Nina Terry, M.D., retired from the UAB Department of Radiology in 2026 after more than 18 years of service, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, innovation, and dedication to education and patient care.
Terry’s path to radiology, and to UAB, was anything but linear. With an undergraduate background in engineering, mathematics, and physics, she initially pursued law, attended law school and entered private practice.
“However, it wasn’t long before I realized that a career centered on constant argument was not the right fit,” Terry said.
She entered UAB as a medical student, where she quickly discovered radiology’s unique blend of physics, analytical problem‑solving, and clinical impact.
From the start of medical school, imaging stood out. She matched at UAB for radiology residency as part of the first all‑female radiology resident class in the institution’s history. After completing residency, she pursued fellowship training at the University of Florida before entering private practice in Talladega County. There, she balanced a fulfilling clinical career with raising her children in a close‑knit community.
As radiology practices evolved and consolidated over time, Terry sought new opportunities and returned to UAB, this time as a faculty member. Her transition to academic medicine allowed her to combine clinical practice with teaching, mentorship, and program development. In 2018, her professional contributions were further recognized when she was named a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.
Among her many accomplishments, Terry is especially proud of her leadership in developing UAB’s lung cancer screening program. Building on UAB Radiology’s participation in the national lung cancer screening trial, she led the program starting in 2015 just as lung cancer screening was becoming a covered preventive service in 2015. Her work included organizing institutional and national approvals, establishing clinical workflows, hiring a nurse navigator, and expanding the program from fewer than 20 patients screened annually to more than 1,000 by 2024, an effort that has had a lasting impact on patient care.
Terry credits much of her professional growth to mentors and colleagues, including Drs. Robert Stanley, Robert Koehler, Lincoln Berland, P. Hrudaya Nath (Bobby), Colleen Sanders, and Wanda Bernreuter.
“From them, I learned not only the science of radiology, but also the importance of professionalism, patient‑centered care, and lifelong learning,” Terry said.
Education and mentorship were central to her time at UAB. She found deep satisfaction in watching residents grow from their first year of training to their final year and beyond.
“Seeing former trainees become faculty members or leaders in organized medicine stands out as one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” she said.
As she steps into retirement, Terry looks forward to traveling and spending more time with her granddaughters. While she will miss the daily discussions of challenging and interesting cases with colleagues and residents, she leaves the department with sincere gratitude.