The dedication to collaborative efforts shown by Chris Minnix, Ph.D., director of the Blazer Core Curriculum, has earned him the 2023 Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award.

After an extensive national search, UAB has named Virginia M. Hedberg as the associate vice president for Research and executive director of Sponsored Programs, effective Jan. 15, 2024.

Ritika Samant, a first-year student in the Heersink School of Medicine who served as president of the Undergraduate Student Government Association at UAB in 2022-2023, received the 2023 President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance.

Twelve faculty have been selected to receive the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching. The 2023 honorees represent each school, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Honors College, and the Graduate School.

The creative methods that Professor Tino Unlap, Ph.D., uses to keep students learning have earned him selection for the 2023 Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching.

What’s the secret to mentoring undergraduates in STEM? Biology Associate Professor Sami Raut, Ph.D., who has mentored nearly 40 students and recently earned a national award from the Council on Undergraduate Research, offers six tips.

Karen Cropsey, Psy.D., director of UAB’s Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention, served on an expert panel studying the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.

Provost and SVP for Academic Affairs Pam Benoit, Ph.D., will retire at the end of 2023, concluding a distinguished career in higher education administration that includes almost seven years as a transformational leader at UAB. 

Toby W. Tripp, Andrew B. Crouse and Carin Mayo are the first-quarter 2023 honorees of the UAB Shared Values in Action Program, which honors those whose work exemplifies and embodies Forging the Future’s shared values. Nominations for second-quarter 2023 honorees are open through May 24.

Christopher L. Shook, Ph.D., who will begin July 1, brings more than 25 years of academic leadership experience to the role; he has served as dean of the Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University since 2019.

Discoveries led by Casey Weaver, M.D., revealed a new commander of the immune system and a new class of therapies for autoimmune diseases. In 2022, Weaver was elected to the National Academy of Sciences — now he has been selected for the academic medical center’s highest faculty honor.

Tatyana Gavrikova, Sherry Polhill and Aparna Tamhane are the fourth-quarter 2022 honorees of the UAB Shared Values in Action Program, which honors those whose work exemplifies and embodies Forging the Future's shared values. Nominations for first-quarter 2023 honorees are open through Feb. 28.

Anath Shalev, M.D., did everything she could to change treatment for Type 1 diabetes from her lab, but getting to first-in-human trials meant taking a step she had always resisted. The most surprising thing about launching a startup, though? “I have enjoyed it.”

Teresa Taber Doughty, Ph.D., who will begin April 3, brings to the role extensive experience in higher education and a demonstrated commitment to preparing outstanding education professionals; she has served as dean of the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Education since 2016.

Michelle Horvath, J.D., will help provide a safe place for the UAB community to navigate policies, issues, concerns and conflicts in a safe, unbiased environment.

The AI Literacy Course that fellow Jordan Perchik, M.D., began in 2020 for UAB trainees now reaches 25 programs in 10 countries — at a time when radiology faces global shortages and a proliferation of artificial intelligence tools.

Five years after he retired from the OR, cardiothoracic surgeon James K. Kirklin, M.D., is starting a new company that will leverage his team’s research on advanced statistics and machine-learning algorithms to track and predict outcomes for high-risk patients.

Chemistry Professor Jacqueline Nikles, Ph.D., has proven herself highly qualified at all levels of instruction, according to her peers and students.

UAB history students and faculty are contributing to the Beth-El Civil Rights Experience, an effort by the congregation of Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El to share the experiences of members of the city’s Jewish community during the era, including an attempted bombing in 1958.

In this newly created role, Scott Phillips, Ph.D., will continue to direct the Center for Teaching and Learning and also will oversee seven units in the Office of the Provost that work to deliver innovative teaching to UAB students.

Maria Rodriguez Shirey will transition to her new role, effective June 1, succeeding Doreen Harper, who is retiring.

Inspired by a family diagnosis and a viral video, Adeel Memon, M.D., Ph.D., is exploring the possibilities of brain-computer interfaces to treat Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions.

More than 300 employees with 20 or more years of service will be honored during the annual Service Awards Program reception 2 p.m. April 11 in the Hilton Birmingham at UAB. Vithal K. Ghanta, Jerry G. Spenney, Joseph G. Van Matre and Richard J. Whitley will be honored for 50 years of service to UAB, and George M. Munchus III, Gregory E. Pence, Donna J. Slovenksy and Michael V. Yester will be honored for 45.

Tom Brannan, vice president for Advancement, will take on additional responsibility to support the Office of the President and university priorities arising from the core missions of the institution.

Shadi S. Martin, Ph.D., brings extensive experience in international and graduate education and a strong record of interdisciplinary scholarship to this new combined role.

May will begin work full time at UAB Nov. 1 leading human resource units responsible for ensuring a positive employee experience at each point along the employee continuum.

When use of an obscure antidepressant exploded across the state, William Rushton, M.D., who directs UAB’s medical toxicology program and the state’s poison control hotline, began an investigation that led the Alabama Department of Public Health to halt sales.

This year, the university recognizes 50 years of service by Jeanne Hutchison, Ph.D., and Ferdinand Urthaler, M.D., and 45 years of service by Robert Kim M.D., and Joseph Lovetto. In addition, 294 employees with 20 or more years and 904 with five, 10 and 15 years will honored for their longevity.

Robert Centor, M.D., one of the world’s leading experts on sore throat and a mentor to generations of medical students, will receive the highest honor of the Academic Health Center.

Brian Burnett, Ph.D., who is interim associate vice president and chief financial officer for the University of Maryland, will begin work at UAB May 1.