News - Surgery

Muñoz-Largacha selected to participate in 2023 AATS Leadership Academy

UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Juan A. Muñoz-Largacha, M.D., was recently selected to participate in the 2023 American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Leadership Academy.

Wang featured on JACS CME Paper & JACS Talking Points YouTube Channel

UAB General Surgery Resident Rongzhi Wang, M.D., presented his research in secondary hyperparathyroidism at the 134th Annual Meeting of the Southern Surgical Association in December 2022.

Hardiman to join AOA medical honor society

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Associate Professor and Assistant Program Director of Resident Research for the General Surgery Residency Program Karin Hardiman, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected for induction into the national Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society chapter at UAB.

Members of UAB Surgery recognized at Service Awards Reception

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

Department of Surgery welcomes new faculty member

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

Where are they now?: UAB Surgery alumni highlight for Dr. Sophie Dream

In 2023, the UAB Department of Surgery is highlighting the many accomplished alumni of its General Surgery Residency Program and associated divisional fellowships.

Martin appointed to serve as consultant to Pediatric Surgery Board of the American Board of Surgery for the Pediatric Surgery In-Training Examination (PSITE)

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).

Mustian wins SSAT Health Care Disparities Award

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Clinical Instructor and Associate Clerkship Director Margaux N. Mustian, M.D., MSPH, is the recipient of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) 2023 Health Care Disparities Research Award.

Divisions of Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery welcome trainees on Match Day 2023

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

UAB General Surgery Residency Program announces new trainees

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome ten new trainees this summer, including a preliminary resident for interventional radiology, PG2, and Integrated CT Resident.

Callaway and Wong featured on UAB MedCast

UAB Gastroenterology Assistant Professor James Callaway, M.D., and Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Associate Professor Kristen Wong, M.D., joined UAB MedCast to discuss gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Chief Residents for 2023-2024 announced

UAB General Surgery Residency Program announces the 2023-2024 Chief Residents.

Gibson’s personal loss drives his mission to improve health equity in rural Alabama

One UAB surgeon’s personal loss drives his mission to reduce health care disparities.

Group from UAB's Center for Injury Science attends first investigator meeting for TROOP trial in Houston

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.

UAB Surgery ranked in top ten institutions nationally for NIH funding

The UAB Department of Surgery has placed nationally as the 10th leading surgical institution for NIH funding in this year’s Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research report, with over $13.7 million awarded to faculty and researchers in 2022.

UAB and Bibb Medical Center partner to fight colorectal cancer

UAB is partnering with Bibb Medical Center to provide screenings and diagnostic treatment.

UAB Department of Surgery welcomes four new faculty

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome four new faculty members who have joined the department: Srikanth Iyer, Ph.D., William H. Cook, M.D., FACS, Angela Carter, Ph.D., and Russell G. Day, M.D., FACEP.

Jaskula-Sztul featured on O'Neal Invests

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor Renata Jaskula-Sztul, Ph.D., was awarded the Pre-R01 grant in the fall cycle of 2022 O’Neal Invests Cancer Research Support Mechanisms for Basic and Population Sciences.

Lindeman selected for Macy Faculty Scholars Program

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor and Section of Endocrine Surgery Chief Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, FACS, has been named a member of the Macy Faculty Scholars Class of 2023.

Lindeman to serve as Vice Chair of Education for UAB Department of Surgery

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

Locke reflects on membership in the American Society for Clinical Investigation

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 business to medicine: Gibson serves as UAB general surgeon at Whitfield Regional Hospital

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.

In the News: UAB Trauma Team Leads Stop The Bleed Training for Local Moms Group

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.

FDA mandate to limit acetaminophen in acetaminophen-opioid medications is associated with reduced serious liver injury

The federal mandate, which was announced in 2011 and implemented in 2014, limited acetaminophen to 325 milligrams per opioid-acetaminophen combination pill. Acetaminophen is toxic to livers at high doses.

Eudailey video featured on MD Learning Channel

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Kyle Eudailey, M.D., is featured on the MD Learning Channel discussing thoracic aortic aneurysm optimal management and treatment.

Irfan & McElroy awarded travel scholarship for 2023 ACS Leadership Conference & Advocacy Summit

General Surgery Chief Resident Ahmer Irfan, MBChB, and Research Resident Katherine McElroy, M.D., have been selected as recipients of the 2023 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Leadership and Advocacy Summit Resident Travel Award.

