Department of Surgery

It was a persistent cough that never seemed to go away – which made a church trip to the Holy Land a bit more trying for Trinity United Methodist Senior Pastor Rev. Brian Erickson in February of 2016.

Rajamiyer Venkateswaran, M.D., MBBS, M.S., a professor in the UAB Department of Surgery’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and chief of heart, mechanical circulatory support and lung transplant service, presented at the Heart Failure Foundation conference in Bengaluru, India, this month.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome three new faculty members – Drs. Jonathan Antonetti, Sophie Dream, Daniele Zanella – and announce the assistant professor appointment of Dr. Sergio Acuna Mancilla.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, an associate professor in the Department of Surgery, is a spring 2025 O’Neal Invests awardee, along with his research partners Benjamin Larimer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology, and Michael Niederweis, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Microbiology.

Robert Russell, M.D., MPH, a professor in UAB’s Department of Surgery and director of the trauma program at Children’s of Alabama, was recently appointed as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Surgical Research (JSR).

If you’ve ever wondered who fuels our department’s teaching, research, and creative problem-solving, look no further than Mississippi’s native son, ‘Bill Nye’-enthusiast, and champion to improve outcomes for all patients – Dr. Demario Overstreet.

Toria N. Pettway, LMSW, a psychiatric social worker for the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, has been named the 2025 recipient of the UAB Social Work Partnership in Community Service Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to patient care, mental health advocacy and community engagement.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, joined UAB MedCast to discuss the complexity of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the use of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) as an effective treatment option.

Dana Doriety, RN, BSN, MSHQS, a nurse burn educator in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, recently represented UAB at the 48th Annual Alabama Fire Fighters Conference in Guntersville, Alabama on June 20.

Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in the UAB Department of Surgery, was recently featured in The Endocrinologist, the Society for Endocrinology’s official magazine, for her pioneering research in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and pancreatic cancer. Her interview highlights her efforts to develop new therapeutic models and understand molecular pathways that drive these complex diseases.

UAB General Surgery Resident Michelle Onuoha, M.D., shares her journey into surgery and the influences that inspired her to pursue a career in medicine.

Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, a pediatric oncologist and distinguished professor in the UAB Department of Pediatrics, received the inaugural UAB Department of Surgery Mentorship Award. The award recognizes her for her role in supporting the success of faculty members, especially in the area of research.

UAB Hospital has been reverified as a Level I adult trauma center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) and remains the only ACS-Level I adult trauma center in the state of Alabama. Learn what it takes to meet the rigorous standards set by the ACS.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Robert Sorabella, M.D., has been appointed the Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Children’s of Alabama.

The UAB Department of Surgery recognizes the outstanding research contributions from faculty, fellows, residents and research staff. This continued momentum in scholarly activity underscores our shared commitment to advancing surgical science and shaping the future of academic medicine.

The UAB General Surgery Residency Program has named its administrative and education chiefs for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery’s Wound, Ostomy and Continence care team received the 2025 Employer Recognition Award from the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB), joining an elite group of institutions recognized for outstanding support of nursing in wound, ostomy and continence (WOC) care.

Dylan Carpenter, MSN, RN, CWOCN, PCCN, MEDSURG-BC, a certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse in the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, recently received two prestigious awards at the Wound, Ostomy and Continence (WOCNext) Conference 2025 in Orlando, Florida.  

Krystal Lee Rivera, a Ph.D. candidate in the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and mentee of Jillian Richter, Ph.D., presented an abstract last week in Boston at ShockCon, the annual conference of the Shock Society.

Lead author Sasha Still, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and her colleagues, published their experience of TAVR explantation in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and offer evidence-based strategies to optimize clinical outcomes in high-risk patients undergoing this procedure.

The UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) hosted the second annual Hops & Hope Fair on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Cahaba Brewing Company.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been chosen as a recipient of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Faculty Research Fellowship. The ACS research fellowship will begin in July 2025 and continue through July 2027, with an annual stipend of $40,000.

Designing Dreams, a nonprofit co-founded by UAB Division of Plastic Surgery resident Lauren Curwick, M.D., has begun broadening its mission to the state of Alabama. The organization's mission is to create healing spaces for children with cancer, bringing hope and happiness to their lives.

The UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center recently announced five winners of the O’Neal Invests grant awards, two generously funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA).

