CHAIRMAN'S WELCOME

    Welcome to the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This department is one of several Joint Health Sciences departments that is administered by the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry at UAB. We are housed on the 7th, 8th, and 9th floors of the McCallum Building (formerly the Basic Health Sciences Building), 1918 University Boulevard.

     Our primary faculty consists of 31 physiologists whose ranks span from Instructor to Distinguished Professor. Our secondary faculty, who assist the department with its education, training, and research missions, are 33 in number and include other departmental chairs, division directors, and faculty of all ranks. The source of our pride and strength are these faculty, both primary and secondary. It is they who define physiology, not as a specific department or discipline, but as a way of thinking about nature and biomedical science.

     Our primary educational mission includes instruction to medical, dental, and graduate students at UAB. However, we also instruct optometry students and other health care professionals on the campus. Several of our faculty and our medical physiology course have been recognized by the students for teaching awards in 1996, 1997, and 1998.

     Our training mission is divided among our 10 postdoctoral fellows and our 26 graduate students. These postdocs are young biomedical scientists with various degrees who have recognized the excellence of our department and have come to UAB from all over the world to work alongside our faculty. Our graduate students are all seeking the Ph.D. degree, which averages between 4-6 years to obtain. These students are supported by research fellowships including tuition and health insurance.

     Physiology and Biophysics are the cornerstones of modern biomedical science. Physiology is the study of function, not only how biological systems operate, but in what manner. Physiology spans all levels of organization: from the molecular to the whole-animal. Biophysics seeks to apply the precision of mathematics and physics to biology, in order to provide quantitation to an otherwise qualitative science. The Department of Physiology and Biophysics, as an integral component of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is dedicated to the university's tripartite mission of education, research, and service. The faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, and staff all strive for prominence in biomedical research, in order to advance the health and welfare of all people. The department is committed to excellence and leadership in biomedical research, in order to extend the limits of knowledge. Because people are the department's most vital resource, we strive to develop the full potential of each individual.

     Investigators in the department utilize state-of-the-art techniques of molecular biology, fluorescence imaging, electrophysiology, and neurochemistry. The Department of Physiology and Biophysics has been ranked as one of the premier departments, not only in the nation in terms of amount and research funding received, but also because of the high quality of research and instruction, according to the Association of Chairmen of Departments of Physiology. Our graduate program was recently ranked 19th in the nation among all programs in physiology by the National Academy of Sciences. The departmental research efforts are organized around three main themes: epithelial transport, ion channels, and neuroimmunoendocrinology. Research is also conducted in cardiovascular and respiratory physiology. There is much interaction and collegiality within the department. This extends to other fruitful collaborations throughout the university and the world.

     Again, welcome to our department! If you have any questions about our graduate program or information contained on this website, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Lisa M. Schwiebert, Graduate Program Director (934-3970) or Ms. Patricia Matthews, Graduate Program Manager (934-4210).

Dr. Dale J. Benos, Chair