Orlando Gutiérrez, M.D., will be appointed senior associate dean for Clinical and Translational Research in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and director and contact principal investigator of the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science. In this role, Gutiérrez will also serve as the associate vice president of Medicine and Biomedical Research for UAB. In turn, Robert Kimberly, M.D., will transition into the newly created role of senior associate dean for Strategic Initiatives in the Heersink School of Medicine. Both appointments are effective April 1, 2024.

Srini Tridandapani, M.D., Ph.D., has been named interim chair of the UAB Department of Radiology, effective March 1, 2024. Tridandapani is a professor and the vice chair for Imaging Informatics in the Department of Radiology and the founding director of the Division of Imaging Informatics. 

Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., has been promoted from associate dean for Global and Women’s Health to senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Tita is also the director of the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and holds the Mary Heersink Endowed Chair of Global Health.

After a national search, Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Pathology, effective March 4, 2024. Magi-Galluzzi is a professor and the director of the Division of Anatomic Pathology, and the director of Genitourinary Pathology in the Department of Pathology. She holds the C. Bruce Alexander Endowed Professorship in Pathology.

On Dec. 6, 2023, the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute (CTI) announced a change in leadership. Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH, resigned her position as CTI director, and Clifton Kew, M.D., and Carlton Young, M.D., have been appointed as interim co-directors for the CTI. Both changes are effective as of Dec. 5, 2023.

Adam Agee has been named director of Information Technology for the Heersink School of Medicine, effective December 1, 2023. In this role, Agee leads Medical Education Information Services (MEIS) in its mission to guide, procure, develop, support, manage, and secure all aspects of information technology for the Heersink School of Medicine’s faculty, staff, and students.

After a national search, Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective May 31, 2024. In this role, Turner will support the growth of the department; identify future opportunities and needs; and provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the department, including representing the department within the UAB enterprise, creating collaboration opportunities, and building bridges across the institution.

On Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, Heersink School of Medicine and UAB Health System leaders, faculty, staff, and supporters gathered in the new Heersink Active Learning Center at Volker Hall for the unveiling of the official portrait of former Senior Vice President for Medicine and Dean Selwyn Vickers, M.D., FACS.