Lily Gutnik, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, and Demario S. Overstreet, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, have been selected as 2026 Pittman Scholars by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.
The Pittman Scholars Program is a prestigious institutional award that recognizes early-career assistant professors within their first five years of appointment who demonstrate exceptional research accomplishments and strong potential for sustained scientific impact. Named in honor of former School of Medicine Dean James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., the program reflects Heersink School of Medicine’s commitment to fostering innovation, discovery, and excellence among emerging physician-scientists and investigators.
Gutnik’s research focuses on global surgery and global oncology, with particular emphasis on cancer disparities, health services research, and breast cancer care in low-resource settings. Gutnik has led and collaborated on international breast cancer research across Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, and Cameroon,. Her work has been shaped by extensive global health training, including Fulbright and Fogarty fellowships, and her longstanding commitment to improving early detection and access to cancer care worldwide.
Overstreet’s work focuses on understanding the transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain, particularly among patients undergoing mastectomy and colorectal surgery. Overstreet’s research program is supported by the NIH/NIGMS Early-Stage Investigator MIRA (R35) Award. His investigations employ a biopsychosocial framework, integrating quantitative sensory testing, biomarker analyses, psychosocial assessments, and social determinants of health to identify mechanisms that contribute to persistent and severe postsurgical pain . Through this work, he aims to develop evidence-based strategies to predict, prevent, and treat persistent pain, ultimately improving postoperative recovery and long-term outcomes.
Each Pittman Scholar is nominated by their department chair and receives $12,500 annually for three years to support research development and scholarly advancement.
“The Pittman Scholars Program represents a meaningful investment in early-career faculty,” Gutnik said. “This support allows investigators to continue building innovative research programs that address critical gaps in care, both locally and globally.”
Since the program’s inception in 2015, more than 60 faculty members across UAB have been named Pittman Scholars. The Pittman Scholars Program exemplifies the school’s commitment to advancing medical research and innovation by recruiting and retaining outstanding scientists and physician-scientists.
Overstreet also shared, “I am deeply honored to be selected as a Pittman Scholar. This award provides critical support for our efforts to better understand surgical pain and recovery, and to imporove the quality of for all the patients we serve.”
View the previous year’s Pittman Scholars here.