UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated the graduation of 12 faculty members from the LEading, Advancing, Developing (LEAD) program for spring 2026. The cohort brought together leaders from across clinical and basic science disciplines who are committed to strengthening their leadership impact and advancing academic excellence across the institution.
The LEAD Program is a mid-level faculty development initiative designed to help associate professors build leadership capability, support faculty retention, and ensure sustainable professional success. Offered each fall and spring, the program provides participants with practical leadership strategies, mentorship opportunities, and a collaborative peer network to help them grow as institutional leaders.
The spring 2026 LEAD graduates include:
- Amanda Alexander, M.D. – Associate Professor, Medicine: Rheumatology; Fellowship Program Director
- Susan Campbell, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (CDIB)
- Stefanie Krick, M.D., Ph.D. – Associate Director, CF Program; Assistant Director, MSTP Program, Medicine
- Teja (Tejaswini) Kulkarni, M.D., MPH – Director, Interstitial Lung Disease Program, Medicine
- Todd McCarty, M.D. – Associate Professor, Medicine: Infectious Diseases; Fellowship Program Director; SOM LC Mentor; Division Education Lead
- Rena Patel, M.D., MPH, MPhil – Associate Professor, Medicine: Infectious Diseases
- Chas (Charles) Peyton, M.D. – Associate Professor, Urology; Director of Clinical Trials
- Jaron Raper, M.D. – Assistant Program Director, Emergency Medicine
- Haller Smith, M.D. – Fellowship Director; Medical Director of GYNX, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Marty (George) Solomon, M.D., MSPH – Associate Professor, Medicine: GIMPOP; Director of Clinical Research for the CF Research Center
- Lauren Tanner, M.D. – Chief, Emergency General Surgery Service; Program Director, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
- Manoj Tanwar, M.D. – Chief of MRI, Radiology
“It was a pleasure to work with several talented colleagues through this program,” Manoj Tanwar, M.D., “and the instructor, Dr. Kellie Carter, is exceptional. I learnt the skills to recognize and work with different personality types.”
Each graduate demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing UAB’s mission in research, education, and patient care. The spring 2026 cohort reflects the depth of expertise across the university and the importance of investing in faculty leadership at every stage of academic careers.
"The LDO LEAD Program was a pivotal experience in my leadership journey,” said Tejaswini Kulkarni, M.D., MPH. “It gave me the space to reflect on how I lead, challenged me to think beyond day-to-day demands, and has helped me develop plans to work towards being a more intentional and strategic leader."
Congratulations to the spring 2026 LEAD graduates for this significant milestone and for their continued dedication to shaping the future of academic medicine at UAB.