The following was sent on behalf of Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D.
Dear Colleagues,
I am incredibly pleased to announce that Jennifer DeBerry, Ph.D., is the second faculty member to hold the David Hill Chestnut Endowed Professorship in Anesthesiology in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine.
Dr. DeBerry is an innovative researcher, collaborative colleague, and impactful mentor. During her tenure in our department, she has developed and grown from a junior research faculty member to an esteemed, emerging star as a funded independent investigator by virtue of her unique talents, hard work, and the novelty of her ideas.
Dr. DeBerry completed her undergraduate education and Doctor of Philosophy in Behavioral Neuroscience at UAB, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. The overarching theme of her research relates to the underlying mechanisms driving pathological changes in urologic sensation and function. Her expertise in sensory neurobiology has been powered by an integrative approach that combines preclinical in vivo and in vitro methodologies—including animal behavior, molecular biology, electrophysiology, optogenetics, and imaging. These approaches facilitate the study of changes in the phenotype and function in neuronal signaling that contributes to persistent urologic pain and altered bladder function. She is currently the principal investigator on a number of federally funded grants in these research areas.
Dr. DeBerry is currently the associate director of the UAB Center for Addiction and Pain Prevention and Intervention, a center dedicated to comprehensive research and strategies for management of addiction and complex pain. She is both nationally and internationally recognized in her field, holding roles as a journal editor and on grant review committees. She has mentored a number of postdoctoral students, graduate students, and undergraduates who have gone on to successful careers in science and medicine. She has also served the institution and department in other roles including, but not limited to, leading the Research Day Planning Committee and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
Dr. DeBerry is the quintessential collaborator and enthusiastic mentor. We are excited to bestow this honor upon her, as I can think of no person more qualified for this honor in our department. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D.
Alfred Habeeb Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Heersink School of Medicine