Professor Emeritus Marshall Urist, M.D., Division of Surgical Oncology Professor Kirby Bland, M.D., and Professor John Porterfield, M.D., are featured in the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB magazine, honoring the Cancer Center’s 50th anniversary.

All three faculty have contributed to the center over the years, supporting as advisors, clinicians, and researchers.

Urist was head of the UAB Section of Surgical Oncology, now the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, from 1985 to 2007 and sat down with the magazine to share about the evolution of cancer care. During the early days of the center, Urist noted that patients, families, and doctors would not use word “cancer” because it would cause the patient to give up.  

Urist stated that the evolution and growth in anesthesia gave people hope again. As the center worked to improve cancer care, cancer became less stigmatized. Urist notes that over the years treatment options improved as well as overall outcomes for patients across the nation, thanks to the research and clinical dedication of the center.

Bland dedicated his career to cancer research and advancements. He served chair of the UAB Department of Surgery from 1999 to 2015. He was also named the deputy director of the center for 10 years and currently serves as a senior advisor. A renowned breast oncology surgeon, Bland has worked alongside the center in improving treatment options for those with breast cancer.

Porterfield was featured in the clinical updates section on robotic surgery. During his 14 years at UAB, Porterfield has supported every area across UAB that utilizes surgical robots. Porterfield has helped integrate robotic surgery training within the curriculum for general surgery residents. 

Porterfield’s use of surgical robots led to the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB being of one the first medical centers in Alabama and one of the first in the United States to offer the da Vinci Robotic surgery as a treatment for head, neck, and bladder cancer. 

Other faculty across the UAB Department of Surgery have long supported the mission of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, with several faculty and staff members holding significant roles at the cancer center. 

• Herbert Chen, M.D., senior advisor, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB
• James Bibb, Ph.D., senior scientist
• Lily Gutnik, M.D., associate scientist
• Kristy Broman, M.D., assistant associate director for quality, O'Neal Cancer Service Line
• Drew Gunnells, M.D., director, O’Neal Cancer Colorectal Cancer Service Line
• Helen Krontiras, M.D., director of Clinical Affairs, O’Neal Cancer Service Line
• Catherine Parker, M.D., associate scientist 
• Bin Ren, M.D., Ph.D., FAHA, associate scientist
• Catherine Parker, M.D., associate scientist
• James Donahue, M.D., James H. Estes Family Endowed Chair for Lung Cancer Research
• Gregory Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D., cancer network director, O’Neal Cancer Service Line
• Sushanth Reddy, M.D., associate scientist