UAB Department of Emergency Medicine Chair Thomas E. Terndrup, MD, announces the appointment of Ziad Kazzi, MD, as assistant professor.

A graduate of American University of Beirut College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Kazzi completed his MD degree at the American University of Beirut Medical School. His post-graduate training includes an emergency medicine residency at Emory University in Atlanta, where he served as chief resident. He subsequently completed a subspecialty fellowship in medical toxicology at Emory and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention through a joint fellowship program.

At UAB, Dr. Kazzi also works at the regional poison control center and is 1 of 3 toxicologists in Alabama. As the second medical toxicologist on staff, he joins Erica Liebelt, MD, director of UAB's medical toxicology services, who developed and implemented the Clinical Toxicology Consultation Service in 2003 — a joint venture between UAB and Children's Health System. One of Dr. Kazzi's main goals is to further develop the service. The 24 hour-a-day service is available through the UAB paging system or the Regional Poison Center located at Children's Hospital.

In addition to other duties, Dr. Kazzi is a guest researcher with the radiation branch at CDC's National Center for Environmental Health. His contributions and activities at the center include an investigational new drug application for treatment of acute radiation syndrome, recommendations to policymakers regarding available radiopharmaceuticals, Web casts, roundtable discussions, and didactics for first responders in chemical and radiological terrorism preparedness. Other research interests include assessment of surveillance methods and hospital preparedness for potential terrorist or Hazmat incidents.

Dr. Kazzi, an advanced Hazmat life support instructor, directed courses training first responders in the United States in the recognition and management of Hazmat casualties. Other past instructional experience includes work as a HAZWOPER provider and instructor with first-hand experience with personal protective equipment including Level A, B, and C suits, as well as decontamination and Hazmat incident response planning.

Most recently, Dr. Kazzi has been active in public health preparedness and plans on continuing this work by participating in community and hospital-based research, planning, and educational activities.

Dr. Kazzi may be reached by e-mail at zkazzi@uabmc.edu or by telephone at 996-5579.