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Marisa Marques, M.D., a professor emeritus in the Division of Laboratory Medicine, retired from the department on July 31, 2023, after 30 years of service. A devoted educator and mentor, Marques instructed courses ranging from coagulation to dental clinical pathology and served in several mentorship roles within the UAB Graduate School, Heersink School of Medicine, and Minority Medical Education Program. During her time at UAB, she held many leadership roles. She served as director of the Transfusion Medicine Blood Bank Fellowship, associate director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine, and as section head of Transfusion Medicine, among others. Marques received numerous awards, such as the Heersink Dean’s Excellence Award in Teaching, the Excellence in Resident Education in Clinical Pathology Award, and the Excellence in Mentorship Award from the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). In 2022, Marques was awarded the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Francis S. Morrison, M.D. Memorial Lecture Award.
Heather Watts, M.A., communications manager in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics, has received the 2025 Senior Communicator of the Year Award from the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Excellence in Communications Awards.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome Rich Lee, MHA, as its new executive administrator.
Words have power. That is why MS4 Anna Ulrey, a student in the Department of Family and Community Medicine's Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE) program, has used her research project, “Safe Words in Lifestyle Medicine,” to explore how language can transform patient care and meaningful primary care research can shape clinical practice.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation honored its 2026 graduates during a ceremony on June 24 at the UAB Alumni House. The event recognized four residents and one fellow as they completed their training and prepared to begin the next chapter of their careers.
Emily Gantz, D.O., associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been named associate program director for the UAB Child Neurology Residency Program.
Glenn C. Rowe, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine Division of Cardiovascular Disease. The Rowe Lab focuses on understanding the molecular pathways that influence mitochondrial metabolism in response to diet and exercise, to improve mitochondrial function and reduce the harmful effects of the metabolic syndrome.
The Department of Microbiology is pleased to welcome a new cohort of Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) students who have joined the Microbiology and Immunology themes. These trainees represent the next generation of scientists, preparing to advance our understanding of microbes, host defense, and human health.
As part of their training, each PGY4 resident conducted a research study during their second to fourth years of residency. They shared their research during PM&R Grand Rounds.
The Department of Urology hosted its 2026 Annual Resident Research Symposium on June 10, 2026, bringing together faculty, trainees, and staff for an afternoon of scholarly presentations and discussion.
The Department of Pathology is home to the Pathology Learning Resource, a web-based educational portal developed by the Division of Genomic Diagnostics and Bioinformatics. This platform houses an expanding collection of high-quality educational videos designed to support training and professional development in modern pathology practice. While the platform itself is available for UAB faculty, staff, and trainees, its videos have recently been shared to YouTube for public access.
Members of the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology were honored Thursday, June 11, at the 2026 Graduation and Education Awards. The annual event served to recognize exemplary residents, faculty, and fellows in the department for the 2025-2026 academic year.
On June 6, 2026, Heersink School of Medicine’s Equal Access Birmingham (EAB) hosted its third annual EAB on the Green golf tournament. Golfers of all levels gathered at Highland Park Golf Course for a day of games, prizes, and fundraising for an impactful cornerstone in the Birmingham community.
Douglas Anderson, M.D., M.S., associate professor in the UAB Division of Transplantation, has been appointed to the Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee of the Society of University Surgeons (SUS).
Carrie Atcheson, M.D., MPH, FASA, was recently elected to two prominent statewide bodies: the Board of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA) and the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) as censor-at-large.
The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine proudly celebrated its graduating class during a memorable ceremony on May 29, recognizing excellence in clinical care, education, leadership, and service.
The Department of Microbiology recently bid farewell to a respected colleague and friend who has served the department steadfastly in multiple capacities for more than a decade. Julie Decker, program manager III in the Department of Microbiology, retired on June 1 after 13 years with the Department of Microbiology and more than 25 years with UAB at large.
For the International Medical Education (IME) office at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, 2025 marked a defining year. What began as a collection of global programs has matured into an office-led effort that strengthens the school while building international partnerships and creating meaningful value across UAB.
Faris Zaibaq, a student in the M.D.-Ph.D. program at Heersink School of Medicine, has focused his extracurricular work on how city design shapes daily life in Birmingham. Together with his collaborators, he helped launch Better Birmingham, a community initiative focused on improving access across the city, particularly in transportation and housing.
The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences hosted its 27th Annual Research Symposium on Friday, June 12, at the UAB Altec/Styslinger Genomic and Data Sciences Building, bringing together leading voices in vision science for a full day of education, discussion, and innovation.
Martha Tankersley, associate vice president of the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute, has been named a recipient of the second quarter 2026 UAB Values in Action Program (VIP) Award, one of the university’s highest employee recognitions honoring individuals who exemplify UAB’s shared values of collaboration, integrity, respect, and excellence.
Kelly Chapman, BSN, RN, CWOCN, a certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse in the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery and the team-lead and supervisor of the UAB inpatient wound care team, was named the inaugural Certified Nurse of the Year by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB).
John Choi, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Division of Laboratory Medicine and director of the Flow Cytometry Laboratory, is retiring from the Department of Pathology, effective June 30, 2026.
At UAB, a dedicated Granulomatous Mastitis Clinic is providing new hope for patients navigating the complex and often frustrating diagnosis of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis.
The UAB Department of Pathology is pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated Head and Neck Pathology Fellowship Program within its Surgical Pathology Fellowship Program. The fellowship will welcome its inaugural fellow in July 2026 and represents an exciting expansion of subspecialty pathology training opportunities at UAB.
Maria Grant, M.D., professor and Eivor and Alston Callahan, M.D., Endowed Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has been awarded a four-year, $2.67 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to continue research combining her dual expertise in endocrinology and ophthalmology.
The UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center and Diabetes Research Center members showcased their latest scientific findings at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 86th Scientific Sessions, June 5-8, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
When founders took the stage at the gBETA Prosper HealthTech Showcase in June, they weren't simply pitching ideas. They were presenting solutions forged through weeks of rigorous mentorship, customer discovery, commercialization planning, and entrepreneurial training.
Members of the UAB Department of Pathology gathered for an outgoing reception for residents and fellows on June 5. Faculty, staff, and trainees came together to celebrate at the Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center with dinner and an awards ceremony.
UAB Department of Pediatrics Professor Ambika Ashraf, M.D., has co-edited a comprehensive textbook highlighting the latest research findings and clinical guidance for managing diabetes in children and adolescents.