Saulat Sajjad Sheikh, M.B.B.S., assistant professor and surgical director of the liver transplant program in the UAB Division of Transplantation, has been appointed to serve as vice chair-elect of the Surgical Skills Committee for the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS).
The appointment recognizes Sheikh's continued contributions to transplant surgery and surgical education, as well as her growing leadership within the national transplant community. As vice chair-elect, she will work alongside fellow committee members to support the committee's educational initiatives and help guide its future activities, advancing technical excellence and professional development within the field of transplantation.
"I am honored to serve in this new role with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons," said Sheikh. "ASTS plays an important role in fostering collaboration and innovation in transplant surgery, and I look forward to contributing to initiatives that support surgical education and the continued advancement of our specialty."
At UAB, Sheikh serves as a clinical skills scholar for the Clinical Reasoning and Integrated Skills Program (CRISP) Curriculum in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM) and a lead faculty mentor for the learning communities program at the HSOM, where she is actively involved in the education and mentorship of medical students and surgical trainees.
"Dr. Sheikh has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and leadership," said Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Arnold G. Diethelm endowed chair and division director of the Division of Transplantation. "Her appointment to this national leadership role reflects not only her expertise as a transplant surgeon, but also the impact she continues to make on the future of surgical education."
Sheikh joined the UAB Department of Surgery in 2020 after completing her abdominal transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery fellowship at UAB. Her clinical interests include liver transplantation, kidney transplantation, pediatric transplantation, living donor transplantation, and hepatobiliary surgery.
About the American Society of Transplant Surgeons
The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the field of transplant surgery through education, research, advocacy, and collaboration. Representing transplant surgeons, physicians, and other professionals across the United States, ASTS supports innovation in transplantation while promoting excellence in patient care, surgical education, and clinical practice. Through its committees, educational programs, and leadership initiatives, the society helps shape the future of transplant medicine and improves outcomes for transplant patients nationwide.