The University of Alabama at Birmingham has named Andrew J. Butler, MPT, MBA, Ph.D., dean of the UAB School of Health Professions following a national search.
Butler joins UAB from the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University, where he is professor of physical therapy and associate dean for Research.
“I have had several very positive interactions with UAB and Birmingham in my career and am delighted to be joining the School of Health Professions as dean,” Butler said.
Butler received his Ph.D. in motor control from the University of Iowa. He was a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa, at Texas Women’s University in Houston and at Heinrich-Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany. Prior to joining Georgia State in 2012, he was a faculty member in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Butler has a special interest in neuro-rehabilitation, functional neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. He is director of the Clinical Neuroplasticity Lab at Georgia State, and is the principal investigator on a project exploring the use of rehabilitation robots in the homes of veterans.
“Andrew has an excellent background in interdisciplinary health care, which will be a perfect fit in a multidisciplinary academic medical center like UAB,” said Pam Benoit, Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs and provost. “I am excited that he will be able to continue the fine upward trajectory in both student enrollment and research funding that is currently in place at the School of Health Professions.”
The national search was led by a search committee chaired by UAB Health System CEO Will Ferniany.
“As the UAB community looks forward to welcoming Dr. Butler to campus, I want to thank Dr. Benoit for her leadership and the search committee members and chair for their time and dedication,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “This is an important effort as we look to build on the positive reputation and momentum that has been hard-earned by the School of Health Professions leadership, faculty, staff, students and alumni.”
Butler is expected to start at UAB on July 1. Donna Slovensky is serving as interim dean.
