Explore UAB

L to R: Gustavo Heudebert, MD; Jason Morris, MD; GIM Division Director Carlos Estrada, MD; and DOM Chair Seth Landefeld, MDJason Morris, MD (Associate Professor, General Internal Medicine) has been named the inaugural Gustavo R. Heudebert, M.D., MACP, Endowed Faculty Scholar. He was recognized at a reception on June 14, 2018. The endowment honoring Dr. “Tavo” Heudebert’s legacy will support Dr. Morris’ goal of finding innovative teaching and learning tools to advance medical education.  Congrats, Dr. Morris!

Surya Bhatt, MD (left) and Mark Dransfield, MD (right) maneuver valve with a bronchoscope.A new emphysema therapy has demonstrated significant positive results, according to findings from a multi-site study. Lead investigator, Mark Dransfield, MD (Professor) and Surya Bhatt, MD (Assistant Professor) in Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care are investigating the Zephyr® endobronchial valves, one-way valves inserted into the lungs of patients with emphysema to reduce the volume in a minimally invasive procedure. The study has shown that patients with this valve had a significantly lower rate of respiratory failure and reduction in COPD hospitalization.

Robert Gaston, MD (Professor Emeritus, Nephrology) received the distinguished lifetime achievement award from the American Society of Transplantation (AST) at a special awards ceremony last weekend. This is AST's most prestigious award which honors a senior investigator who has made significant contributions to the field of transplantation.

Seven department faculty have been honored by the School of Medicine dean for demonstrated excellence in our mission areas. Hats off to these exemplars in academic medicine!
Research – Junior Faculty: Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD (Assistant Professor, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology)
Research – Senior Faculty: Steven Rowe, MD, MSPH (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care)
Teaching – Junior Faculty: Michael Barnett, MD (Assistant Professor, Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care)
Teaching – Senior Faculty: Vineeta Kumar, MD (Professor, Nephrology)
Service – Senior Faculty: Veena Antony, MD (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care)
Mentorship – Senior Faculty: Stu Frank, MD (Professor and Director, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism)
Diversity Enhancement – Senior Faculty: Monica Baskin, PhD (Professor, Preventive Medicine)

L to R: BCBS Executive VP Dow Briggs, MD, SOM Associate Dean of Rural and Primary Care William Curry, MD, and BCBS President and CEO Tim VinesThe School of Medicine and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama have created a scholarship program to increase the number of doctors practicing in rural areas of the state. BCBS has given UAB $3.6 million to train a total of 60 primary care physicians over five years. The physicians will then return to practice in an Alabama county with a primary care shortage after they complete their residencies. The scholarship will pay the tuition of 12 third and fourth-year students each year.