The UAB Department of Surgery has been honored to welcome several new faculty members this fall: Annabelle Fonseca, M.D., MHS, Captain Benjamin Hazen, M.D., Laura Stafman, M.D., Ph.D., Captain Kyle Stigall, M.D., and Captain Ryan Wan, D.O.

Annabelle Fonseca, M.D., MHS

Dr. Annabelle Fonseca joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery as an associate professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in October 2023. Dr. Fonseca is dual board-certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology and her clinical focus is in hepatopancreatobiliary and other foregut malignancies.

Dr. Fonseca is a surgeon-scientist with a combined clinical and research appointment. She is a member of the UAB Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, where she conducts health services research, with a focus on improving the quality and delivery of high-quality complex oncologic care for foregut cancers across the cancer care continuum. Dr. Fonseca’s research is supported by NIH funding.

Captain Benjamin Hazen, M.D.

Dr. Benjamin Hazen is an active duty Air Force trauma surgeon with the Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) based out of UAB. In 2023, he became a clinical assistant professor with the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Hazen came to UAB from Emory University School of Medicine, where he completed his general surgery residency. He earned his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University.
Hazen’s research interests include hemorrhage control and the use of whole blood.

Laura Stafman, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Laura Stafman joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Surgery in October 2023.

She graduated from medical school at the University of Florida and subsequently obtained her Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) under the mentorship of Dr. Elizabeth Beierle. She also completed a general surgery internship and residency at UAB and a pediatric surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University. Stafman is general surgery board-certified.

Captain Kyle Stigall, M.D.

Dr. Kyle Stigall is an active duty Air Force trauma surgeon with the Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) based out of UAB. In 2023, he became a clinical assistant professor with the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Stigall came to UAB from the Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Surgery, where he completed his general surgery residency. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Stigall was also recently a teaching fellow for the Uniformed Service University Department of Surgery and a research resident with the Naval Medical Research Unit.

Stigall’s research interests include hemorrhage control and resuscitation.

Captain Ryan Wan, D.O

Dr. Ryan Wan is an active duty Air Force trauma surgeon with the Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST) based out of UAB. In 2023, he became a clinical assistant professor with the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Before coming to UAB, Wan was an assistant professor of surgery at Uniformed Services University. He also served as a surgeon for SOST and was the trauma czar/ director of deployment for his region.

Wan completed his general surgery residency at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and earned his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Wan’s research interests include pediatric trauma and resident and medical student education.