Message from the Dean

As I reflect on my first year as dean, I am grateful for all the people who helped make it so memorable, from my colleagues in the Heersink School of Medicine, UAB, and UAB Health System leadership to our department chairs to countless staff members, trainees, alumni, and supporters. I am fortunate to be surrounded each day by people whose deep commitment to our school’s tripartite mission in clinical care, medical education, and biomedical research fuels our excellence.

The world of health care and academic medicine is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in science, technology, and the changing needs of our communities. However, our values are steadfast, and they will continue to guide us no matter the challenges and opportunities we encounter.

One of my most welcome priorities in my first year as dean was touring the state to meet with alumni and supporters at a series of receptions hosted by our Medical Alumni Association. These were ideal venues to share our plans for our school, and I was gratified by the enthusiasm and interest that so many attendees shared with me.

This Annual Report is another way to share some of the Heersink School of Medicine’s many outstanding achievements of 2023. They are among the myriad reasons I am proud to lead this institution and am excited for the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.



Agarwal HeadshotAnupam Agarwal, M.D.
Senior Vice President for Medicine and Dean
James C. Lee Jr. Endowed Chair
UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine

Featured Stories


Welcoming Our New Dean

Welcoming Our New Dean

On February 3, 2023, Anupam Agarwal, M.D., was announced as senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, after having served in the roles in an interim capacity since June 2022.

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New Commitment Brings Naming Gift to $100 Million

New Commitment Brings Naming Gift to $100 Million

In December 2023, longtime UAB supporter Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., committed an additional $5 million to his transformational $95 million gift that named the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine in 2021, bringing the total naming gift to $100 million (pending Board of Trustees approval). The gift was already the single largest philanthropic commitment in university history, and it will now have even greater impact.

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Marrazzo Tapped to Succeed Fauci

Marrazzo Tapped to Succeed Fauci

On August 2, 2023, the National Institutes of Health announced that Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., was chosen to succeed Anthony Fauci, M.D., as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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Informatics Becomes a Department

Informatics Becomes a Department

The Heersink School of Medicine welcomed its 28th academic department, the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (DBIDS), on January 1, 2024. Initially established as the UAB Informatics Institute in 2015, one of the new department’s goals is to create and apply methods to assist in the advancement of informatics research.

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Uterus Transplant Milestone

Uterus Transplant Milestone

In May 2023, the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute and UAB Medicine’s uterus transplant program helped a woman born with congenital absence of the uterus deliver a healthy baby boy. The woman became the first patient to give birth via uterus transplant outside of a clinical trial.

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