Heersink School of Medicine
In a constantly evolving landscape, researchers seeking extramural funding for their projects are facing numerous challenges and roadblocks. To address disruptions in funding, the Heersink School of Medicine offers various Bridge Funding programs to assist investigators who have experienced lapses in research funding.
Aurelio Galli, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Angela Carter, Ph.D., have been named the school’s latest recipient of the Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable faculty research contributions and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.
Match Day is always a time of tremendous pride and excitement for the Heersink School of Medicine, and 2026 was no exception. On March 20, our students gathered with family, friends, and faculty at the historic Alabama Theatre to learn where the next chapter of their medical training journey will unfold.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Heersink School of Medicine welcomed Sharmila Makhija, M.D., MBA, founding dean and CEO of the newly established Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), as the speaker at the Heersink Grand Rounds. During her talk, she discussed the logistics and challenges of establishing a new medical school.
Designed to expand access to meaningful global engagement, the MHIGH Global Health Travel Awards Program is one of four Giving Days projects spotlighting how UAB invests in global partnerships and future health leaders. By removing financial barriers to travel, the program makes bidirectional collaboration possible—allowing UAB scholars and international partners alike to learn from one another and advance health worldwide.
As part of the UAB Giving Days campaign, Equal Access Birmingham is one of four featured projects demonstrating how student-led care can transform both lives and medical education. This free clinic delivers compassionate, hands-on healthcare to underserved Birmingham neighbors while training future physicians who learn to lead with skill, empathy, and purpose.
As part of UAB Giving Days, the Medical Alumni Association Medical Student Assistance Fund is one of four featured projects from the Heersink School of Medicine, showcasing the impact of compassion in action. This vital fund ensures that when unexpected hardships arise, Heersink medical students can stay focused on becoming the physicians our communities need.
As part of UAB Giving Days, Mini Medical School is one of four featured projects highlighting how UAB is investing in the future. Led by two Birmingham City Schools alumni, this hands-on program introduces middle school students to healthcare careers—and shows how Giving Days support can help inspire the next generation of healers.
Andrew Edwards, M.D., has been appointed chair of the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine effective April 1, 2026. He has twice served as interim chair—first from May 2020 to June 2021, and again from March 2025 to the present. Edwards also serves as professor, executive vice chair, and vice chair for education in the department.
Rob Welner, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Medicine, has been named the school’s latest recipient of the Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable faculty research contributions and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.
At the Heersink School of Medicine, our ability to shape the future of medicine through biomedical discovery depends on the people who power it. Strategic research recruitment is not simply about increasing faculty or funding numbers—it is a deliberate, long-range approach in disciplines where we have strong foundations, where we see emerging opportunities, and where coordinated effort can enhance our impact across the region, the nation, and the globe.
Maria Grant, M.D., and Seth D. Fortmann, M.D., Ph.D., have been recognized with a Featured Discovery award for identifying a key immune cell population that helps protect against age-related macular degeneration. Their findings reveal a potential new therapeutic target to preserve choroidal health and prevent vision loss.
Our alumni are among our most influential ambassadors, carrying the Heersink School of Medicine’s values into clinics, classrooms, laboratories, and communities across the globe, not to mention the many alumni who serve on our faculty. Few partnerships are as enduring and vital to our school as the one we share with our Medical Alumni Association.
On Feb. 12, 2026, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Research held its annual Strategic Research Retreat in the Heersink Conference Center. The day brought leaders from across the school and campus together and emphasized collaboration, infrastructure, and the growing impact of interdisciplinary science at UAB.
Rena Patel, M.D., MPH, MPhil, associate professor, UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases; associate director, Global Health Research, UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health (MHIGH), has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Innovator Award, recognizing her outstanding and original contributions to HIV clinical care, research, education and community advocacy. The award was presented during the annual IDWeek® meeting, held each October, where leaders in infectious diseases gather to celebrate advancements in HIV medicine and public health.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, delivered the 2026 State of the School address. The annual update focused on how the school navigated a year of national uncertainty while continuing to advance research, expand access to care, and invest in its people.
Etty (Tika) Benveniste, Ph.D., senior vice dean at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, has been selected as a 2026 Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), one of the organization’s highest career honors. The title recognizes long-standing AAI members who have demonstrated exceptional scientific achievement, leadership, and service within the immunology community.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 2026 Pittman Scholars. This prestigious honor recognizes assistant professors for their exceptional research achievements and their potential to make future contributions to their fields. To be considered, the honoree must have held the rank of assistant professor for fewer than five years. Named after former School of Medicine Dean James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., this award highlights the school's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in medical research.
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.
As we begin a new year, I want to thank each of you for the commitment, creativity, and resilience you bring to the Heersink School of Medicine. Our progress is driven not only by our research discoveries, clinical excellence, and educational mission, but by the people who make this work possible. As we look ahead to 2026, our guiding priority is clear: supporting our people and championing a culture that enables every member of our community to thrive.
Ryan Outman has transitioned from his role as executive officer for Finance and Administration to senior executive officer for Finance and Administration in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Outman steps into the senior executive officer role Jason Daniel has held since September 2023. Daniel will devote himself full-time to his position as vice president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.
D. Matthew Sherrer, M.D., associate professor in Anesthesiology, has been named assistant dean for Faculty Affairs at the Heersink School of Medicine. In this role, he will lead initiatives to strengthen clinical faculty development, advancing a key mission area for the school and UAB Health System.
