Stefan Kertesz

Stefan Kertesz is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine and an attending physician at the Birmingham VA Health Care System. He holds dual appointments in the UAB School of Medicine (Department of Medicine / Preventive Medicine) and the School of Public Health (Health Behavior). His research focuses on healthcare access for vulnerable populations, particularly homeless individuals, veterans, and those with chronic pain or substance use disorders. He leads VA- and NIH-funded studies on optimizing primary care and housing interventions for marginalized groups, and co-hosts the podcast 'On Becoming a Healer' to promote patient-clinician relationships.

Key roles include Professor (Medicine & Public Health), Senior Scientist at UAB's Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and Director of the Birmingham VA's Homeless Patient-Aligned Care Team (H-PACT). He has received awards such as the UAB 2017 Dean’s Excellence Award and has been involved in national policy discussions on opioid prescribing and harm reduction.

His work emphasizes patient-centered care for populations facing homelessness, addiction, and chronic pain. Notable contributions include developing measures of healthcare access (e.g., the Barriers to Opioid Access Scale) and evaluating programs like the VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). His research spans over 200 publications, focusing on healthcare policy, substance use treatment, and improving care for underserved groups.