April 12, 1927 – January 12, 2014

DrJamesPittman Patch

As the UAB School of Medicine’s longest-serving dean –19 years, from 1973 to 1992 – James A. Pittman, Jr., MD, left an indelible mark on the School and on the University.

A masterful recruiter of top talent, he is remembered for his razor-sharp intellect, boundless energy – always taking two steps up or down at a time, never just one – and how he helped to shape UAB during a critical time in its growth as a premier academic medical center.  

To capture some of the highlights of his life and career, 16 colleagues and friends have contributed essays about Dr. Pittman’s personality, intellect, and impact. These essays – curated by Professor Emeritus Wayne H. Finley, MD, PhD, and former UAB President Charles A. McCallum, Jr., DMD, MD – are presented on the School of Medicine website, along with photos courtesy of UAB Archives and selected contributors.

About Dr. Pittman

 A93 04 0599 Pittman

Born: April 12, 1927, Orlando, Fla.

B.S., Davidson College: 1948

M.D., Harvard Medical School: 1952

Internship, Massachusetts General Hospital: 1952-54

Clinical Associate, National Institutes of Health: 1954-56

Married Constance Shen, MD: February 19, 1955

Internal Medicine Resident, UAB, 1956; Chief Resident, 1957-58

Joined UAB faculty: 1959

Director, UAB Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism: 1962-71

Dean of Medicine: 1973-92

Died January 12, 2014, Birmingham, Ala.