On May 30, 2019, Department of Surgery Professor Samuel Windham III, M.D., received the UAB Medicine Excellence Award– one of the highest honors that a UAB employee can receive. Windham was one of only two physicians selected, out of a total of 14 recipients.

Executive Director and Vice President of Clinical Funding for Legacy of Hope, Christopher Meeks, Division of Acute Care Director Jeffrey Kerby, M.D., Ph.D., as well as Director of the Division of Transplantation Devin Eckhoff, M.D., nominated Windham, highlighting his excellence and values in the categories of Own it, Do Right, Always Care and Work Together.

Kerby wrote, “Dr. Windham’s single-minded focus on patient centered care is truly extraordinary. He has personally invested an enormous amount of time and effort, sacrificing several nights and weekends over his career to the care of the trauma patient and in making sure each donor is offered the best opportunity to maximize the gift of organ donation.”

Windham considers it a true honor to be nominated and win an award recognizing clinical excellence, naming it a highest compliment for his peers to view his performance of clinical duties as being excellent. Windham is especially grateful to have had the opportunity to provide excellent patient care at the Organ Recovery Center, now known as the Legacy of Hope.

“Legacy of Hope was the first organ recovery center attached to a hospital in the nation. To help contribute to the success of Legacy of Hope as well as the mission of transplantation in general was an honor,” says Windham. “The successes we have had is due to the hard work of the entire team, and it has been a pleasure to work everyone.”