Henry Fisher has watched the transformation of UAB and the Department of Surgery over his three-decade tenure and played a vital role in bringing accessible transplantation services to thousands of lives across Alabama and beyond.

Listening to him share his first-hand view of the ground zero for transplantation innovation in the Southeast (and beyond) is a remarkable exercise in both commitment to changing lives and unwavering dedication to the delicate science of organ preservation and transplantation.

Joining the Alabama Tissue Center & Working with Dr. Arnold Diethhelm

Beginning his journey to UAB as an undergraduate student, Henry graduated with his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1992 and began looking for his next steps. He knew he wanted to continue the hands-on training he had received in his coursework and found his perfect match in the Department of Surgery – being hired by the legendary transplant surgeon and former department chair, Dr. Arnold Diethelm, as a surgical tissue bank specialist in the new Alabama Tissue Center. Henry in his role as a surgical tissue specialist.

As Henry reminisces on his first years at UAB, he pauses – as if he’s remembering the first time he stepped into the lab where he’s now become an indispensable fixture.

“We were trained directly by the surgeons to do our job,” Henry remembers. “Dr. Diethelm and his team showed me how we could best preserve tissue for patients going forward.” 

From his first days, Henry knew he had found the best place to learn and grow.

“Dr. Diethelm was such a leader – he meant business in the OR, but he knew everyone’s names and always went out of his way to address them,” Henry notes. “He always addressed me directly by name when he spoke with me. I knew I was part of the team and the mission we shared.”

Journeys across the Southeast

As Henry’s career continued to flourish, he played a vital role in the expansion of transplantation services across the Southeast. When an organ or tissue donation was made available, the clock started on how quickly he and the rest of the team could go to obtain them to preserve functionality for the recipient.

“It wasn’t out of the ordinary at all to get a call in the middle of the night,” he says. “Sometimes, if the donation was farther away than normal, we’d load up in a two-seater plane and fly to the donating hospital – no matter the weather.”

To Henry, these journeys added a deeper meaning and perspective to the work of the tissue center and the sanctity of life.

“On each of these trips, I always keep at the forefront that these are the lives of sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. Life is such a gift, and we should always treat it as such,” Henry shares.

From one of these transplantation visits, over 700 people can be assisted – from organ transplantations to tissue grafts.

Looking Forward to the Future of Transplantation

And, to this day, Henry and the UAB Division of Transplantation team continue to make history – charting over 16,000+ total transplants, 3,000 liver transplants, and countless lives impacted through tissue donation.

Now, as Director of the UAB Southern Tissue Center, Henry sits at the helm to welcome in the next era of transplantation – from advancements in perfusion to sustain organs to the countless life-improving applications of tissue grafts, like corneal transplants to restore sight.

Henry, and his wife Cerenthia, a 1998 graduate of the UAB School of Education, both shared their enthusiasm for the university with their daughters, who have graduated with degrees in nursing and education.

“Find somewhere that offers you opportunities to learn and grow at each stage of your career,” Henry adds. “UAB is that institution – no matter what. Just get started and you can go anywhere. Go, Blazers!”