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Natalie Gassman, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, was named chair-elect for the UAB Faculty Senate, effective September 1. Gassman will hold the title until August 31, 2027, while serving as chair of the Faculty Senate Research Committee. She will become chair of the Senate September 1, 2027, through August 31, 2028.

For Abdulraheem Kaimari, research is an opportunity to help improve the lives of children and families facing cancer. As a fourth-year M.D.-Ph.D. student at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, he is working toward a career that combines patient care and research to develop new therapies that can lead to better outcomes for patients.

Jan Novak, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor and the Jiri Mestecky Endowed Professor in the Department of Microbiology, is helping to build a new partnership between UAB and Fujita Health University (FHU) in Japan. The collaboration, formalized Sept. 21 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, creates a framework for scientific and academic cooperation between the two institutions.

Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been named 2027-28 chair of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Rheumatology Subboard.

Damian Schwartz, Program Manager II for the Basic, Translational and Preclinical Research Lab in the UAB Department of Surgery, describes his job in two words: problem solving.

The UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Hand Team provides comprehensive, patient-centered care for conditions affecting the hand, wrist, and upper extremity. From common problems such as trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome to complex fractures, nerve conditions, and specialized reconstructive needs, the team brings together surgical, clinical, and rehabilitation expertise to help patients restore function and return to daily life.

Tapan Mehta, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of research and improvement science within the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, has been announced as the inaugural Heersink Endowed Professor in Primary Care. 

Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D., has been named interim chair of the UAB Department of Neurology, effective Oct. 1, 2026. Roberson is a professor and vice chair for basic and translational research in the department and holds the Rebecca Gale–Heersink Endowed Chair for Alzheimer’s Disease. He is also the director of the Frances Gorrie Alzheimer’s Disease Center and the Killion Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics.

The UAB Department of Pathology has been strategically planning its digital pathology effort since well before its initial launch in 2024, but what is digital pathology? And why is this new initiative so important?

A new international trial, coordinated through the UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and the Center for Research in Women’s Health, will test whether a widely available drug can save the lives of mothers with peripartum cardiomyopathy. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded funding over seven years for the GLobal trial Of Bromocriptine for PeriPartum CardioMyopathy (GLOBal PPCM), establishing the largest and most diverse global research network addressing this disease.

With a career distinguished by expertise in neuromuscular and autonomic disorders, the development of innovative clinical programs, and a commitment to advancing patient care and research, Mohamed Kazamel, M.D., credits UAB Neurology with providing the foundation for his professional growth.

Hirotaka Ata, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor and the only basic science researcher in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine, has been awarded more than $2 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for his research in CRISPR technology for rapid detection of infectious pathogens.

Six faculty members in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery have been named 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors, a distinction that recognizes the top 7% of doctors in the country.

This year the Society of Forensic Toxicologists and The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists hosted their annual meeting jointly in Chicago, Illinois, September 19-24. Karen Scott, Ph.D., director of the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory and an associate professor in the Division of Laboratory Medicine, served on the planning committee for the annual meeting and had the honor of welcoming nearly 1400 attendees to The Windy City.

Every brain is wired somewhat differently, but a new study led by Pinar Demirayak, Ph.D., a researcher in the lab of Kristina Visscher, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurobiology, suggests that the parts used most for demanding, attention-heavy tasks may become the most distinctly personal of all. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, explores the broader idea that experience reshapes neural connections, making the brain's networks better suited to their lived environment.

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, and Alabama ranks second nationally in cancer-related deaths. Despite rapid advances in cancer biology, diagnostics, and treatment, student engagement in cancer research and matriculation into careers in cancer research is limited, often due to minimal exposure to cancer-related content in secondary education.

The UAB Department of Radiology is proud to recognize nine faculty members who have earned promotions in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research, education, clinical care, and service. These promotions are effective as of Oct. 1, 2026.

On August 11, 2026, Sight Savers America revealed the 2026 Hall W. Thompson Hero for Sight tribute wall at UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye. This year’s display honors the ongoing legacy of Alston Callahan, M.D., FACS, and his son, Michael A. Callahan, M.D., FACS.

Juliet Blakeslee-Carter, M.D., MPH, assistant professor for the UAB Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, has been selected to receive a 2026-28 Medical Education Innovation Award from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine for her study, “Artificial Intelligence in Residency Recruitment: Assessing Alignment Between Applicants and Programs in Vascular Surgery.”

Jeffrey D. Kerby, M.D., Ph.D., reflects on how he brought about positive change for trauma care during his tenure as the chair of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma - and shares his goals for his new role at the ACS.

Somayeh Taghizadeh, M.D., joined the Department of Radiation Oncology as an assistant professor in September 2026. Learn more about her journey and what inspires her work.

The UAB Department of Surgery is proud to celebrate the latest research accomplishments of its faculty, trainees, and staff. Over the past few months, members of the department contributed to a robust body of peer-reviewed scholarship published across leading journals.

Communities across the Southeast continue to face disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases linked to poor diet, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Addressing those challenges requires more than encouraging healthier eating; it also means understanding the barriers that influence the foods people can access and afford. To support that work, the Alabama Community Engagement Alliance (AL CEAL) has selected Catheryn Orihuela, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine, as the recipient of its 2026 Southeast CEAL Research Initiative Pilot Grant.

For more than 30 years, Rose Wilkins, Ph.D., has worked to help people navigate life's challenges through wellness, beginning with students facing behavioral and emotional challenges in Chicago Public Schools. What started as a simple idea—creating calming spaces where students could de-escalate and regroup—eventually became City Blocks Wellness, an organization dedicated to community wellness.

The UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is continuing its trajectory of growth with the expansion of its residency program, a milestone that reflects the department's educational excellence, strategic leadership, and commitment to addressing critical workforce shortages in rehabilitation medicine.

Ambika Ashraf, M.D., professor, will be stepping down from her role as Division Director of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, effective September 28, 2026. This decision will allow her to spend more time with family.

Research does not happen in isolation. Turning an idea into a well-designed study requires expertise, resources, and collaboration through every stage. The Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center’s Research Program brings investigators together with the infrastructure and support needed to advance community-engaged and population health research focused on chronic disease prevention and healthy living. Through the Center’s programs and cores, as well as its knowledgeable faculty and staff, investigators interested in community-engaged research can draw on support and expertise from across UAB.

The UAB Department of Radiation Oncology is proud to recognize three faculty members who have earned promotions in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research, education, clinical care, and service. These promotions are effective as of Oct. 1, 2026.

Twenty-three Heersink School of Medicine faculty were recognized Sept. 22 for their appointment to endowed chairs and professorships during a special reception.

The UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, in collaboration with the departments of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Surgery, has launched a new Peripheral Nerve Clinic to address the complex needs of patients with serious nerve injuries.