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How this lawyer and “rising star” does his part to power UAB’s research enterprise“Collaborate” and “Excel” are two of UAB’s four Shared Values: We CARE. Brad Steele, J.D., grants and contracts officer in the Office of Sponsored Programs, is an example of those values in action. Steele was recently selected for the Future of the Field award from the Society of Research Administrators International. Here is why.3 chosen as UAB VIPs for second-quarter 2024
John Huffstutler, Nancy Parsons and Angel Simmons are the second-quarter 2024 honorees of the UAB Values in Action Program. Nominations for third-quarter 2024 honorees are open through July 11.
11 faculty elevated to Distinguished, University professorshipsThe UA System Board of Trustees awarded the rank of Distinguished Professor to Robert Brunner, Yogesh Dwivedi, Helen Krontiras, Cora Elizabeth Lewis, David M. Morris and Michele H. Nichols and the rank of University Professor to Marie Bakitas, Mirjam-Colette Kempf, Verna Keith, Michael Neiderweis and David Vance during its meeting in April 2024.With an NEH grant, a philosopher expands her investigation of AI and creativityHave AI models made human creativity obsolete? Lindsay Brainard, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy, received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to pursue an inquiry into the future of creativity — and present her work at the World Congress of Philosophy in Rome this August.Geurs named new School of Dentistry deanNicolaas Geurs, D.D.S., M.S., inaugural holder of UAB's Weatherford-Palcanis Endowed Professorship in Dentistry and the Dental Alumni-Joseph F. Volker Chair of Clinical Dentistry, has been selected as the next dean of the UAB School of Dentistry following a national search. He will begin his new role June 1.
Sorrentino appointed as new Faculty Athletics RepresentativeAnnalise Sorrentino, M.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics, will take on the role Oct. 1, 2024. She replaces Frank Messina, Ph.D., professor in the Collat School of Business, who has served as UAB’s FAR since 2008 and is retiring from UAB at the end of September.Whether in nuclear medicine or working with the NCAA, Scott has always been part of the action at UABJohnny W. Scott, M.D., Ph.D., professor of nuclear medicine in the Department of Radiology, graduated from the School of Medicine in 1975 and has been a member of the faculty since 1978. Last month, he was honored for 45 years of service.Commission on the Status of Women honors 5 at 2024 Padma AwardsThe Commission on the Status of Women awarded Jesse Rattan, Ph.D., Mitzi Swift, Grace Jepkemboi Komol, Ph.D., Amanda Watts and Jewell Dickson-Clayton for their commitments to providing significant service to and advancing issues that primarily affect underrepresented populations.
In 50 years at UAB, life kept delivering surprises for DavisRichard O. Davis, M.D., will be honored for 50 years of service to UAB at the annual Service Awards Program Reception on April 10 in the Hill Student Center.UAB Human Resources announces new leadership in Benefits & WellbeingSheryl LeAnn Perkins, DHA, will join Human Resources May 6 from the Arkansas State University System, where she oversaw the system's $10 million self-insured health plan fund.
Andrews never thought she would stay, but 45 years later, here she isDonna Andrews came to UAB to keep a promise to her mother. Working here was just her path to that goal of getting her four-year degree. But two diplomas and countless students and events later, this longtime staffer in the University Honors Program has created a legacy that will outlast her — whenever she retires.More than 1,200 employees to be honored with annual service awardsMore than 300 employees with 20 or more years of service will be honored during a reception April 10. Richard O. Davis, M.D., will be honored for 50 years of service to UAB.After 45 years, Jordan is still chilling (and heating) at UABVictor Jordan, an Instrument and Control Technician in the Energy Management department of UAB Facilities, is one of three employees who will be honored for 45 years of service to UAB on April 10.3 chosen as UAB VIPs for first-quarter 2024Vern Bush, Kevin Davis and Brittany Martin are the first-quarter 2024 honorees of the UAB Values in Action Program. Nominations for second-quarter 2024 honorees are open through April 24.
Tita is 2023-2024 Distinguished Faculty LecturerAlan T.N. Tita, M.D., Ph.D., has led some of the most notable clinical trials in recent years in obstetrics and gynecology. Now he has been selected for the academic medical center’s highest faculty honor.Meet new provost Janet Woodruff-Borden, Ph.D.Woodruff-Borden, who joined UAB as senior vice president of Academic Affairs and provost on Feb. 1, shares how UAB’s bold culture attracted her to Birmingham, outlines her priorities and points to several opportunities for growth.Advancing faculty careers through the UAB Academy of Health Professions EducatorsCarolina Harada, M.D., professor in the Department of Medical Education, received HSF-GEF grants to provide mentorship and recognition for junior faculty clinician educators at all six health professions schools at UAB. Participants have been promoted, published research, taken on leadership roles and won teaching awards.Building immuno-imaging at UAB through specialized technologyAnna Sorace, Ph.D., core director and associate professor in the Department of Radiology, has leveraged HSF-GEF grants to help grow UAB’s nuclear imaging program.Turning a pilot project into the standard of careDaniel Chu, M.D., division director of GI Surgery, leveraged an HSF-GEF grant to help Enhanced Recovery Programs reach widespread use at UAB and establish himself as a leader in the field.Making the leap from one hospital to another through UAB’s STEP ProgramCarlie Stein Somerville, M.D., an associate professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, turned an HSF-GEF grant into a nationally recognized program that provides multidisciplinary support to help young adults transition to adult care. Four years later, “we have been able to show the impact that we can make with patients and families,” she said.
