Twenty-three Heersink School of Medicine faculty were recognized Sept. 22 for their appointment to endowed chairs and professorships during a special reception.
Held at the Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center, the rescheduled Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception brought together school leaders, faculty, family members, donors, and supporters to mark these distinguished appointments, which reflect sustained achievement in research, education, clinical care, and service.
"Today is a celebration of people—our incredible faculty being honored, and the donors whose generosity makes their work possible," said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. "An endowed chair or professorship is one of the highest honors we can offer. It recognizes exceptional achievement and provides the kind of support that truly makes a difference. It gives our faculty time to discover, to mentor, and to lead."
The spring 2026 honorees represent a wide range of disciplines across Heersink, showcasing the breadth of experience and leadership that define our institution. Together, they are expanding knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and training the next generation of physicians and scientists.
Faculty honored at the Spring 2026 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception include:
Oyedele Adeyi, M.D.
Department of Pathology
C. Bruce Alexander Endowed Professorship in Pathology
Brigitta Brott, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Baker-Dean Endowed Professorship in Interventional Cardiology
Robert Brunner, M.D.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Women’s Committee of the Spain Rehabilitation Center Endowed Chair in Rehabilitation Neuroscience Research
Maria Danila, M.D.
Department of Medicine
UAB Endowed Professorship in Musculoskeletal Outcomes Research
Qiang Ding, Ph.D.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Maurice S. Albin, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Mark Dransfield, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Spencer Chair in Medical Science Leadership
Craig Hoesley, M.D.
Department of Medical Education
Paul and Martha Burleson Endowed Chair in Medical Education
Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Surgery
Arnold G. Diethelm Endowed Chair in Transplantation Surgery
Yung Lau, M.D.
Department of Pediatrics
Katharine Reynolds Ireland Chair of Pediatrics
Jing Li, M.D., DrPH
Department of Medicine
Albert Oberman, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Cardiovascular Disease
Tracy Luckhardt, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Charles and Alice Hohenberg Professorship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Tapan Mehta, Ph.D.
Department of Family and Community Medicine
Heersink Endowed Professorship in Primary Care
Mahmud Mossa-Basha, M.D.
Department of Radiology
Witten-Stanley Endowed Chair of Radiology
Christina Muzny, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Jeanne M. Marrazzo, M.D., MPH, Endowed Professorship in Innovation and Advancement through Mentorship
Ashley Nichols, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Charles D. Beard, Jr., Family Endowed Chair in Interdisciplinary Healthcare Communication
Lalita Shevde-Samant, Ph.D.
Department of Pathology
Endowed Professorship in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics
Steve Stigler Jr., M.D.
Department of Medicine
Merritt L. Pizitz and James E. Johnson, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Pulmonary and Critical Care
Jerzy Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
R. Edward Faught and Janet Jackson Faught Endowed Professorship in Epilepsy Research
Rebekah Weil, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Robert M. Centor, M.D., MACP Endowed Professorship in Medical Education and General Internal Medicine
Gretchen Wells, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Medicine
Elmer and Glenda Harris Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Disease
Lisa Willett, M.D.
Department of Medicine
Paul W. Burleson, M.D., Endowed Professorship in Internal Medicine
Talene Yacoubian, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Charlene A. Jones Endowed Chair in Neuroimmunology
Jaroslaw Zmijewski, Ph.D.
Department of Medicine
SK Bioscience Endowed Chair in Pneumonia Research