B. Earl Salser Jr., M.D., associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been appointed as the department's inaugural Vice Chair of Education.
Salser, a seasoned family medicine physician who brings extensive educational leadership experience to his new role, will oversee the department's complex educational mission, including coordination of all faculty, staff, and trainees across multiple levels of medical education.
“As the first faculty chosen for this inaugural role in our department, I look forward to collaborating with state and national educators to find innovative and transformative educational strategies that can best address the growing health care needs in our state,” said Salser.
Salser is a native of Alabama who earned his bachelor's degree in English and Biomedical Science from Auburn University. After receiving his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 1997, Salser completed his family medicine residency at the Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital in Virginia. Salser returned to Alabama after residency and entered private practice.
Since joining the Department of Family and Community Medicine in 2007, Salser has consistently demonstrated his dedication to advancing medical education. Salser has served as the department’s director of medical student education since 2007, and his leadership roles have encompassed undergraduate and graduate medical education, including serving as Birmingham campus family medicine clerkship director, director of the Dean’s Primary Care Scholars Program, and, currently, as residency program director for the Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency - Highlands track in conjunction with Cahaba Medical Care. Salser has also served as a member of the Children’s Hospital Pediatric CME Committee and Heersink School of Medicine Admissions Committee.
The medical students he works with have also recognized Salser as among the school’s best clinical educators. Salser has twice won the Argus Awards for “Best Attending,” and he was named the 2024 Family and Community Medicine Clinician of the Year. He was also a three-time member of B Metro Magazine’s “Top Doctors for Alabama” list.
In this role, Salser will work closely with faculty, residency directors, and partners across Alabama to manage educational initiatives covering pathway programs, undergraduate and graduate medical education, continuing medical education, and allied health student involvement.
“Dr. Salser has long been a cornerstone of Family and Community Medicine, and each day he demonstrates the highest standards of educational leadership while contributing immeasurably to our department and institution’s ability to train compassionate primary care physicians,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “Since 2018, our department’s footprint has seen exponential growth and investment. I am excited that Earl is stepping into this role and applying his vision and leadership to advance our educational mission to increase the number and caliber of learners who pursue family medicine.”
UAB's Department of Family and Community Medicine is recognized for its comprehensive educational programs, including the innovative Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency Program with four tracks, the UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency, Sports & Exercise Medicine Fellowship, and the HRSA-funded Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience program.
The appointment of Salser as vice chair for education is expected to play a key role in the department's efforts to continue preparing the next generation of primary care physician-leaders to serve in Alabama and beyond.