News and Events - School of Medicine - Surgery

Bownes wins Travel Award for Postdoctoral Scholars

Laura V. Bownes, M.D.UAB general surgery research resident Laura Bownes, M.D. was recently awarded a Postdoctoral Travel Award by the Office of Postdoctoral Education.

General surgery chief residents match into fellowship programs

Congratulations to the following general surgery residents who have recently matched into various fellowship programs across the country:

Marayati wins Bertram M. Marx Student Research Endowment Travel Award

Dr. Raoud MarayatiUAB general surgery research resident Raoud Marayati, M.D., was recently awarded the Bertram M. Marx Student Research Endowment Travel Award. This award, established by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, supports research activities of graduate students seeking a Ph.D. degree in areas related to cancer, including travel to professional conferences.

Get ready for UAB @ #ASC2020

The UAB Department of Surgery gathers for a photo while attending the 14th Annual Academic Surgical Congress in Houston, Texas, Feb. 5-7, 2019.As the UAB Department of Surgery prepares for the 15th Annual Academic Surgical Congress next month in Orlando, Florida – where UAB is again hoping to win the ASC abstract submission contest with a total of 112 abstracts – we’ve made available a spreadsheet of presenters who are affiliated with UAB or who have authored presentations affiliated with our UAB Surgery faculty.

Patterson, Pearce selected as inaugural SVS Leadership Development Participants

Dr. Mark A. PattershonThe Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy’s Mark Patterson, M.D., and Benjamin Pearce, M.D., are two of only twenty surgeons recently chosen as participants in the inaugural Leadership Development Program of the Society for Vascular Surgery, a program developed in collaboration with the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society, and the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery.

Parker, Pearce receive Champ Lyons Outstanding Clinician Award

Dr. Catherine C. ParkerTwo Department of Surgery faculty members recently were awarded the Champ Lyons Outstanding Clinician Award: The division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery’s Catherine C. Parker, M.D., associate professor, Vice Chair of Patient Experience, and Co-Director of UAB Women in Surgery Program, and the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy’s Benjamin J. Pearce, M.D., associate professor, Director of the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency and Fellowship Programs, as well as the William D. Jordan Endowed Professor in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy.

Faculty members appointed associate vice chairs

Four faculty members have been named associate vice chairs within the Department of Surgery:

Vardas appointed to ECTSS Career Development Committee

Dr. Panayotis VardasUAB cardiothoracic surgeon Panayotis Vardas, M.D., was recently appointed as a member of the Career Development Committee for the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society. The ECTSS aims to enhance the standards of patient care through research and thoracic surgical training programs.

Faculty projects funded through 2019 Multi-PI Awards

Three School of Medicine faculty projects were recently funded as AMC21 2019 Multi-PI awardees.

Recovering trauma patient with an eye toward naval career vows to “use every breath I have to help others”

Cole Burton came back to the UAB Trauma Center to say thanks as his rehab progresses to a possible naval career.

Martin to serve as vice chair of AAP SoSu Publications Committee

Dr. Colin MartinUAB pediatric surgeon Colin Martin, M.D., FAAP, FACS, was recently selected by the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery Executive Committee to serve as vice chair of their Publications Committee.

Guenter wins AlChE Division 15 oral presentation competition

UAB biomedical sciences Ph.D. candidate Rachael Guenter recently won for her oral research presentation at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Division 15 competition at the 2019 AIChE Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, Nov 10-15.

Chaudry awarded honorary membership to European Shock Society

UAB Professor of SurgeryIrshad H. Chaudry, Ph.D.,was recently awarded honorary membership to the European Shock Society. Chaudry was given this honor in recognition of his service and dedication to the ESS at the ESS Congress in Chania, Greece, Oct. 8-12.

Vardas accepted into STS Leadership Summit

UAB cardiothoracic surgeon Panayotis Vardas, M.D., has been selected to attend the inaugural Society of Thoracic Surgeons Leadership Summit. The course, “Leadership Beyond the Operating Room for Early Career Surgeons,” is designed to help develop the next generation of leaders in cardiac surgery.

UAB named a top 50 cardiovascular hospital by IBM Watson Health

UAB is continuing its world-class patient care with the establishment of a new Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery.

Rose testifies at Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing

Dr. J. Bart Rose delivers his testimony to the Senate Special Committee on Aging on Nov. 15, calling for greater federal funding for pancreatic cancer research.UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center Director and surgical oncologist J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, recently testified on the state of pancreatic cancer at a Nov. 15 hearing with the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging.

