The following was sent on behalf of Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D.

Dear Colleagues,

It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Joel Feinstein, M.D., to interim vice chair for Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, effective June 30, 2024.

Dr. Feinstein’s reputation as an outstanding leader, teacher, and mentor has earned him the great respect of his colleagues, making him an excellent choice for this role.

He earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Alabama in 2007, followed by his residency and fellowship in Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine at the University of California San Diego. He joined our department in 2013 and is currently an associate professor.

Dr. Feinstein has made significant contributions to regional anesthesia and pain management through his service as medical director for Regional Anesthesia. Notably, he has been involved in the substantial expansion of regional anesthesia services across hospitals and successfully led the implementation of multiple Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols. His leadership extends to various hospital and departmental committees and quality improvement initiatives, where he has played pivotal roles in enhancing patient care and safety. Dr. Feinstein is revered not only by our faculty, but also the surgeons with whom he works. We are confident that he will lead the regional team with vision and passion, especially as we negotiate the ever-increasing demand for the sophisticated services they provide.

With Dr. Feinstein’s appointment, we bid farewell to Promil Kukreja, M.D., Ph.D., CMQ, FASA, who served in the inaugural role. Dr. Kukreja has been a beloved member of our department, well known as a consummate clinician, award-winning teacher, and highly productive clinical researcher. He has been a transformative leader who has succeeded in all elements of the tripartite mission. We will sorely miss his deep departmental commitment and engagement.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Feinstein on his new role and wishing Dr. Kukreja great success in his future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D.
Alfred Habeeb Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Heersink School of Medicine