University of Alabama at Birmingham Fay Fletcher Kerner Chair Emeritus of the Department of Surgery Kirby I. Bland, M.D., FACS, MAMSE, and Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UAB William Holman, M.D., have been awarded professor emeritus status.
Dr. Kirby I. Bland’s Career
From pioneering research to national leadership impacts, Dr. Kirby Bland has dedicated his career to the advancement of the field of surgical oncology in the pursuit of a cure for breast cancer.
Bland's longstanding career as a surgeon-scientist included service as a distinguished faculty scholar of the UAB School of Medicine, surgeon-in-chief emeritus of UAB Hospitals and Clinics, and senior advisor to the director of O'Neal-UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.
In addition to his outstanding legacy of leadership at UAB, Bland also served as editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Surgery for over 16 years. Throughout his career, Bland has authored or co-authored over 600 journal publications and author/editor of 44 textbooks, including The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases, which is now in its sixth edition.
Bland has also cemented a legacy of educational mentorship through both board memberships to shape medical and surgical curricula, in addition to countless accolades including the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Faculty Lecturer Award, which is the university’s highest level of distinction.
Dr. William Holman’s Career
Dr. William Holman joined the UAB Surgery faculty in 1988. Upon his arrival, Holman pioneered the ventricular assist device program and, throughout his career, served as the principal investigator for several FDA Investigational New Device trials for similar devices.
In his tenure as a surgeon-scientist, Holman served as chief of surgical services of the Birmingham VA Medical Center – helping advance the medical facility from a 1B ranking to a 1A ranking in seven years of leadership.
Holman was a dedicated educator and mentor. In his career, he trained five NIH-funded researchers and countless cardiothoracic surgery trainees.
He has served as the chair of the American Heart Association (AHA) Surgery Study Section and was appointed to the editorial board for the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
"We are grateful for the innumerable contributions made by both Dr. Bland and Dr. Holman to the field of surgery. Their influence will have a resounding impact for many years to come,” says Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair of Surgery Herbert Chen, M.D., FACS.
The appointments for Bland and Holman were finalized by the UAB Board of Trustees on April 14, 2023.