Be mindful this Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month with resources from UAB

UAB is committed to increasing awareness and education about colorectal cancer throughout the month of March.

UAB Medicine to offer colonoscopy for at-risk patients at Cooper Green

A grant from ADPH will provide colonoscopies for at-risk patients of Cooper Green during colorectal cancer awareness month in March.

Gutnik invited to participate in 2023 NAM Emerging Leaders Forum

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor and Global Surgery Associate Vice Chair Lily Gutnik, M.D., has been invited to participate in the 2023 National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Emerging Leaders Forum.

Jones selected as recipient of AAS/AASF Foundation Trainee Clinical Outcomes/Health Services Trainee Research Award

Bayley Alexandra Jones, M.D., a UAB Department of Surgery research resident, was selected as a recipient of the 2023-2024 Association for Academic Surgery/Association for Academic Surgery Foundation Trainee Clinical Outcomes/Health Services Trainee Research Award.

Matalon’s medical journey: UAB’s own renowned scientist shares his history of resilience, excellence and collaborative care

Even when at odds with his health, Matalon continued his academic excellence and service to the field of lung disease research.

Zmijewski Surgical Educational Research Fellowship (SERF) acceptance

Congratulations to the UAB Department of Surgery Breast Surgical Oncology Fellow Polina Zmijewski, M.D., M.A., for her acceptance into the 2023-2024 Surgical Educational Research Fellowship (SERF) through the Association for Surgical Education.

Dudeja elected to serve as recorder for Association of Academic Surgery

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.

McMullin selected to serve on Journal of Surgical Research Editorial Board

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).

Gillis selected as recipient for George P. Yang, M.D., Ph.D. Junior Faculty Award for the Underrepresented in Medicine

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Assistant Professor Andrea Gillis, M.D., has been selected as the recipient for the Society of University Surgeon's 2022-2023 George P. Yang, M.D., Ph.D. Junior Faculty Award for the Underrepresented in Medicine for her research project, Mixed Methods Analysis of Molecular Mediators of Social Determinants of Health in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Galli Lab published in Science Advances

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.

Department of Surgery welcomes Mary McDougal

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

Skin & Soft Tissue Cancer Management Team receives Center of Excellence designation

The O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Skin & Soft Tissue Cancer Management Team in partnership with the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology has received a SARC Core Center designation from the Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration (SARC).

Four high-tech health devices being tested at UAB now

Take a look at new technologies being studied at UAB for treatment of depression, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury and tic disorders.

Medical student launches effort to ensure all hospital patients leave in fresh clothing

Trauma patients rushed to a hospital often find that the clothes they were wearing do not survive their medical emergency. A UAB medical student is working to provide discharge with dignity.

UAB Surgery DEI Sponsorships

The UAB Department of Surgery Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is committed to creating a diverse community powered by individuals and perspectives to allow us to address healthcare inequalities and improve patient care.

Cannon announced as 2023 Pittman Scholar

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.

Fazendin wins Argus Award

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.

2023 Pittman Scholars Announced

The Heersink School of Medicine is pleased to announce the five faculty members being named the 2023 James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., Scholars.

Pancreatobiliary Disease Center pioneers support for patients outside of hospital setting

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

New grafts, seat belts, more recovery: Expert updates on treating and preventing ACL injuries

Each year, some 100,000 Americans have surgery to repair the knee’s anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. But treatment and prevention best practices continue to evolve. Hear from a surgeon and a physical therapist on the latest thinking at UAB.

Faculty honored at 2022 Argus Awards ceremony

Medical students honored their outstanding mentors, professors, courses, and course directors at the annual Argus Awards Ceremony on Friday, Jan. 6.

Gutnik to serve as panelist for 20th anniversary of Fogarty Global Health Fellows and Scholars / LAUNCH Program

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Dr. Lily Gutnik has been chosen to serve as a panelist for the Fogarty Global Health Fellows and Scholars / LAUNCH Program's 20th-anniversary commemorative event.

Gutnik appointed to serve as Associate Scientist for UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH)

UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Lily Gutnik, M.D., was recently appointed to serve as an Associate Scientist in the UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH).

ASC 2023: Your UAB Guide

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.

Heersink student starts “Compassion Closet” at UAB to ensure all patients leave in fresh clothing

A UAB Heersink School of Medicine student has started a new initiative to help emergency and trauma patients "discharge with dignity."

Dudeja accepted into Society of Clinical Surgery

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.

