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Department of Medicine Heersink School of Medicine

DOM Faculty Honors

Each year, the Department of Medicine celebrates the tremendous accomplishments of staff, faculty and trainees, by hosting its annual honors reception. During the celebration, department employees' are recognized for their outstanding academic and clinical leadership, mentorship and research initiatives. Each honoree works deligently to actualize the mission of the department and UAB, and we are honored to continuously celebrate these exceptional individuals over the years.

Previous Award Recipients

Research and Clinical Awards

Max Cooper for Career Excellence in Research 

  

Stefan Kertesz, MD, MPH

Stefan Kertesz, MD, MPH

Professor
Preventive Medicine

 

 

Frommeyer Fellowship in Investigative Medicine  

 

Nusrat Jahan, MD

Nusrat Jahan, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Hematology & Oncology

Rouhin Sen, MD

Rouhin Sen, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology

 

Frommeyer Fellowship in Investigative Medicine - Year 2

 

Kadambari Vijaykumar, MD

Kadambari Vijaykumar, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Joe Chiles, III, MD

Joe Chiles, III, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

 

 

Faculty Honors

 

Unsung Heroes by Division

 

Anitra Baylor

Anitra Baylor

Staff
Division of Preventive Medicine

Amber Degrado

Amber Degrado

Staff
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

David Fettig, MD

David Fettig, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Paul Goepfert, MD

Paul Goepfert, MD

Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Professor
Division of Cardiovascular Disease

Nancy Masucci

Nancy Masucci

Staff
Division of General Internal Medicine

Matt Mullen, MD

Matt Mullen, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology 

Lisle Nabell, MD

Lisle Nabell, MD

Professor
Division of Hematology and Oncology

Arun Rajasekaran, MD

Arun Rajasekaran, MD

Assistant Professor
Division of Nephrology

Donna Stevens, DNP

Donna Stevens, DNP

Staff
Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care

Lisa Jinright

Lisa Jinright

Staff
Department of Medicine

Gwendolyn Wilkins

Gwendolyn Wilkins

Staff
Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care

 

 

Promotions and Tenure

 

Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD

Pilar Acosta-Lara, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care 
Promotion in Rank

Puneet Aulakh, MD

Puneet Aulakh, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD

Andre Ballesteros-Tato, PhD

Professor
Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
Promotion in Rank

Hitesh Batra, MBBS

Hitesh Batra, MBBS

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Award of Tenure

Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD

Sushant Bhatnagar, PhD

Associate Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Award of Tenure

Surya Bhatt, MD

Surya Bhatt, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Jessy Deshane, PhD

Jessy Deshane, PhD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Ellen Eaton, MD

Ellen Eaton, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Latesha Elopre, MD

Latesha Elopre, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Christian Faul, PhD

Christian Faul, PhD

Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Slyvia Huang, PhD

Slyvia Huang, PhD

Associate Professor
Geronotology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care
Promotion in Rank

Chad Hunter, PhD

Chad Hunter, PhD

Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism
Promotion of Rank

Anand Iyer, MD

Anand Iyer, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Omer Jamy, MD

Omer Jamy, MD

Associate Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank

Cindy Joiner, PhD

Cindy Joiner, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion in Rank

Julie Kanter, MD

Julie Kanter, MD

Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion in Rank 

Rachael Lee, MD

Rachael Lee, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Award of Tenure

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Carrie Lenneman, MD

Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion of Rank

Tracy Luckhardt, MD

Tracy Luckhardt, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Promotion in Rank

Claretha Lyas, MD

Claretha Lyas, MD

Associate Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Sam McElwee, MD

Sam McElwee, MD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Promotion of Rank

Shikha Mehta, MD

Shikha Mehta, MD

Professor
Nephrology
Promotion in Rank

Christina Muzny, MD

Christina Muzny, MD

Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion of Rank

Anoma Nellore, MD

Anoma Nellore, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases 
Award of Tenure

Anish Patel, MD

Anish Patel, MD

Associate Professor
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Promotion in Rank

Greg Payne, MD, PhD

Greg Payne, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Award of Tenure

Shajan Peter, MD

Shajan Peter, MD

Professor
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Promotion in Rank and Award of Tenure