As people with Down syndrome live to late middle age and beyond, new symptoms are appearing. This new clinic is built to help.A partnership between pediatrician Snehal Khatri, M.D., and program director Betsy Hopson will focus on care for patients across the lifespan, including addressing palliative and memory challenges. The unique approach was made possible through an HSF-GEF grant.Building a health system that can learn calls for “team science to the max”Michael Mugavero, M.D., professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, received HSF-GEF funding to launch the UAB Learning Health System project, where the people setting the research questions are not individual investigators with their own niche interests, “but the people in the trenches.”Using geographic information systems in patient-oriented researchGabriela Oates, Ph.D., director of UAB’s institutional Social Determinants of Health Core, is leading a project funded by an HSF-GEF grant to improve care by combining patient records with their residential information. The goal: “to improve patient care and people’s health.”“Find the passion and it is easy to do the rest”: What makes Brigitte Vola go above and beyond.Brigitte Vola, wound, ostomy and continence nurse in Trauma Services, is the 2023 winner of the President’s Award for Excellence in Shared Values.Faculty go to Washington for leadership roles at NSFEugenia Kharlampieva, Ph.D., of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Molly Wasko, Ph.D., of the Collat School of Business, are serving as program directors at the National Science Foundation through a program that brings practicing scientists into the heart of the country’s scientific decision-making.4 chosen as UAB VIPs for fourth-quarter 2023Whitney Covington, Brooke Gleason, Lynne Jarreau and Amanda Sherman are the fourth-quarter 2023 honorees of the UAB Shared Values in Action Program, which honors those whose work exemplifies and embodies Forging the Future’s shared values. Nominations for first-quarter 2024 honorees are open through Jan. 25.This professor’s new startup aims to erase immune memories to stop Crohn’s diseaseCharles Elson, M.D., has developed an “antivaccine” that could remove the faulty memory cells that drive this autoimmune disorder. He launched ImmPrev Bio, Inc., in order to reach a first-in-human clinical trial.Mukhtar channels passion for community service into ‘transferring knowledge to the next generation’Shahid Mukhtar, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology, received the 2023 Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award for his commitment to education, diversity and STEM outreach.Faculty member’s Blazer Bridge Fund project aims to support classroom teachersLori Edmonds, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Education, has an idea to combat teacher burnout as it becomes a major issue in classrooms nationwide.Minnix’s leadership for Blazer Core Curriculum bridges the gap between UAB students and the globeThe dedication to collaborative efforts shown by Chris Minnix, Ph.D., director of the Blazer Core Curriculum, has earned him the 2023 Sam Brown Bridge Builder Award.UAB faculty receive national recognition for policy leadershipThe Alabama Scholars Strategy Network, co-led by associate professors Peggy Biga, Ph.D., and Peter Jones, Ph.D., received the inaugural Outstanding Chapter Award from the national Scholars Strategy Network.Nanorobots, genetic testing, better lasers — a kidney stone pioneer looks to the futureDean Assimos, M.D., professor and emeritus chair of the Department of Urology, just received a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the study of kidney stones. Here is what he sees coming next.Hedberg to join UAB as associate vice president for Research and executive director of Sponsored ProgramsAfter an extensive national search, UAB has named Virginia M. Hedberg as the associate vice president for Research and executive director of Sponsored Programs, effective Jan. 15, 2024.Samant honored for ‘brave leadership’ in support of UAB, shared governanceRitika Samant, a first-year student in the Heersink School of Medicine who served as president of the Undergraduate Student Government Association at UAB in 2022-2023, received the 2023 President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance.12 honored for excellence in teachingTwelve faculty have been selected to receive the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, which honors those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in teaching. The 2023 honorees represent each school, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Honors College, and the Graduate School.
Unlap’s passion for teaching is contagious. His colleagues and students explain why.The creative methods that Professor Tino Unlap, Ph.D., uses to keep students learning have earned him selection for the 2023 Ellen Gregg Ingalls/UAB National Alumni Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching.3 chosen as UAB VIPs for third-quarter 2023Emily Bruer, Amanda Dove and Dina Jones are the third-quarter 2023 honorees of the UAB Shared Values in Action Program, which honors those whose work exemplifies and embodies Forging the Future’s shared values. Nominations for fourth-quarter 2023 honorees are open through Nov. 8.
Dragonflies in the dark: An award-winning mentor shares her steps to successWhat’s the secret to mentoring undergraduates in STEM? Biology Associate Professor Sami Raut, Ph.D., who has mentored nearly 40 students and recently earned a national award from the Council on Undergraduate Research, offers six tips.Chatham named director of UAB Center for Teaching and LearningAmy Chatham, Ph.D., who currently serves as assistant dean for undergraduate education in the School of Public Health, will begin her new role Aug. 18.9 faculty elevated to Distinguished, University professorshipsThe UA System Board of Trustees awarded the rank of Distinguished Professor to Ravi Bhatia, Heith Copes, Craig Elmets, Denise A. Gainey, Jeffrey D. Kerby, Farah D. Lubin, Jean-François Pittet and Martin E. Young and the rank of University Professor to Peter S. Hendricks during its meetings in April and June 2023.