Dr. Sean Groark, class of 1985

A heart to give back

Dr. Sean Groark's medical career has taken him from Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a cardiology fellow, through executive leadership stints at Huntsville Hospital, to assistant professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Huntsville.

Dr. Sean Groark, class of 1985 Having graduated summa cum laude from Birmingham-Southern with a double major in biology and chemistry, followed by a degree from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Groark's heart and mind is now bent on reciprocating the education he received.

“I recently joined a group of BSC students on their Interim trip to Roatan, where we were deeply immersed in coral reef ecology and Honduran island culture,” says Groark, a Birmingham native. “I had the rare opportunity to be a student again and to interact with BSC students, and hopefully I gave them insight on the value of their liberal arts education at BSC.”

Groark names Professor Emeritus of Biology Dan Holliman, Associate Professor of Biology Andy Gannon, and Acting Provost and Ada Rittenhouse Snavely Professor of Biology Wayne Shew among the many great BSC teachers who helped to prepare him for the challenges of medical school and beyond.

“Every professor I studied under at BSC took an active interest in me and helped me along the way,” says Groark, who was a biology teaching assistant his senior year. “I not only learned to master the material presented to me, but was also taught to think critically and to apply what I had learned to problem solve.

“My four years at Birmingham-Southern gave me a firm foundation for lifelong education and service.”