Aadia Rana, MD

Aadia Rana, MD

Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion in Rank

Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD

Richard J. Reynolds IV, PhD

Associate Professor
Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
Promotion in Rank

Derek Russell, MD

Derek Russell, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care
Award of Tenure

Carlie Somerville, MD

Carlie Somerville, MD

Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Steve Stigler, MD

Steve Stigler, MD

Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Promotion in Rank

Joshua Stripling, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Associate Professor
Infectious Diseases
Promotion of Rank

Pankit Vacchani, MD

Pankit Vacchani, MD

Associate Professor
Hematology and Oncology
Promotion in Rank

Rebekah Weil, MD

Rebekah Weil, MD

Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Micah Whitson, MD

Micah Whitson, MD

Associate Professor
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Promotion of Rank

Min Xie, MD, PhD

Min Xie, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Cardiovascular Disease
Award of Tenure

 

 

Top 10 Teachers

 

Davis Bradford, MD

Davis Bradford, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

J.R. Hartig, MD, FACP

J.R. Hartig, MD, FACP

Associate Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Alonso Heudebert, MD, MPH

Alonso Heudebert, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Gustavo Heudebert, MD, MACP

Gustavo Heudebert, MD, MACP

Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Steven Fox, MD

Steven Fox, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Ashita Tolwani, MD

Ashita Tolwani, MD

Professor,
Nephrology

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Associate Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Jeremey Walker, MD

Jeremey Walker, MD

Assistant Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Lisa Willett, MD

Lisa Willett, MD

Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Karla Williams, MD

Karla Williams, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

 

 

Top 10 Teachers by Division

 

Leslie Avant, MD

Leslie Avant, MD

Assistant Professor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care

Todd Brown, MD

Todd Brown, MD

Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

David Ennis, MD

David Ennis, MD

Associate Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Stu Frank, MD

Stu Frank, MD

Professor Emeritus,
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Eric Judd, MD

Eric Judd, MD

Associate Professor,
Nephrology

Kevin Leon, MD

Kevin Leon, MD

Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Bailey Lipham, MD

Bailey Lipham, MD

Assistant Professor,
Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology

Jori May, MD

Jori May, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology and Oncology

Brendan McGuire, MD

Brendan McGuire, MD

Professor,
Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Robert Smola, MD

Robert Smola, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

 

 

Teaching Excellence Awardees Awarded by Medical Students and Residents

 

Richardo Franco, MD

Richardo Franco, MD



Ryan Kraemer, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Seth Landefeld, MD

Seth Landefeld, MD

Stephen Russell, MD

Stephen Russell, MD

Michael Saag, MD

Michael Saag, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD



Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Winter Williams, MD

Winter Williams, MD

 

 

Teaching Excellence Awardees Awarded by Medical Students

 

Amanda Brito, MD

Amanda Brito, MD



Latesha Elopre, MD

Latesha Elopre, MD

Carlos Estrada, MD, MS

Carlos Estrada, MD, MS

Ricardo Franco, MD

Ricardo Franco, MD

Paul Goepfert, MD

Paul Goepfert, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Seth Landefeld, MD

Seth Landefeld, MD

Stephen Russell, MD

Stephen Russell, MD



Michael Saag, MD

Michael Saag, MD

Starr Steinhilber, MD, MPH

Starr Steinhilber, MD, MPH

Joshua Stripling, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Karla Williams, MD

Karla Williams, MD

Winter Williams, MD

Winter Williams, MD

 

 

Teaching Excellence Awardees Awarded by Residents

 

