UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Magazine Winter 2018 | Page 5

Getting Started
Other than the warmer weather that Birmingham offers,
Dr. Birrer was impressed with UAB’s cancer program in that
it is one of the original eight comprehensive cancer centers in
the United States, and has maintained continuous funding
from the National Cancer Institute for about 45 years. He was
also amazed with the Cancer Center’s commitment to health
disparities. “The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is
perhaps one of the few cancer centers in the nation, if not the
only one, that engages underserved populations effectively.”
Now that he is here, Dr. Birrer is determined to take the
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center to the next level. “When
you are starting with one of the best in the nation with a rich
history, it is easy to get excited about the spectacular prospects
for the future.”
Dr. Birrer knew at an early age that he wanted to be a
doctor. After watching his older brother go through medical
school, Dr. Birrer decided as a freshman in college at
Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, that he was committed to it
too. Upon getting his bachelor’s degree in biology, he headed
to Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City
where he says he made the smartest decision in his entire life.
“I went into the M.D./ Ph.D. program, a medical scientist
training program, where I came out of medical school without
any debt while doing what I loved, which was research.”
While there, his primary area of study was microbiology
and immunology.
He did his internship and residency in medicine at
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He wanted to
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