The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery has matched four new fellows into the Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship for 2023: Preston Hewgley, M.D., Cassandra Krause, M.D., John Kuk, M.D., and Michelle Mangold, D.O.

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.

UAB’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery was well-represented in the trauma research presentations at the 17th American Surgical Congress (ASC) in Orlando.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and the UAB Burn Center celebrated Tuesday, February 8 after Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin signed a proclamation declaring the week of February 6 – 12 Burn Awareness Week.

The month of May was Trauma Awareness Month, and the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery worked with state and local government officials to spread the word.

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.

Professor
Vice Chair, Basic Research
Director for Gastrointestinal Biology Research
Champ Lyons Endowed Chair in General Surgery
Distinguished Professor in the Heersink School of Medicine

Areas of Interest
brain development and plasticity, neurotransmitters, substance abuse

Associate Professor Rondi Gelbard, M.D., FACS, and Executive Administrator Christal Moore, MBA, MHA, FACHE, were selected for the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) Class of 2022.

Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Whitfield Regional Medical Center, Demopolis

Areas of Interest 
global surgery, rural surgery, health informatics, genetic epidemiology

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest 
progression from immune homeostasis that leads to permissive dysplasia in colitis-associated cancer and novel avenues for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Assistant Professor
Co-Director, Women in Surgery

Areas of Interest
colon, rectal, and anal cancer; surgical management of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; diverticulitis; benign anorectal disorders; robotic and minimally invasive surgery

Professor
Vice Chair, VA Affairs
Associate Chief of Staff, VA Surgical Services
Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery at Birmingham VA
Assistant Program Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship

Areas of Interest
foregut and bariatric surgery, achalasia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal or paraesophageal hernias, morbid obesity and metabolic syndrome, role of the microbiome in obesity, outcomes research

Last week, a group from UAB’s Center for Injury Science (CIS) met with colleagues in Houston for the first investigator meeting for a large-scale upcoming trauma clinical trial.

Professor

Professor
Associate Vice Chair, Basic Research
Program Co-Director, Future Surgeons and Scientists Investigating Oncology (FUSSION)
Associate Director, Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO)
Assistant Program Director for Resident Research, General Surgery Residency Program
Strange Family Endowed Professorship in Surgical Sciences Research

Areas of Interest
colon and rectal surgery, intestinal surgery

Zain Hashmi, M.D., an assistant professor in UAB’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, recently published an article, “Nationwide estimates of the need for prehospital blood products after injury,” in Transfusion, the journal of the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies.

Zain Hashmi, M.D., an assistant professor with the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, has been selected as one of five scholarship recipients by the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST).

The UAB Department of Surgery is committed to training and equipping the next generation of surgeons. Our fellowship training programs prepare surgeons for rich careers in their areas of specialty.

Kimberly Hendershot, M.D., recently earned the Certificate in Applied Surgical Education Leadership (CASEL) through the American College of Surgeons Division of Education.

UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Professor Kimberly Hendershot, M.D., FACS, had an eventful Surgical Education Week, rising to two new leadership positions and winning a conference Shark Tank competition.

When John Holcomb, M.D., FACS, professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was asked back in April if he would join a medical nonprofit to assist surgeons in Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, he didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery John Holcomb, M.D., FACS, published “Damage control laparotomy in trauma: a pilot randomized controlled trial,” in the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Open journal.

Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Professor John Holcomb, M.D.,FACS, will receive the Danis Prize 2022 at the International Surgical Week (ISW) 2022 in Vienna, Austria.

Assistant Professor
Member, Institute for Cancer Outcomes & Survivorship
Leader, Colorectal Cancer Management Team for the O’Neal Cancer Service Line 
Co-Director, Short-Term Research Experiences Advancing Medical Students (STREAMS)

Areas of Interest
clinical interests include colon, rectal, and anal cancer; hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (i.e. Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis); surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease); pelvic pouch surgery; diverticulitis; rectal prolapse; benign anorectal disorders; enterocutaneous fistula; minimally invasive surgery; re-operative surgery

research interests include hereditary colorectal cancer; ostomy care; health inequities; quality of care

Medical professionals from UAB, including Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Injury Prevention Coordinator Libby Kellen, RN, BSN, demonstrated ways community members can stop a bleeding wound and help save lives.

Center for Injury Science (CIS) Director Jan Jansen, MBBS, Ph.D., and Executive Director Shannon Stephens will lead a two-year, $2.8 million clinical trial funded by the Department of Defense.

UAB’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery recognizes National Trauma Awareness Month this May. Besides turning the green UAB sign on the Sixth Avenue parking deck red for the month, the division is hosting several events for the UAB community to participate in.

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
gastrointestinal surgery, general surgery, outcomes research

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

Director of the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Jeffrey Kerby, M.D., Ph.D. and Chief of the Trauma Service Daniel Cox, M.D., sat down with WBHM to discuss hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) for gunshot survivors.

Trauma is the leading cause of death for those up to age 45, and those that survive their injuries are often left with physical and emotional challenges.

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.

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

Assistant Professor

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

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
Health disparities, pain 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.

The team involved in the rescue operation reunited with Arnoldo Vasquez-Hernandez and his family to speak for the Hearts of Heroes episode.

Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
health services research, biostatistics

UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Surgery Assistant Professor Jillian Richter, Ph.D., alongside her colleagues including Department of Pediatrics Assistant Professor Robert Richter, M.D., published “Glycocalyx heparan sulfate cleavage promotes endothelial cell angiopoietin-2 expression by impairing shear stress-related AMPK/FoxO1 signaling” in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive general surgery, including foregut, bariatric surgery, and complex abdominal wall hernias

Clinical Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Mobile Infirmary

Areas of Interest
colon cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, endoscopic treatment of colonic disease

Services have launched for a violence intervention pilot program to support survivors of gun violence who are cared for by the trauma service at UAB Hospital.

Irshad Chaudry, Ph.D., professor emeritus with the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery within the Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been a mentor to many but also remembers what it’s like to need help himself.

Professor
Medical Director, Bariatric Surgery
Program Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship

Areas of Interest
surgical treatment of obesity and metabolically related diseases; minimally invasive and open gastric bypass surgery, adjustable gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy

Clinical Assistant Professor
Primary Practice Location: Russell Medical Center, Alexander City

Areas of Interest
Robotic minimally invasive surgery, abdominal wall inguinal and hiatal hernia repairs, gallbladder disease, colon and rectal cancer and diverticulitis, skin and soft tissue procedures and endoscopy

Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery Prasanth Patcha, M.D., MEng (left), as well as Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Clinical Assistant Professor Omar Rokayak, D.O. (middle), and Assistant Professor Jon Winkler, M.D., Ph.D. (right), have been named fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), effective Oct. 24.

Today is National Injury Prevention Day. Although this awareness day was created by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids to focus on injuries in that population, this year, UAB’s Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery is focusing on fall safety in older adults.

Lt. Gen. Robert Miller, the United States Air and Space Force Surgeon General, visited UAB to learn about the unique and successful military-civilian partnerships here.