UAB Division of Plastic Surgery Professor R. Jobe Fix, M.D., has completed 35 years of service at the UAB Department of Surgery, combining patient care and commitment to medical education.

A Leader in Surgical Care

Fix’s clinical practice, spanning multiple locations including UAB Main Hospital, the Kirklin Clinic, Children’s Hospital of Alabama, the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Hospital, and Mountain Brook Plastic Surgery Clinic, has established him as a leader in Alabama for complex breast reconstruction and micro surgery, including facial palsy reconstruction.

He is recognized for his expertise in autologous tissue techniques, such as deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps (DIEP) and other microsurgical flaps, which use a patient’s tissue to restore form and function after mastectomy. These advancements have improved outcomes for many breast cancer survivors, leading to his recognition in America’s Top Doctors and The Best Doctors in America.

Mentoring the Next Generation

Outside the operating room, Fix has influenced the careers of countless surgeons by mentoring residents and fellows at the UAB Department of Surgery. His commitment to education has been pivotal to the cultivation of the next generation of plastic surgeons.

Global Impact through Service

Fix’s commitment to service extends far beyond Alabama. Over the past two decades, he has led 28 surgical trips to Ecuador alongside teams from UAB and the University of Kentucky. These provide surgical care to children and adults with congenital malformations and complex injuries in underserved communities. “These trips remind us why we became physicians—to serve patients wherever we may be, regardless of circumstance,” says Fix.

A Legacy of Excellence

As Fix celebrates this milestone, his focus remains unchanged: advancing surgical care and empowering patients. One of Fix's favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson states, “To know even one life breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”