Ray L. Watts

Ray L. Watts
Watts in November, 2023
7th President of the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 8, 2013
Preceded byCarol Garrison
Richard Marchase (interim)
Personal details
BornRay Lannom Watts
(1953-12-18) December 18, 1953
Birmingham, Alabama
Scientific career
Alma materUniversity of Alabama Birmingham
Washington University School of Medicine
Fieldsneurology
Institutions

Ray Lannom Watts (born December 18, 1953)[1] is an American physician-researcher in neurology, educator and university administrator. Watts has served as the seventh president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) since February 2013 and is the longest-serving president in UAB history.

Education and early career, research and service

A Birmingham native and graduate of West End High School, Watts earned a bachelor's degree in biomedical and electrical engineering (with honors) from UAB in 1976. Four years later, he graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis as valedictorian of his class.

Watts then completed a neurology residency, medical internship, and clinical fellowships at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, followed by a two-year medical staff fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In 1986, Watts joined the faculty of Emory University in Atlanta as director of a team that helped create an internationally renowned research and clinical center for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.[2]

In 2003, Watts returned to UAB as the John N. Whitaker Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurology.[3] There he led the development of an interdisciplinary research program aimed at translating scientific breakthroughs into promising new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and played a key role in the establishment of the UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center.[4] He also served as president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation from 2005 to 2010.[5] In 2010, Watts became Senior Vice President and Dean of the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, and later was named the James C. Lee Jr. Endowed Chair.[6]

In February 2013, Watts was named UAB's seventh president by unanimous vote of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.[7] He has also served as chair of the UAB Health System Board of Directors and chair of Southern Research Board of Directors since 2013.[8][9]

Watts has co-edited three editions of "Movement Disorders: Neurologic Principles and Practice."[10] He has authored or co-authored more than 130 peer-reviewed research articles published in journals including Annals of Neurology,[11] Cell Transplantation,[12] Experimental Neurology,[13] Human Molecular Genetics,[14] the Journal of the American Medical Association,[15] JAMA Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry,[16] Journal of Genomics,[17] Journal of Medicinal Chemistry,[18] Journal of Neuroscience,[19] Journal of Neurosurgery,[20] Movement Disorders,[21] the New England Journal of Medicine,[22] and Neurology.[23] Watts was the lead author of the paper "Randomized, blind, controlled trial of transdermal rotigotine in early Parkinson disease" published in January 2007 in the journal Neurology,[24] and the second author of the paper "Transdermal Rotigotine Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Parkinson Disease" published in May 2007 in Archives of Neurology[25] (the first author, Jankovic, was the second author of the first published paper). The editor of Archives of Neurology, upon learning of the earlier publication, compared the two writings and deemed them to be "redundant publications...additional information [in the second publication] represents a minor contribution". The second paper cited the first paper in a late draft after questions about the methodology arose, but did not mention the similarity of the data .[26] In response, the authors of the papers stated that they strongly disagreed with the editor's conclusions, and believe the focus of the two papers are different. The authors also say that the primary author was not aware of the acceptance of the earlier paper during submission of the second paper. The authors state that the Neurology paper was accepted October 24, 2006, and the Archives paper was submitted in December 2006. The authors did admit "in retrospect, we should have notified the Archives about the complementary article in Neurology" .[27]

Watts is a member of American Neurological Association; American Academy of Neurology; Society for Neuroscience; Alpha Omega Alpha; Movement Disorders Society; International Brain Research Organization; Medical Association of State of Alabama; and the Alabama Academy of Neurology.[28]

Watts served as chair of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) for an unprecedented two consecutive terms (2016 and 2017)[29] and remains a board member. He has also served and continues to serve on boards of other organizations aimed at improved education, economic development, and promotion of the arts and culture, including Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Prosper Birmingham, Innovation Depot, Southern Research, Alys Stephens Center for the Performing Arts (chair, corporate board), Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) (2009-2017), and Doctors for the ASO Giving Society (now Physicians & Faculty for the ASO) (founding chair, 2009–2013).

UAB presidency (2013–present)

2013–2019

Upon taking office, Watts initiated the most comprehensive, campus-wide strategic planning process in UAB history. The plan comprised individual strategic plans from all of UAB's schools as well as the UAB Honors College and UAB Athletics, and advanced the UAB Campus Master Plan for facilities. Watts said of the ongoing strategic planning process in May 2014, "Established institutional priorities, as well as those of individual schools, departments and service lines, will allow us to confidently invest most heavily in the programs and people that will best advance our mission – where the most impactful achievements and benefits will be realized for the greater good."

