The UAB Orthopaedics’ Optimization Clinic was established to improve surgical outcomes for patients with complex medical needs by proactively addressing modifiable risk factors before surgery. The clinic focuses on patients who may have one or more co-morbid conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or nicotine use, that can increase the risk of complications during or after orthopaedic procedures, especially hip and knee replacement surgeries.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome two new faculty members to the department – Drs. Jillian McCabe and Shelby Svientek.

Over the past six months, the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at UAB has taken meaningful steps to expand access to care for all communities in Alabama. Gabriela Halder, M.D., MPH, an assistant professor in the division who spearheaded the initiative, elaborated on the team’s approach to community engagement, its impact so far, and its plans for the future.

Zain Hashmi, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, is a 2025 recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance.

Numerous members of the UAB Department of Surgery were recognized as new fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) at the 2025 Clinical Congress in Chicago, Illinois.

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH, Associate Professor Sophie Dream, M.D., MPH, and Advanced Practice Provider Kelly Lovell, CRNP, were recently featured on UAB's MedCast Podcast.

B. Earl Salser Jr., M.D., associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been appointed as the department's inaugural Vice Chair of Education.

A study led by Lara Ianov, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology, was published in Bioinformatics for the paper, “scnanoseq: an nf-core pipeline for Oxford Nanopore single-cell RNA-sequencing.”

UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Professor Marty Vander Noot, M.D., is a 2025 recipient of the UAB Medicine Excellence Award.

Mollie Perryman, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology in October 2025. She earned her undergraduate degree in Spanish from Tufts University before spending a year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she taught English. She then attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine, where she completed both her medical degree and residency in otolaryngology. Most recently, she completed her fellowship at UAB.

Nicole Rademacher, M.D., a research resident in the UAB General Surgery Residency Program, was named the Most Esteemed Postdoc at the UAB Postdoctoral Appreciation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.

UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center Scientist Kirk Habegger, Ph.D., will speak at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) glucagon physiology workshop, Feb. 9-10, 2026.

Congratulations to the 19 faculty promoted effective October 1, 2025!

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine student-run free clinic, Equal Access Birmingham (EAB), has partnered with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), operator of MAX Transit, to help reduce one of the most common barriers to healthcare—transportation.

In April 2025, the UAB Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the John S. Gould, M.D. and Sheryl H. Gould Endowed Support Fund, designed to support the educational mission of UAB’s Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship.

Marcela Frazier, O.D., MPH, FAAO, will receive the 2025 Harry I. Zeltzer Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity International (VOSH/International), for her steadfast commitment to improving the accessibility of comprehensive vision care.

UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is the recipient of a 2025 NIH-funded Institutional National Research Service Award (T32). The T32 grant will provide additional training opportunities for prospective students, expanding the total number of supported student slots from 18 to 20.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Eileen Rife, M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been selected to receive the Emerging Investigator Excellence Award from the American College of Rheumatology.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to welcome Assistant Professor Adeel Ilyas, M.D.

UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs Danielle Powell, M.D. was selected to receive the 2025 Distinguished Public Service, Health Equity, and Advocacy Award by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Gregory Payne, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed director of the UAB Comprehensive Center, effective Oct. 1.

Starting in the fall, the Developing Emerging Administrative Leaders (DEAL) program will be managed by the HR Learning and Development team. This shift represents the university’s commitment to the success and development of its staff.

The UAB Department of Microbiology will host the 2025 Susan Roberts Dubay Endowed Lecture on Oct. 14, welcoming Lora Hooper, Ph.D., as this year’s keynote speaker presenting, “Vitamin A and barrier immunity.”

Melodie Pierre is a Clinical Research Coordinator I in Dr. Daniel Chu’s lab, where she supports ongoing clinical and translational studies aimed at advancing outcomes in colorectal surgery.

Craig Hoesley, M.D., senior associate dean for Medical Education and chair of the Department of Medical Education, has been named the inaugural Paul and Martha Burleson Endowed Chair in Medical Education.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to announce that Associate Professor Jianmei Leavenworth, M.D., Ph.D., has been promoted to professor.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Jesse Jones, M.D., has been promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure.

For the 16th consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama has been ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Abhishek Parmar, M.D., an associate professor in the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, has been invited to join the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Continuing Education Committee and to serve as the co-director of the SAGES Train the Trainer Program. 

Cheri L. Canon, M.D., FACR, FSAR, FAAWR, president, UA Health Services Foundation; chief physician executive, UAB Health System; professor emerita, UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Radiology, has been named the latest recipient of the American College of Radiology’s Radiology Leadership Institute® (RLI) Larry R. Muroff Luminary Award.