Frank Retires as Executive Vice Chair of the DOM
Stu Frank, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Cell Biology, and Physiology.Stu Frank, M.D., has retired from his role as Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine, effective October 31. He joined UAB's faculty over 30 years ago and rose to Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology, and Physiology. Frank has served as the Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Chief of the Endocrinology Service at the Birmingham VAMC, Interim Director of the Comprehensive Diabetes Center, Director of the Basic Science Section in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, and Vice Chair for Research. He will maintain his role in the Division of Endocrinology as a mentor and emeritus Professor. Additionally, he will care for patients in his clinic at Birmingham VAMC as he has for over 30 years. Please join us in thanking Dr. Frank for all he has done and wishing him the very best.
DOM Recognizes Outstanding Faculty and Staff
On Wednesday, over 100 employees gathered in the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium for DOM Recognition Day — a day to celebrate the people of the Department who advanced its mission excellence and reached major milestones over the past year. Dr. Glenn Cobbs kicked off the ceremony by presenting the 2023 Cobbs/Rutsky awards for top doctors. Department Chair Dr. Seth Landefeld and division directors honored excellent teachers, researchers, staff, and our 2023 Unsung Heroes. The event concluded with a reminder that we can all be “everyday heroes” just by being kind. Guests departed with sweet treats from Insomnia Cookies in hand. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate our 47 deserving awardees!
Three DOM Faculty Earn Innovation Awards
Drs. Ashita Tolwani, Surya Bhatt, and Sandeep Bodduluri were honored for their game-changing innovations at the 2023 Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards. Ashita Tolwani, M.D., (Professor, Nephrology) was recognized for developing user-friendly citrate solutions for patients undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care faculty Surya Bhatt, M.D., MS, (Professor) and Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D., MS, (Assistant Professor) were honored for their invention Spiromatics, an artificial intelligence-based lung function solution suite. Congratulations to each of you for your innovation and entrepreneurship.
New Leadership Joins Lung Health Center
The UAB Lung Health Center has appointed three new pulmonary leaders to advance the treatment and study of lung health. The new Medical Director, Mike Wells, M.D., will oversee operations and clinical research. Amit Gaggar, M.D., Ph.D., will serve as Scientific Director to supervise basic and translational research. And Gabriela Oates, Ph.D., will round out the team as Director of Population Health Sciences. Together, they will build on the innovative work of Drs. Mark Dransfield and Ed Blalock who led the Center for nearly 15 years as medical and scientific director respectively.
DOM Program for Fellows Cultivates a Community of Health Disparity Advocates
L to R: Steven Fox, M.D., Patricia Ajayi-Fox, M.D., 1917 Clinic social worker Kathy Gaddis, Rheumatology pharmacist Katie Jones, Amanda Schnell, M.D., and Anand Iyer, M.D. On Wednesday, roughly 40 participants joined the DOM's Graduate Medical Education Health Disparities Collaboration program's inaugural lecture session “Patient Assistance Programs: Helping Our Patients Access Affordable Prescription Medications.” Panelists discussed approval processes, affordability challenges, and resources available to provide access to live-saving medications.