Fourteen Heersink School of Medicine faculty were recognized for their appointment to endowed chairs and professorships during the Fall 2026 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception.
Held Wednesday, Nov. 4, the reception brought together school leaders, faculty, family members, donors, and supporters to celebrate these distinguished appointments, which reflect sustained achievement in research, education, clinical care, and service. Endowed chairs and professorships are among the highest honors awarded to faculty members and provide critical support for advancing discovery, innovation and patient care.
“Gatherings like this remind us that progress is never the work of one person alone, said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president of Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “It is made possible by partnerships between visionary supporters and dedicated faculty who turn ideas into discoveries, discoveries into treatments, and treatments into better lives for patients.”
The fall 2026 honorees showcase the breadth of expertise and leadership that define the institution. Together, they are advancing scientific discovery, improving patient outcomes, and training the next generation of physicians and scientists.
Faculty honored at the Fall 2026 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception include:
Krishna Bhat, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Lalitha Varanasi Endowed Professorship in Biomedical Engineering
Andrew Edwards, M.D.
Department of Emergency Medicine
Endowed Professorship in Emergency Medicine
Anindya Dutta, MBBS, Ph.D.
Department of Genetics
O'Neal-Sokol Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama Endowed Chair in the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
Jorge Cortes, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Martha Ann and David L. May Endowed Chair in Cancer Research
John Engelhardt, Ph.D.
Department of Medicine
Ben Vaughan Branscomb Endowed Chair of Medicine in Respiratory Disease
Kondal Kyanam, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Basil I. Hirschowitz Endowed Chair in Gastroenterology
Gregory Payne, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Medicine
United Therapeutics Endowed Professorship in Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Aadia Rana, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Latesha Elopre, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Infectious Diseases
Dana Rizk, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Bruce A. Julian, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Nephrology
Palaniappan Sethu, Ph.D.
Department of Medicine
Featheringill Endowed Chair in Cardiac Arrhythmia Research
Jianmei Leavenworth, Ph.D.
Department of Neurosurgery
Mary Jean and Richard Morawetz Chair for Adult Neurosurgical Research
Brandon Rocque, M.D.
Department of Neurosurgery
Dr. Beverly C. Walters Endowed Professorship in Neurosurgery
Selvarangan Ponnazhagan, Ph.D.
Department of Pathology
Jay M. McDonald, M.D., Endowed Chair in Laboratory Medicine
Thomas Winokur, M.D.
Department of Pathology
Robert W. Mowry, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Pathology