the surgery, I extensively investigated the condition and spoke with others who had gone through the same procedure. It was through this process I realized my love for medicine. 

Q: How did your academic and early medical experiences shape your decision to specialize in Internal Medicine?
A. I attended undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia, graduating in 2003 with a BA in Biology and Psychology. During college, I drove back to Virginia Beach often to complete shifts with VBEMS as an EMT. Given my background in EMS, I was initially interested in the emergency medicine field; however, it was during my third year of medical school at EVMS on the hospital medicine rotation that I fell in love with internal medicine.

My clinical professors during third year were so inspiring — their dedication to their patients and to the art of medicine left a lasting impression. I love being able to follow patients through their hospitalization and immediately see the results of my treatment plan to make real-time adjustments. It’s an honor to partner with patients in their worst moments and work with them to improve their health. 

Q: Can you share what it means to you to serve in leadership roles at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and how these achievements have shaped your journey?
A. I currently serve as chief hospitalist for the Sentara Medical Group Hospital Medicine program at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. In this role, I provide clinical oversight of a team of 27 physicians and advanced practice providers who care for hospitalized patients. In 2024, I was elected by the Medical Executive Committee to serve as president of the SVBGH Medical Staff, becoming the first woman in the hospital’s 60-year history to hold this position.

In December 2024, I was selected as an honoree for the Inside Business 2024 Women in Business Achievement Awards, joining a long list of prestigious women who are among the top female business leaders in the region. This has been a full circle moment — being born here and taught by this medical community and now helping to lead it into the future.

Q: What drew you to EVMS for your medical education?
A. Despite being accepted to all the Virginia medical schools, I chose EVMS because I was inspired by EVMS’ origin story — its founders saw a future need for physicians in the Hampton Roads community, and I knew I wanted to practice here after training. I also loved the early focus on patient care and hands-on experience, even during the initial didactic years.

Q. How has your experience at EVMS influenced your career?
I recall my time at EVMS fondly and am grateful for the opportunities and connections EVMS has provided. It really was the best of all the worlds. I received top-notch training in a supportive environment and made life-long colleagues and friends. EVMS’ integration with ODU is exciting and will prepare the next generation of homegrown healthcare professionals to provide much-needed services to our citizens — including me!

Q: What advice would you give to anyone pursuing a career in healthcare?
A. My advice for anyone considering a career in healthcare is to be persistent and seek out connections and mentorship opportunities among other professionals in healthcare. Trust yourself and stay true to your values. 

Alumni Spotlight

Christian M. Joyner, MPA, PA-C (MPA '06)

Christian Joyner finished her undergrad at Old Dominion University before coming to EVMS (now Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University).

What are you currently doing professionally? I opened a Primary Care/Wellness clinic near Old Dominion University on Colley Ave. As the owner and provider, I have to balance administrative duties and patient care which can be very challenging. Luckily, I have a great crew who are a huge support!!

Do you have a mentor from your time at EVMS as you trained to become a PA? It is hard to pick just one mentor! The late Dr. David Scott was an inspiring professor who helped the students have an appreciation of what it takes to be an effective part of the health care team and Cecil Gandia, was an inspiring preceptor and graduate of EVMS PA program. She embodied the image of what a PA could be, not just limiting the focus to patient care, but demonstrating what it looks like to give back to the EVMS community and the community at large. She has recently opened up her own practice, as well.

How did ODU & EVMS prepare you for your current position? I graduated ODU with a Bachelor’s of Science degree and toward the end of my education there, I was a research assistant student in the Anatomy Lab. From that position, I was granted a research assistant student/intern position at EVMS. While working in the lab at EVMS, I came across the very new Physician Assistant program and became more familiar with the role of the PA in the health care team. At the time, Physician Assistants were not very well utilized and the program was in its infancy. The experience I received at ODU and the support of ODU faculty, provided me the opportunity of a great educational foundation that allowed me to be accepted into the program and ultimately excel at EVMS. I am proud to be an alumni from both programs.

What is something you are looking forward to? I look forward growing the practice. I believe the message we are trying to bring to the community is part of a bigger voice within the medical community. This message empowers individuals to take a more active role in their health and longevity. Not just accepting their diagnoses as a life long sentence, but rather finding ways of healing their bodies naturally and preventing disease. You will find me researching various topics on methods to approach and practice evidence based root cause medicine.

Alumni Spotlight

Casey McDaniel, LPC, ATR-BC (MS '17)

 Nurturing healing through art and psychotherapy

Casey McDaniel, LPC, ATR-BC (MS ’17) has been passionate about art since she was a kid experimenting with different materials.

 “I just loved making and creating,” McDaniel says. “I remember I made a dollhouse out of computer paper.”

 Her enduring love of art, combined with a fascination with psychology, shaped a career path in which she guides others toward self-discovery and healing. McDaniel is a psychotherapist and a board-certified art therapist. She also is pursuing certification as an eating disorder specialist.

 Growing up in Norwood, a small town near Boston, Casey was an honors student and captain of the gymnastics and volleyball teams. In high school, an introduction to psychology class sparked her interest in the subject and understanding how people think. Personal experiences with therapy during her adolescence also played a pivotal role in her career choice. She wanted to be able to provide to others the kind of support she needed back then.

After double majoring in psychology and studio art at the University of Vermont, McDaniel spent some time working at a domestic violence shelter as well as mentoring a girl at a youth center.

She then pursued her master’s in art therapy and counseling at EVMS. She appreciated EVMS’ clinical approach and described her experience as “a whirlwind” – an intensive, immersive period that shaped her into a well-rounded clinician. Faculty were incredibly supportive, she said, and the small class size led to close-knit relationships.

Upon graduating from EVMS in 2017, McDaniel went into community health, providing direct care and supervision in intensive in-home and mental health skill-building services, in addition to providing outpatient therapy.

In 2020, she joined the team at Peninsula Child and Family Services. She specializes in outpatient therapy, primarily with children and teenagers dealing with eating disorders.

“It’s just really wonderful to see the spark come back for people as they start to see themselves for how amazing and awesome and cool they actually are,” she says. “It’s such a privilege to be part of that journey with them.”

Her approach is a combination of verbal therapy and art therapy. The latter isn’t as much about developing art skills as it is about clients’ “authentic expression and their engagement in the process,” she said. McDaniel noted that process and materials instruction from Matthew G. Bernier, MCAT, ATR-BC, Associate Professor in EVMS’ Art Therapy and Counseling, MS program, was especially helpful. Students learned about different materials available for art making, from pencils to found materials to paint, and their applications.

The art therapy program also helped McDaniel foster her own artistic identity. “It’s not just that we have people use these tools. I also use them for myself to do some art-making,” she says in an interview from her office, where a chalk wall serves as a canvas for her own creative expressions. She also enjoys collage and working with acrylic paints.

McDaniel has remained involved with the art therapy program, participating in trainings and making presentations.

Despite her busy work schedule and personal life — she just got married in October — McDaniel accepted the opportunity to serve on the EVMS Alumni Advisory Board. . She recognizes the importance of staying connected with the EVMS community, sharing knowledge, and contributing to the education of future professionals.

Learn more about the program.

 

 

Alumni Spotlight

Kelly W. Brown, MPH (MPH '06), MBA

 Kelly W. Brown, MPH (MPH ’06), MBA realized while pursuing a finance degree at Virginia Tech that she did not want to become a stockbroker, banker or work in the field in a traditional sense.

Through friends and family, she learned about the non-clinical programs at Eastern Virginia Medical School that were more business oriented. The Portsmouth native toured EVMS and fell in love with its community feel.

“I decided I would rather put my financial and business skills, and time and passion, into something more meaningful: the public health of the community that I wanted to come back and live in,” Brown says.

So, after completing her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Tech, Brown went on to earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) from EVMS.

She has spent most of her career working with Amerigroup (later named Anthem/Elevance through acquisitions) and currently serves as the Staff Vice President for Business Improvement within Provider/Clinical Operations and Performance Analytics.  

As a student at EVMS, Brown was good with data but not so adept on the biology side of health. Through practicum programs focusing on research and patient observations, she was exposed to the clinical side of healthcare, which brought the ‘math’ to life. 

Brown enjoyed volunteering at The Strelitz Diabetes Center, getting to work with Aaron Vinik, MD, PhD, who then was director of research at the center. “It was here that I first learned to not isolate diabetes as a singular disease, but all of the impacts it has on the quality of one’s life,” Brown says. “This also shaped a strong perspective on preventative care and maintenance. And that’s the type of experience they would give you, right there in the community with your neighbors.”

She also worked at the C3ID Infectious disease/HIV clinic that EVMS staffed in Nassawadox, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. She documented patients’ conditions and their social determinants of health. Most patients were migrant workers with a panel of comorbidities — both behavioral and physical. This is where she also learned that ‘whole health’ matters.

These personal, community-based experiences are a big part of what makes EVMS exceptional, Brown says. “They give you national exposure to academics, but is hyper-focused on learning within our local communities,” she said. “That’s what sets the student experience apart from other institutions.”

Brown has remained very involved as an alumna. She joined the EVMS Alumni Board in 2009 and served as chair from 2016-2022. Recently, she participated in a networking event for the American Medical Women's Association Student Chapter at EVMS and Alumni Relations. This speed networking event provided a space where current female identifying medical students could connect with alumni and ask career and personal questions on a variety of topics. Her advice? “Have fun, get grounded in work-life balance, and learn the business side of healthcare…its complex!”

