The UAB Artificial Intelligence Strategic Initiative, launched in May 2026, is entering its next phase with the rollout of the AI Integration Hub website, and the naming of faculty and staff to lead the initiative’s AI Pillars and AI Literacy Taskforce.
“Artificial intelligence is one of the defining opportunities before higher education, health care and research, and UAB has a responsibility to approach it thoughtfully,” said President Ray Watts, M.D. “Our goal is to ensure these tools are used responsibly and in ways that advance UAB’s mission to educate, discover, deliver care and serve.”
“These efforts reflect UAB’s continued move from early AI exploration toward a more coordinated and mission-aligned approach across education, research, clinical care and administrative operations,” said Chandni Khadka, executive director of Strategic Initiatives and AI Integration in the Office of the President, who convenes the UAB AI Leadership Team.
As the leadership team reiterated in its meeting on June 29, 2026, UAB is taking a practical, risk-aware approach to AI that supports innovation while applying appropriate guardrails.
AI Integration Hub site
The AI Integration Hub is designed to help faculty, staff, researchers, clinicians and students find guidance, connect to approved AI tools, advance AI projects and navigate AI-related resources at UAB. The site includes:
- an interactive AI Finder tool with clear next steps on where to submit ideas, request approval to self-build tools, request a custom-built AI solution and more;
- lists of all approved AI tools;
- responsible AI guidance and policies; and
- available UAB AI resources, including FAQs, training and learning opportunities.
AI Pillars and Pillar Leads
The AI Strategic Initiative designates four focus areas, known as AI Pillars, where AI tools have the potential to advance UAB’s mission: Teaching and Learning, Research, Clinical and Administrative Functions. The goal is to make AI work at UAB more visible, aligned and supported without creating unnecessary layers of process.
The AI Leadership Team has appointed Pillar Leads to guide this work, build on existing efforts wherever possible, identify practical next steps and support better coordination across related efforts from schools, units and enterprise partners.
Teaching and Learning
- Amy Chatham, Ph.D., Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
- Meagan Malone, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of English
- Scott Phillips, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Innovative Teaching and Academic Engagement
Research
- James Cimino, M.D., Distinguished Professor/Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science
- Matthew Might, Ph.D., Director, Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute and Professor, Department of Medicine
- Yuliang Zheng, Ph.D., Professor/Chair, Department of Computer Science
Clinical
- Ryan Melvin, Ph.D., Director, Heersink School of Medicine Digital Service Unit and Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
- Eric Wallace, M.D., Chief Medical Information and Digital Health Officer, UAB Health System and Professor, Division of Nephrology
Administrative
- Amy Ellis, Assistant Vice President and Controller, Financial Affairs
- Michael Matthews, Assistant Vice President for Research Technology and Clinical Trials Operations, Office of Research
- Kathleen Stallings, Executive Director for Admissions & Scholarships, Enrollment and Student Success
- Rahul Thadani, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Systems Operations, Human Resources
- Evan Thrailkill, Director of Digital Strategy, Office of Marketing and Communications
- Marylyn West, Associate Vice President for Advancement Services, Advancement
AI Literacy Taskforce
The AI Literacy Taskforce, appointed this summer by the AI Leadership Team, brings together representatives from across UAB to help establish a shared, practical foundation for understanding and using AI responsibly. Additional subject matter experts and unit representatives may be engaged as needed.
The taskforce’s early work will include defining baseline AI literacy knowledge and skills, along with training content that units can adapt; developing data classification guidance; and recommending ways to support thoughtful, people-centered AI adoption across UAB.
AI Literacy Taskforce membership
- Brooke Becker, Associate Professor, UAB Libraries
- Amy Chatham, Ph.D., Executive Director, Center for Teaching and Learning
- Audrey Fortier, Associate Risk and Compliance Officer, Office of Compliance and Risk Assurance
- Chris Hickman, Director, AI and Data Science Strategic Integration, School of Nursing
- Frannie Horn, J.D., Director, Research Development, Office of Research
- Bambi Ingram, Sustainability Officer, UAB Sustainability
- Joshua May, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Philosophy
- Rachel Moorehead, Executive Director, Infrastructure and Operations, UAB IT
- Jerad Watson, Executive Director, Learning and Development, Human Resources
Building clarity and responsible momentum
“While much work remains, the AI Integration Hub, AI Pillars and AI Literacy Taskforce together represent an important first step in UAB’s coordinated effort to make AI easier to understand, access and use responsibly,” Khadka said.