The department is pleased to congratulate Associate Professor Jayleen Grams, M.D., on her promotion Associate Chief of Staff for Surgical Services at the Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (BVAMC).

Grams joined UAB faculty in 2009. A native of Minnesota, she completed her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology and her M.D. in 2003 at UAB. She returned to Minnesota to complete a general surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, followed by a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, N.Y.

In the 12 years that Grams has been on faculty with the department, she has maintained a clinical practice focus on foregut and bariatric surgery. She is also involved in an active research program as a surgeon scientist and the education of medical students, surgery residents, and minimally invasive surgery fellows.

In addition to her new role, Grams will continue to hold the position of director of minimally invasive surgery and grow her clinical practice.

Grams is pleased to support the VA in a more robust role.

“I look forward to supporting the VA even further in serving our veterans by pursuing excellent patient experience and outcomes,” said Grams. “It is an honor to apply my leadership, clinical experience, and research to this role.”