From its vibrant culinary scene to its stunning Appalachian foothills, Birmingham is gaining recognition as both a medical hub and a city where life outside the hospital thrives.
The UAB Department of Surgery series, “Loving Life and Work in Birmingham, Alabama,” highlights faculty who have recently moved to Birmingham to join our team of surgeons – and what they love most about living here.
Our latest spotlight features Margaret Romine, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Transplantation and Matthew Romine, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery. The Romines’ story is a unique one, as they have been together since their undergraduate years at the University of Georgia. They’ve trained side-by-side through medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, the General Surgery Residency Program at UAB, and subsequent fellowships at UAB. And now, their careers have brought them both back to UAB as faculty members.
Why did you decide to join the faculty at UAB?
“Since we did our surgical training here, we are aware that UAB is a great place to work. In addition, we love the people that work at UAB and believe that it is one of the core strengths of this place.”
Once you arrived, were there any aspects of being in Alabama that pleasantly surprised you?
“That Saban was no longer leading the Crimson Tide.”
What’s your favorite thing to do outside of the OR in Birmingham?
“We have two wonderful boys, so spending time with them and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, of course!”
Birmingham is known for its culinary scene. What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?
“This is so tough! We love so many restaurants here, but the two favorites will have to be Gianmarco’s and Automatic Seafood.”
About Dr. Margaret Romine
Margaret Romine, M.D. is an assistant professor in the Division of Transplantation. Her clinical and research interests include living kidney donation, disparities in access to kidney transplantation, optimizing high KDPI organs, and robotic surgery. She earned a Master of Science in Infectious Diseases from the University of Georgia before attending medical school at the Medical College of Georgia. She completed the General Surgery Residency Program and the Abdominal Transplant Fellowship at UAB. Before returning to UAB, she served as Director of Living Donation and Co-Director of the Surgical Clerkship at East Carolina University (ECU), where she was also heavily involved in resident and medical student education.
About Dr. Matthew Romine
Matthew Romine, M.D. is an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery. His clinical interests include laparoscopic and robotic minimally invasive general surgery, with a focus on foregut, bariatric surgery, and complex abdominal wall hernias. After attending medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, he completed the General Surgery Residency Program and the Advanced Bariatric & Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at UAB. He then served as a general surgeon at ECU Health in Greenville, North Carolina before rejoining UAB as a faculty member.
Stay tuned for more installments of Loving Life & Work in Birmingham, Alabama.