The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome Tania K. Arora, M.D., FACS, FSSO, as vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion, and announce Saulat Sajjad Sheikh, M.B.B.S., as associate vice chair.

Selected after an intensive nationwide search, Arora, a board-certified surgical oncologist, has focused her clinical and research practice on quality improvement in healthcare education, in addition to diversity and inclusion in surgery. She has also previously served as assistant dean for belonging and inclusivity at Augusta University.

Sheikh joined the UAB Department of Surgery in 2020 as one of the first female transplant surgeons from Pakistan and has since served as an assistant professor in the Division of Transplantation.

"Both Dr. Arora and Dr. Sheikh exemplify the characteristics of inclusivity and empathy that will propel the momentum of our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts," says Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair of Surgery Herbert Chen, M.D. "Our foremost goal is to ensure enacted change that makes UAB Surgery a better place to work, learn, and receive treatment, and I am certain that our DEI leadership will make our department and hospital a better place."

About the UAB Department of Surgery's DEI Initiatives

As part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, the UAB Department of Surgery believes that a diverse community of faculty and learners is essential to fulfilling our mission and vision. Including individuals with diverse perspectives and experience enriches the educational experience for all learners, allows us to more effectively address health care inequities and improves the quality of our scholarship and clinical care.