November was a busy month in the Department, with several events for faculty. On Monday, November 5, Yabing Chen, Ph.D., Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Education, coordinated the second annual Faculty Development Forum meeting, with the theme, "Moving Up the Ranks." The meeting was designed as a forum for faculty members to discuss the process, and learn of potential pitfalls--of obtaining promotion and tenure.
Dr. Yabing Chen addresses the crowd gathered to learn about the Department's promotion and tenure process. 

The following evening, Chair George Netto, M.D., and his wife Ruby hosted a dinner reception in honor of the success of several of our faculty, including promotions, retirements, and awards. The event was held at Garden & Galley restaurant on Birmingham's Southside.

First, Anna Yemeleyanova, M.D., Professor, was introduced to Ira Gore, M.D., and Cynthia McCaleb Gore, benefactors of the Hazel Gore, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Gynecologic Pathology. Yemelyanova joined our team as Professor in the Division of Anatomic Pathology and Director of the Gynecologic Pathology Section in spring of 2018. In addition, Dr. Yemelyanova has the role of Associate Director of our Division of Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, led by Interim Division Director Shuko Harada, M.D. She received the endowment in October. 

 Photos from left to right: The Gores with Dr. Anna Yemelyanova; Dr. Yemelyanova, Dr. Netto and his wife, Ruby, and Dr. Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, newly announced Division Director for Anatomic Pathology; Drs. X. Long Zheng and Rakesh Patel; Dr. Gene Siegal with Dr. Dennis Kucik in the foreground.  

Netto recognized faculty who received promotions this year. Drs. Daniel Dye, James Hackney, and Adam Wende (in photos below, left to right), each earned promotions from assistant to associate professors in the divisions of Forensics, Neuropathology, and Molecular & Cellular Pathology, respectively. Each attended with their wives and Wende with his proud daughters.
  

Additionally, two professors who achieved emeritus status this year were lauded: Dennis Kucik, M.D., and Pat Bucy, M.D., Ph.D. Kucik joined UAB in 1997. In 2003 he was appointed Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Birmingham Veterans Administration Medical Center. In addition to his invaluable service with the VA, Kucik maintained an active research portfolio during his career. He has been recognized nationally for his achievements related to his NASA-funded research project using both cell and animal models to determine the mechanism of radiation-induced aortic endothelial cell adhesiveness and its consequences for atherosclerosis.

Bucy joined UAB in 1987 and retired from active service at UAB on October 1, 2018 and was appointed Professor Emeritus. He was noted for his more than 30 years of service by the Health Services Foundation earlier this year.

And closing out the remarks, Netto presented a surprised Vishnu Reddy, M.D., Professor and Interim Director, Neuropathology, with a plaque honoring his service to the Department. It will be erected outside of the North Pavilion conference room 3554, which is used by the Anatomic Pathology staff for reviewing cases, signouts and consultant conferences. Reddy was recognized for his more than 25 years of service to the Health Services Foundation earlier this year.
    

On Thursday, November 8, the Department hosted an at-large Faculty Meeting, which provided Division Directors from the six divisions an opportunity to update all faculty on their recent successes. These include the recruitment of 19 faculty in the last three years, and the boost in Blue Ridge rankings from 14th in 2016 to 11th in 2018.