Khurram Bashir, M.D., Distinguished Professor, director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, and vice chair for education, has been named the First Holder of the Burton Multiple Sclerosis Endowed Research Professorship in Neurology.
"It is a profound honor to be named the Burton MS Endowed Research Professor at UAB," Bashir said. "This recognition is not a testament to my work but to the collective effort and unwavering support of my colleagues, mentors at UAB, and of loved ones. I am very thankful to the Burton family for their generous gift establishing this endowed chair. This honor fuels my commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of MS."
Bashir, a native of Pakistan, received his bachelor's degree in anatomy and physiology from the University of the Punjab in 1988, followed by his medical degree from the King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan in 1990. He completed his internship and post-graduate residency training in combined internal medicine and neurology at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois in 1997, where he served as chief resident.
He then joined UAB in 1997 as an instructor and fellow of neurology, completing his training in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis under the late John N. Whitaker, M.D.He received his MPH in epidemiology from the UAB School of Public Health and was promoted to assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurology in 2000, being promoted ultimately to his current Distinguished Professor role.
Bashir is currently co-director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center at UAB, an ambassador for UAB University Hospital, a member of the Quality Council, a member of Physician Operations Leadership Council, a member of Theme Task Force: I-4ward, chair of the Health Information management committee, Medical Director for Graduate Medical Education, a Quality Medical Officer and director of the Neurology Residency Training program, among other titles.
The endowed professorship is named in honor of Rob Burton, CEO of Hoar Construction, who serves the community through work with the MS Society, among other groups such as the Birmingham Business Alliance, Lakeshore Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, and more. His goal for establishing the endowment was for it to be used "to support a clinical researcher and enhance and support the mission and goals of the school for the ultimate benefit of UAB, the Birmingham community, the state of Alabama, and all communities where the school's reach may benefit individuals affected by multiple sclerosis," according to the UAB Board of Trustees resolution.
Burton began working for Hoar Construction at age 13, when his father was president of the company. He was named president of Hoar Construction in 1996 and CEO in 2001. In 2024, Burton was inducted into the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.
Burton serves on the Community Advisory Board for the UAB Multiple Sclerosis Center, which serves as a central hub for all MS-related activities and is a comprehensive resource for patients, UAB physicians and scientists, and community physicians.