Brittany Shanks - Director of Community Engagement & Education

I completed a degree in business at the University of Alabama and have worked at Cahaba since 2009. I grew up in Centreville and now live with my family in Maplesville. My husband Brandon and I have three sons (Bryant, Brooks, and Bradley).

Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and baking,“yard-saling” (almost every article of clothing I own was purchased second-hand), bargain hunting, working with her church family, and watching SEC football.

I love Cahaba, my team, and my job, and honestly cannot envision myself in any other job, but if I did not work at CMC, I would love to host a cooking show.

Catarina Mojica - Graduate Medical Education Manager

I am from Bessemer, Al, which is similar to the West End community. It has been rewarding growing up in a diverse area where you can meet people from all walks of life. God has provided so many avenues to show His love to a lost city. In my local church, I was involved in youth ministry for several years. I have had the opportunity to teach and encourage teenagers. Hearing the struggles that teenagers face in this society and being there to see them overcome obstacles has increased my faith in Christ.

My college years were spent at UAB where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. While working in the retail industry, I became interested in customer service and office management. Since I am slightly a perfectionist and enjoy helping people solve problems, this seemed like a solid career path. I knew Cahaba UAB Family Medicine Residency was the right choice after reading the job description and researching the company. With just a glance into CFMR, their mission is evident. It is to provide quality medical services while being the hands and feet of Christ. I was immediately attracted to the job because I desired not only to work somewhere that applied to my degree and skill set, but also to be in an environment where the Word of God is exemplified. It is incredibly rewarding seeing patients being taken care of physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

When I am not filling out a spreadsheet or organizing an event, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Whether it’s an adventurous hike or shopping, it’s always fun. I also have two lovable, but disobedient dogs. Mowgli and Groot seem to always get involved into some mischief, but that makes life more interesting.

If I wasn’t in this current position, I would pursue event planning. I love planning parties and being there to support someone on their special day. Plus, who doesn’t love cake?

Karen Dixon, PhD - Research and Curriculum Coordinator

I was raised in Erie, PA but have always been a southerner at heart. I was happy to leave the yearly snowdrifts and gray days. I received my bachelors degree from Rockford College in Rockford, IL where I double majored in biology and chemistry. When it was time to look for a graduate program my husband’s only criteria was that it be somewhere in the south! I received my PhD in biochemistry and molecular genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). I followed this with a postdoc in the neurobiology department at UAB.

Choosing not to continue as a bench scientist, I worked for a number of years at the Civitan International Research Center at UAB as the assistant director of program development and assistant professor in the department of neurobiology.

In 2000, along with several others, I co-founded the international organization, Parents of Infants and Children with Kernicterus (PICK). I was the president as well as chair of the board for PICK for several years. During this time I had the opportunity to travel extensively in the US to talk about kernicterus and patient safety. It was an incredible learning opportunity to work with several of our federal health care agencies and work to bring about change in patient healthcare.

I have been involved in teaching in various capacities and levels since I was an undergraduate and then at UAB. I have been working at Cahaba since 2020 as Faculty, Research and Curriculum Coordinator and I really enjoy working with the residents and helping them to achieve their goals.

I have been married for over 35 years and have one married son. In my spare time I like to spend time with my family and friends, swimming, and working in my studio on my glass art.