MIcheal Wells, M.D., Amit Gaggar ,M.D., Ph.D., and Gabriella Oates, Ph.D.

The UAB Lung Health Center has appointed three new pulmonary leaders to advance the treatment and study of lung health: Mike Wells, Amit Gaggar, and Gabriela Oates.

Mike Wells, M.D. (Associate Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) will assume the role of Medical Director, overseeing operations and clinical research. Wells is a distinguished pulmonologist with expertise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Amit Gaggar, M.D., Ph.D., (Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) will serve as Scientific Director, leveraging his extensive experience directing programs in protease and matrix biology, pulmonary biology, and two medical startups in this position.

Gabriela Oates, Ph.D., (Associate Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) will expand community outreach initiatives and research focused on social determinants of health, health disparities, and patient-centered outcomes as Director of Population Health Sciences.

The new leadership triad will build on the innovative work of Drs. Mark Dransfield and Ed Blalock who led the Center for nearly 15 years as medical and scientific director respectively. Under their leadership, the Center grew from three extramurally funded investigators to over 20, and its research portfolio grew from less than $5 million to more than $20 million in extramural funding.

Founded by Emeritus Professor William Bailey in 1986, the UAB Lung Health Center pursues key program areas spanning interstitial lung disease, critical care, lung transplantation, thoracic oncology, pneumonia, asthma, and COPD.