Gena Dunivan, M.D., FACOG, FACS, recently joined the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) as vice chair of Mentorship and Faculty Development and division director of the Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
The role of vice chair of Mentorship and Faculty Development is new to the Department of OB/GYN and will be key to both the professional development and leadership development of our faculty.
“This vice chair role is central to my strategic mission for the Department and women’s health at UAB Medicine,” says Warner Huh, M.D., FACOG, FACS, professor and chair of the UAB Department of OB/GYN. “Going forward, it’s important that we have a structured mechanism to provide meaningful mentorship and professional growth. It’s critical for the future of the Department and building upon the considerable successes of the past.”
Dunivan’s passion for educating and mentoring future physicians aligns perfectly with both the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and Department of OB/GYN’s commitment to faculty support and growth. Prior to joining UAB, Dunivan served as associate dean of Graduate Medical Education (GME) at the University of New Mexico.
“In my role as associate dean of GME, I recognized that providers work extremely hard to become physicians but are often not fully aware of available resources and opportunities in other areas that are important in medical practice, such as quality and safety, wellness, or how to be an effective clinical educator,” says Dunivan. “I wanted to help develop a system to make it easier for providers to explore faculty development options; allow them to be the experts in their scope of practice, and bring other experts to them for areas of interest outside of their particular field.”
In conjunction with faculty development, Dunivan will oversee the implementation of mentorship plans. These plans will be internal and external based on faculty members’ interests.
“At this time in particular, as the Office of Faculty Affairs joins with all Heersink School of Medicine departments to work toward development of a more intentional Faculty Mentoring Program, we are excited to welcome Dr. Dunivan to our team,” says Anupam Agarwal, M.D., executive vice dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “Her expertise in mentoring will be a valuable asset not only to her department, but also to our institution as she adds her efforts to ours, along with a new perspective. The addition of this new role in the Department of OB/GYN shows a strong commitment to faculty growth and development, and could not be more timely.”
While developing mentorship plans and strategies for the department and overseeing faculty growth, Dunivan also serves an important role as a female physician leader.
“I cannot overstate the importance of developing structure and strategy to develop the next generation of leaders – particularly women,” says Huh. “I know Dr. Dunivan will play a pivotal role in this, and I am excited about the impact this will have.”
Dunivan looks forward to assisting faculty with their professional development and supporting them through mentorship and engagement opportunities, while serving as a female physician leader for the Department within the Heersink School of Medicine.
“I am honored to be serving in this role,” says Dunivan. “Mentorship is crucial to providing the structure and support to help physicians not only succeed but really flourish in their careers. I am looking forward to helping to create and formalize a mentorship process that can benefit all involved.”
After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology, Dunivan attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine where she received her M.D. degree. Following medical school, Dunivan completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, San Diego, and then completed her fellowship in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She joins UAB from UNM where she was an associate professor in the UNM Division of Urogynecology and fellowship director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, in addition to her role as associate dean of GME.