From its recent accolade as one of the nation's top culinary destinations to its stunning Appalachian foothills views, Birmingham has earned a reputation as a destination ideal for both work and play.
The UAB Department of Surgery series, “Loving Life and Work in Birmingham, Alabama,” highlights faculty members who have moved to Birmingham to join our team of surgeons and what they love about the area.
Our third faculty spotlight is Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor and Associate Vice Chair for Global Surgery, Lily Gutnik, M.D.
About Dr. Gutnik
Dr. Gutnik graduated from the Medical School for International Health—a collaboration between Ben Gurion University in Israel and Columbia University in New York. She also obtained her Master’s in Public Health from Harvard University.
She completed a research fellowship at the Center for Surgery and Public Health at Harvard University/Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. Gutnik’s research passions focus on the impact of breast cancer screening and early detection in low-resource settings.
Dr. Gutnik previously served as a Fulbright and Fogarty Fellow in Lilongwe, Malawi where she established and evaluated the efficacy of Malawi’s first breast cancer screening initiative.
Q & A
1. Why did you decide to join the faculty at UAB?
UAB is very progressive and forward thinking. The Department of Surgery has a great chair who encourages and supports the individual successes of faculty in whatever shape or form that is best suited for their specific journey in surgery. For me having interests in the niche of global surgery and global oncology, I really needed to be in a supportive department that really understands and supports that.
2. Once you arrived, were there any aspects of being in Alabama that pleasantly surprised you?
I always describe Birmingham as a hidden gem to all my friends. It’s a very high quality of life and easy living. I was able to buy my dream loft and I love that I can walk everywhere. Birmingham is also centrally located so it’s only two hours to Atlanta and three hours to Nashville, four to the beach, and five to New Orleans. It makes for tons of weekend trips that are really easy.
3. What’s your favorite thing to do outside of the OR in Birmingham?
Eat!
4. Birmingham is known for its culinary scene. What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?
My top three favorite restaurants in Birmingham are Automatic, Hot & Hot, and Pizza Grace.
Stay tuned for more installments of the Surgery Faculty Relocation Interview Series!
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