Department of Surgery
Gelbard receives award from the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance for committed leadership
Rondi Gelbard, M.D., a professor in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, has received the 2025 Alliance Committed Leader Award from the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance (The Alliance) which recognizes a leader who commits significant time and expertise to Alliance initiatives and taken on significant efforts to advance nationwide collaboration and engaged learning within the organ donation and transplantation community.
The UAB Medicine Vein Clinic has received reaccreditation and the 10-year Milestone Award from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), reaffirming its continued commitment to excellence in patient care, clinical quality, and adherence to nationally recognized standards for venous disease management.
The UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery led a holiday clothing and supply drive to support several local non-profit organizations, including Impact Family Counseling, the Offender Alumni Association, and the UAB Compassion Closet.
UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Associate Professor James Donahue, M.D., and UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor Sophie Dream, M.D., MPH, have recently been elected to the prestigious Southern Surgical Association (SSA).
The UAB Department of Surgery Access and Engagement Committee hosted Operation CARE, a new community outreach initiative focused on serving Birmingham’s unhoused population, on December 13 at Railroad Park downtown.
The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to announce Professor Robert Dabal, M.D., the chief of pediatric cardiac surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, as the 2025 recipient of the Champ Lyons Award for Outstanding Clinical Service, recognizing his exceptional dedication to patient care, clinical excellence, and leadership in pediatric cardiac surgery.
In just a little over a week, the UAB Department of Surgery will travel to Orlando, Florida for the 21st Annual Academic Surgical Congress.
This month’s UAB Department of Surgery Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight highlights Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Advanced Practice Provider Jamie Theodore, CRNP. From her journey as a nurse in the ICU to the UAB Cardiovascular Institute, her breadth of knowledge and personal experiences highlight her empathetic approach to patient care. In her interview, which was led by UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Marvi Tariq, M.D., Theodore shares journey into medicine, along with the full life she lives outside of the clinical space.
Herbert Chen, M.D., the Fay Fletcher Endowed Chair of the UAB Department of Surgery, gave the 2026 State of the Department presentation earlier this week, spotlighting achievements from the past year and reflecting on the 80 year history of the department.
UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine medical students Thanushri Srikantha, Neil Chaudhary, and Alison Levine were awarded among the best projects of the 2025 UAB Medical Student Research Day (MSRD).
Robert Hollis, M.D.,MSPH, an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and leader of the colorectal cancer management team in the O’Neal Cancer Service Line, was recently featured on a national medical education podcast episode focused on the modern management of diverticulitis for hospitalists and frontline clinicians.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office would like to welcome 19 individuals in its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership in the spring of 2026. The goal of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership is to enhance existing personal, leadership, and management competencies while leveraging current leadership strategies and trends. The 6-month program features guest speakers from executive-level leadership positions at UAB, including former graduates of the Institute for Leadership.
The DATA coordinating and Collaborative Research Unit (DATA CRU) at UAB will lead the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for the United States arm of the international WARRIORS trial (Women’s Aneurysm Research: Repair Immediately Or Routine Surveillance).
UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Cardiovascular Institute patient services were recently recognized in Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, highlighting its position as a leading institution in treatment and care.
UAB Department of Surgery providers have been recognized by UAB Medicine for their excellence in patient care. This year, 42 providers have received the Provider Excellence Award – based on patient evaluations and feedback.
The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to congratulate five faculty members who have recently graduated from the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Emerging Leader Series (ELS) professional development program, which was developed by UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office (LDO).
UAB Division of Transplantation Professor and Surgical Director of Kidney Transplantation, Michael Hanaway, M.D., has recently been featured on UAB MedCast.
Angela M. Carter, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, was selected to chair a minisymposium at Neuroscience 2025, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the largest international gathering of neuroscientists. The meeting was held from November 15 to 19 at the San Diego Convention Center and brought together researchers from around the world to share advances in brain science.
University of Zambia General Surgery Resident Kebby Mazyamuna, M.D., recently shared his experience as an international scholar visiting the UAB Department of Surgery and shadowing multiple surgeons across all oncology specialties.
J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, the director of the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center and an associate professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, discussed key aspects of pancreatic cancer, including risk factors, common symptoms, diagnostic evaluation and available treatment options, as a part of an educational video series produced by O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The UAB Department of Surgery Faculty Exchange Program hosted its latest cohort of participants in 2025 – featuring visits to partnering institutions across the United States.
Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH, an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, and the team from the Neuroendocrine Cancer Research Laboratory have been awarded for the best basic science oral presentation at the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Multidisciplinary Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Medical Symposium.
