Department of Surgery

Rajamiyer Venkateswaran, M.D., M.S., professor in the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and chief of heart, mechanical circulatory support, and lung transplant, received the Lifetime International Fellowship Award from the Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS) at its 72nd annual conference in Mumbai, India.

Frederick “Freddie” Thomas is always smiling, especially when he arrives at work and turns the hallway lights on just as the sun begins to crest over the horizon.

This National Social Work Month, social workers from across UAB have a message for the community: medical social workers are an integral part of the health system.

Department of Surgery research resident Chandler Annesi M.D., won the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Resident Trauma Paper Competition, earning national recognition for her research on pediatric trauma care.

Six members of the UAB Department of Surgery will be honored at the upcoming Annual Service Awards Reception on Monday, March 30, 2026 – representing a cumulative 180 years of experience in the department. 

Robert H. Hollis, M.D., MSPH, the leader of the O'Neal Cancer Center Colorectal Cancer Management Team and an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, discussed key aspects of colorectal cancer as part of an educational video series produced by the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

For Lily A. Gutnik, M.D., MPH, associate vice chair of global surgery in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, healing is a daily part of her work.

John Killian, M.D., Ph.D., a volunteer clinical assistant professor in the UAB Division of Transplantation, is working to understand the science behind organ rejection and how it can potentially be avoided.

Daniel Gomez Carrillo, M.D., a postdoctoral research fellow in the Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, received national recognition from the Association for Academic Surgery for his research on improving patient understanding during the surgical consent process.

Tracey Pu, M.D., a PGY-3 resident in the UAB General Surgery Residency Program, has received a travel award to attend the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology Advanced Cancer Therapies (SSO ACT) annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Kristen Wong, M.D., was recently selected as an instructor for the Laparoscopic & Robotic Foregut Surgery Course offered by the Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System (IRCAD).

When a patient undergoes an organ transplant, failure to match the donor and recipient can lead to the recipient's immune system attacking the new organ, a process triggered by a specific HLA (human leukocyte antigen) protein. In a recent study published in Immunity, UAB researchers uncovered consistency in how the immune system decides which part of the foreign HLA protein to attack—information that could help improve transplant success.

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) has released its 2025 Annual Report – celebrating the institute’s accomplishments over the past year and highlighting milestones in patient care, quality recognition, and strategic growth.

Robert T. Russell, M.D., MPH, professor in the UAB Department of Surgery and director of the Trauma Program at Children's of Alabama, has been selected by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) to join a newly-formed case writing group for the General Surgery Certifying Examination.

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.

UAB Department of Surgery faculty members Annabelle Fonseca, M.D., MHS, and Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, presented research at the Southern Surgical Association (SSA) Annual Meeting last month, showcasing the department’s leadership in surgical education, workforce development, and health equity-focused outcomes research.

In this month's UAB Department of Surgery Access & Engagement Spotlight, Dr. Sergio Acuna Mancilla shares his experience as an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Transplantation and the pathway that led him to becoming an academic surgeon.

James George, Ph.D., a professor of UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery for over 30 years, has been appointed to the prestigious role of professor emeritus for the UAB Department of Surgery.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been awarded the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Geoffrey Dunn, M.D., Research Award.

UAB Division of Vascular Surgery integrated resident Joseph Chitwood, M.D., was awarded the Founder's Award at this year’s Southern Association of Vascular Surgery (SAVS) annual meeting for his project entitled “Trainee impact on postoperative outcomes for open and endovascular aortic repair in the vascular quality initiative.”

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 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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 2026 Pittman Scholars. This prestigious honor recognizes assistant professors for their exceptional research achievements and their potential to make future contributions to their fields. To be considered, the honoree must have held the rank of assistant professor for fewer than five years. Named after former School of Medicine Dean James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., this award highlights the school's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in medical research.

Rondi Gelbard, M.D., a professor in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, has received the 2025 Alliance Committed Leader Award from the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance (The Alliance) which recognizes a leader who commits significant time and expertise to Alliance initiatives and taken on significant efforts to advance nationwide collaboration and engaged learning within the organ donation and transplantation community.

The UAB Medicine Vein Clinic has received reaccreditation and the 10-year Milestone Award from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), reaffirming its continued commitment to excellence in patient care, clinical quality, and adherence to nationally recognized standards for venous disease management.

The UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery led a holiday clothing and supply drive to support several local non-profit organizations, including Impact Family Counseling, the Offender Alumni Association, and the UAB Compassion Closet.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Associate Professor James Donahue, M.D., and UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Associate Professor Sophie Dream, M.D., MPH, have recently been elected to the prestigious Southern Surgical Association (SSA).

The UAB Department of Surgery Access and Engagement Committee hosted Operation CARE, a new community outreach initiative focused on serving Birmingham’s unhoused population, on December 13 at Railroad Park downtown.

The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to announce Professor Robert Dabal, M.D., the chief of pediatric cardiac surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, as the 2025 recipient of the Champ Lyons Award for Outstanding Clinical Service, recognizing his exceptional dedication to patient care, clinical excellence, and leadership in pediatric cardiac surgery.

In just a little over a week, the UAB Department of Surgery will travel to Orlando, Florida for the 21st Annual Academic Surgical Congress.

This month’s UAB Department of Surgery Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight highlights Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Advanced Practice Provider Jamie Theodore, CRNP. From her journey as a nurse in the ICU to the UAB Cardiovascular Institute, her breadth of knowledge and personal experiences highlight her empathetic approach to patient care. In her interview, which was led by UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Marvi Tariq, M.D., Theodore shares journey into medicine, along with the full life she lives outside of the clinical space.

Herbert Chen, M.D., the Fay Fletcher Endowed Chair of the UAB Department of Surgery, gave the 2026 State of the Department presentation earlier this week, spotlighting achievements from the past year and reflecting on the 80 year history of the department.

UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine medical students Thanushri Srikantha, Neil Chaudhary, and Alison Levine were awarded among the best projects of the 2025 UAB Medical Student Research Day (MSRD).

Robert Hollis, M.D.,MSPH, an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and leader of the colorectal cancer management team in the O’Neal Cancer Service Line, was recently featured on a national medical education podcast episode focused on the modern management of diverticulitis for hospitalists and frontline clinicians.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office would like to welcome 19 individuals in its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership in the spring of 2026. The goal of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership is to enhance existing personal, leadership, and management competencies while leveraging current leadership strategies and trends. The 6-month program features guest speakers from executive-level leadership positions at UAB, including former graduates of the Institute for Leadership.

The DATA coordinating and Collaborative Research Unit (DATA CRU) at UAB will lead the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for the United States arm of the international WARRIORS trial (Women’s Aneurysm Research: Repair Immediately Or Routine Surveillance).

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Cardiovascular Institute patient services were recently recognized in Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, highlighting its position as a leading institution in treatment and care.

UAB Department of Surgery providers have been recognized by UAB Medicine for their excellence in patient care. This year, 42 providers have received the Provider Excellence Award – based on patient evaluations and feedback.