Professor Emerita

Areas of Interest
Spinal Cord Injury, Acute & Long-term Reproductive Health for Women with Disabilities, Spina Bifida – Adult Transition, Transverse Myelitis

Biography

Laura Kezar, M.D. received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Emory University before serving her country as a member of the United States Navy Medical Corps. Following her military service, she completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UAB where she served as Chief Resident.

In 1995, Dr. Kezar joined the PM&R faculty. She consistently demonstrated her passion for medical education, professionalism, and lifelong learning throughout her career, serving as a mentor to students, residents, faculty and other SOM professionals; PM&R Residency Program Director; and Associate Dean for Students in the UAB School of Medicine from 2007 to 2018.

Dr. Kezar received many accolades for her teaching and mentoring, including having an award named in her honor entitled the “Laura B. Kezar Faculty Excellence Award” which is given annually at the discretion of PM&R residents to a faculty member who displays outstanding dedication and commitment to improvement of the UAB PM&R Residency Program.

Dr. Kezar served on many university councils and committees, including the Executive Committee for LCME Accreditation, the UAB SOM Medical Education Committee, UAB Deans Council for Graduate Medical Education, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Admissions committee among many others.

Dr. Kezar was also active in numerous national and international professional societies, including the Association of American Medical Colleges, where she served in multiple leadership positions; the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and the Association of Academic Physiatrists, where she served as on many different subcommittees and ultimately as a member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Kezar’s interests included complex musculoskeletal rehabilitation, pain medicine and academic and vocational support for people with disabilities. She retired from UAB’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation on September 30, 2019, following 23 years of loyal and dedicated service.

Education & Training

M.D., Emory University

Professor Emerita

Areas of Interest
Spinal Cord Injury, Acute & Long-term Reproductive Health for Women with Disabilities, Spina Bifida – Adult Transition, Transverse Myelitis

Biography

Dr. McLain is a tenured Professor and former Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R). She holds the Endowed Kyle Professorship in Rehabilitation Medicine and is a board-certified physiatrist. She is the Director of the UAB Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model System. She has been listed as one of “America’s Top Doctors” by Castle Connolly since 2001.

Dr. McLain is the founder and director of the nation's first reproductive health clinic for women with disabilities. She has served on the NIH Advisory Committee for Health of Women with Disabilities, the United Spinal Association’s national committee, “Women Without Limits”, and was a panel member for the Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine to develop clinical practice guidelines for women with SCI. She served as president of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) and as a member of the ISCOS’s (International SCI Society) scientific committee and council. She has published a number of research studies in peer-reviewed journals and has served as a reviewer for Spinal Cord, Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. A great achievement was her authorship of the chapter “Women with Disabilities” in the well-known obstetric textbook, Obstetric Medicine; Management of Medical Disorders in Pregnancy. 6th ed., edited by Cohen and August, and published by People’s Medical Publishing House, USA. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. McLain worked for two years at Spain Rehabilitation Center in the SOM Division of Urology pursuing research activities involving basic science investigations of urological complications following SCI. She continued her training in the care of individuals with disabilities during her residency in PM&R at UAB, and, since joining the staff as a faculty member in 1988, has made her major focus of clinical research activity the medical management of spinal cord injuries and disorders.

Education & Training

M.D., University of Alabama School of Medicine

Professor Emeritus

Areas of Interest
Psychology, Neuropsychology, Acquired Brain Disorders-Particularly Traumatic Brain Injury

Professor Emeritus

Areas of Interest
Psychology, Spinal Cord Injury, Chronic Pain