Interim chair announced for Department of Pathology
Edward A. Panacek, M.D., MPH, serves as professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, a position he has held since 2015.
By Carol McPhail
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Edward A. Panacek, M.D., MPH, has been named interim chair of the Department of Pathology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama.
Panacek serves as professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Whiddon College of Medicine, a position he has held since 2015. With the interim appointment, he replaces Guillermo Herrera, M.D., who retired May 31 after serving as professor and chair of pathology for the past seven years.
"Dr. Panacek has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a strong commitment to academic medicine and a longstanding dedication to our mission," said Jeffrey S. LaRochelle, M.D., MPH, dean of the Whiddon College of Medicine. "As a distinguished physician-scientist, educator and department chair, he brings a wealth of experience and a collaborative approach to leadership. I am grateful for his willingness to serve and confident he will provide thoughtful guidance for the Department of Pathology during this transition."
The recipient of multiple national and international awards, Panacek is widely recognized for his research on sepsis and for teaching the American College of Emergency Physicians research fellowship for more than a decade. Earlier this year, he received the International Educator Award for decades of mentorship and contributions to global medical research.
"We are grateful to Dr. Herrera for his years of service and the positive impact he has made on the Department of Pathology and USA Health," said Michael Chang, M.D., chief physician executive and system chief medical officer for USA Health. "Pathology plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of patient care, and we appreciate Dr. Panacek's willingness to step into this interim leadership position. His experience and commitment to excellence will help ensure continuity for our faculty, staff and patients as the department continues its important work."
Board-certified in emergency medicine, Panacek earned his medical degree from the Whiddon College of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from the University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health. He completed residency training in internal medicine and emergency medicine, and a fellowship in critical care medicine at the University of California-Davis School of Medicine.
Herrera was appointed professor and the Locke Eminent Scholar Chair of Pathology at the Whiddon College of Medicine in December 2018. He previously served as professor and chair of the Department of Pathology at the LSU Health School of Medicine in Shreveport. He earned his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan and completed residency training in anatomic and clinical pathology at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He retired as a colonel from the U.S. Army in 1996 after 22 years of service.
