Department of Surgery

Jillian Richter, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery published “Trauma promotes heparan sulfate modifications and cleavage that disrupt homeostasis gene expression in microvascular endothelial cells” in the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology alongside her team, including UAB Department of Pediatrics associate professor Robert Richter, M.D.

Join the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery on Friday, May 2 for a special evening at the Heroes and Healers Gala, where we celebrate the incredible resilience of survivors of traumatic injuries and honor those dedicated healthcare professionals who support their journeys.

Prepare for an exciting afternoon at the Birmingham Zoo with UAB Surgery!

The UAB Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery has been at the forefront of establishing an adrenal gland incidentaloma clinic guided by artificial intelligence (AI).

The American College of Surgeons has recognized the UAB Department of Surgery as a Surgical Quality Partner across numerous areas of patient care. This achievement is due to UAB's participation in five leading registries that focus on the highest standards of surgical care.

The UAB Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy is expanding its podiatric surgical services and introducing a new podiatric fellowship – the first of its kind in Alabama.

The UAB Department of Surgery was represented at the recent annual meeting for the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), which was held in Long Beach, California.

The UAB General Surgery Resident Hannah Ficarino Sheffer, M.D., and Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Robert Hollis, M.D., MSPH, recently published their study, “Defining opportunities to improve perioperative ostomy care and education,” in the Annals of Surgery Open.

UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Associate Professor Rondi B. Gelbard, M.D., has been selected by the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance to serve as Chair of the National Donation Leadership Council (NDLC). Gelbard, a recognized contributor to the National Donation Leadership Council since 2019, began her term at the first of the year and will remain in that role until December 2026.

Daniel Chu, M.D., MSPH, and Paige Porrett, M.D., Ph.D., were elected as active members to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). They will be formally inducted at the national meeting in Chicago on April 25.

The UAB Department of Surgery welcomes Rajamiyer Venkateswaran, M.D, MBBS, M.S., renowned surgeon, researcher, and health system leader from the United Kingdom as a Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Chief of Heart, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Lung Transplant.

UAB Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery Kyle Mauk, DPM, FACFAS, ABPM, recently appeared on the UAB MedCast podcast to discuss the new Limb Salvage Program at UAB as well as the new Advanced Podiatric Limb Salvage and Reconstruction Fellowship, which he directs.

Martina Gonzalez-Gomez, M.D., M.Sc., program manager for the Global Neurosurgery program in the Department of Neurosurgery, and James Johnston, M.D., professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and director of the Pediatric Neurosurgery division, co-instruct the Global Surgery course. In 2023, we met with Gonzalez-Gomez and Johnston to learn more about their vision for the course, which launched with the introduction of the UAB Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program offered by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH).

It was a special kind of homecoming: Selwyn Vickers, M.D., former dean of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, spoke as the 2025 Kirby I. Bland Endowed Lecturer on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 2025 Pittman Scholars. This prestigious honor recognizes assistant professors who have held that rank for fewer than five years for their exceptional research achievements and potential for future contributions to their fields. Named after former School of Medicine Dean James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., this award highlights the school's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in medical research.

Twenty-two UAB employees recently graduated from the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) fall 2024 leadership development program. The program, presented by UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its second cohort of graduates at a ceremony on Nov. 7.

In Fall 2024, UAB Heersink School of Medicine announced the winners of the 2024 Dale J. Benos Medical Student Research Day (MSRD). All medical students were invited to present the results of their research projects and submit posters for judging.

The UAB Department of Microbiology and the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) hosted the inaugural HIV Basic and Translational Research Symposium Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at the UAB Hilton Hotel. The all-day event featured speakers from the university and Southern Research, time for discussion, and a poster session.

The Heersink School of Medicine honored the achievements of eight esteemed faculty members during the Fall 2024 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception, held Oct. 29 at the Wallace Tumor Institute. Families, faculty, and leaders of the Heersink School of Medicine joined the honorees to celebrate their outstanding contributions to medical education and research. Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, opened the event by welcoming guests and recognizing the significance of these prestigious appointments.

Eight faculty members recently graduated from UAB Medicine’s LEading Advancing Developing (LEAD) Fall 2024 leadership development program. The program, presented by UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its graduates at a ceremony on Oct. 24, 2024.
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