Monica Agarwal, MD

Monica Agarwal, MD

Hassan Alawieh, MD

Hassan Alawieh, MD

Surya Bhatt, MD

Surya Bhatt, MD

Davis Bradford, MD

Davis Bradford, MD

Todd Brown, MD

Todd Brown, MD

James Callaway, MD

James Callaway, MD

Glenn Carman, MD

Glenn Carman, MD

Amanda Cartee, MD

Amanda Cartee, MD

Robert Centor, MD

Robert Centor, MD

Greg Chapman, MD

Greg Chapman, MD

Mark Dransfield, MD

Mark Dransfield, MD

Madeline Eckenrode, MD

Madeline Eckenrode, MD

Molly Fleece, MD

Molly Fleece, MD

Steven Fox, MD

Steven Fox, MD

Ricardo Franco, MD

Ricardo Franco, MD

Stuart Frank, MD

Stuart Frank, MD

Caroline Harada, MD

Caroline Harada, MD

J.R. Hartig, MD

J.R. Hartig, MD

Sonya Heath, MD

Sonya Heath, MD

Alonso Heudebert, MD, MPH

Alonso Heudebert, MD, MPH

Gustavo Heudebert, MD

Gustavo Heudebert, MD

Adam Jaffe, MD

Adam Jaffe, MD

Aditi Jani, MD

Aditi Jani, MD

Shashi Katukoori, MD

Shashi Katukoori, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Ryan Kraemer, MD

Stephanie Krick, MD

Stephanie Krick, MD

Ishan Lalani, MD, MPH

Ishan Lalani, MD, MPH

Rachael Lee, MD

Rachael Lee, MD

Bailey Lipham, MD

Bailey Lipham, MD

Steven Lloyd, MD, PhD

Steven Lloyd, MD, PhD

John Locke, MD

John Locke, MD

Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH

Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH

Jori May, MD

Jori May, MD

Todd McCarty, MD

Todd McCarty, MD

Jason Morris, MD

Jason Morris, MD

Matthew Mullen, MD

Matthew Mullen, MD

Vinay Narasimha Krishna, MD

Vinay Narasimha Krishna, MD

Suzanne Oparil, MD

Suzanne Oparil, MD

Darryl Outlaw, MD

Darryl Outlaw, MD

Peter Pappas, MD

Peter Pappas, MD

Gregory Payne, MD, PhD

Gregory Payne, MD, PhD

Derek Russell, MD

Derek Russell, MD

Stephen Russell, MD

Stephen Russell, MD



Michael Saag, MD

Michael Saag, MD

Andrew Sellers, MD

Andrew Sellers, MD

Mohamed Shoreibah, MD

Mohamed Shoreibah, MD

Robert Smola, MD

Robert Smola, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Joshua Stripling, MD

Ashita Tolwani, MD

Ashita Tolwani, MD

Jennifer Trevor, MD

Jennifer Trevor, MD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Nicholas Van Wagoner, MD, PhD

Raymond Wade, MD

Raymond Wade, MD

Jeremey Walker, MD

Jeremey Walker, MD

Frederick Weber, MD

Frederick Weber, MD

Rebekah Weil, MD

Rebekah Weil, MD

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM

Winter Williams, MD

Winter Williams, MD

James Willig, MD, MSPH

James Willig, MD, MSPH

 

 

New Faculty - 2023

 

Masood Ahmad, MD

Masood Ahmad, MD

Assistant Professor,
Nephrology

Baran, Aksut, MD

Baran, Aksut, MD

Assistant Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Zaid Al-Kadhimi, MD

Zaid Al-Kadhimi, MD

Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Kristen Allen-Watts, PhD, MPH

Kristen Allen-Watts, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor,
Preventive Medicine

James Andrews, MD

James Andrews, MD

Assistant Professor,
Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology

Omid Baniahmad, MD

Omid Baniahmad, MD

Assistant Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Ananda Basu, MD

Ananda Basu, MD

Professor,
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Rita Basu, MD

Rita Basu, MD

Professor,
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Brandi Blackburn, MD

Brandi Blackburn, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Reaford "RJ" Blackburn, MD

Reaford "RJ" Blackburn, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Sandeep Bodduluri, PhD, MS

Sandeep Bodduluri, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Yanis Boumber, MD, PhD

Yanis Boumber, MD, PhD

Associate Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Fernando Bril, MD

Fernando Bril, MD

Assistant Professor,
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Manuel Carcelen, MD

Manuel Carcelen, MD

Associate Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Roxana Carcelen, MD

Roxana Carcelen, MD

Associate Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Stefania Carmona, MD

Stefania Carmona, MD

Assistant Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Awalpreet Chadha, MD