Henry Fisher has watched the transformation of UAB and the Department of Surgery over his three-decade tenure and played a vital role in bringing accessible transplantation services to thousands of lives across Alabama and beyond.

The UAB Department of Surgery welcomes two new faculty members, Margaret Romine, M.D., and Matthew Romine, M.D., who both completed their surgical residencies and fellowships at UAB.

The UAB General Surgery Residency Program honored its chief residents, as well as supporting faculty and residents across the program, at an annual awards day celebration.

Fourteen UAB chief residents recently completed the Chief Residents Leadership Development Workshop. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office, was held on May 9, 2025.

Allie Hulcher, UAB Department of Surgery communications specialist and Trauma Survivors Network coordinator for the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was recognized with numerous awards at the UAB Marnix E. Heersink Excellence in Communications Awards.

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Margaux Mustian, M.D., MSPH, participated in the Society for Surgery of Alimentary Tract (SSAT) Complex General Surgery Fellowship Virtual Grand Rounds Webinar.

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH, has been selected for the Southern Surgical Association (SSA) Leadership Development Program (LDP) -- a prestigious recognition awarded to emerging surgical leaders.

The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery honored survivors of traumatic injury and their families, as well as first responders and healthcare professionals, at the second annual UAB Heroes and Healers Gala on Friday, May 2, 2025.

UAB General Surgery Resident Alizeh Abbas, M.D., recently earned third place in the ACS Advocacy and Health Policy Abstract Competition at the American College of Surgeons' 2025 Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.

On February 22 and April 12, members of the Health Pros for the ASO Giving Society gathered for concerts and receptions in support of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO). Health Pros for the ASO is a giving society made up of medical professionals across all disciplines and roles who support the ASO and seek to preserve it for future generations. As benefits of their support, members of the giving society are invited to attend an ASO concert and enjoy a reception.

The UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) is honored to welcome new staff and faculty to support patients across the Southeast and beyond.

UAB General Surgery Residency hosted its annual Resident Research Day on April 14, 2025.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Sasha Still, M.D., joined UAB MedCast to discuss how aortic disease presents itself in women and potential avenues for treatment specialization.

Four faculty and staff members from the UAB Department of Surgery were recognized at the annual UAB Service Awards, which celebrates employees for their long-term dedication to UAB.

UAB Division of Plastic Surgery Professor R. Jobe Fix, M.D., has completed 35 years of service at the UAB Department of Surgery, combining patient care and commitment to medical education.

Executive Vice Chair of Surgery Gregory Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D., begins his term this month as President of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 19 winners of the 2025 Dean's Excellence Awards for Faculty.

The UAB Department of Surgery continues to be well-represented among recipients of the prestigious James IV Travelling Fellowship, a testament to the department’s commitment to advancing surgical innovation and global collaboration.

Adam Beck, M.D., Holt A. McDowell Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair of Vascular Surgery at UAB and UAB Vascular Surgery Integrated Resident, Angela Sickels, M.D., aimed to determine what part of the population benefited from prophylactic drains. Their research on the topic was presented at the 2025 Southern Association for Vascular Surgery Annual Meeting, and was featured in the national society newsletter.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, will co-moderate the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Symposium for Research in Surgical Palliative Care, which will be hosted on Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 7:00–8:30 p.m.

The UAB Department of Surgery hosted an in-depth research retreat this April. The event brought together faculty, trainees, and staff for a day full of learning, collaboration, and innovation across each of the nine divisions of the department.

This year, approximately 1,000 Alabama residents will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With a trending increase in cases for patients under the age of 55, we can all familiarize ourselves with common signs and symptoms associated with pancreatic cancer to reduce our risk and identify key indicators of the disease.

UAB's Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) will host its second annual Hops & Hope Fair fundraiser at Cahaba Brewing Company on Saturday, May 31, from 12 - 6 p.m., for an afternoon of family-friendly fun.

Jillian Richter, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery published “Trauma promotes heparan sulfate modifications and cleavage that disrupt homeostasis gene expression in microvascular endothelial cells” in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology alongside her team, including UAB Department of Pediatrics associate professor Robert Richter, M.D.

Join the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery on Friday, May 2 for a special evening at the Heroes and Healers Gala, where we celebrate the incredible resilience of survivors of traumatic injuries and honor those dedicated healthcare professionals who support their journeys.

Prepare for an exciting afternoon at the Birmingham Zoo with UAB Surgery!