Gillis and Mustian Chosen as Associate Clerkship Directors for Surgery Clerkship

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Andrea Gillis, M.D., and Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Instructor Margaux Mustian, M.D., MSPH, have been selected as Associate Clerkship Directors for the Department of Surgery Clerkship Program.

Perez receives NCI training grant

UAB General Surgery Resident Mallory Perez, M.D., has recently received a position in the Collaborative Northwestern Surgical Oncology Research Training program (CONSORT) funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) T32 training grant.

Russell serves as guest editor for JTACS January Pediatric Supplement

Division of Pediatric Surgery Associate Professor and Children’s of Alabama Trauma Program Director Robert Russell, M.D., MPH, recently served as the guest editor for the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery January supplement on pediatric hemorrhagic shock.

Biomedical Engineering Summer Innovation Fellowship

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

UAB earns Women’s Choice Award for “Best Hospital” designation for nine areas

UAB Hospital practice areas were honored with the “Best Hospital” designation, including cancer care, bariatric surgery, heart care, stroke care, minimally invasive surgery, comprehensive breast care, mammograms, obstetrics and women’s services.

George to serve as Vice Chair of Basic Research to Department of Surgery

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.

Year in Review

The year 2022 was filled with outstanding accomplishments and achievements by the faculty and staff members at the Department of Surgery.

Killian receives scholarship to attend Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting

General Surgery Resident Alixandra Cozette Killian, M.D., MPH, was recently selected to receive one of the 2023 Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Looking to the Future (LTTF) Scholarships.

Gutnik elected to AAS Global Affairs Committee

Congratulations to UAB Department of Surgery Assistant Professor and Global Surgery Associate Vice Chair Dr. Lily Gutnik for her election to the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Global Affairs Committee!

Gutnik accepted into GRIT January K Cohort

UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor and Global Surgery Associate Vice Chair Lily Gutnik, M.D., was recently accepted into UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) and the Scientific Community of Outcomes Researchers (SCOR) Grand Writing Intensive Cohort (GRIT) for January 2023.

UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership names next cohort for Spring 2023

UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership has named their next cohort for Spring 2023: cohort six.

Dudeja, Gutnik selected for UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership Spring 2023 Cohort

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to announce that the Director and Associate Professor of the Division of Surgical Oncology Dr. Vikas Dudeja and Division of Breast and Endocrine Assistant Professor Dr. Lily Gutnik have been accepted as members of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership Program’s spring 2023 cohort.

New robotic surgical treatment for paralyzed diaphragm now available at UAB Hospital

UAB surgeons perform new technique that is minimally invasive and allows for a quicker recovery time.

UAB among first in Southeast to perform VenoValve® procedure

With this procedure, surgeons hope to find a treatment option for those with severe chronic venous insufficiency.

Osteoarthritis: Multi-ancestry analysis reveals novel genetic loci associated with the disease

The first large multi-ancestry genetics study of osteoarthritis, or OA, has found 10 novel OA-associated genetic loci, and results showed some of the OA-associated regions are robustly found in every population ancestry studied.

Kirklin’s ‘new chapter’: a health-tech startup powered by his research breakthroughs

Five years after he retired from the OR, cardiothoracic surgeon James K. Kirklin, M.D., is starting a new company that will leverage his team’s research on advanced statistics and machine-learning algorithms to track and predict outcomes for high-risk patients.

UAB physicians use cardiac intelligence to address health inequities

Cardiac intelligence uses artificial intelligence to monitor patients for cardiac disease and progression.

New Research Faculty Introduction

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Office of Research introduces new faculty for Summer and Fall 2022. Please join Heersink School of Medicine and the Office of Research in welcoming these new faculty.

10 appointed to endowed positions

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees also voted to accept endowments for four chairs, a professorship and a lecture.

UAB ranked in top 8 percent of global universities by U.S. News

UAB’s research and reputation land it among the top institutions in the world.

Legacy of Hope to sponsor 2023 Donate Life Rose Parade®, honor donor and xenotransplant recipient Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons, an Alabamian and registered organ donor, helped further donation and xenotransplant when his family donated his body upon death for a groundbreaking scientific study conducted at UAB earlier this year.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How early detection and screenings can save lives

Early detection and limiting risk factors are the best ways to fight breast cancer.

Faculty recognized at Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception

Anupam Agarwal, M.D., interim dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, welcomed faculty members and their families to the Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception on Sept. 29.

Thyroid nodules are common. Here’s what to do after you check your neck.

