Colleagues,

Effective Oct. 1, 2022, Andrew Barker, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, is stepping down from the position of program director of the department’s Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program to focus on other aspects of academic medicine. These endeavors include his role as medical director for the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. He will assist with the transition of the program director role and act as a mentor for the new director. 

Dr. Barker has been a valued part of this department since he started as a critical care medicine fellow in July 2013. His interest in education was quite apparent from the start of his appointment to our faculty in July 2014. He has performed all of the functions of program director for the fellowship since 2016, and he assumed the official title in 2018. Under his direction, the fellowship has seen a great number of triumphs and graduated a significant number of successful critical care physicians of whom we are very proud. 

After the completion of an inclusive and transparent search process, it gives us great pleasure to announce that Moheb Gohar, M.D., has been selected as the new program director for the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program. Dr. Gohar was born and raised in the small city of Assuit, Egypt, where he completed and earned his medical degree from Assuit University. Upon relocating to the United States, he completed an anesthesiology residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He also completed a dual fellowship in both adult cardiothoracic anesthesia and critical care medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He joined the UAB faculty in 2021, following the completion of his training. His academic interests include transesophageal echocardiography, mechanical circulatory support, and medical education and mentorship.

Since joining the UAB faculty, Dr. Gohar has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the tripartite mission of the Heersink School of Medicine, excelling in teaching and service. He has also expressed a compelling vision for the future of the fellowship program. Additionally, in a short period of time, he has earned the respect of residents, fellows, nursing staff, peers, and the leadership of our department. 

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Gohar to this important educational leadership position as we seek to continue excellence in our training programs, producing the finest graduates possible in critical care medicine. 

Dan E. Berkowitz, M.D.
Alfred Habeeb Professor and Chair

David Miller, M.D.
Vice Chair and Director, Division of Critical Care Medicine