Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, UAB Department of Otolaryngology
John S. Odess Endowed ChairIt is my honor to serve as chair of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology within the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. This is a new transition for me as I recently relocated from Vanderbilt where I served as faculty for more than 12 years. This role marks an exciting new chapter in my professional journey, and I am privileged to join a community renowned for its excellence in health care, education, and research. It is with immense pride and gratitude that I now call UAB and Birmingham home. I am eager to collaborate with our world-class faculty as we continue to advance the department’s mission and make meaningful contributions to the field of otolaryngology. I am confident we will achieve great things and uphold the tradition of excellence that defines UAB.
Otolaryngology Care and Education
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has a rich history at UAB that dates back more than 40 years. After attaining department status less than 10 years ago the department has quickly gained national recognition for high-quality patient care, innovative education, and research excellence. It is now consistently ranked as a top program by U.S. News and World Report. Physicians and advanced practice providers in the department perform 4,000 surgical procedures and care for more than 31,000 patients annually.
As the only accredited residency program for otolaryngology in the state of Alabama, the department also prepares future leaders in the field. Through their rotations in head and neck oncology, general otolaryngology, otology, laryngology, endocrine, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and Children's of Alabama, residents amass an impressive amount of operative experience as they develop into fully independent clinicians. Our residents engage in level-appropriate research each year in addition to a dedicated 3-month research rotation during their third year. We also offer clinical and research experiences to medical students and advanced clinical training opportunities through fellowships in Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery, Laryngology, and Clinical Speech Language Pathology.
Advancing Patient Care
Additionally, we strive to make an impact through discoveries that improve patient care. Focal areas of funded research within the department include head and neck cancer, rhinology/cystic fibrosis, and inflammatory airway disease, with laboratories receiving more than $2 million in research funding per year from the National Institutes of Health and other sources. We continue to invest heavily in research through strategic infrastructure development and recruitment of promising new investigators.
Committed to Excellence
It is an honor to join this esteemed institution and lead a department that is dedicated to excellence in patient care, innovative research, and cutting-edge education. In the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive care across all aspects of our specialty. Our department has a rich history and a strong tradition of excellence, and our continuous pursuit of improvement and innovation is what sets us apart. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in otolaryngology, collaborating to discover new clinical approaches, and striving to bring the best and brightest faculty, trainees, and staff into our team.