After 12 years leading the Department of Medicine, Dr. Seth Landefeld will step away from his role as Chair this September. Landefeld has had a transformative effect on our academic medical enterprise. He will leave UAB to become a fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences to address the crisis in American primary care.

Good News for March 15, 2024

The Department and the Heersink School of Medicine are deeply committed to the people and programs that lead to life-changing care. Over the next six months, the department will continue all its work and will pursue immediate high-priority initiatives, including the identification and appointment of the next permanent Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, the merger of the Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine, and building Funds Flow with UAB Medicine to support competitive faculty clinical compensation plans. And our department’s strong team of leaders at every level will provide stability along the way.

On Wednesday, the school opened applications for an interim chair to lead the department while a formal search is conducted for a permanent successor, with an anticipated start date of spring/summer to allow the interim to work alongside Dr. Landefeld to ensure a smooth transition. The deadline to apply for the interim chair role is Monday, April 1.

If you missed it, you can read Dr. Landefeld’s March 7 announcement to the DOM.

Featured Discovery Connects Redlining to Worse Cancer Outcomes

An exploration of the association between historical housing discrimination and colon cancer survival by S.M. Qasim Hussaini, M.D., (Assistant Professor, Hem/Onc) has been recognized as a Heersink Featured Discovery.

Rusanov's Grateful Patient Supports Lung Transplantees

After receiving expert pulmonary care from Victoria Rusanov, M.D., (Associate Professor, PACCM) Wanda Tunnell got a new lease on life through a double lung transplantation in May of 2021. Now she counsels fellow patients on their transplant journey.

Brown Honored with Inaugural Residency Impact Award

In recognition of his dynamic cardiology lectures and passion for ward teaching, Todd Brown, M.D., (Professor, CVD) was presented with the first ever Internal Medicine Residency Impact Award. Kudos for your exemplary service as a clinician-educator, Dr. Brown!

Cates Selected for Emerging Leader Program

We are thrilled to congratulate DOM Facilities Coordinator Corey Cates, MS, on his selection for the UAB Medicine Emerging Leader Program this spring. He will be one of 15 accepted into the pilot cohort of individuals poised to serve in leadership roles.

ID Team Demonstrates Benefits of AUC Dosing

Hats off to Josh Stripling, M.D., (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) and ID pharmacy colleagues for their longstanding effort to improve vancomycin safety and their publication demonstrating better outcomes with “area under the curve” dosing.