David S. Geldmacher, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Neurology and Warren Family Endowed Chair in Neurology, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Brewer-Heslin Award for Professionalism in Medicine. Established by the late Gov. Albert Brewer, the award honors faculty members of the Heersink School of Medicine who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to providing highly skilled and deeply compassionate medical care to their patients.
Geldmacher is an international figure in the field of neurology. He serves as director of the UAB Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Neurology, and is a member of the Alabama Alzheimer’s Task Force, which was established in 2023. He was an inaugural faculty member of UAB’s Brain Aging and Memory Clinic, which specializes in the care of people affected by Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other neurobehavioral conditions. Geldmacher also works extensively with Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (ACA) to raise awareness of the disease in the community.
Since arriving at UAB in 2011, a large part of Geldmacher’s work has centered on preserving the “sense of self” in dementia patients, while upholding their dignity, privacy, and confidentiality. For more than a decade, he has dedicated his efforts to helping shrink the disparity of resources available to neurocognitive disease patients in Alabama.
"I am deeply honored to be selected for the 2024 Brewer-Heslin Award,” Geldmacher said. “The principles reflected by the award, including compassion, professionalism, interdisciplinary partnership, teaching, and leadership, have served as guideposts for me over my career in academic medicine. I am especially pleased that the Heersink School of Medicine demonstrates ongoing recognition of the importance of these qualities among its physicians with this annual award."
Geldmacher is known for encouraging an environment of community and collaboration. This environment is evident in the weekly “learning club,” a group he introduced within the division, inviting both clinical and research members of his team to participate in discussions surrounding their work and advancements in the field.
“The inclusivity that Geldmacher fosters allows each member of the interdisciplinary team to see the value they bring on a personal level and to take ownership in the vital role they play in exceptional care delivery,” said Marissa C. Natelson Love, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, and Catherine G. Brown, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, associate vice president of Advanced Practice Providers. “By fostering an interdisciplinary learning environment, each member of the team can better understand the science of our field and work together to create processes that allow patients access to cutting-edge care.”
In addition to authoring clinical practice articles and giving community lectures, Geldmacher remains involved in the clinical research conducted by his team, continuing to work towards a better future for those with neurobehavioral conditions.