DR . WHO
DR . WHO
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DR . SARAHBETH HARTLAGE
AUTHOR Kathryn Vance
Photo credit-Elaina Janes
Since she was born , Dr . SarahBeth Hartlage has always had a hand in technology . With her parents in electrical and computer engineering , it was in her blood to love all things math and science . She built her first computer when only 9 . By 12 , she was leading the way in IT in a course that allowed her to tinker with and fix the school ’ s computers . By the time she finished high school , she was still interested in computers and pursued a minor in computer science while a microbiology student at the University of Alabama . But while her love for tech was always there , she wanted something different and even coined herself the “ black sheep ” of the family when she decided to forego engineering school and instead enter medical school .
“ Engineers , and my dad in particular , are very ‘ how stuff works ’ kind of people . I always found applying those same principles to the body and the physiologic systems to be very interesting ,” she said . “ In medical school when we were learning physiology , I found that it ’ s not all that different from some of the engineering principles , it ’ s just applied to a different system . With the human body , there ’ s an opportunity to see change and instant gratification .”
While in undergrad , she met Todd Hartlage , a Lexington native , while they were lab partners in a physics course , and they soon began dating . After graduation in 2007 , she went on to complete a master ’ s degree in cell and molecular biology at Tulane University . At the same time , Todd was pursuing a PhD in polymer chemistry , so the couple dated long distance for the next six years before getting married . She then returned home to Alabama for medical school , completing her MD at the University of South Alabama in 2012 .
As a sophomore med student she was selected to be a part of a Dr . Pepper Throw for Dough contest during halftime of the Alabama vs . Florida football game . The Dr . Pepper corporation flew Dr . Hartlage to Atlanta and showered her with events and gifts . When game day came , the two participants entered the field and were tasked with throwing footballs into a large Dr . Pepper can several feet away ; the contestant with the most goals would receive a scholarship .
“ At the urging of my Dad , I called my school ’ s football program and asked them to coach me ,” she said . “ I practiced every day after classes , for weeks ! It ’ s not a skill that comes naturally to me , and I ’ m happy to say I ’ m retired from athletic competition .”
Dr . Hartlage wowed the crowd with her new-found football skills and hit nine of the 10 shots , winning her the competition by one point . Her prize ? A whopping $ 123,000 scholarship , which paid for most of her medical education .
Photo credit-Elaina Janes
Once they were both finished with their graduate training , they ( continued on page 32 )
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