Locke named director of UAB Division of Transplantation

Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH, has been named the director of the Division of Transplantation within the Department of Surgery at The University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Request for Neuroendocrine Cancer Pilot & Feasibility Grant Applications

BackgroundA Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Neuroendocrine Cancer (NE SPORE) is under further development at The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). An initial P50 application was submitted in September 2019 and is pending review. There is need to engage additional investigators and projects that have potential to strengthen an anticipated revised application. Therefore, an AMC21 Multi-Investigator Grant was awarded to continue the development efforts for this important grant and has resulted in this pilot program.

Martin named James IV Association of Surgeons Traveler

UAB pediatric surgeon Colin Martin, M.D., has been selected for the 2019-2020 James IV Association of Surgeons Travelling Fellowship program. The Association and the fellowship, generally considered one of the field’s more prestigious honors, boast a more than 50-year history of supporting international communication and collaboration among academic surgeons.

Resident macrophages reprogram toward a developmental state after acute kidney injury

The School of Medicine communications staff sat down with Dr. George to gain insights about his research, UAB, and the science community.

Department of Surgery establishes new Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery

UAB is continuing its world-class patient care with the establishment of a new Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery.

Study: Medical and surgical residents’ lack of sleep recovery leads to persistent fatigue

A new study shows the quality of sleep medical and surgical residents receive is poor and causes persistent fatigue throughout residency.

Eleven providers from DOS win Patient Experience Excellence Awards

The UAB Medicine Office of Patient Experience and Engagement has awarded 11 Department of Surgery faculty and staff 2019 Patient Experience Excellence Awards:

Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery to host esophageal cancer event

The UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery will host an esophageal cancer event on the first-floor lobby of The Kirklin Clinic on Nov. 15.

Heart procedure won’t slow down 97-year-old World War II veteran

Trussville resident and World War II veteran Chuck Tompkins has no intention of slowing down, even after undergoing a TAVR procedure.

Transplant outreach arrives at Huntsville Regional Campus

UAB transplant hepatologists will see patients at the Huntsville Regional Campus once a month to make it more convenient to North Alabama residents.

UAB opens new Multidisciplinary Endocrine Tumor Clinic

Patients with thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and adrenal tumors will soon have a one-stop shop for endocrine neoplasia treatment.

Full circle kindness: Transplant patients hope to inspire others

What connected two people before pales in comparison to what connects them now.

UAB expands use of virtual care technology

The ERAS program is a patient-centered approach leading to better patient satisfaction and health outcomes.

Biomarker identified for early beta cell death in Type 1 diabetes

The biomarker can identify beta cell death in children and adults with recent-onset Type 1 diabetes and in antibody-positive at-risk subjects before disease onset.

How do I talk to my child about surgery?

For many parents, talking about surgery can be tough. UAB doctors help share tips for having these conversations.

UAB Hospital using whole blood in transfusions for severe trauma

Lessons learned on the battlefield have brought about a change in blood usage at UAB.

Woman’s Christmas present: Surviving an internal decapitation

The ATV hit a barbwire fence and virtually cut her head off. Her story of survival is amazing.

Battling low health literacy one step at a time

Patients with low health literacy are at high risk of having poor health outcomes and experiences.

Brain protein mutation from person with autism causes autism-like behavioral changes in mice

This is a potential mechanistic underpinning — at least in a subset of patients — for the altered behaviors observed in autism.

UAB experts weigh in on Trump’s kidney disease executive order

This executive order could mean positive change in Alabama, which has the third-highest death rate from kidney diseases in the nation.

An innovative procedure is bringing hope, comfort to acid reflux patients

A new magnetic device eases symptoms of GERD

Three siblings share cancer diagnosis due to rare genetic mutation

MEN2A is a rare, hereditary condition occurring in roughly one in 35,000 people in the United States.

Vickers honored with Dr. James T. Black Award

Vickers was motivated by his uncle, Leroy Vickers, to seek a career in medicine, where he has become a world-renowned surgeon, pancreatic cancer researcher and pioneer in health disparities research.

Hernias can happen to anyone, especially after abdominal surgery

Every year, nearly 700,000 Americans have surgery for groin hernias.

Chu receives $430K research award from NIH

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health recently awarded Daniel Chu, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award for his research project, “Enhancing Health Literacy in Surgery to Eliminate Surgical Disparities for African-Americans with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.”

Learn about hernias, treatments and diagnoses

UAB doctors will host a free communitywide education event to discuss treatment and diagnosis of hernias.

UAB Hospital prepares for when disaster strikes

Maintaining emergency awareness and being prepared is a year-round activity.

Eighteen faculty members named winners of the 2019 Dean's Excellence Awards

Eighteen outstanding faculty members were named recipients of the 2019 Dean’s Excellence Awards, an honor recognizing exceptional contributions made by School of Medicine faculty in service, teaching, research, diversity enhancement and mentorship.

Stop the Bleed training in the month of May

May is Stop the Bleed Month, and UAB ramps up these bleeding-control training classes.

