James Allen Pittman, Jr., MD, former dean of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, died on January 12, 2014 at age 86. Dr. Pittman served as dean at UAB from 1973 until his retirement in 1992. During his tenure, he recruited and retained an outstanding, internationally-recognized faculty to the University.
Dr. Pittman earned his MD magna cum laude from Harvard Medical School in 1952 and subsequently trained at Massachusetts General Hospital and the National Institutes of Health. Prior to joining UAB in 1956 for a residency in medicine, he served as an instructor at George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Pittman held various teaching and administrative positions at the UAB before becoming dean of the medical school, including director of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and co-chair of the Department of Medicine.
Dr. Pittman was known for his support of medical student research. While a junior faculty member, he established Medical Student Research Day, which continues to be an annual event at the school. As dean, he replaced the school’s 35-month curriculum cycle with a four-year medical school curriculum that could also incorporate time for students to pursue research and service activities.
Dr. Pittman’s own research interests were in the areas of thyroid physiology and disease. He was a member of The Endocrine Society, American College of Physicians, American Thyroid Association, American Chemical Society, National Library of Medicine and the Alabama State Committee of Public Health. He held various leadership roles in a number of professional societies, including service as president of the American Federation for Clinical Research, chair of the Liaison Committee on Graduate Medical Education, and president of the Harvard Medical Alumni Association. He also served on numerous scientific committees and boards at the Veterans Administration, the National Institutes of Health and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
Dr. Pittman authored many scientific papers, as well as the book, Diagnosis and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases. He received numerous honors and awards for his work, including the Abraham Flexner Award from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Founders Medal from the Southern Society of Clinical Investigation, and honorary doctorates from Davidson College and UAB. In 1982, he was inducted into the Alabama Academy of Honor.