News

Thirty-seven UAB employees recently graduated from the Emerging Leaders Workshop fall 2026 leadership development program. ELW offers a leadership development opportunity for emerging leaders at a manager, director, or similar level. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its sixth cohort of graduates at a ceremony on Oct. 29.

Alexander "Alex" Kofskey, M.D., M.S.H.A., joined the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine as an assistant professor in the Division of Multispecialty Anesthesia on Sept. 1, 2026.

Filip Polenakovik, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine as an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia in August. A familiar face within the department, Polenakovik completed both his anesthesiology residency and cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at UAB before transitioning into his new faculty role.

Sadis Matalon, Ph.D., Dr.Sc. (Hon.), FAPS, professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has received a new National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant to advance the development of a promising therapy aimed at reducing severe lung injury caused by chlorine gas exposure.

The future of research in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is being shaped by a new generation of investigators whose work spans cancer symptom science, maternal-fetal health, vascular biology, and obstetric anesthesia.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine shares highlights from 2025-2026 for their clinical divisions. 

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is working to establish a new Division of Neuroscience. Tumul Chowdhury, M.D., D.M., professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been appointed as the division’s inaugural vice chair.

Olesia Merinova, M.D., Ph.D., joined the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine as an assistant professor in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia in August. She earned her medical degree from Belgorod State University in Russia through an integrated medical education program.

 Researchers at UAB are investigating how chronic facial pain develops in the trigeminal nervous system. A renewed NIH-funded project aims to uncover pain mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets for treating debilitating orofacial pain conditions.

Ahmed Lazrak, Dr.Sc., associate professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been awarded a two-year, $409,750 R21 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate a potential treatment for chlorine-induced lung edema.

Jianguo Gu, M.B., Ph.D., professor, Edward A.

The Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine recently welcomed Linda Zhang, D.O., Ph.D., as an assistant professor.

Three faculty members in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine have received promotions, effective Oct. 1, 2026.

Zasmine Hymes-Green, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine as an assistant professor in the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine divisions in August 2026.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting is Friday, Oct. 16, to Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the San Diego Convention Center. 

Twenty-three Heersink School of Medicine faculty were recognized Sept. 22 for their appointment to endowed chairs and professorships during a special reception.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine recently welcomed Joseph Anderson, M.D., as an assistant professor.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention (CAPPI) announces a leadership transition as Karen Cropsey, PsyD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Kathy Ireland Endowed Chair for Psychiatric Research, and Vice Chair for Clinical Research, departs UAB to pursue a new opportunity at Oklahoma University Medical Center.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine recently welcomed Savannah Bunnell, M.D., as an assistant professor.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine recently welcomed Cameron Lee, M.D., MSHA, as an assistant professor.

UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office celebrated the graduation of 18 healthcare leaders from its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership during a ceremony held June 24 at the Heersink Conference Center Lobby.

David Miller, M.D., vice chair and director of the Division of Critical Care Medicine in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been named the  inaugural Mali E. Mathru, M.D., Endowed Faculty Scholar for Anesthesiology.

Ryan L. Melvin, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been appointed director of the newly-launched Heersink School of Medicine (SOM) Digital Service Unit (DSU), further elevating the department’s leadership role in advancing artificial intelligence initiatives across UAB.

Carrie Atcheson, M.D., MPH, FASA, was recently elected to two prominent statewide bodies: the Board of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) and the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) as censor-at-large.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine proudly celebrated its graduating class during a memorable ceremony on May 29, recognizing excellence in clinical care, education, leadership, and service.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine has been recognized among the 10 most-viewed anesthesiology residency programs in the country, according to Becker’s Ambulatory Surgery Review, citing data from the American Medical Association (AMA) Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access (FREIDA) program search tool.

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine hosted its annual Research Day on May 11, 2026, bringing together faculty, fellows, and residents for an afternoon of scientific exchange, poster presentations, and oral abstracts at the Heersink Conference Center Lobby.

To separate the science from the noise, three UAB experts outline what happens in the body during infection and how to slow transmission of flu. 

The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine has been ranked No. 10 among anesthesiology departments nationwide for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, according to the 2025 rankings released by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. The department moved up from No. 18 in the previous ranking, marking a significant rise in national standing. 

A rise in research funding within UAB’s Department of Family and Community Medicine highlights its expanding research impact.