UAB’s new Clinical Trialist Development Program (CTDP) has selected 24 Heersink applicants for its 2026-2027 cohort. The program will provide these candidates with training, mentorship, and salary support to lead industry-sponsored clinical trials. It will also supply them with a 20% protected time allowance, allowing them to dedicate more time to research.
The program began in December 2025 as part of the Research Strategic Initiative, and is led by David Kimberlin, M.D., distinguished professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and Dana Rizk, M.D., tenured professor of Medicine in the Division of Nephrology. It was made possible by a $2 million investment from the Alabama State Legislature. This investment enables the selected faculty members to use protected time to develop their skills in clinical trials.
“As we strive to expand our clinical trials portfolio on campus, we want to support our future clinical trialists and provide them with the necessary tools to succeed,” said Rizk. “To that end, this program was structured to provide them the necessary training, mentorship, and protected time.”
CTDP is a university-wide program that follows a two-year structure. Assistant or associate professors who have served as principal investigator, site principal investigator, sub-investigator, or the equivalent in at least one industry-sponsored clinical trial are eligible to apply.
Join the Heersink community in congratulating the applicants selected for the program.
Shruti Agnihotri, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology
Adam Baumgarten, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Urology
Rebecca Brown, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology
Juliana Coleman, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurology
Christopher Fowler, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine
Mridul Gupta, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Mohammad Hashmi, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
W. Preston Hewgley, M.D., professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Marshall Holland, M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery
Nikhil Jayaram, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology
Nan Jiang, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology
Raghunandan Konda, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Efren Chavez Morales, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology
Cesar Berto Moreano M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Jose Rubio Mosquera, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology
Charles Peyton, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Urology
Swetha Pinninti, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Aditi Saha, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Humaira Sarfraz, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Michael Toboni, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Kadambari Vijaykumar, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Raymond Wade, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Stefanie Woodard, D.O., associate professor in the Department of Radiology, Division of Breast Imaging and Intervention
Mehran Yusuf, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology