UAB marks five years of transformational $100 million Heersink gift

Five years after making the largest philanthropic commitment in UAB history, Marnix E. Heersink, M.D., and Mary Parks Heersink continue to leave an indelible mark on the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the city of Birmingham, communities across Alabama and across the globe.

Announced in September 2021, the Heersinks’ transformational gift established the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and set in motion a new era of growth and innovation. Over the past five years, the transformational investment has strengthened medical education, accelerated biomedical discovery, expanded global health initiatives, and advanced innovation and workforce development across Alabama. 

Together, Marnix Heersink, an internationally respected entrepreneur, eye surgeon, innovator and philanthropist, and his wife of nearly 50 years, Mary Parks Heersink, have contributed more than $200 million in lifetime philanthropic support to educational, healthcare and community initiatives. Their investment in people continues to drive innovation, discovery and better health outcomes — both in Alabama and around the world. 

“Five years after the Heersinks made this historic investment, its impact continues to be felt across every facet of UAB’s mission,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “The generosity they have shown has strengthened medical education, accelerated discovery, expanded innovation, and created opportunities for students, faculty and researchers to improve and save lives. The momentum generated by their vision continues to position UAB as a global leader in advancing health and knowledge for the benefit of communities in Alabama and around the world.”

The original commitment established a foundation for growth guided by principles championed by Marnix Heersink: excellence, expansive thinking and encompassing impact. Those values continue to shape investments that benefit students, faculty, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients and communities. 

Investing in talent, innovation and discovery

A hallmark of the Heersinks’ philanthropy has been its investment in people. Since 2021, the school has established 12 endowed chairs and professorships supporting the recruitment and retention of distinguished educators, researchers and clinicians. Their generosity has also expanded scholarship opportunities for students, including support for those committed to serving rural and underserved communities across Alabama. 

“At its core, the Heersinks’ philanthropy is an investment in people,” said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “It has helped us attract outstanding faculty, support aspiring physicians and scientists, and empower innovators to pursue bold ideas. Those individuals are now driving discoveries and advances that will benefit patients and communities for years to come.”

One of the most visible examples of that investment is the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation, which has helped advance UAB’s leadership in healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence.

Since its creation, the institute has helped foster 10 UAB spinoff companies in partnership with the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, launched four academic programs in AI in Medicine and Healthcare Innovation, and in 2025, enrolled approximately 170 learners across its educational programs. Through initiatives such as the AI Foundry and Heersink AI Founders Club, the institute is accelerating the translation of discoveries into technologies and startups designed to improve patient care and health outcomes.

The gift also led to the construction of the Heersink Biomedical Innovation Conference Center and a newly constructed atrium and other refurbished areas in Volker Hall. 

The conference center, a beautiful centerpiece of UAB’s School of Medicine, provides a collaborative hub where researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and students can connect, share ideas and accelerate innovation.

Construction of the new Volker Hall atrium was completed in 2025 and provides a modern look and feel to the exterior and interior of the existing building and represents the first street-level Volker Hall entrance from University Boulevard in recent history. The interior of the atrium includes all-new furniture and light fixtures, providing students with new relaxation and study options. The space has been equipped with greenery, including a 24-foot-tall living plant wall. A custom chandelier was imported from Italy to give the area a unique aesthetic and ambiance. 

Expanding UAB’s global reach

The Heersinks’ support also led to the creation of the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health, which now supports collaborations with 92 partner institutions across 46 countries. In 2025 alone, 455 students, faculty and staff participated in global health activities through the institute, which has launched graduate education, fellowship and honors programs while expanding opportunities for international research, training and scientific discovery.

“Beyond its impact on attracting talent and expanding opportunities for learning, discovery, innovation and collaboration across continents, the true legacy of the Heersink investment in UAB is the countless lives and communities it touches and continues to enrich,” said Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health.

Transforming the student experience

Continuing their support beyond the landmark 2021 gift, in 2023, the Heersink Family Active Learning Center opened in Volker Hall, creating a state-of-the-art educational environment designed to foster collaboration, innovation and student success. 

In 2024, the family established endowed scholarships supporting students in health professions, optometry and pre-optometry programs, helping strengthen Alabama’s future healthcare workforce and encourage graduates to serve communities with critical workforce needs. 

The impact of the Heersinks’ philanthropy can be seen in students like Paige Lonnergan of Linden, Alabama, an inaugural recipient of the Heersink Endowed Medical Scholarship. A future physician committed to serving rural Alabama, Lonnergan says the scholarship is helping her pursue a career focused on improving access to healthcare in underserved communities.

“My goal is to become a physician who serves rural communities in Alabama and to build my character around compassion, humility and service to others — values so clearly demonstrated by Dr. Heersink,” Lonnergan said. “Dr. Heersink, thank you so much for your generosity. I hope to honor your scholarship by making a meaningful contribution to improving access to healthcare in rural Alabama.”

A legacy of impact

As UAB marks the fifth anniversary of the Heersinks’ historic commitment, the City of Birmingham’s proclamation on Sept. 24 recognizes their lasting contributions to education, healthcare, biomedical innovation and community advancement. Their philanthropy has strengthened Birmingham’s and Alabama’s leadership in medical research, patient care and workforce development while improving lives across the state and around the world.  

Five years ago, the Heersinks made a bold investment in what was possible. Today, that investment can be seen in the students preparing to serve their communities, the researchers pursuing breakthrough discoveries, the entrepreneurs transforming ideas into solutions and the global partnerships improving lives around the world. Their legacy is not defined solely by what has already been accomplished, but by the discoveries, innovations and lives that will be transformed because they chose to invest in people.