To fine-tune her business skills, Brown attended Old Dominion University, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2012. That put her in the position of being an alumna of two schools that are working toward integration to create a new health sciences center in Hampton Roads.

“Both schools bring so many core competencies to the table that are academic, social, cultural, and with community-based benefits,” Brown says.

The merger provides pathways to more advanced and specialized clinical education that “create the runway to build some really creative integrative programs based on the student population,” she says.

For example, a student studying nursing at ODU might decide to go on to earn an MD at EVMS — and if they want to be an administrator, they can pursue an MPH as well. And ODU’s robust athletic program will provide EVMS students interested in sports medicine an opportunity to study athletes up close, assist with care and conduct research.

Plus, she adds, “now that ODU has a football team, how cool will it be for EVMS students to attend games as well and be part of that family?”

Brown encourages students, teachers and alumni of both schools, as well as members of the community, to rally behind everyone who is making the integration happen.

“Be open with ideas, be willing to volunteer your time,” she says. “Great things are never done by one person — they’re done by a team! We are so lucky to have these special institutions in our backyard that do so much for our communities, and even more so in the future collaboration.”

 

 

Alumni Spotlight

Rolando DeLeon, MD (MD ’82), FACOG

When Rolando DeLeon, MD (MD ’82), came back to the EVMS campus for his 40^th Class reunion, his love and enthusiasm for his alma mater was tangible. It became quickly evident that Dr. DeLeon was a perfect keynote for the upcoming 2023 White Coat Ceremony, taking place on Friday, August 18 this summer.

Dr. DeLeon was born in Cuba to parents who migrated to Miami then Northern Virginia during the Castro regime, and he lived in Puerto Rico with his grandparents until he was about 8 years old. But “if you ask me where’s home, home is Virginia,” where he was educated, says Dr. DeLeon, a Miami-based obstetrician-gynecologist who helped found Florida’s largest multi-specialty private practice group.

Once his parents settled in Northern Virginia, Dr. DeLeon joined them. After high school, he studied biology and biochemistry at Virginia Tech before going to Eastern Virginia Medical School for what was then a three-year program.

“It was a really magical place” where the faculty made him believe in what he could do, and in his potential as a physician. Dr. DeLeon says, “All of us who were there, created bonds that were so tight, because it was such a magical experience.” The Class of 1982 was overwhelmingly the most represented at last year’s Alumni Weekend

He would add, “I think I can speak safely for my classmates in saying …that they would tell you those were the three best years of their professional lives, bar none.”

Dr. DeLeon fondly recalls twice-yearly retreats with faculty and students, in Staunton and in Nags Head, North Carolina. There also were well-attended joyful POETS gatherings every other Friday that would begin at the then-new Lewis Hall and continue at nearby establishments.

His love for teaching during his residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital led him to remain on faculty at UM/JMH for a few years, before going into private practice.

During that time, he met a brilliant young OBGYN resident. Dr. DeLeon has followed with special interest the career of that intern, Dr. Alfred Abuhamad, now President, Provost and Dean of the School of Medicine at EVMS.

Last April, when Dr. DeLeon and his wife were on the Outer Banks, he texted Dr. Abuhamad to say he would be in Norfolk the next day and ask if he could stop by briefly. The very next morning, the two men ended up spending an hour together catching up on old friends and reminiscing about their time at “the Jack.” Such are the ties we create in medicine.

“It speaks to the bonds you can have with people whose lives you touch at a critical point in their development as physicians” says Dr. DeLeon, who returned to Norfolk in October for his class reunion during Alumni Weekend.

When reflecting on his career, Dr. DeLeon doesn’t know what sparked his interest in medicine. There were no physicians in his family, nor did he have any role models in healthcare. But by the eighth grade, he knew he wanted to become an obstetrician. He remembers joking with friends that he would be delivering their wives’ babies.

“What made it hard was that I was not so great a student,” says Dr. DeLeon, who improved his grades enough to get into Tech, where he walked on to the football team. He injured his knee and stopped playing at the end of his freshman year, which he says was fortunate because he turned his focus on raising his “abysmal” grade-point average.

He was put on a waitlist when he first applied to EVMS as a college senior, spent a “gap year” working for a couple doctors and then got accepted to the medical school.

“I am somebody who had no business getting into the college I got into, much less the medical school I got into,” says Dr. DeLeon. “To me that was a gift. It was a gift that I did not come to realize until many years later. It was a gift that had been given to me so that I could live my life paying back the privilege of being a physician, in what I did, in how I practiced medicine, in the babies I delivered, and now in passing on my love for medicine to the next generation. I was undeservedly blessed.” 

That’s why it’s important, Dr. DeLeon says, for him to stay involved with EVMS as an alumnus. He is a regular donor to the school, who currently serves as an OBGYN Residency Mock Interviewer for our fourth-year students.   As a member of his class, he is involved with a memorial foundation that his classmate, Dr. Gordon Iiams set up to honor David Brown, MD, a 1982 EVMS graduate who was one of the seven astronauts killed in the space shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.