Physicians in the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB are advancing the field of thyroid care with cutting-edge, patient-specific procedures and collaborative research investigations.

Kidney resident macrophages have distinct subpopulations and occupy distinct microenvironments

This novel finding will help guide successful therapeutic design and strategies for acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.

51 medical students named winners of annual Medical Student Research Day competition

Medical Student Research Day celebrates the research accomplishments of medical students and provides them with the opportunity to present their projects to fellow students and faculty.

O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center awards $950,000 in cancer-related research grants

O’Neal Invests funds UAB investigators initiating new cancer-related projects to do key preliminary work to enable competitive extramural applications.

UAB Momentum in Medicine launches second year of program, includes 16 participants

The second year of UAB’s Momentum in Medicine program launched this month and includes 16 women across UAB Medicine and UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

UAB to lead national resuscitation study in trauma patients

The study, an exception from informed consent trial, will compare whole blood to blood components in the treatment of traumatic injuries.

How to conduct trauma research with patients who cannot say yes

Social media has been a useful tool to inform a community about research studies that are exempt from informed consent protocols.

UAB/CSL Behring study to investigate blood-clotting agent as treatment for injured patients who are bleeding

The study seeks to determine whether prothrombin complex concentrate, a blood-clotting agent, could help save the lives of patients at risk for severe bleeding after injury.

New understanding of how faulty metabolism triggers adrenal cancer

The deciphering of a new signaling cascade sheds light on how mutations in metabolism cause normal cells to become cancerous.

Women empowering women: UAB chapter of AWS volunteers with First Light serving breakfast

The Heersink School of Medicine’s Chapter of the Association of Women Surgeons volunteered at the First Light Shelter, serving breakfast to homeless women and children while also mentoring high school girls interested in the medical field.

Determination and inspiration led to the gift of new lungs

Steve Harrison has a new chance at life, thanks to someone else’s becoming an organ donor.

UAB care team leads patient through life-changing internal decapitation

An internal decapitation is rare but not unheard of, and it takes a team to help a patient recover.

UAB Medicine opens surgery clinic at Northwest Regional Health

UAB Medicine’s new surgery clinic in Winfield is part of the new relationship with Northwest Regional Health.

Hope through adversity — how one patient continues to press forward with gratitude for life, family and friends

Jeana Russell shares her story of resilience, the importance of knowing your body and when to seek medical attention.

UAB Hospital re-verified as a Level I Trauma Center

UAB Hospital re-verified as a Level I Trauma Center, marking 23 years of holding that designation.

With eight highly ranked specialties, U.S. News again calls UAB best hospital in Alabama

U.S. News & World report named UAB Hospital as the best hospital in Alabama.

Hanaway named to Martha Robinson Tankersley Endowed Professorship in Transplant Clinical Excellence

Hanaway is honored to receive the professorship that was established in honor of Martha Tankersley and her transformative commitment as the transplant administrator for UAB Medicine.

Communities of hope: How uterus transplant is creating bonds

UAB has the first program in the United States to offer uterus transplantation outside of a clinical research trial and is one of very few centers in the world accepting new patients.

A Blazer’s family member to represent USA at The World Games

For one UAB employee, having a nephew compete in The World Games makes Birmingham’s and UAB’s support of the games come full circle.

UAB performs first valve-in-valve procedure using Evolut™ FX TAVR system

The device will be used to treat patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are at high or extreme risk for open-heart surgery.

New research identifies complex contributors to obesity-related health disparities

UAB experts highlight the social determinants of obesity and add to the growing body of evidence identifying potential solutions to address obesity and related conditions.

Surviving and thriving - breast cancer survivor shares how she savors life

Alyson Haynes beat breast cancer through her determination and a strong support system at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.

The road to recovery — how one physician focused on the good through her breast cancer journey

A UAB physician-turned-patient reflects on her journey to healing and recovery from breast cancer for National Cancer Survivors Day.

Traveling? Take these steps to prevent blood clots during your summer travels

Anyone traveling more than four hours by air, car or bus can be at risk for blood clots. The director of the UAB Vein Center provides tips on how to prevent blood clots when traveling.

Momentum in Medicine at UAB series: Meet Megann, Donna, and Dr. Fuller

The Heersink School of Medicine is spotlighting each of the women selected for the Momentum in Medicine at UAB program and hosting one-on-one interviews to learn their stories. In May, Heersink communications sat down with Megann Bates Cain, Donna Bailer, and Dr. Cathy Fuller to hear what the program means to them.

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