The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery has matched four new fellows into the Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship for 2024: Tyler Johnson, D.O., Taylor Norton, M.D., Alexis Scheuermann, M.D., and Sarah Weiner, M.D.

The UAB Department of Surgery mourns the loss of Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Professor Emeritus Joaquin S. Aldrete, M.D., M.S.

Photo Credit: UAB University RelationsIt was just another ordinary, early morning for Patrick Jones. While his wife, Debbie, was out attending to a sick horse on their South Carolina farm, Patrick ambled to the kitchen to make his daily cup of coffee. That journey to the kitchen would be the last thing Patrick remembered until he regained consciousness with Debbie by his side, as paramedics loaded him for emergency transport.

To recognize and celebrate the Chinese New Year, we invited UAB General Surgery Resident Rongzhi Wang, MBBS, to speak with our Access & Engagement Committee about his Chinese heritage and his connection to the holiday.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to highlight alumnus and general surgeon Dr. Joseph Karam, who completed his general surgery residency in 2014.

The UAB Department of Surgery will travel to Houston, Texas to participate in the 18th Annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC), which will be held Feb. 7-9, 2023.

We would like to commend this year's UAB participants for continuing to place the institution as the leading contributor in abstract submissions for the sixth consecutive year.

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
adult cardiac surgery, surgical critical care, ECMO

The UAB Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) is offering a Summer Innovation Fellowship Program for 2023.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Fay Fletcher Kerner Chair Emeritus of the Department of Surgery Kirby I. Bland, M.D., FACS, MAMSE, and Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UAB William Holman, M.D., have been awarded professor emeritus status.

For many residents of rural America, the location and availability of cancer care directly impact their treatment plans. This is the question that motivates UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kristy Broman, M.D., MPH, FACS – How can we use existing systems of care to ensure that the high-quality care available at specialized centers like UAB is accessible to more patients, including those who live in rural areas or have difficulty traveling to a cancer center?

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kristy Broman, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, and UAB Division of Hematology and Oncology Associate Professor John Dubay, M.D., joined UAB MedCast to examine treatments and therapies for melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

UAB Department of Surgery Division of Transplantation Assistant Professor and Liver Transplant Program Surgical Director Robert Cannon, M.D., FACS, has been selected as a Pittman Scholar in the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine.

Herbert Chen, M.D., FACS, the UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair, and Helen Krontiras, M.D., the director of the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery were both recognized by the Association of Women Surgeons Foundation.

UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair Dr. Herbert Chen was recently featured on UAB's weekly podcast, MedCast, where he discussed hyperparathyroidism and its impacts.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, Endowed Chair Daniel Chu, M.D., MSPH, FACS, FASCRS, has been selected as associate division director of Gastrointestinal Surgery in the Department of Surgery.

The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to announce that Daniel Chu, M.D., MSPH, FACS, FASCRS, will serve the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery as division director, effective October 1, 2023.

UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Department of Surgery Gastrointestinal Associate Professor Dr. Daniel Chu and Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Assistant Professor Dr. Kirk Russ discuss current trends and treatments of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, on UAB MedCast.

Clinical Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Montgomery Baptist

Areas of Interest
adult heart and lung surgery (coronary bypass, heart valve, and aneurysm surgery), minimally invasive heart and lung surgery (TAVR procedure), lung cancer surgery, surgical diseases of the chest wall and lung

Daniel Cox, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was recently named as one of three new associate chief medical officers for UAB Hospital.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Associate Professor and Trauma Medical Director Daniel Cox, M.D., has received a new appointment in the Air Force.

The Alabama chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation will host its 12^th annual Casino for a Cause on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m., at Haven.

Professor
Chief, Section of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Director, Fourth Year Medical Student Clerkship
A.D. Pacifico, M.D., Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery

Areas of Interest
pediatric cardiac surgery, quality improvement and outcomes research

Professor
Director, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
John W. Kirklin Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Surgery
Surgical Director, Cardiovascular Operating Room
Director, UAB Cardiovascular Institute

Areas of Interest
adult cardiac surgery, cardiac valvular disease, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, outcomes research

Together with the Comprehensive Transplant Institute and UAB Medicine, the UAB Department of Surgery hosted the 4th International Congress of the International Society of Uterus Transplantation (ISUTx).

Numerous members of the UAB Department of Surgery attended the annual Surgical Education Week meeting in San Diego, California, from April 13-15, 2023.

The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to welcome three new faculty members who have joined the department this October: Sarah B. Bateni, M.D., MSW, MAS, Stuart D. Hurst, M.D., and Joseph S. Walker, M.D., FACS.

