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Mike Chen, M.D., MBA, director of the UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery and the Joseph M. Farley Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery, has been named president-elect of the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) for 2026 to 2027. After the year, he will then serve as president from 2027 to 2028.
On Feb. 12, 2026, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Research held its annual Strategic Research Retreat in the Heersink Conference Center. The day brought leaders from across the school and campus together and emphasized collaboration, infrastructure, and the growing impact of interdisciplinary science at UAB.
The Heersink School of Medicine gathered for an evening of food, creativity, and connection on February 5, as the annual Heersink School of Medicine Food Fair returned, this year hosted in the new Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine & Data Sciences Building. From 4:30 to 6 p.m., the lobby and Conference Room 102 buzzed with conversation as faculty, staff, students, and their families moved from table to table, sampling dishes and enjoying the lively atmosphere.
The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center welcomes Madison Newberry Hamby, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow who joined the laboratory of Kirk Habegger, Ph.D., in January 2026.
The UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery hosted the first Loring W. Rue, III, M.D. Endowed Lectureship, welcoming Jeremy Cannon, M.D., from the University of Pennsylvania as the inaugural lecturer. The lectureship honors the legacy of Rue, an instrumental figure in the history of UAB’s trauma program.
Brook Gibson, O.D., low vision specialist at UAB Callahan Eye, discusses what patients should know recognizing and managing symptoms of low vision.
The UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery has been reaccredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a comprehensive center for bariatric and metabolic surgery.
Craig Mackinnon, M.D., Ph.D., MSHA, Robert B. Adams Endowed Professor, Division Director, Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics, has been named director of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory by UAB Hospitals, effective immediately.
Lily Gutnik, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, and Demario S. Overstreet, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, have been selected as 2026 Pittman Scholars by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.
Adrienne C. Lahti, M.D., professor and chair, Heman E. Drummond Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, presented the 2026 State of the Department on Tuesday, Feb. 10, highlighting the department’s clinical, research, and educational mission areas.
Their love story began as it often does for two future doctors: in med school. Zain Hashmi, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and Saulat Sheikh, MBBS, an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Transplantation, met in 2010 at a going away party for a mutual friend.
Jeffrey Kerby, M.D., Ph.D., Brigham Family Endowed Professor and director of the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, has been named the new medical director of trauma education for the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
For the past three years, Jalisa Lankford has been a steady and motivating presence within the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, serving as an administrative supervisor who balances leadership, efficiency and compassion in a fast-paced clinical environment.
Rena Patel, M.D., MPH, MPhil, associate professor, UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases; associate director, Global Health Research, UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health (MHIGH), has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) Innovator Award, recognizing her outstanding and original contributions to HIV clinical care, research, education and community advocacy. The award was presented during the annual IDWeek® meeting, held each October, where leaders in infectious diseases gather to celebrate advancements in HIV medicine and public health.
Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAB Division of Transplantation and co-director of the Comprehensive Transplant Institute, was among the leaders selected for the 12th cohort of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership, set to begin in the spring of 2026.
For board-certified physicians, the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) Best Hospitals rankings are a unique opportunity to acknowledge institutions that excel in patient care, innovation and clinical excellence.
Laxman Poudel, Ph.D., a postdoctoral trainee in the laboratory of Rakesh Patel, Ph.D., Victor Darley-Usmar, Ph.D., Endowed Professor, Division Director, Molecular & Cellular Pathology, is a recipient of the 2026 American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Karishma Gupta, M.D., joined the Department of Urology as an assistant professor in September 2025. She completed her undergraduate and doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and worked at Grandview Medical Center and Urology Centers for Alabama prior to joining UAB St. Vincent’s.
The UAB General Surgery Residency Program is pleased to announce Mike Akaraphanth, M.D., as the 2026 Military Match resident.
UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been chosen as the recipient of the UAB Department of Surgery’s John D. Kirklin Award.
UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Manu Kaushik, M.D., visited the city of New Delhi, India, to share his experience in rural surgery with local healthcare providers and surgeons.
The UAB ALS Clinic, led by Nan Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., has reached several major milestones over the past year, reflecting its expanding leadership in ALS care, research, and innovation. From participating in groundbreaking national studies to expanding access to emerging therapies and receiving prestigious recognition, the clinic continues to advance its mission to improve the lives of individuals with ALS and their families.
David Standaert, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair, John N. Whitaker Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Neurology, delivered a special grand rounds and state of the department presentation titled “UAB Department of Neurology: Past, Present and Future” on Jan. 27, 2026. The grand rounds presentation was followed by a reception honoring the department’s 50th anniversary at UAB, with remarks delivered by UAB President Ray L. Watts and Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine.
Douglas J. Anderson, M.D., M.S., associate professor in the Division of Transplantation in the UAB Department of Surgery, has been selected to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Surgical Research (JSR), a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and academic surgery.
For many Americans, a new year means new fitness goals. Three UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine physicians offer their tips for starting an exercise routine, preventing injury and even knowing if you are working out too much.
A research manuscript by Fernando Bril, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, is featured in the Endocrine Society’s Article Highlights of 2025, a selective list celebrating the quality and excellence of articles published in the past year.
UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Sasha Still, M.D., has successfully performed the first robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement in the state of Alabama in December 2025.
In an ever-evolving global landscape, the urgency and complexity of public health challenges have only deepened. Yet, interest in global health continues to grow, and the Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program is seeing that firsthand. The MSGH program experienced growth in enrollment despite the challenging landscape in 2025.
The joint care team plays a vital role in delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals undergoing orthopaedic surgery, from hip and knee replacement to complex joint conditions across the continuum of care. Every day, this multidisciplinary group works collaboratively to support patients before, during and after surgery, ensuring safe, coordinated and compassionate care at every step of the journey.
Acute Care Surgery, a service line of the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was recognized as one of UAB Medicine's top ten service lines for timely and effective consults, according to results from the 2025 hospital-wide Consult Optimization Survey.