Meet our Spring 2025 Alumni Spotlight

My name is Jerri Alley. I grew up in Ashland, Kentucky. I live in Harrisonburg, Virginia now.

What is your connection to the Department of Biology? 

I was a biology major at UK. I graduated with a BS in Biology in 1992. 

What was your overall experience with the department? UK? 

I loved every aspect of my experience in the department of Biology! I felt very supported by faculty and staff.  My undergrad years were just before the William T. Young library was built, when the Biology Library was still on the third floor of the Thomas Hunt Morgan building. I worked in the library for 3 years during undergrad, and it was a great opportunity to get to know all the professors in the department. I also worked in Dr. Brian Rymond’s lab, which was a wonderful experience.

What is your current role/position/title in your career? 

I am a physician and a small business owner- my practice is called Harrisonburg Dermatology. I employ 2 physician assistants and 9 other team members.

- How did you get to this position? 

After completing my biology degree, I attended UK College of Medicine, and then did my residency in dermatology in Little Rock at the University of Arkansas hospital.

- How has this role made a positive impact on your community? 

Since the focus of my practice is general medical dermatology, my team and I spend a lot of our time diagnosing and treating skin cancers.  We also treat other skin conditions that adversely affect patients’ quality of life. As my practice has become more successful, I have been able to support schools, nonprofits, and fun events in my community, which has been immensely rewarding.

- What do you like most about your position? The most challenging? 

I love using the expertise I gained during my training to help patients live healthier, longer lives. I love the many relationships that I have built with patients over the past 24 years in my community. The most challenging aspect is practicing medicine in today’s climate of vaccine skepticism and disregard of science and evidence based medicine.

- What are some important skills that have served you well through your career? 

Curiosity! And a deep love for hearing other people’s stories and learning from them. 

- Any advice for students who want to work in the same field as you? 

I always tell students who are thinking about medicine NOT to focus on how many years it takes- focus on the journey itself. Twelve years flies by! My time at UK, both undergrad and medical school, as well as during my residency, were some of the most rewarding, fun years of my life. 

Do you have any mentors or professors who significantly impacted your life? How so? 

Johnda Conley, my biology teacher at Fairview High School really awakened and fostered my love for the life sciences. And Dr. Rymond was so supportive of me at UK, even while trying to convince me to pursue bench research instead of medicine. He was passionate about his work and it was infectious.

What was one of your favorite classes and why? 

Cell Biology with Dr. Bonner. All that machinery happening on a molecular level inside each cell? Absolutely magical.

Describe any highlights or memorable moments here in biology/UK that most influenced you. 

I loved all the field trips to the Red River Gorge and Raven Run. I loved getting to know professors and grad students and learning about the research going on in their labs- it was amazing to me that so many different cool creatures and concepts were being studied right there on campus. 

Any overall advice for current students? 

Keep being curious about ways to use your love for the life sciences as you plan your career. I am still learning about careers I never knew existed. 

What improvements or changes do you wish to see from the department and why? 

I visited the department in 2024, and I was wowed by the progress and advancements so keep it up!

What are your interests outside of work? 

Travel, reading, hiking, Kentucky basketball, and finding things to chop up with a chainsaw

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Pepperoni pizza bread from Giovanni’s

Is there another question we could be asking in an interview like this? 

Hahaha nope.