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Above: Erin Snyder, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine

Erin Snyder, MD, will serve as the first Physician Director for Ambulatory Care in the Department of Medicine. In this new role, Snyder will work with Vice Chair for Clinical Programs, Elizabeth Turnipseed, MD, and stakeholders across the enterprise to improve access to care for our patients, to enhance use of our ambulatory clinics, and to increase ambulatory practice revenue relative to costs.

Above: Timmy Lee, MD, Professor in the Division of Nephrology

Timmy Lee, M.D., will serve as the next Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Medicine. In this role, Dr. Lee will build the culture of inquiry in the department and grow high-impact research across all divisions.

Above: Kevin Schwalbach, M.D., Chief Medical Resident (2020-2021)

After Kevin Schwalbach, M.D., received his Bachelor of Science from DePaul University in Minnesota, he was unsure of where his love for science would lead him. He spent the next four years in basic science, studying the development of zebrafish and stickleback fish. Though he enjoyed the research, he realized collaboration and connection were missing from his career. It became clear to Schwalbach that all roads led to medicine.

Above: Lynn Matthews, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases

Lynn Matthews, M.D., MPH, has been named Associate Director for Global Health Partnerships and Research in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. In this role, Matthews, who is associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, will leverage her considerable experience leading NIH-funded research programs and collaborations in South Africa and Uganda to advance the priorities of the UAB SOM Global Health Initiative.

Above: Mark Dransfield, M.D., Division Director of Pulmonaray, Allergy, and Critical Care and Professor. 

The Department of Medicine is delighted to announce Mark Dransfield, M.D., will serve as the next Director of the UAB Division of Pulmonary Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine.

Above: Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., FACC, FAHA, Interim Director for Cardiovascular Disease and Professor. 

Elizabeth A. (Lisa) Jackson, MD, FACC, FAHA, will serve as the Interim Director for the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease, effective September 1. She will succeed Dr. Sumanth Prabhu, who has led the Division with distinction over the past decade to capture national recognition and achieve regional dominance. 

Above: Vibhu Parcha, M.D., Instructor of Cardiovascular Disease, and clinical research fellow.

One might wonder what type of environment is necessary for an institution to not only attract great physicians and researchers but also produce them.

For Muslims worldwide, Ramadan is an annual religious observance that involves prayer, fasting and celebration of community. As a Muslim, Aadia Rana, MD, Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, observes Ramadan every year. She offers this insight into how Ramadan is celebrated and its importance to her personally and professionally.

L to R: Karen MacPherson Harrison, Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator and Amy Warriner, MD, Professor and Medical Director for UAB Weight Loss Medicine Clinic

The UAB Diabetes Prevention Program is now recognized as a fully accredited program site since opening in July 2019.

Cindy Joiner, PhD, MPH, RN, Assistant Professor of Medicine, will step into a new role as Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, effective April 5, 2021.

Anupam Agarwal, MD, will step down from his role as Director of the Division of Nephrology, effective October 1, 2021. Dr. Agarwal has provided the Division, the Department of Medicine, and the School of Medicine exemplary leadership in this role for more than 13 years. Together with a consummate faculty, he has built a powerhouse program in academic Nephrology. During his tenure, the Division more than doubled its number of faculty and saw significant growth in NIH funding—currently more than $15 million in annual total costs. 

Rodney Tucker, MD, MMM, will serve as the Interim Director of the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, effective April 5, 2021.

The Department of Medicine and the Research Development Group is excited to announce this year’s Max Cooper Award for Career Excellence in Research recipient. This award recognizes researchers that have gained national recognition for important research discoveries over their scientific career.

We are delighted to announce that Will Callans, MPH, MSHA, will be the new Division Administrator for Hematology/Oncology, effective March 15, 2021. 

The Department of Medicine and the Research Development Group is excited to announce this year’s Max Cooper Award for Career Excellence in Research recipient. This award recognizes researchers that have gained national recognition for important research discoveries over their scientific career.

