Department News
Stephens joins the Department of Pathology as Executive Administrator in February
The UAB Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce Amie Stephens, MBA, is joining our team as executive administrator, effective February 24, 2025.
Stephens joins the department from Emory University’s Department of Medicine where she served as administrator in the Division of Infectious Diseases since 2022. In this role, Stephens directed research activities, gifts, and endowments, participated in clinical management and managed clinical budgets, prepared all financial reports and annual operating budgets, supervised staff and managed space.
Read moreDr. Sanford Bishop, Professor Emeritus, passes away
Written by: Peter Anderson, D.V.M., Ph.D.
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Sanford P. Bishop, D.V.M., Ph.D. Bishop was a professor emeritus in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology.
Leal appointed to the American Board of Pathology Test Development and Advisory Committee for Medical Microbiology
Sixto M. Leal Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professor in Experimental Pathology and Division Director, Laboratory Medicine, has been appointed to the American Board of Pathology's (ABPath) Test Development and Advisory Committee (TDAC) for Medical Microbiology beginning in 2025. The TDACs are responsible for developing and reviewing the ABPath certification exam questions that assess and certify a physician's education, knowledge, experience and skills in order to provide high-quality care in the profession of pathology.
UAB Pathology gathers for 2025 Faculty Retreat
Faculty members from the UAB Department of Pathology gathered for an all-day retreat at the UAB Hilton on Friday, February 7, for community-building exercises and special topic discussions.
Congratulating our 2025-2026 chief residents and leadership group
The UAB Department of Pathology is excited to announce our chief residents for the 2025-26 year and thank our 2024-25 chiefs.
We want to acknowledge the incredible example that our 2024-25 chiefs Drs. Kyle Joseph, Caroline Stanek and Amy Theriault have set over the past year. They excelled in their leadership positions, and we thank them all for a job well done.
Read moreBenson secures RECOVER grant to study effects of Long COVID
What are the lasting effects of COVID-19 on the body? Paul Benson, M.D., Professor and Autopsy Section Head in the Department of Pathology's Division of Anatomic Pathology, was awarded a Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) grant from the National Institutes of Health for his project, titled, "A Multi-site Pathology Study of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection." The RECOVER initiative is a first-of-its-kind, patient-centered research effort to understand, diagnose, prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2. The grant will fund $158,000 per year and will run through April 2026.
Umah accepted into UAB R38 StARR Training Program
Chiamaka Umah, M.D., PGY2, has been selected by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO) for a position in the NIH NIAID UAB R38 StARR (Stimulating Access to Research and Residency) Training Program, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
Gassman named Associate Director, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center's Access, Belonging and Culture
Natalie R. Gassman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, has been appointed Associate Director of Access, Belonging and Culture in the UAB O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, effective February 1, 2025.
Miller to serve as Assistant Program Leader of the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center's Neuro-Oncology Program
C. Ryan Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Vishnu B. Reddy Translational Research Endowed Professor, Division Director, Neuropathology, has been appointed inaugural assistant program leader of the UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Neuro-Oncology Program, effective February 1, 2025.
Mackinnon named Executive Vice Chair of UAB Pathology
Alexander “Craig” Mackinnon, M.D., Ph.D., Robert B. Adams Endowed Professor in Pathology and Division Director, Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, has been named Executive Vice Chair in the UAB Department of Pathology, effective January 6, 2025.
Siegal retires after 34 years of service to UAB Pathology
Gene Siegal, M.D., Ph.D., the inaugural Robert W. Mowry Endowed Professor and Executive Vice Chair, retired on December 31, 2024, after 34 years of service in the UAB Department of Pathology.
Feng receives R21 to study bone lesions in multiple myeloma
Patients with multiple myeloma often develop bone lesions resulting in skeletal-related events (SREs), such as spinal cord compression, vertebral collapse, pathologic fractures and bone pain. Bone lesions are caused by increases in osteoclast formation and are treated using antiresorptive drugs such as denosumab. This drug is an antibody that combats RANKL, a critical regulator of osteoclast formation, however, its use suppresses the immune system and increases the risk of serious infections.
Xu Feng, Ph.D., a professor in the UAB Department of Pathology’s Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, is working to develop a better targeting strategy.
Read moreLeal named Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professor in Experimental Pathology
Sixto Leal Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Division Director, Laboratory Medicine, has been named the Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professor in Experimental Pathology, effective January 1, 2025.
Gassman joins Molecular and Cellular Pathology in January
The Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce a new faculty member joining our team January 1. Natalie R. Gassman, Ph.D., joins the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, led by Rakesh Patel, Ph.D., as an associate professor.
Anderson retires after more than 40 years in UAB Pathology
Peter Anderson, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, will retire at the end of the month, December 31, 2024, after 43 years in the UAB Department of Pathology.
Ali, Arroyo-Diaz, Chang Receive UAB Pathology Travel Awards
(l-r) Drs. Dario Vitturi, Nicole Arroyo-Diaz, Mara Carreño, M.S.The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded travel awards to three trainees, Md Akkas Ali, Dr. Nicole Arroyo-Diaz and Samuel Chang, who presented their research at national meetings.
Karthikeyan to Serve as Co-Leader of the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center's Cancer Biology and Immunology Program
Mythreye Karthikeyan, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, has been appointed Co-Leader of the UAB O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center's Cancer Biology and Immunology Program (CBI), effective January 1, 2025.
Litovsky, Rosenblum Receive 2024 Argus Awards
Drs. Litovsky (left) and RosenblumThe Department of Pathology is proud to announce two faculty recipients for the Argus Awards, presented by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Silvio Litovsky, M.D., Professor, Anatomic Pathology, received the award for Best MS1 Course in Cardiology and Frida Rosenblum, M.D., Associate Professor, Anatomic Pathology, received the award for Best Educator in Hematology/Oncology.
UAB Pathology Celebrates Digital Pathology Program Launch
(l-r): Drs. Ritu Aneja, Cristina Magi-Galluzzi and Sunil SinghalLeadership from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, UAB Medicine and the Department of Pathology gathered on Monday, November 11 in the West Pavilion Conference Center to celebrate the launch of UAB Pathology's Digital Pathology Transformation Project. Attendees enjoyed refreshments and remarks from Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair in Pathology, Brenda Carlisle, CEO of UAB Hospital, Program Sponsor, Anupam Agarwal, M.D., Senior Vice President for Medicine, Dean, Heersink School of Medicine, Program Sponsor, and Sunil Singhal, Program Manager.
Murphy-Ullrich Inducted into National Academy of Inventors
Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Molecular and Cellular Pathology, has been inducted into UAB's chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. Murphy-Ullrich was recognized at an induction ceremony at the UAB Collat School of Business on October 11.