It was a bittersweet gathering as the Department came together on June 26 to celebrate the contributions of Robin Lorenz, M.D., Ph.D.,to the Department and the University. Lorenz was Professor, Department of Pathology and Medical Education; Associate Dean for Physician Scientist Development; Director, UAB Medical Scientist (MD-PhD) Training Program; Director, UAB Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP), and many other key roles. She has accepted a position as lead pathologist with Genentech.
Lorenz recently took a position with Genentech as senior director of pathology. At UAB, she held secondary faculty appointments in the UAB departments of Medical Education and Microbiology, and was a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Comprehensive Diabetes Center, and the Comprehensive Arthritis, MSK, Bone & Autoimmunity Center.
Lorenz joined UAB in 2002 as Associate Professor of Pathology. In 2006 she took over the UAB Medical Scientist (MD-PhD) Training Program (MSTP). In 2015 Lorenz helped establish the UAB Physician Science Development office in 2015, for which she served as Associate Dean.
Dr. Robin Lorenz
Lorenz was recently featured on an extended podcast by MagicCity Medcast, a series produced by UAB School of Medicine medical students. In it, she describes how she grew up on a cattle farm outside of tiny O'Keene, Oklahoma, also known as the "rattlesnake capital of the world," says, "I think one of the things that has made me successful in science to this day is the work ethic that really gets instilled in you in growing up on a farm." She originally thought she wanted to be a veterinarian. Lorenz says she got interested in science because of her father, who had a career running hospital labs, and first taught her how to pipette and pour plates. She was also influenced by her science fair teacher in high school, Mr. Dennis Taylor, who introduced her to "the wonder of science."
Lorenz applied for and was accepted to Stanford University, and paid her way through by working in a lab as a work study student. There she met her future husband, an M.D., Ph.D. student, and introduced her to "life as a physician scientist." She spent time abroad working in a hospital in London where she enjoyed a slower pace of research, with increased time to step away from the bench and consider the results of her experiments, she says.
Lorenz quickly learned that her passion was helping others find work they love in the sciences. To hear the entire interview and her story, click here.
Lorenz joined UAB in 2002 as Associate Professor of Pathology. In 2006 she took over the UAB Medical Scientist (MD-PhD) Training Program (MSTP). In 2015 Lorenz helped establish the UAB Physician Science Development office in 2015, at which she served as Associate Dean.
On June 26, 2018, the Department of Pathology hosted a farewell reception to fete Lorenz's successful career at UAB and the meaningful impact she has had on so many student's lives as director of the MSTP program. Dean Selwyn Vickers, M.D., UAB School of Medicine, spoke on her behalf, along with several colleagues and Department Chair Dr. George Netto. Many of Lorenz's former and current students were on hand to celebrate and send her off.