“I got to live out my dream of being a doctor,” Dr. DeLeon says. “I got to attend the best medical school in the world and to develop colleagues and friends who are lifelong brothers and sisters to me. I truly hope to have enough time to pay it all back.”

"It is a privilege, both personally and professionally, to welcome Dr. DeLeon back to EVMS for such a pivotal moment in the lives of our young medical students," says Dr. Abuhamad. "His passion for medicine is contagious as is his commitment to teaching medical students and residents. His life has been about serving others. I believe his story will inspire our students for years to come."

DeLeon is currently at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale Florida where he has served as the Founding Chair of the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2020. He remains the only faculty member to teach students in each year of medical school. He recently made the local/national news in March, closing out his clinical obstetrical career when delivering the baby of the first baby he ever delivered 34 years prior, at the same hospital. You can read more about that career shaping moment in the Miami Herald.

 

Alumni Spotlight

Wesley L. Mitchell, MSA (MS '08, MSA '14)

Wesley Mitchell Jr., MSA, CSA, became interested in healthcare by way of church and family.

 Mitchell’s father was a minister, and after church on Sundays in rural Coosa County, Alabama, the family would visit people in the hospital, nursing homes or their houses to sit and pray with them.

 “That put me in the healthcare space, of taking care of others and your community,” says Mitchell, a certified surgical assistant. He owns Highland Surgical, a boutique surgical assistant firm in Atlanta, where he specializes in general surgery, bariatric surgery and robotic surgery.

 Mitchell had a grandfather who worked as an orderly at a hospital. “That was my earliest memory of someone being in a medical field,” Mitchell says.

 Mitchell studied biology at Tuskegee University. Initially he considered going into research, but then he realized he was more geared to a profession in medicine, by the patient’s bedside.

 After college, he was introduced to surgery when he worked for six months at the Alabama Organ Center, harvesting bones and organs. A physician assistant at the center suggested he look into Eastern Virginia Medical School.

 “I applied, and the next thing I knew, I was moving to Virginia,” after living in Alabama all his life.

 Mitchell attended EVMS from 2006 to 2008, earning a surgical assistant certificate. He then moved to Atlanta to work for a small company for several years before he started Highland Surgical in 2012. In 2013, he obtained a master’s degree in surgical assisting from EVMS through the master’s bridge program.

“EVMS really laid down the foundation for me to soar,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell says he loved the camaraderie he found among students in all of the programs at EVMS. “If you had a question, you could ask your peers,” he says. “No matter what program they were in, everybody was willing to help you find the answer.”

He also fondly recalls anatomy class taught by Paul Aravich, PhD. But perhaps the memory of EVMS that sticks out the most in his mind was a 26-hour trauma rotation that started at 5 a.m. on a Friday at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

Mitchell recalled being paired with an attending surgeon and going to every trauma call that came in. The pace didn’t slow down until sometime after midnight. At 3 a.m. the next day, Saturday, Mitchell managed to get a little rest. At 5 a.m., all of the attendings and residents were up, seeing patients and getting ready for the next attending who would be on call.

That day, it was Chair of Surgery L.D. Britt, MD, MPH, “which was extremely exciting for me and very nerve-wracking for me. At that time, I had only seen Dr. Britt in passing,” Mitchell recalls.

“Dr. Britt shows up. We all start rounding together. And I’m not the most important person there at all. I’m just kind of in the background, soaking up all this experience and all this knowledge. I’m taking it all in.”

At one point, Dr. Britt — now EVMS’ Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs, the Edward J. Brickhouse Chair in Surgery and the Henry Ford Professor of Surgery — asked a couple residents to describe the process for pronouncing a patient to be brain dead. They answered.

“Then, he called on me,” Mitchell says. “My eyes were so big with shock and surprise that he realized I was there. He’s been all over the world, speaking and giving his time and his knowledge and me, I’m a little kid from Alabama.”

Today, as a Community Faculty member, Mitchell, helps out when EVMS students come to Atlanta yearly for training in robotic surgery. He also returns to EVMS every year to help students prepare to start clinical rotation.

“I always tell them: Your time here at EVMS is going to lay the foundation for you to enter the workforce. You should feel so confident when leaving EVMS that all you have to do now is put building blocks on top of what EVMS has laid for you.”

Mitchell went to a high school where Black students like himself made up about 40 percent of the population. Then, he was surrounded by Black students at Tuskegee, an HBCU. At EVMS, Mitchell was the only Black male student in his class. “Not many Black students decide to go into medicine,” Mitchell says.

 He offers this advice to Black students attending EVMS today: “Sometimes you’ll be one of a few, but always put your best foot forward. Know what’s inside of you, and keep reaching for stars.”