News

Three members of the UAB Department of Surgery have been recognized for scholarship and leadership achievements within the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), in connection with their 2026 annual meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Lily Gutnik, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery and Vice Chair of Global Surgery, and Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology and Wellness Committee Chair, have been named recipients of the Blazing the Trail in Research Impact Awards,...

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Demario S. Overstreet, Ph.D., has spearheaded the expansion of an ongoing $3.47 million National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded traumatic injury pain study, led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to establish the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as an additional performance site. 

Tania K. Arora, M.D., Professor in UAB’s Division of Surgical Oncology, was recently featured on UAB MedCast discussing melanoma diagnosis, staging and surgical treatment, including how immunotherapy is changing care.

The UAB Department of Surgery continues to celebrate the growth of its nine divisions – with the addition of three new faculty members in the month of November! Help us welcome Dr. Martin Blakely, Dr. Julie Gail Grossman, and Dr. Helen Wohlgemut.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, associate professor in the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, has been elected to membership in Surgical Biology Club II, a selective national society of academic surgeon-scientists. His election was announced at the society’s annual business meeting during the 2026 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C.

Five medical students conducting research under the guidance of UAB Department of Surgery mentors earned top awards at the 2026 UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dale J. Benos Medical Student Research Day, including three trained through the department's summer research programs.

Ten staff members of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine have been named recipients of the 2026 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff. Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes staff who go beyond the expectations of their roles to advance Heersink’s core missions of education, clinical care, and research.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome four new faculty in October 2026: Dr. Carlos Fairen Oro, Dr. Natalie O’Neill, Dr. Emily M. Smith, and Dr. Roh Yanagida.

Laura Stafman, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery, is the recipient of this year’s President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance.

Dr. Roh Yanagida joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery as an associate professor in the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2026.

The UAB Department of Surgery is pleased to announce the recent promotion of nine faculty members.

UAB’s new Clinical Trialist Development Program (CTDP) has selected 24 Heersink applicants for its 2026-2027 cohort. The program will provide these candidates with training, mentorship, and salary support to lead industry-sponsored clinical trials. It will also supply them with a 20% protected time allowance, allowing them to dedicate more time to research.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For the 17th consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama has been ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Chandler McLeod, M.S., Ph.D., biostatistician in the UAB Department of Surgery, has built a career around understanding complex systems.

The UAB Department of Surgery is excited to welcome two new faculty members in September 2026 – Piyush Kumar Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., and Erin Burton, M.D.

Members of the UAB Department of Surgery were recognized this year with Patient Experience Hero Awards and Clinical Excellence in Nursing Awards, highlighting their commitment to delivering exceptional patient-centered care across the health system.

The UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office (LDO) recently recognized 14 individuals in its ninth cohort of Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL). The fall 2026 graduates received their certificates on Sept. 1.

Paige Porrett, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, has been named the latest recipient of the school's Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable faculty research contributions and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.

Participants represent all schools that conduct clinical trials at the university. The CTDP is part of a strategic effort to maintain UAB’s remarkable growth in this area and offer the benefits of trials to more Alabamians.

It’s almost time for the 2026 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C.! Before you pack your bags and head to the airport, review this handy UAB Surgery guide for your conference prep.

Five new faculty members joined the UAB Department of Surgery in August: Dr. Peter Abraham, Dr. Samantha Lloy, Dr. Jennifer Pappalardo, Dr. Anji Wall, and Dr. Taylor Wallen. We invite you to learn more about them and help us extend a warm UAB welcome!

Saulat Sajjad Sheikh, M.B.B.S., assistant professor and surgical director of the liver transplant program in the UAB Division of Transplantation, has been selected to serve as a member of the core small group faculty for the 2026-2027 Harvard Macy Institute Program for Educators in Health Professions.

UAB Department of Surgery residents swept the awards for residency competitions at the annual Alabama/Mississippi Chapters of the American College of Surgeons Annual Meeting, held July 30 - August 1, 2026, at The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama.