August 27, 2009

William W. Andrews. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - William W. Andrews, Ph.D.,M.D., professor and director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Charles E. Flowers Jr. Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been named chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UAB effective Sept. 1. He replaces John Hauth, M.D., who is retiring.

As chairman, Andrews will be responsible for guiding the department's research and scholarly activity, clinical services, finances and planning, human resource management and teaching, as well as collaborations inside and outside the department. In addition, Andrews will play a key leadership role in the new UAB Women and Infants Center, which is scheduled to open in February 2010.

"Bill Andrews has been active in clinical, research and administrative capacities at UAB during his 19 years with us, and is highly regarded by fellow physicians, administrators and others for his wisdom and leadership," said Robert Rich, M.D., senior vice president and dean of the UAB School of Medicine. "In addition to his outstanding service to women's health at UAB, Bill is internationally known for his scholarly contributions in the field of maternal-fetal medicine."

"We were thus fortunate to have him as an exceptionally strong internal candidate for this key leadership role within the School of Medicine and are very pleased he has accepted this appointment," Rich said.

Andrews has been with UAB since 1990 and has been the director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Infectious Disease Research Laboratory since its creation in 1990. He has taken on roles of increasing responsibility over the years, including serving as vice-chairman of the department since 2005 and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, which specializes in the diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies, since 2000.

"Bill's deep knowledge and expertise in the area of maternal-fetal medicine will help ensure the delivery of high-quality, compassionate care throughout the state of Alabama," said UAB Health System CEO William Ferniany, Ph.D. "I look forward to working with him in his new leadership role."

Andrews' research interests include obstetrical infections and infection-related preterm birth, and he is the UAB co-principal investigator of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. He previously served as the principal investigator for this research network. He also serves as the UAB principle investigator for the NICHD-funded Genomics and Proteomics Network for Preterm Birth Research. Andrews is a co-investigator on numerous other interdisciplinary projects related to genital tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases and preterm birth, and he is a co-investigator within the International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN). He has been or is a co- or principal investigator on more than 25 research grants at UAB.

Andrews has received numerous honors and awards, including the inaugural March of Dimes Award for Excellence in Research on Prematurity. He also is a member of a number of professional societies, including the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society. His academic research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Hauth has led the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 1999. Under his leadership, the department has grown to be one of the top 5 NIH funded in the country, with approximately 40 faculty, including 16 in the latest US News & World Report's "Best Doctors in America"; a training program with 29 residents and 13 fellows; and a clinical program that provides more than 103,000 patient visits per year and nearly 4,300 deliveries per year. 

Hauth earned his medical degree from UAB and completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Wilford Hall United States Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio and a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Before joining the UAB faculty in 1987, Hauth was chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wilford Hall. He is a member of many local and national organizations, including the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, where he is a fellow.

About UAB

The UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides the most up-to-date and effective care to patients, advances scientific understanding of women's health, and translates science into improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders of the female reproductive system. It comprises six divisions, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Reproductive Health, Women's Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and International Women's Health, and provides the highest level of comprehensive services for women of all ages.