The Heersink Innovation Fellows Program is a core component of the university-wide innovation initiative, where the entrepreneurial mindset, concepts, and core innovation are applied to disciplines across the campus.

The program offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurial faculty from any discipline or academic area to be jointly appointed to the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation.

During the year, fellows will work on research, curriculum development, or outreach initiatives that link their home discipline to healthcare innovation with the possibility of renewal. The fellows will come together for an annual major forum to share progress and outcomes from their focus projects. They also will contribute to ongoing discussions regarding cross-disciplinary applications of healthcare innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of UAB as an entrepreneurial university.

The first cohort for the 2022-2023 year was established September 19, 2022.

2022-2023 Heersink Innovation Fellows Cohort

Chris Brainard, Senior Director of Patient Experience and Engagement
Office of Patient Experience, Collat School of Business

Kyounga Cheon, D.M.D., Interim Director
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry

Ryan Godwin, Ph.D., Data Scientist
Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine

Jake Godzik, M.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Neurosurgery, Heersink School of Medicine

Virendra Mishra, Ph.D., Associate Professor
Department of Radiology, Heersink School of Medicine

Desiree Morgan, M.D., Vice Chair for Education
Department of Radiology, Heersink School of Medicine

Manoj Tanwar, M.D, Assistant Professor
Department of Radiology, Heersink School of Medicine

Molly Wasko, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Research, Innovation and Faculty Success, Collat School of Business

Stefanie Woodard, D.O., Assistant Professor
Department of Radiology, Heersink School of Medicine

Holly Wyatt, M.D., Professor
Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions