Professor
John H. Blue Chair of General Surgery
Cancer Network Director, O’Neal Cancer Service Line
Interim Program Director, UAB Colorectal Surgery Fellowship

Areas of Interest
colon cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, benign conditions of colon, rectum and anus, endoscopic treatment of colonic disease, chemoprevention

UAB Surgery Administrative Director Marissa Keppley, MBA, recently presented on the impact of AI-informed communications at the Association of Academic Surgical Administrators (AASA) 2023 Mid-Year Retreat.

Professor
Brigham Family Endowed Professor in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
Director, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery

Areas of Interest
trauma, surgical critical care, acute care surgery, pre-hospital emergency care

Planning an international trip? Review the resources available to make your trip safer and less costly.

UAB Department of Surgery Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Young Investigator Award.

Assistant Professor
Co-Director, UAB Women in Surgery
Chair, Wellness Committee

Areas of Interest
peritoneal surface malignancies, HIPEC, gastric cancer, small bowel cancer, colorectal cancer, health services research, palliative care

Professor
Director, Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery
Kirby I. Bland, M.D., Endowed Professor in Surgery
Director of Clinical Affairs, O’Neal Cancer Service Line

Areas of Interest
breast disease-prevention and surgical treatments

Associate Professor
Program Co-director, Future Surgeons and Scientists Investigating Oncology (FUSSION)
Associate Program Director, UAB Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Areas of Interest 
breast cancer, DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), benign breast disease, outcomes research

Clinical Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest 
military-civilian integration, robotic surgery, disaster response

Several members of the UAB Department of Surgery have been selected to participate in UAB Medicine leadership programs.

Associate Professor
Chief, Section of Adult Cardiac Surgery

Areas of Interest
coronary artery disease, minimally invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, aortic valve surgery, mitral valve and tricuspid valve repair, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), atrial septal defects, disorders of the thymus gland, chest tumors, saphenous vein harvest, pericardial effusions

Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
breast reconstruction, breast reduction, breast lift, breast augmentation, body contouring, body contouring after massive weight loss, facial rejuvenation, fat grafting, liposuction, abdominoplasty, blepharoplasty, facelift, rhinoplasty, Mohs reconstruction, injectables (botox, fillers)

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, FACS, was recently selected as a participant in the 2023 cohort of the Momentum Leaders in Medicine at UAB.

Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Association for Surgical Education Foundation (ASEF), stemming from the Center for Excellence in Surgical Education, Research and Training (CESERT) program.

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, FACS, has been accepted into the Association of Women Surgeons’ Shining Star Leadership Program.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to announce Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, FACS, as the Vice Chair of Education. 

Professor
Vice Chair, Education
Program Director, UAB Endocrine Surgery Fellowship
Assistant Dean, UAB Graduate Medical Education

Areas of Interest

thyroid cancer, parathyroid disease, parathyroid disease, parathyroid disease, disorders of the adrenal gland, inherited endocrine syndromes, surgical education research

Division of Transplantation Professor and Arnold G. Diethelm Endowed Chair in Transplantation Surgery Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH, was accepted as a member into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) in April 2022. 

From its recent accolade as one of the nation's top culinary destinations to its stunning Appalachian foothills views, Birmingham has earned a reputation as a destination ideal for both work and play.

From its recent accolade as one of the nation's top culinary destinations to its stunning Appalachian foothills views, Birmingham has earned a reputation as a destination ideal for both work and play.

Professor
Director, Transplant Analytics

Areas of Interest
abdominal transplantation, incompatible organ transplantation, transplantation of HIV-infected end-stage patients, outcomes and behavioral research focused on health disparities

UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dr. Colin Martin was appointed to serve as a consultant to the Pediatric Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery for the Pediatric Surgery In-Training Examination (PSITE).

UAB Department of Surgery Associate Professor Colin Martin, M.D., FACS, has been admitted into the prestigious Halsted Society.

Dr. Colin Martin

UAB Department of Surgery Associate Professor and Medical Staff President of Children’s of Alabama Colin Martin, M.D., FACS, has been invited to serve on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS) Editorial Board.