Awalpreet Chadha, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Yasolatha Chalicheemala, MD

Yasolatha Chalicheemala, MD

Assistant Professor,
Nephrology

Deepak Chandramohan, MD

Deepak Chandramohan, MD

Assistant Professor,
Nephrology

Jin Chen, PhD

Jin Chen, PhD

Associate Professor,
Nephrology

Changde Cheng, PhD, MS

Changde Cheng, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Joe Chiles, III, MD

Joe Chiles, III, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Brian David, PhD

Brian David, PhD

Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Amanda Denham, MD

Amanda Denham, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Aakash Desai, MD

Aakash Desai, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Terence "Sean" Dunn, MD

Terence "Sean" Dunn, MD

Assistant Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Derek Estes, MD

Derek Estes, MD

Assistant Professor,
Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Garima Gupta, MD

Garima Gupta, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Mridul Gupta, MD

Mridul Gupta, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Hesham Hassan, MD

Hesham Hassan, MD

Assistant Professor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Care

Abbi Hernandez, PhD

Abbi Hernandez, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Care

Caesar Hernandez, PhD

Caesar Hernandez, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Care

Qasim Hussaini, MD, MS

Qasim Hussaini, MD, MS

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Jonathan Kalehoff, MD

Jonathan Kalehoff, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Ramaswamy Kannapan, PhD

Ramaswamy Kannapan, PhD

Instructor
Cardiovascular Disease

Jan Kemnade, MD, PhD

Jan Kemnade, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Amber Kinsey, PhD

Amber Kinsey, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Preventive Medicine

Pongsathorn "Phil" Kue-A-Pai, MD

Pongsathorn "Phil" Kue-A-Pai, MD

Instructor,
Nephrology

Fu Jun Li, MD, PhD, MPH

Fu Jun Li, MD, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Audrey Lloyd, MD

Audrey Lloyd, MD

Assistant Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Shana Machado, DO

Shana Machado, DO

Assistant Professor,
Nephrology

Tetsuro Maeda, MD

Tetsuro Maeda, MD

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Tilottama Majumdar, MD

Tilottama Majumdar, MD

Associate Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Midhun Malla, MD, MHS

Midhun Malla, MD, MHS

Associate Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Rachel Mathers, MD

Rachel Mathers, MD

Assistant Professor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Care

Natasha Mehra, MD

Natasha Mehra, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Razan Mohty, MD

Razan Mohty, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Timiya Nolan, PhD, MSN

Timiya Nolan, PhD, MSN

Associate Professor,
Preventive Medicine

Gabriella Oates, PhD

Gabriella Oates, PhD

Associate Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Rena Patel, MD

Rena Patel, MD

Associate Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Rushil Patel, MD

Rushil Patel, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Brittany Payne, MD

Brittany Payne, MD

Assistant Professor,
General Internal Medicine

Krystle Pew, MD, MPH

Krystle Pew, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Brittany Polanka, PhD, MS

Brittany Polanka, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor,
Preventive Medicine

Cameron Pywell, MD

Cameron Pywell, MD

Assistant Professor,
Hematology & Oncology

Prabhat Ranjan, PhD

Prabhat Ranjan, PhD

Instructor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Ryan Ruhr, MD

Ryan Ruhr, MD

Assistant Professor,
Infectious Diseases

Heriberto Matos Santana, MD

Heriberto Matos Santana, MD

Assistant Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Priscila Sato, PhD

Priscila Sato, PhD

Associate Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

Dan Scullin, MD

Dan Scullin, MD

Instructor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Mitali Sen, MD

Mitali Sen, MD

Assistant Professor,
Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology

Mohammed Siddiqui, MD

Mohammed Siddiqui, MD

Assistant Professor, 
Cardiovascular Disease

Blake Smith, MD

Blake Smith, MD

Assistant Professor,
Cardiovascular Disease

James Stamper, MD

James Stamper, MD

Associate Professor,
Cardiovascular Diseases

Shingo Suzuki, PhD, MS

Shingo Suzuki, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor,
Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine

Korijna Valenti, PhD

Korijna Valenti, PhD

Instructor,
Gerontology, Geriatrics & Palliative Care