Heersink School of Medicine

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.