The UAB Department of Surgery recognizes the outstanding research contributions from faculty, fellows, residents and research staff. This continued momentum in scholarly activity underscores our shared commitment to advancing surgical science and shaping the future of academic medicine. Over the past few months, members of the department have authored and co-authored numerous publications across high-impact journals, spanning a wide range of topics including endocrine surgery, surgical education and outcomes research.

These efforts reflect not only individual academic excellence but also the spirit of collaboration that defines the department.

Several of these works are the result of cross-disciplinary and multi-institutional efforts, reinforcing the department’s role in addressing complex challenges in surgery through innovation and teamwork. Of note, there has been a growing number of trainee-led publications, a testament to the department’s strong culture of mentorship and academic development.

“We are proud of our faculty, researchers and interdepartmental colleagues whose contribute much time and effort to our research mission,” said James George, Ph.D., professor and vice chair of basic science research in the Department of Surgery and the UAB Cardiovascular Surgical Research Endowed Chair. “Their innovative and robust research will drive change in the surgical community and beyond.”

Featured work recently published by the UAB Department of Surgery includes: 

Evaluating Reimbursement for Prehospital Blood Transfusions: A Nationwide Survey

Published in Transfusion by Timothy Hurson, B.S., Randall Schaefer, DNP, RN, ACNS-BC, CEN, Christine Carico, M.D. Russell Griffin, Ph.D., Eric Bank, M.D., Jon Krohmer, M.D., Donald Jenkins, M.D., John Holcomb, M.D., and Zain Hashmi, M.D.

Patient-Reported Barriers to Foregut Cancer Care in the Deep South

Published in Annals of Surgical Oncology by Ioannis Liapis, M.D., MPH, Alfonsus Adrian H Harsono, M.D., MSPH, Jaspinder Sanghera, MBBCh, Katie West, M.D., Rida Ahmad, M.D., Michelle Holland, M.D., Larry Hearld, Ph.D., Smita Bhatia, M.D., Krista Mehari, Ph.D., Martin J Heslin, M.D., MSHA, Daniel I Chu, M.D., MSPH, and Annabelle Fonseca, M.D., MHS.

Trends and Predictors of Palliative Therapy Use in Young Adults with Advanced GI Cancer: A National Cancer Database Study

Published in Annals of Surgical Oncology by Olivia Monton, M.D., ScM, Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, Andrei Gurau, M.D., Orly N. Farber, M.D., Elizabeth J. Lilley, M.D., MPH, Jonathan B. Greer, M.D., and Fabian M. Johnston M.D.

Charting the Course: Insights into Neuroendocrine Tumor Dynamics in the United States

Published in Annals of Surgery by Christopher Wu, M.D., ZhiXing Song, M.D., Sanjana Balachandra, M.D., Sophie Dream, M.D., Herbert Chen, M.D., J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, and Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH. 

Patients with Normocalcemic vs. Hypercalcemic Hyperparathyroidism: What’s Really the Difference?

Published in American Journal of Surgery by Sanjana Balachandra, M.D., RongZhi Wang, M.D., Ramsha Akhund, M.B.B.S., Ashba Allahwasaya, M.B.B.S., Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP, Jessica Fazendin, M.D., Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH, and Herbert Chen, M.D.

Unraveling the Clinical Impact of Differential DNA Methylation in PDAC: A Systematic Review

Published in European Journal of Cancer by Julia Adriana Kasmirski, M.D., Raj Roy, M.B.B.S., Christopher Wu, M.D., Lauren Wheeler, B.S., K. Kerrick Akinola, M.D., Herbert Chen, M.D., J. Bart Rose M.D., MAS, Changde Cheng, Ph.D., Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, and Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH.

What We Do Matters
Published in Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open by John B. Holcomb, M.D., and Patrick Lee, M.D. 

Impact of Perceived Attending Consistency on General Surgery Resident Feedback Satisfaction in a National Sample
Published in American Journal of Surgery by Daniela D. Muñoz Wilson, B.S., Ramsha Akhund, M.B.B.S., M. Chandler McLeod Ph.D., Andrew Jones M.D., George Sarosi M.D., Karen Brasel, M.D., MPH, Rebecca M. Minter, M.D., John Mellinger, M.D., FACS, Jo Buyske, M.D., and Brenessa Lindeman, M.D., MEHP.

Validity of Geographic‑Level Social Determinants of Health Metrics in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Published in Endocrine Oncology by Andrea Gillis, M.D., MSPH, Brendon Herring, M.D., Ph.D., Rachael Guenter, Ph.D., Weisheng Chen, B.S., Dai Chen, B.S., Herbert Chen, M.D., John Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, Upender Manne, and Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH.

Research Agenda for Entrustable Professional Activities Among US Surgical Specialties
Published in Annals of Surgery by Gurjit Sandhu, Ph.D., Andrew Jones, Ph.D., Carol L. Barry, Ph.D., Jo Buyske, M.D., John D. Mellinger, M.D., and Brenessa Lindeman M.D., MEHP.

Embracing the mental health challenges of uterus transplant candidates

Published in Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand by Muhammad Umaid Rabbani,M.D., Brittney Randolph, Ph.D., ATR-P, Samantha Fry, Ph.D., Emily A. Boydston, PA-C, and Paige M. Porrett, M.D., Ph.D.

Fusobacterium nucleatum determines the expression of amphetamine-induced behavioral responses through an epigenetic phenomenon

Published in bioRvix by Samuel J. Mabry, Ph.D., Xixi Cao, Yanqi Zhu, Ph.D., Caleb Rowe, B.S., Shalin Patel, Camila Gonzalez-Aracncibia, Ph.D., Tiziana Romanazzi, Ph.D., David P. Saleeby, Ph.D., Anna Elam, B.S., Hui-Ting Lee, Ph.D., Serhat Turkmen, Ph.D., Shelby N. Lauzon, Ph.D., Cesar E. Hernandez, Ph.D., HaoSheng Sun, Ph.D., Hui Wu, Ph.D., Angela M. Carter, Ph.D., and Aurelio Galli, Ph.D., D.Sc.