Lisa Willett

Lisa Willett, M.D., MACM, is a Professor and holds dual roles as Executive Vice Chair and Vice Chair for Education and Faculty Development in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)'s Heersink School of Medicine. She has over 20 years of full-time service at UAB and is a recipient of the highest teaching honor, the 2024 Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching.

Education:

• Bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University
• M.D. from UAB School of Medicine (1996)
• Completed Internal Medicine Residency and served as Chief Medical Resident at UAB (1999)
• Masters of Academic Medicine Program, USC Keck School of Medicine (2015)

Research & Leadership: Dr. Willett is a national leader in medical education innovation, focusing on residency program design, resident wellbeing, and competency-based training reforms. She spearheaded ABIM maternity leave policies for female residents and developed interdisciplinary residency tracks. Her work emphasizes holistic education and mentorship, having trained over 1,000 residents across multiple specialties.

Awards & Impact:

• 2024 Ellen Gregg Ingalls Award
• Architect of UAB's educational infrastructure
• Nationally recognized for wellness programs and faculty development

Grants & Teams: Central to UAB's tripartite mission (education, research, patient care), she collaborates with ABIM and leads departmental educational initiatives. Her mentorship philosophy emphasizes passing forward opportunities received from prior mentors.