Endowed positions, promotions approved by trustees

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approve new endowments, promotions and programs during its Feb. 7 meeting.

Endowed chair in psychiatry and neurobiology established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the conversion and renaming of the Bee McWane Reid Endowed Professorship in Psychiatry to the Bee McWane Reid Endowed Chair in Psychiatry and Neurobiology in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology during its meeting Feb. 7. The chair will focus on mood disorders.

Endowed professorship in pathology established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Dr. Robert B. Adams Endowed Professorship in Pathology in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Pathology during its meeting Feb. 7. Adams earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Alabama, now the UAB School of Medicine, and later served as the medical director of the blood bank and associate director of surgical pathology at UAB Hospital. The Adams Education Fund has provided grant support for UAB pathology residents since 2003.

Endowed professorship in dermatology established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the conversion and renaming of the Eric W. Baum, M.D./Alabama Dermatology Society Endowed Support Fund to the Eric W. Baum, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Dermatology in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Dermatology during its meeting Feb. 7. Baum completed his residency training at UAB and now serves as a clinical assistant professor.

Endowed professorship in ophthalmology established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the conversion and renaming of the Ophthalmology Residency Program Director Endowed Support Fund Quasi Endowment to the Max and Lorayne Cooper Endowed Professorship in Ophthalmology Residency Training in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology during its meeting Feb. 7. Max Cooper and his late wife have been generous supporters of UAB athletics, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, WBHM and the Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging.

Endowed professorship in health administration established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the conversion and renaming of the Howard H. Houser Endowed Support Fund to the Howard H. Houser Endowed Professorship in Health Administration in the UAB School of Health Professions during its meeting Feb. 7. Houser joined the UAB faculty in 1965 and returned in 1970, serving as professor, director of the Master of Science in health administration program and associate dean for faculty and staff development. He was named professor emeritus in 2011.

Endowed lectureship in glycobiology established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Jay John Listinsky Endowed Lectureship in Glycobiology in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Pathology during its meeting Feb. 7. Catherine M. Listinsky, M.D., made the gift to establish the lectureship in honor of her late husband, Jay John Listinsky, Ph.D., M.D., who joined the UAB Department of Radiology faculty in 1988. He voluntarily reduced his clinical hours to devote his time to research in pathology.

Business undergraduate concentrations in mathematical economics and occupational safety established – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees approved the establishment of two concentrations in the UAB Collat School of Business during its meeting Feb. 7. The concentration in mathematical economics will be offered in the Bachelor of Science in economics program. The concentration in occupational safety will be offered in the Bachelor of Science in management program.

Tanik named to telecommunications chair – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Murat M. Tanik, Ph.D., to the Wallace R. Bunn Chair in Telecommunications in the UAB School of Engineering during its meeting Feb. 7. Tanik joined the UAB faculty in 1998. He is a co-founder of the Society for Design and Process Science and has co-written six books.

Messina appointed to professorship in accounting – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees named Frank M. Messina, Ph.D., the third holder of the Alumni and Friends Professorship in Accounting in the UAB Collat School of Business Department of Accounting and Finance during its meeting Feb. 7.  

Austad named distinguished professor in biology – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Steven N. Austad, Ph.D., distinguished professor of biology during its meeting Feb. 7. Austad will join the UAB faculty in 2014 as professor and chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biology. His books include “Why We Age: What Science is Discovering about the Body’s Journey Through Life.”

Hunter appointed distinguished professor in exercise physiology – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees named Gary R. Hunter, Ph.D., distinguished professor of exercise physiology in the School of Education Department of Human Studies during its meeting Feb. 7. Hunter joined the UAB faculty in 1984 and has held secondary appointments in the Department of Nutrition Sciences, the UAB Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging and as senior scientist in the UAB Diabetes Research Center. He earned the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008. The Gary R. Hunter Distinguished Lecture in the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine is named in his honor.

Kearney named distinguished professor in microbiology – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed John F. Kearney, Ph.D., distinguished professor in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Microbiology during its meeting Feb. 7. Kearney is a senior scientist in the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and UAB Center for Disease Preparedness, as well as a professor in the Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology. He joined the UAB faculty in 1974 and is a leader in the field of B cell biology.

Oparil named distinguished professor in medicine – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Suzanne Oparil, M.D., distinguished professor of medicine in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Medicine during its meeting Feb. 7. Oparil joined the UAB faculty in 1977 and is past president of the American Federation for Medical Research, the American Heart Association and the American Society of Hypertension.

Pollio appointed distinguished professor in social work – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees named David E. Pollio, Ph.D., distinguished professor of social work during its meeting Feb. 7. Pollio will join the UAB faculty in 2014 as chair of the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Social Work. He has published five books and book chapters.

Vaidya named distinguished professor in materials science – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Uday Kumar Vaidya, Ph.D., distinguished professor of materials science and engineering during its meeting Feb. 7. Vaidya is associate chair of the UAB School of Engineering Department of Materials Science and Engineering and director of the Materials Processing and Applications Development facility. He joined the UAB faculty in 2001 and won the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2005 and 2013.

Norton appointed professor emeritus of vision sciences – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees named Thomas Tolles Norton, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the UAB School of Optometry Department of Vision Sciences during its meeting Feb. 7. Norton joined the UAB faculty in 1978 and has received honors including the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the UAB Chapter of the American Optometric Student Association Basic Science Teaching Award.

Oh named professor emeritus of neurology – The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees appointed Shin J. Oh, M.D., professor emeritus of neurology during its meeting Feb. 7. Oh joined the UAB faculty in 1970 and was named distinguished professor in the UAB School of Medicine Department of Neurology in 2007. He served as founding medical director of the Division of Neuromuscular Disease and Clinical Neurophysiology, founding director of the Muscle and Nerve Histopatholoy Lab, founding director of the EMG Laboratory and Evoked Potentials Lab, and chief of neurology at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.