Gregory Payne, M.D., Ph.D., has been named assistant director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. Payne received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Yale University in 2005. He subsequently obtained his medical degree and a doctorate in cardiovascular physiology while completing a Medical Scientist Training Program at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2011. Payne joined the UAB ABIM Research Pathway in 2011 and has since completed a residency in Internal Medicine and a clinical fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease. During clinical training, he was honored by the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease as the 2014 Vera Bittner Outstanding First-Year Fellow and 2015 Best Clinical Fellow. He was further recognized as the 2015-2016 Chief Cardiology Fellow. His clinical interests focus on general cardiology with a specific emphasis on vascular disease and inflammation.
As an assistant professor, Payne studies novel inflammatory pathways in cardiovascular disease. Specifically, his current research aims to understand how extracellular matrix-derived chemokines contribute to vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Payne’s research has been nationally recognized, and he is an inaugural recipient of the American Heart Association-Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AHA-AMFDP) Career Development Award.
“It is a true honor to have the opportunity to develop our future medical research leaders within the medical scientist training program,” said Payne. “My goal is to support the energy and passion for biomedical research that epitomizes UAB’s MSTP community. I am extremely excited for the future direction of the program.”
Payne officially assumed the role of assistant director on Nov. 1, 2020.