August 13, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System has named Robert "Bo" Cofield, DrPH, FACHE, interim president of Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital, effective Aug. 14.

Cofield replaces Raymond E. Butler, who for the last five years has overseen the only eye specialty hospital in Alabama and one of the few facilities in the world entirely dedicated to advancements in ophthalmology.

Cofield joined UAB in 1999 as director of special projects, administration and finance, for the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF), and has taken on increasing levels of responsibility during his tenure, including as director of operations for the UAB Health System, and his current role as an associate vice president of UAB Hospital and chief operating officer of UAB Highlands. He will continue to serve UAB in those capacities during this interim appointment.

"As a result of his many years of increasing responsibility at UAB, and his many years of experience in health care management, Bo Cofield is very well-suited to lead the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital," said UAB Health System CEO William Ferniany, Ph.D. "He along with the hospital's clinical and administrative leadership team are a strong group and will continue the excellent services for which the hospital is known during the search for a permanent replacement."

Butler came to UAB in 1993 as administrative director of the UAB Center for Psychiatric Medicine. He later served as an associate executive director of University Hospital before taking on responsibilities for the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital. While head of the hospital, he helped to oversee the renovation of the facility, including completion of the addition of a seventh floor to the professional building and renovation of other hospital areas that allowed increased space for faculty and medical staff and accommodated increased patient volumes with more efficiency. Butler is leaving to pursue other opportunities.

"On behalf of everyone at UAB, we would like to thank Raymond for his 16 years of service to the institution and we wish him well in his future endeavors," Ferniany said.

About the UAB Health System

The UAB Health System includes all of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's patient care activities, including UAB Hospital, the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital and The Kirklin Clinic. UAB is the state of Alabama's largest employer and an internationally renowned research university and academic health center whose professional schools and specialty patient care programs are consistently ranked as among the nation's top 50; find more information at www.uab.edu and www.uabhealth.org.