Dear Colleagues,

They say there is nothing permanent in life except change, and such has resonated with me and my family over these past months. Accepting a position as chair of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology—an established department with an esteemed reputation—has brought welcomed change to our lives, as we embark on new endeavors both professionally and personally.

My wife, three children, and I recently relocated from Nashville to Birmingham. As a native Texan who previously called Virginia, South Carolina, and Tennessee home, I’m not new to the South, but Birmingham is a whole new city to familiarize ourselves with. Questions like, “Where will we buy groceries?” and “Where will we get our hair cut?” are not ones you necessarily think about until you’re in a new place—as you’ve become so accustomed to knowing those answers readily. 

As I started at UAB on May 31, 2024, similar inquiries arose—learning where the bathroom and cafeteria are in the hospital, for one, had me feeling like a new intern again. But while getting my bearings at UAB over these past few weeks, I can’t express enough how accommodating and inviting our faculty and staff in the department (and beyond) have been in helping me navigate these new waters. My wife, too, has joined the UAB family as an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, and I know she shares my sentiments on the warm welcome she’s received.

When I entered the field of medicine, I did not know that otolaryngology would be my eventual path. Starting in internal medicine, I rotated through otolaryngology as a subspecialty, and it was this hands-on experience that changed my direction. I loved the diversity of the patient population and, therefore, the range of opportunities that afforded me to put results-yielding solutions into practice.   

At UAB, those same appealing qualities ring true, not to mention the opportunity to lead a department that is widely recognized for its exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and world-class education for medical professionals. 

With an already prosperous foundation to build upon, I look forward to continuing the department’s momentum of growth that is already in motion. New facilities like our recently renovated lab space in the McCallum building will help attract strong investigators to add to our team in an effort to expand our research enterprise and recruit clinical and basic scientists in the field. Continuing to expand clinical care and our clinical footprint while making it more convenient and accessible to patients is another motivating factor for me going forward.  

Looking back over these first 30 days as chair of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, I’m thrilled to continue to learn more about all of you—your efforts, goals, triumphs, and needs—and how we can collaborate to heighten our quality of patient care and make impactful contributions to the field. As my family and I traverse all the nuances of a life relocation, I’m confident in my outlook for what’s to come—and how we can grow together. 

Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Otolaryngology