Chief Medical Resident Seema Kumar, MD, displays her COVID Vaccine sticker. 

Concern: I'm worried about possible side effects. 
Response: Seema Kumar, MD  

Brittani Edwards DeLoach, MISE, LSSGB, works in the Department as a Program Manager II serving as the administrative point of contact for the Department’s research programs and initiatives. She also has severe asthma. 

Concern: I have an underlying health condition. 
Response: Brittani Edwards DeLoach, MISE, LSSGB  

Dr. Latesha Elopre, Assistant Professor of the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases receives her COVID-19 vaccine. 

Concern: The U.S. healthcare system, past and present, has been known to disproportionately harm Black and Latinx communities. 
Response: Latesha Elopre, MD, MSPH  

Pictured above receiving her COVID vaccine, Dr. Dionne-Odom is Associate Professor of the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases, Associate Director of the UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health, and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine COVID-19 Task Force. 

Concern: The COVID-19 vaccine may not be safe for pregnant women. 
Response: Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD, MSPH  

Dr. Seth Landefeld, Chair of the UAB Department of Medicine, receives his COVID-19 vaccination. 

Concern: The vaccine was rushed in production. I don’t trust that it’s safe. 
Response: Seth Landefeld, MD  

I write with the sad news that Dr. Patty Goode (Culpepper) died last Monday evening in our UAB Palliative Care Unit. Many of us knew Patty well during her long and distinguished career at UAB. She retired in 2019 as UAB’s Gwen McWhorter Professor of Geriatric Medicine and the Director of the Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatrics Research, Education, and Clinical Center. 

Dr. Hind Lal, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, has been appointed to serve on the Myocardial Ischemia and Metabolism (MIM) Study Section of the NIH. Members reviews grant applications in the area of basic and applied aspects of myocardial biology and cardiac metabolism. These projects involve molecular, genetic, cellular, genomic, proteomic, and physiological approaches to define the pathophysiology of myocardial biology. This prestigious appointment highlights the outstanding cardiovascular science happening at UAB.

A Message from DOM Vice Chair for Culture and Diversity, Professor Monica Baskin, PhD

 As we open dialogues to explore issues of social justice in our institution, the Department of Medicine is fully committed to not only identify problems, but also to combine our intellectual and emotional capital to resolve them. This initiative needs diverse voices from across the department to join me in strategic planning to ensure our vision of a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone.

 We are talking.

Over the past few weeks DOM leaders, faculty, staff and trainees have been engaged in public and private discussions about the devastating impacts of systematic racism on our employees, trainees, patients, research participants and larger society.

 We are thinking.

Many have also engaged in self-study about our national and local Black history. Others have committed to exploring how privilege, social/advantage and/or beliefs may lead others to perceive that our Department is not welcoming or supportive of them.

 We are persevering.

When I took on this leadership role, I set forth this vision for our Department:

All employees, regardless of ethnicity, gender, terminal degree, division, faculty rank, or other affiliation, feel respected, valued, included, and acknowledged for their unique contributions to the DOM mission and vision.

To achieve this vision, we must not only continue the hard work of introspection and dialogue, we must also make measurable progress toward explicit goals. Our actions must speak as loud as our words.

WE WILL DO BETTER!

DOM will convene a time-limited working group to draft the DOM strategic plan for enhancing our culture to reflect the above vision.

Time requirement. The group will meet in just three (3) one-hour sessions over a 6-8 week period starting after the July 4 holiday.

Desired outcome. A draft plan with metrics to be shared with the DOM Chair’s Council, and subsequently with the entire DOM community for comment. The plan will be finalized and presented for adoption by early Fall.

“Please, can I see her? I just want to hold her hand.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Darrel Harding with his daughter, Dr. Susan HardingIn early March, as many of our nation’s physicians were consumed by a public health care crisis, UAB pulmonologist Dr. Susan Harding was dealing with one that was much more personal. Her beloved father Darrel, a stoic 92-year-old army colonel, was slowly succumbing to advanced lung disease.