Marissa Keppley, MBA, was announced the new Executive Administrator for the UAB Department of Urology, effective Feb. 10, 2025.

Below is a correspondence sent out by department chair, Dr. Thomas Chi. 

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I announce Marissa Keppley, MBA, as the new Executive Administrator for the UAB Department of Urology, effective Feb. 10, 2025. After a national search, which brought together an incredibly strong pool of talented individuals from across the country, we are thrilled to have identified Marissa to help lead our department in this next chapter.

Marissa completed her B.A. in Psychology at Boston University and her MBA at UAB. After several years in administrative, programmatic, and operations work at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by a role in digital marketing for medical education with Oakstone, Marissa brought her talents to UAB in 2015.

Over the last decade at UAB, she has served as a Physician Marketing Manager for the Office of Marketing and Communications, then as the Communications Director for the departments of Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, and Neurosurgery. In these roles, she increased departmental reputational footprints, leveraging Google optimization and brokering partnerships with outward facing organizations including the Birmingham Bulls and Birmingham Rugby.

She was recruited to the Department of Surgery as Administrative Director in 2022 and served as the Interim Executive Administrator for Surgery during her tenure there. In her role, she spearheaded efforts across their missions of clinical care, teaching, and research. This included faculty recruitment and retention efforts, crafting and implementing faculty compensation plans, supporting lab transitions, acquisition of clinic and space resources, and enhancing communication across the department. She is a steadfast advocate for team members and believes in the power of human connection.

With more than two decades of experience in communications, administration, and operations, Marissa is a diligent professional who demonstrates strong leadership qualities and collaborative skills to guide cross-functional teams for improved efficiency. Her organizational skills and communications-driven mindset will be an asset to the Department of Urology, and I have the utmost confidence that Marissa will help fulfill our research, educational, and service missions aligning with both our department and Heersink School of Medicine as a whole.

Please join me in welcoming Marissa Keppley as our new Executive Administrator!

Sincerely,

Thomas Chi, M.D.
Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Urology