The SOM ODI Department Liaisons group is comprised of faculty members representing each department in the School of Medicine. Liaisons are nominated for the position and are an important link between the Office for Diversity & Inclusion and the departments.
Each of our members has an interest in enhancing the diversity of the SOM and building a more inclusive environment for all. They advise our office and provide feedback and input on ODI priorities, initiatives, activities, and issues. Also, liaisons help us understand the various cultures within our departments, their needs, and how they may best be supported.

Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Amandiy Liwo, M.D., MSPH
amandiyliwo@uabmc.edu

Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
Natalia Kedishvili, Ph.D.
nkedishvili@uab.edu

Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology
Lisa Schwiebert, Ph.D.
lschwieb@uab.edu

Dermatology
Nabiha Yusuf, Ph.D.
nabiha@uab.edu

Emergency Medicine
Lauren Walter, M.D.
lawalter@uab.edu

Family Medicine
Sumayah Abed, M.D.
sabed@uabmc.edu

Genetics
Runhua (Runa) Liu, Ph.D.
runhua@uab.edu

Medical Education
Christina J. Grabowski, Ph.D.
cjgrabow@uab.edu

Medicine (1/3)
Andy Duxbury, M.D.
aduxbury@uab.edu

Medicine (2/3)
Monica Baskin, Ph.D.
mbaskin@uab.edu

Medicine (3/3)
Denyse Thornley-Brown, M.D.
dtb@uab.edu

Microbiology
Amy Weinmann, Ph.D.
weinmann@uab.edu

Neurobiology
Farah Lubin, Ph.D.
flubin@uab.edu

Neurology
John Rinker II, M.D.
rinkerj@uab.edu

Neurosurgery (1/2)
Jianmei Leavenworth, M.D., Ph.D.
jwleaven@uab.edu

Neurosurgery (2/2)
Nicole Bentley, M.D.
nbentl@uab.edu

Ophthalmology
Marcela Frazier OD, MPH, FAAO
mgfrazier@uabmc.edu

Pathology
Silvio Litovsky, M.D.
slitovsk@uab.edu

Pediatrics
Tina Simpson, M.D., MPH
TinaSimpson@uab.edu

Pharmacology/Toxicology
Mahmoud el Kouni, M.A., M.Sc., Ph.D.
melkouni@uab.edu

Physical Medicine and Rehab (PM&R)
Danielle Powell, M.D.
dkpowell@uab.edu

Psychiatry
Li Li, M.D., Ph.D.
lili978@uab.edu

Radiology (1/2)
Kristin Porter, M.D., Ph.D.
sear@uab.edu

Radiology (2/2)
Jessica Zarzour, M.D.
jzarzour@uab.edu

Surgery
Carlton Young, M.D.
cjyoung@uab.edu