Clinical Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
Foot and ankle surgery, arthroscopic surgery, traumatic foot and ankle injuries, limb salvage, elective foot surgery

Clinical Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Infirmary Health, Mobile

Areas of Interest
Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, liver metastases, and surgical education

UAB Research Resident Katherine McElroy, M.D. has been selected for a featured poster presentation at the annual North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS)’s Multidisciplinary Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Medical Symposium in Washington D.C.

UAB Research Resident Katherine McElroy, M.D. was awarded a 2022 Association for Academic Surgery (AAS)Fall Courses Travel Award.

UAB AAES Endocrine Surgery Fellow Dr. Jessica Liu McMullin was recently selected to serve as a member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Surgical Research (JSR).

The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery has a unique connection with the military. Twelve faculty members are either veterans or active duty military.

Five members of the UAB Surgery Department were honored at the Annual Service Awards Reception on Tuesday, Mar. 21.

Professor
Vice Chair, Perioperative Services
Chief of General Surgery, Birmingham VA Hospital
Associate Chief Quality Officer, UAB Medicine

Areas of Interest
minimally invasive colorectal surgery, colon and rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis), diverticulitis, and rectal prolapse

Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
congenital colorectal, neonatal defects, outcomes research, bioinformatics

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest 
gallbladder disease, abdominal wall hernias, health services research, surgical education, and bariatric surgery

James C. Lee III Chair in Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Children's of Alabama
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery
Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology

Areas of Interests
craniofacial surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, microneurovascular reconstruction, facial reanimation, distraction osteogenesis, craniosynostosis, cleft lip and cleft palate, pierre robin sequence, distraction osteogenesis for pierre robin sequence, craniomaxillofacial trauma, general reconstructive plastic surgery, adolescent breast surgery, aesthetic surgery, ring-assisted cranioplasty for craniosynostosis, facial nerve disorders, and reconstructive microsurgery

The UAB Surgical Grand Rounds Committee is honored to introduce two new committee members – Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Andrea Gillis and Division of GI Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Drew Gunnells. Together, they will join UAB Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy Division Assistant Professor Dr. Danielle Sutzko, who serves as co-lead of the committee, to coordinate the lists of speakers for the weekly seminar series.

The UAB Department of Surgery has added a new lactation room to its facilities, which will be available to all faculty, staff, and trainees.

UAB Surgery General Surgery Resident Dr. Clara Nicolas Martinez was selected as a recipient of the “Exceptional Award” from the faculty of the Department of Medicine from the University of Barcelona for her outstanding scholarship in her Ph.D. program.

Instructor

Areas of Interest
outcomes research, quality initiative and quality improvements, data management and analysis

Clinical Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Riverview Medical Center Gadsden

Areas of Interest 
robotic surgery, bariatric surgery outcome improvement, patient education

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest 
minimally invasive pediatric surgery, neonatal surgery, thoracic surgery, critical care, burn, trauma

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
mechanical circulatory support, ventricular assist devices, heart transplant, adult cardiac surgery, vascular and endovascular surgery

The UAB Department of Surgery is highlighting faculty, residents and staff who have an intriguing out-of-the-office hobby. The goal of the series is to connect individuals across the department by helping illuminate out-of-the-office moments and achievements.

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
Health disparities, pain research

The Pancreatobiliary Disease Center has recently added a digital resource for patients to stay connected to their healthcare team after they leave the hospital.

Professor
Vice Chair, Patient Experience
Chief, Section of Breast Surgery
Program Director, UAB Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Surgery Physician Advisor – Clinical Documentation Improvement 

Areas of Interest
breast cancer, tumor biology, outcomes research

Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal and paraesophageal hernias, abdominal wall hernias, gallbladder disease, resident education and health outcomes research

UAB Division of GI Surgery Associate Professor Dr. Abhishek Parmar, General Surgery Resident Dr. Steven Cochrun, and Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Professor Dr. Jan Jansen’s study on “Surgeon perspectives on the STITCH trial: A mixed methods study” was recently published in the journal of Surgical Endoscopy.

Professor
Director, UAB Vein Program & Clinic

Areas of Interest
open and catheter-based treatments for aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease, renovascular hypertension and peripheral artery occlusive disease

Professor
Chief of Vascular Surgery Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital

Areas of Interest
lower extremity occlusive disease, arterial aneurysms