Following curiosity

In third grade, Amy Hudson wrote that she wanted to become a dermatologist. Even then, she spelled it correctly. 

The specialty has changed since then, but the larger goal has not. Hudson, a biomedical sciences major from Birmingham, came to Auburn knowing she wanted to pursue medicine. She also wanted a college experience that would let her keep exploring the many things that interested her. 

That’s what she found in the College of Science and Mathematics. 

The recipient of the 2026 President’s Award, Hudson said Auburn stood out because she was never asked to choose between her interests. As a future physician, she wanted strong preparation for medical school. As a student, she wanted room to keep singing, studying theater, serving her community and following questions wherever they led. 

"I’ve always felt like having a foot in different worlds makes me a better-rounded person and a better student,” Hudson said. 

That idea shaped her time at Auburn. Her coursework in COSAM gave her the scientific foundation she wanted, while experiences across campus gave her creative outlets and new ways of thinking about people, communication and care. Choir remained an important part of her life. So did theater, where she found a role in dramaturgy that let her bring research into the creative process. In the classroom, she discovered that she loved helping other students learn, which helped spark her interest in academic medicine. 

That curiosity also shaped her research experience. At Auburn, Hudson worked in the Health Equity Sciences Lab and later completed her own undergraduate research project focused on occupational characteristics and health disparities. She also worked with physician teams through Brookwood Baptist’s General Surgical Residency Program in Birmingham, contributing to quality improvement projects that advance recovery for real patients.  

"If there’s one thing for COSAM to know about me, it’s that I really love to learn," Hudson said. "That curiosity has carried me through and made my undergraduate experience so wonderful." 

Just as important as the opportunities themselves, Hudson said, were the people who pointed her toward them. 

 

She found early support through Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-health honor society, where older students helped her understand how to navigate the path to medical school. Later, she became one of those students for others, encouraging younger pre-health students who were just getting started. 

"I really cannot speak enough to the culture of mentorship in COSAM and how much students want to help each other," Hudson said. "Now that I’m older, my favorite thing is talking to freshmen and sophomores and helping them get what they want out of their Auburn experience." 

That same sense of connection drew her into service. Hudson began volunteering with The Campus Kitchen at Auburn University during her first semester on campus, and the organization quickly became one of the most meaningful parts of her Auburn experience. What began as a way to serve people facing food insecurity became a steady source of purpose and community. 

"There have been several times, shoulder to shoulder with my classmates giving back to the community, where I’ve really thought, this is what I want to be doing," Hudson said. "That is what Auburn is to me." 

For Hudson, service and medicine are closely linked. She said an experience working on a mobile wellness unit in underserved areas of Birmingham strengthened her interest in outreach and community-focused care. 

"Medicine at the most fundamental level is taking care of other people," Hudson said. "I hope to bring that kind of servant heart to every patient encounter." 

After graduation, Hudson will begin medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine. She is especially interested in reconstructive plastic surgery, particularly post-cancerand post-trauma reconstruction. 

She credits Auburn with helping her see that path more clearly. 

"My professors have mentored me so much and given me great opportunities," Hudson said. "They helped me see things in myself that I might not have found on my own."