Danielle K. Powell, M.D., MSPH, associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has agreed to accept the role as interim chair for the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, effective March 1, 2020.
Powell, the associate program director for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program, is a 2007 graduate of the College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, and she completed her residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2011. Shortly thereafter, she began her career at UAB as an assistant professor in the School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
At UAB, Powell has led and co-led several departmental operations initiatives. She serves as director of the UAB Adult Spina Bifida Clinic Program, the only multidisciplinary clinic of its kind in the Southeast. She is the director of the PM&R Resident Continuity clinic, and chair of the Resident Mock Oral Boards Planning Committee. In 2014, she was funded with the UAB African American Faculty Development Award. Additionally, Dr. Powell won the Matthew T. Smith Humanism in Medicine Award this past year.
Powell is very involved in medical student education and serves as a lead mentor for the UAB Learning Community Program. She also serves on the Admissions Committee, Student Affairs Faculty Advisory Board for the SOM Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Technical Standards Advisory Committee.
Additionally, she has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed publications, and has authored a chapter titled, “Musculoskeletal: Joint Replacement,” published in Geriatrics: Rehabilitation Medicine Quick Reference.
Amie McLain, M.D., who currently serves as chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and has done so for the past 22 years, will be stepping down from the role March 1, 2020. She will continue her service in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as a faculty member. The search for permanent department chair will begin in September 2020.