Living donor navigators are crucial part of organ transplant

Founded in 2017, the navigator program works with both recipients and donors to identify needs and guide each through the process to transplantation and post-transplant.

Vickers named president-elect of the American Surgical Association

Selwyn Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine, has been named president-elect of the American Surgical Association (ASA). The ASA was founded in 1880 and is the nation's oldest and most prestigious surgical organization.

$17 million grant will explore immune cells in inaccessible tissues of the human body

Tissue-resident B cells likely have important differences that affect autoimmunity and transplant rejection.

City of Birmingham offers paid leave for living organ donors

The city of Birmingham joins UAB and the state of Alabama by providing paid leave for living organ donors.

Huh named 51st president of national gynecologic oncology society

UAB gynecologic oncologist Huh will serve in a leadership role within a national gynecologic organization.

UAB graduate and professional programs again ranked among the nation’s best

U.S. News & World Report ranking features a number of UAB programs ranked in the top 25, including a School of Health Professions’ master’s program at No. 1.

New single port robot changing robotic surgery at UAB

Patients at UAB now have access to state-of-the-art robotic surgery technology.

Human brain protein associated with autism confers abnormal behavior in fruit flies

The human dopamine transporter protein is missing a single amino acid.

School of Medicine celebrates third annual Diversity Fair

The School of Medicine’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion hosted its third annual Diversity Fair Jan. 25, 2019 in the atrium of North Pavilion. Hundreds of guests attended and enjoyed wandering among the booths to sample cuisines while listening to the sound of international music.

Dean's Excellence Award winner profile: Benjamin Wei, M.D.

Benjamin Wei, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Surgery, is one of two junior faculty members to win the Dean's Excellence Award in Service.

Transplanting pig hearts into sick babies may be a promising temporary treatment option

Pig heart transplants could potentially save the lives of infants with life-threatening heart diseases.

Ultrasound helps predict successful fistula formation for kidney dialysis patients

Creating a fistula in the arm is vital before starting hemodialysis, yet half of fistulas fail to mature so that they are usable for dialysis.

Kidney-resident macrophages — a role for healing during acute kidney injury?

These kidney macrophages reprogram to a developmental state after kidney injury, similar to those in newborn mice.

Locke named director of UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute

The Comprehensive Transplant Institute is a product of the culture of excellence that permeates transplantation at UAB, promoting state-of-the-art care and research across all organ systems.

Obesity surgery leads to emergence of new microbial strains in the human fecal community

A novel informatics technique allows researchers to identify different strains of the same bacterial species.

Blood and marrow transplant patients celebrate the holidays with UAB

UAB blood and marrow transplant patients received extra holiday cheer this season.

“A 4 percent chance is nothing to me”

Former MLB player Frank Baker says his experience at UAB’s Pancreatobiliary Disease Center was a home run.

Kidney Chain “Bridge Donor” author hopes to inspire others through personal story

In 2014, Berwager volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to a friend who was suffering from lupus, and who had kidney failure.

Chu receives grant to expand SeamlessMD

Using SeamlessMD, UAB Medicine provides patients with a digital experience through which they can access information about their surgeries via cellphone, tablet or computer — from surgery preparation to the recovery process.

An enzyme in immune cells plays essential role in host defense against tuberculosis

This finding may point to a therapeutic target to treat tuberculosis, which kills 1.3 million people each year.

Krontiras and Rutledge selected as Women Who Shape the State

Every year, AMG presents 30 Alabama women with the Women Who Shape the State award.

Mild blast forces cause pathology and deficits in the brain, despite lack of macroscopic damage

An animal model for mild traumatic brain injury shows microscopic neuropathology, as well as neurophysiological and biochemical changes.

Lindeman inducted into ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators

Lindeman was honored at a ceremony Oct. 3 in Chicago.

A guide to finding your passion

Here is a guide to finding your passion, no matter what field, from UAB transplant surgeon Jayme Locke, M.D.

Hernias: why they hurt and what can be done

Most people refrain from calling attention to an unusual bulge in their lower abdomen. But it could be a potentially dangerous condition that needs to be discussed with your doctor right away.

UAB creates integrated program to manage diseases of the pancreas, bile ducts

A new UAB center will serve as a state-wide resource for patients with diseases of the pancreas and bile ducts.

Six faculty awarded incentive grants to submit a second R01

Six School of Medicine faculty projects were recently funded through an AMC21 initiative giving NIH-funded investigators incentive to submit a second R01.

Bus accident update and a moment of gratitude

Last Friday, a bus carrying 26 UAB residents from the Department of Pediatrics was involved in a severe accident following a retreat at Camp McDowell. The School of Medicine leadership is extremely grateful to everyone who has been involved in the care for its residents and their families during this difficult time.

Latest Headlines

Upcoming Events