An article published in Academic Medicine, authored by members of the Dean’s Office staff, explores how the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine improved administrative efficiency and organizational cohesion by implementing a shared services model.
Gang Liu, M.D., Ph.D., and Huachun Cui, Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, have received the school’s Featured Discovery award for research that uncovers a critical process behind lung scarring—work that could pave the way for new therapies for chronic lung disease.
Roger Smalligan, M.D., MPH, regional dean of the Heersink School of Medicine Huntsville Regional Campus, has been named the next governor for the Alabama Chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and awarded ACP Mastership.
As we close the year, I want to reflect on one of the Heersink School of Medicine's greatest strengths: our deep, aligned, and enduring partnerships with the UAB Health System, led by CEO Dawn Bulgarella, MSHA, CPA, and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF) physician practice plan, led by President Cheri Canon, M.D. This triad is the cornerstone of our success as an academic medical center and remains essential to our mission of healing, discovery, and education.
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.
The past month saw the culmination of years of planning and construction with the official openings of the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building (ALGEN) and the Volker Hall Atrium. Both projects exemplify the power of partnership, collaboration, and innovation.
Jennifer Pollock, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, has been named the latest recipient of the school’s Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable research contributions made by faculty and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.
Be wary of text messages claiming to be deans, VPs, or even a manager within your department.
Lisa Willett, M.D., MACM, executive vice chair for the UAB Department of Medicine, has been named a recipient of the 2025 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award. This award honors educators who have made significant contributions to medical education. Willett will receive the honor at 2025 AAMC Awards Recognition Event on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Earlier this year, an IDEA Performance Survey was conducted to gather feedback on my performance as dean. In addition, UAB partnered with Modern Think on a Campus Engagement Survey to hear directly from faculty and staff about their workplace experiences and the university’s operations. Both surveys provided significant insight into what is going well and where there are opportunities to improve.
Starting in the fall, the Developing Emerging Administrative Leaders (DEAL) program will be managed by the HR Learning and Development team. This shift represents the university’s commitment to the success and development of its staff.
Ten Heersink School of Medicine staff have been honored with the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the school’s mission through their work in education, service, and research.
Since its inception, the Health Services Foundation General Endowment Fund (HSF-GEF) has played a pivotal role in advancing UAB’s mission of excellence in research, clinical care, and medical education. Established to support institutional initiatives that often fall outside traditional funding mechanisms, the HSF-GEF has become a cornerstone for building cutting-edge capacities within the academic health center. The program empowers faculty innovation, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and ensures UAB remains at the forefront of medical advancement.
Girish Melkani, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology, has been named the latest recipient of the school’s Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable research contributions made by faculty and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.
C. Vivek Lal, M.D., tenured professor (Oct ‘25) in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named executive in residence of the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE). Lal’s appointment marks the beginning of a partnership between HIIE and the Heersink School of Medicine that will allow both entities an avenue to better serve patients.
In a recent Harvard Business Review article on leadership, Ranjay Gulati — professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and a Thinkers50 World’s Top Management Thinker — reminds us that “fortune favors the brave, not the cautious.” His reflections on cultivating courage in leadership in uncertain times resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities we currently face in academic medicine.
The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery is pleased to announce a new endowed lectureship to honor the legacy of Loring W. Rue III, M.D., professor emeritus in the UAB Department of Surgery. Dr. Rue’s leadership and dedication to improving trauma care make him an instrumental figure in the history of the trauma program at UAB.
After more than three decades of unwavering service and leadership in trauma care, Holly Waller, RN, BSN, MPH, NE-BC, has been named a recipient of the UAB VIP Award, a recognition reserved for those who exemplify the values, integrity, and performance that define excellence at UAB.
With the growth of clinical research and trials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and to meet the evolving needs of investigators and study teams, two longstanding support programs—the UAB Department of Medicine’s Clinical Research Enterprise (CRE) and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Clinical Research Support Program (CRSP)—have merged to form the Clinical Research Support Enterprise (CReSt).
Since its launch, the Compassion Closet has been embraced and supported by UAB staff and the community alike, and its mission continues to grow.
A global pharmaceutical company based in India has committed to a major investment in a UAB startup working to pioneer breakthrough FDA-approved therapeutics for lung diseases.
Amy Warriner, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Brewer-Heslin Award for Professionalism in Medicine.
On August 16, we had the privilege of welcoming our newest class of medical students during our annual White Coat Ceremony.
Bassel El-Rayes, M.D., professor in the division of Hematology and Oncology, has been named the latest recipient of the school’s Featured Discovery Award. This recognition celebrates significant research contributions made by faculty and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.
The Heersink School of Medicine Office of Research has unveiled a research focus area, Health Across the Lifecourse (HEAL). This focus area was developed to learn how different aspects over the course of a person’s life, such as their environment and background, can affect their access to healthcare and health outcomes. HEAL aims to use collaboration to connect research, practice, and policy.
In early 2025, Jonathan Kajjimu, MBBS, traveled from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as part of the NIH D43 Integrated Networks of Scholars in Global Health Research Training (INSIGHT) program to participate in global health research mentorship under Matt Heimann, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine and associate director for Educational Programs in the Mary E. Heersink Institute for Global Health (MHIGH).
Ritika Samant, a medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2025 Sara Crews Finley, M.D., Endowed Leadership Scholarship.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two medical institutions in India–the Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences University (PIMS-DU; Loni, Maharashtra) and Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University Medical College (BVDU; Pune, Maharashtra).