by Christina Crowe
In 2022 our department lost a dear friend and colleague, Alex Feldman, M.D., who passed away unexpectedly in May at age 38.
Dr. Feldman was a well-known and respected assistant professor in our Neuropathology Division who joined the department in his first faculty role in July 2021. However, this was not his first time working with us in the Department of Pathology—Alex completed medical school here at UAB as part of the challenging M.D./Ph.D. program. Alex completed AP/CP residency here, serving as chief resident in his final year and teaching multiple medical school classes. He undertook a pediatric fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in Columbus, Ohio, followed by a neuropathology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago.
Dr. Feldman was known and well respected for his clinical services as well as his mentorship and teaching. He won numerous teaching awards and his mentoring touched the lives of many of our trainees in a profoundly positive way. His academic career showed great promise and he was recognized by invitation to participate in the American Association of Neuropathologists’ Neurodegenerative Disease Scholar Program. Dr. Feldman was a member of the Association of Clinical Scientists and became a fellow in 2018. From 2018 to 2021 he served as the organization’s Chair of the Young Fellows Section (YFS) Oversight Committee.
Outside of work, Alex was an avid trivia participant, often recruiting friends to join his team. He was a lifelong musician—an accomplished oboist who also sang tenor in the Steel City Men’s Chorus. He sang in men's choirs during his fellowships in Columbus and Chicago.
“Alex introduced me to the joys of trivia, the current methodologies in neuropathology, the exceptional individuals in the Steel City Men’s Chorus, and the overall LGBTQ+ community of Birmingham," said Michael Williams, M.D., M.Sc., Neuropathology Fellow. "He has such an impact on the people who reminisce about the fond memories they had with him and I want him to know that he is loved and missed.”
UAB Pathology has had a robust presence in leadership at the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the largest pathology organization in the world. Here too Feldman’s presence was strongly felt, including his role as the Chair of the Residents Council while he was in training and serving on a number of key committees when he was elected an ASCP Fellow as he joined the faculty.
“Alex was a promising young neuropathologist who, in his short time in the division, made a tremendous impact on his colleagues and trainees. He will be dearly missed,” said C. Ryan Miller, M.D., Ph.D., Division Director, Neuropathology.
This tragic loss of our dear friend, mentor and colleague—a talented neuropathologist and perinatal pathologist—is immeasurable. Please join us in fondly remembering Dr. Alex Feldman.