As a pediatric surgeon and director of the Trauma Program at Children’s of Alabama, Robert Russell, M.D., MPH, cares for the youngest, smallest, and most innocent patients of Alabama. Learn about Russell’s journey to becoming a pediatric surgeon, the cutting-edge research he’s leading, and why he loves his job.
The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to highlight the outstanding research achievements of faculty, trainees, and researchers over the past quarter.
Angela Carter, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, has been selected to receive an O’Neal Invests Catalyst Award from the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.
On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, the UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) hosted an awareness booth in The Kirklin Clinic (TKC), engaging patients, caregivers, and staff in meaningful conversations about one of the most lethal cancers affecting Alabama and the nation.
Sarah B. Bateni, M.D., MSW, MAS, an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, was recently featured on the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Education Series podcast.
Adam Beck, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, has been elected as the Chief of Medical Staff-elect (COMS-elect) for UAB Medicine.
The UAB Division of Transplantation recently performed a split-liver transplantation – marking the first use of this life-saving procedure at UAB and Children’s of Alabama (COA) in almost a decade.
The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., as director for the Division of Transplantation and co-director of the Comprehensive Transplant Institute.
For December, the UAB Department of Surgery is featuring Dr. Lacey Swenson in its monthly Access & Engagement Committee spotlight.
UAB General Surgery Residency Program resident Alizeh Abbas, M.D., has been selected as a recipient of the UAB Office of Postdoctoral Education Travel Award.
Thanushri Srikantha, a participant in the UAB Department of Surgery Short-Term Research Experiences Advancing Medical Students (STREAMS) program, has earned national recognition for her summer research under the mentorship of Demario Overstreet, Ph.D.
On Thursday, Nov. 20., the Heersink School of Medicine honored 20 faculty members at the Fall 2025 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception. This event recognizes Heersink faculty who have made major contributions to research, education, and clinical care.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) honored 33 graduates of the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) fall 2025 Cohort 4 during a ceremony held on Thursday, Nov. 12. The cohort completed a multi-session program designed to strengthen leadership capability for emerging leaders across the enterprise.
A Ph.D. candidate reflects on lessons learned about injury, recovery, and growth
Barber Companies’ gift accelerates innovation and training in vascular surgery
Robert Cannon, M.D., surgical director of the UAB Liver Transplant Program, recently joined UAB MedCast to discuss liver transplantation for colorectal metastases and the evolving role of transplantation in oncologic care.
UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Demario Overstreet, Ph.D., has been awarded substantial funding through the National Institutes of Health for his innovative research program, titled “Contemporary human models of postoperative pain: A biopsychosocial investigation in general surgery.”
Margaux Mustian, M.D., MSPH, an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, is one of the fall 2025 graduates of the UAB Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL) program.
UAB Department of Surgery Senior Communications Manager Emily “Emme” Stewart was awarded the 15 Within 15 Young Alumni Recognition Award from her alma mater, the University of Montevallo in Montevallo, Alabama.
With the chilly weather in the air, summer may feel like a distant memory; however, that sun exposure you soaked up this summer on the lake, beach, or hiking trail, may be catching up with you.
This month, we’re excited to feature Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Victoria Huynh, M.D., for this month’s UAB Department of Surgery’s Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight.
The UAB Department of Surgery is excited to welcome two new faculty members in the month of November 2025: Drs. Eliot Gagne and Lauren Theiss Gleason.
UAB General Surgery ResidentEmily Baird, M.D., M.A., has been elected to serve as the Resident/Fellow Councilperson at-Large for the Excelsior Surgical Society (ESS), an organization affiliated with the Military Health System Strategic Partnership of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
From its vibrant culinary scene to its stunning Appalachian foothills, Birmingham is gaining recognition as both a medical hub and a city where life outside the hospital thrives.
UAB Department of Surgery Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Lily Gutnik, M.D., has been selected to participate in the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Presidential Scholars Program, a prestigious initiative that recognizes early-career surgical oncologists demonstrating exceptional promise in academic leadership, mentorship, and research.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated seven distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL) program at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The program, facilitated by Celeste Morgan, Ph.D., CDMS, senior leadership development specialist, is designed to help early-career faculty strengthen their leadership skills, refine their academic identities, and chart clear, sustainable paths toward long-term success.
Medical student Hari Pradhyumnan was recognized at the 2025 UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Medical Student Research Day (MSRD), where he was awarded first place in the Surgery category for his outstanding research presentation.
Emily "Emme" Stewart, senior communications manager of the UAB Department of Surgery, has been elected to the board of directors Association of Academic Surgical Administrators (AASA), serving as chair of the communications committee.