UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated ten distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the LEading, Advancing, Developing (LEAD) at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23. Facilitated by Kellie Carter, Ph.D., senior leadership development specialist, this cohort demonstrated a culture of growing leadership skills and advancing academic impact in the UAB community.
The LEAD Program is a mid-level faculty development initiative specifically designed for associate professors. The goal is to build leadership capability, strengthen faculty retention, and promote long-term success. Offered in both the fall and spring semesters, the program equips participants with the knowledge, tools, and network needed to thrive as leaders within UAB and beyond.
This fall, 10 accomplished faculty members completed the LEAD program:
- Joel Evans, D.O. – Assistant Professor, Emergency Services
- Jeremy Foote, DVM, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Microbiology
- Thom (James) Houston, M.D. – Associate Professor, Neurology
- Adam Kole, M.D., Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology
- Rui Lu, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Medicine (Hematology/Oncology)
- Tatiana Marquez-Lago, Ph.D., – Associate Professor, Genetics
- Salman Rashid, M.D., MBA, – Associate Professor, Pediatrics; Divisional QI Director, Pediatric Neurology
- Nicole Riddle, Ph.D. – Professor, Biology
- Colm Travers, M.D., – Associate Professor, Pediatrics
- Stefanie Woodard, D.O. – Associate Professor and Section Chief, Breast Imaging Section, Radiology
Each graduate of Cohort 7 demonstrated exceptional skills in professional growth, collaboration, and advancing the university’s mission of excellence in teaching, research, and service.
“The LEAD program was very beneficial to me personally to help bolster my communication skills and foster a network of individuals throughout the UAB enterprise,” said Joel Evans, D.O., “I liked the open-ended discussions with people at similar points in their careers but often vastly different fields and backgrounds. I will absolutely take the lessons learned into both my work environment and my personal life. I would highly recommend this course.”
Congratulations to the fall 2025 LEAD graduates for their enthusiasm for leadership at UAB.