Effective Jan. 1, 2024, J. Michael Straughn Jr., M.D., will begin a three-year term as chief of the medical staff (COMS) for UAB Medicine.

As chief of the medical staff-elect for the past year, he worked closely with current COMS Elizabeth Turnipseed, M.D., MSPH, to expand his understanding of this leadership role, become a strong voice for the medical staff, and promote more effective communication between the medical staff and hospital administration. Dr. Straughn says he will spend his first 90 days in the new position meeting with clinical staff and leadership to learn how he can help support them and develop goals for his advocacy role.

Dr. Straughn is a professor and the J. Max Austin Jr. Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He also serves as vice-chair of Quality and Patient Safety for the department. Dr. Straughn is a senior scientist for the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB and a department value officer for UAB Women and Infants Services. Dr. Straughn’s research interests include surgical outcomes, quality improvement, enhanced recovery protocols, and opioid stewardship. In June 2023, he stepped down as the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship director, a position he held for 14 years.

Dr. Straughn has been an active member of the medical staff and the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty since 2000. Before joining the department, he completed his OB/GYN residency and a Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at UAB.