The UAB Department of Surgery welcomes Jarrad Rowse, M.D., as assistant professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome Mary McDougal as Executive Administrator.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome Division of Transplantation Clinical Assistant Professor Dr. Muhammad Rabbani.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome two new faculty members – Dr. Melanie Rose and Dr. Rachael Guenter.

The UAB Department of Surgical Oncology participated in the Pancreatic Cancer PurpleStride Walk on Saturday, April 29, in Railroad Park.

The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Alabama Committee on Trauma (COT) for the purchase of 1,000 gun locks to distribute across Alabama in the goal of injury and death prevention.

This Match Day, the UAB Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery are honored to welcome new trainees to their programs.

Associate Professor
Section Chief, Thoracic Surgery
James H. Estes Family Endowed Chair for Lung Cancer Research in the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB

Areas of Interest
lung and esophageal cancer surgery, chest wall surgery, tracheal resection and reconstruction, mediastinal tumors, outcomes research, airway disorders, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, lung nodules, mediastinal tumors, chest wall tumors, malignant pleural effusions, pneumothorax, esophageal disease (benign)

Photo: Jacqueline Lewis, M.D., by Ammarr Croskey, The Birmingham Times 

To celebrate Women’s History Month this past March, UAB Surgery’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee member and General Surgery Research Resident Katherine McElroy, M.D., interviewed Jacqueline Lewis, M.D., to discuss her impact on the field of surgery and future hopes for the field.

On Monday, February 17, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hoover Public Library, Department of Surgery Associate Professor Colin Martin, M.D., FAAP, FACS, will speak on "Diet, Stress, and Gut Health" along with Professor and Graduate Program Director of Biology Stephen Watts, Ph.D.

Vikas Dudeja, M.D., FACS, James P. Hayes, Jr., Endowed Professor in Gastrointestinal Oncology and Director of the Division of Surgical Oncology, has been accepted into the Society of Clinical Surgery (SCS), one of the most prominent clinical societies for surgeons.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Director and James P. Hayes, Jr., Endowed Professor in Gastrointestinal Oncology Vikas Dudeja, M.D., FACS, was recently elected to the position of recorder for the Association of Academic Surgery (AAS) at this year's Academic Surgical Congress (ASC) in Houston, Texas.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Director and James P. Hayes, Jr., Endowed Professor in Gastrointestinal Oncology Vikas Dudeja, M.D., FACS,has received additional research funding from the Department of Defense totaling $2,119,086.

Associate Professor
Program Director, Advanced Aortic and Endovascular Surgery Fellowship
Medical Director, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Areas of Interest
aortic aneurysmal disease, aortic dissection, aortic valve repair and valve sparring aortic root replacement, aortic stent grafting and endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR), minimally invasive valve repair, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor and Medical Student Surgery Clerkship Director Jessica Fazendin, M.D. has been selected as the visiting professor from UAB to the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center.

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor and Medical Student Surgery Clerkship Director Jessica Fazendin, M.D., FACS, was a recent recipient of the 2022 Argus Award for Best Clinical Educator, Birmingham Campus, alongside General Internal Medicine Professor Lisa Willett, M.D.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to recognize the following faculty members who were admitted into the Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons:

• Dr. Jonathan Black
• Dr. Kristy Broman
• Dr. Jessica Fazendin
• Dr. Xiaoming Shi
• Dr. Danielle Sutzko

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Quince Gibson, M.D., MBA, has spent the last year and a half as the sole GI surgeon provider at Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis, Alabama, but looking back, his path to medicine has proven far different from Gibson's initial career trajectory.

Dale Davis, RN, BSN, is having a full circle moment. Last month, after 29 years at UAB, Davis retired. After one week of retirement, Davis is returning to work where his UAB career first started - in the UAB Emergency Department as a nurse.

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Professor and Director for Gastrointestinal Biology Research Aurelio Galli, Ph.D., D.Sc., was one of the featured authors of the recently published article, "Syntaxin 1 Ser14 phosphorylation is required for nonvesicular dopamine release," in Science Advances.

The UAB Department of Surgery’s Professor Aurelio Galli, Ph.D., D.Sc., has been appointed as the Dr. Champ Lyons Endowed Chair in General Surgery and Associate Professor Britney Corey, M.D., MACM, FACS, has been selected for the Dr. Marshall Urist Professorship.

Several members of the Department of Surgery's General Surgery Residency Program were chosen for the distinct honor of serving as UAB Heersink School of Medicine Learning Communities House Staff Mentors for the 2023 - 2024 year.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Professor James F. George, Ph.D., has been chosen to serve as the Department of Surgery's Vice Chair of Basic Research.

Professor Emeritus

Areas of Interest
immune regulation of post-transplant vascular disease and allograft rejection, transplantation and heart failure outcomes research