Clay Becomes First Chief Resident at East Alabama Medical Center

OPELIKA, Ala.—Three years after joining the inaugural class of East Alabama Medical Center’s (EAMC) Internal Medicine Program, Haley Clay, D.O., has been named the program’s first chief medical resident.

As chief resident, Dr. Clay will have the opportunity to work alongside program faculty and develop as a teacher, administrator and clinician. Along with providing patient care as an attending physician, she will supervise the residents currently in the program and teach during conferences.

“The core faculty considered every graduating resident for this position and decided on Dr. Clay,” said Dr. Nathan Douthit, program director of EAMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. “We were looking for a resident who provided exceptional clinical care and was a leader among their colleagues. We are sure that Dr. Clay will do an excellent job.”

Originally from Bainbridge, Georgia, Dr. Clay attended Columbus State University before attending medical school at VCOM-Auburn. During her third and fourth year of medical school, she completed rotations at EAMC before joining the hospital’s first class of internal medicine residents. Dr. Clay also serves as a faculty member of the internal medicine point-of-care ultrasound program.

“It is an honor [to serve as chief resident] and I am looking forward to next year,” Dr. Clay said. “This year is really about professional growth and development for me as I will be mentored by our program director and core faculty to help me achieve my goals,”

In June 2024, EAMC’s Internal Medicine Residency Program graduated its inaugural class of residents following the completion of their three-year program and welcomed 9 new residents to the 2024 class. Resident participating in the program gain broad base of diverse clinical experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

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About East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health encompasses East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, EAMC-Lanier in Valley, the Spencer Cancer Center in Opelika, the Auburn Medical Pavilion and a host of other key medical clinics and practices that help provide a continuum of care to patients throughout an 11-county area. EAMC is a 314-bed regional referral hospital, while EAMC-Lanier provides emergency and outpatient services, as well as a nursing home and an ambulatory surgery center. East Alabama Health employs about 3,800 people and is the second largest employer in the region, trailing only Auburn University. For more information, visit www.eastalabamahealth.org.