In December 2014 UAB disbanded its football program and, as the rationale for the decision, Watts cited exorbitant operational costs and substantial investments that would be necessary to make UAB football financially sustainable. "While this will be a challenging transition for the UAB family, the financial picture made our decision very clear," Watts said. "We will not cut the current athletic budget, but in order to invest at least another $49 million to keep football over the next five years, we would have to redirect funds away from other critical areas of importance like education, research, patient care or student services." On January 15, 2015, a two-thirds majority of the UAB faculty senate voted no-confidence in the leadership of Ray Watts as president of the university.[30] The resolution stated that "decisions by President Ray Watts were exercised in a manner that demonstrates no respect for, or commitment to, shared governance" and that changes in academic operations, faculty benefits, and the disbanding of the UAB Football, Bowling, and Rifle teams were examples of this.[31] Additionally on March 23, 2015, UAB's National Alumni Society issued a statement of no confidence and demanded Watts' immediate resignation.[32] On June 1, 2015, Watts announced steps would be taken to reinstate UAB football, rifle and bowling after campus and community leaders, the City of Birmingham and private donors pledged significant funds to reestablish and sustain the three programs.[33] "The biggest single difference is we now have tangible commitments for additional support that we have never had before," Watts told reporters. "Without that additional support, we could not have maintained a balanced budget moving forward." An initiative called "Finish the Drive" began on August 18, 2015, to conduct further fundraising for UAB Athletics.[34] UAB Football returned to competition in the fall 2017 season.

2020–2023

In March 2020, as COVID-19 began to impact the U.S., Watts and other senior administrators of UAB and UAB Health System established an Incident Command Committee holding daily virtual meetings to coordinate the institution's leadership role in combating the pandemic, which included immediately partnering with the University of Alabama System as well as local and state agencies to develop and implement a statewide response; transition on campus to a Limited Business Model and online instruction; development of a central website, UAB United, as a resource of COVID-related information for the campus and larger community; research and clinical trials of potential treatments and vaccines; development of an exposure notification app used state-wide; and ultimately the treatment of more than 7,000 COVID-positive patients, delivery of more than 272,000 vaccinations, and numerous interviews with UAB experts in national and international media. Watts commented in May 2020, "We have worked very hard to respond to the pandemic from every aspect of our organization. I'm proud of the people of UAB: frontline health care workers, researchers, support staff, faculty, and students as we adapt to a new reality. We are also hard at work planning for when this is over, so that UAB will be an even stronger and better organization to serve the people of Alabama."[35]

In December 2020, Watts officially signed the Okanagan Charter, making UAB the first internationally recognized Health Promoting University] (HPU) in the U.S.[36]

Fiscal year 2021 continued what Watts called "the most successful era of research funding in UAB history," with a record $648 million in research awards (an increase of 46% since FY2016), putting UAB 17th (top 4%) among public universities in federal R&D expenditures and 11th (top 4%) in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).[37] Additionally, UAB Hospital had grown to become the 8th largest hospital in the U.S. (1,207 beds), passing Mount Sinai (1,139 beds) and Johns Hopkins (1,162 beds).[38]

Birmingham Business Journal named Watts 2021 CEO of the Year.[39]

On January 22, 2022, UAB announced that Heersink School of Medicine researchers and surgeons had successfully tested the world's first human preclinical model for transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into humans. Watts called this major breakthrough in xenotransplantation "a milestone in medicine...that could provide a robust, sustainable supply of lifesaving organs to patients worldwide."[40]

2024 – Present

On Nov. 1, 2024, UAB Health System (UABHS) assumed ownership of Ascension St. Vincent's Health System in central Alabama. Previously, the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent's Alliance had launched in 2020 and UAB had announced in June 2024 that the UA System Board of Trustees had approved an agreement with Ascension to seek the necessary approvals and work toward satisfying closing conditions. Under the agreement, UABHS assumed ownership of all Ascension St. Vincent's sites of care, including the hospitals at Birmingham, Blount, Chilton, East and St. Clair, as well as the One Nineteen Campus, the Trussville Freestanding Emergency Department, and imaging centers and other clinics that are part of Ascension Medical Group. The transaction included Ascension St. Vincent's services, facilities, caregivers and associates, including a network of providers serving the region.[41] Roughly 5,200 St. Vincent's employees transitioned into the UAB System as part of the merger, with titles and compensation remaining the same for employees and existing vendor contracts remaining in effect.[42]

Watts, a 1976 honors graduate of UAB School of Engineering, was inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of engineering and technology.

Personal life

During his neurology residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Watts met his wife Nancy Watts (née Angelo), a nurse who had also earned a competitive slot there. The couple worked together as doctor and nurse at Massachusetts General and later at Emory University and UAB, treating patients and educating families and donors about Parkinson's disease.[43][44]

The Wattses have five grown children and 11 grandchildren.

Awards and Honors

  • Alabama Academy of Honor, inducted November 3, 2025
  • Birmingham Business Journal Power 60 Most Influential Executives, 2020–present
  • Business Alabama CEO of the Year, 2025
  • Induction into Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, 2025
  • Birmingham Business Journal, CEO of the Year Award, 2021[39]
  • America's Top Doctors, Castle and Connolly, 2000–present[45]
  • Best Doctors in America, Woodward and White, 1994–present
  • Birmingham's Best Doctors, Birmingham Magazine, 2003–present
  • University of Alabama Medical Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award, 2014
  • UAB Distinguished Alumni Award 2007[46]
  • Who's Who in Health Care, Birmingham Business Journal, 2007
  • Raymond D. Adams Lecture, Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, March 11, 2004
  • Atlanta's Best Doctors, Atlanta Magazine, 2001-2003

References

  1. ^ Windsor, Matt (Spring 2013). "Opportunity of a Lifetime". UAB Magazine. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. ^ "UAB - Office of the President - Biography". www.uab.edu. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
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  5. ^ Vaughan, Maryanne. "News Archive | UAB". www.uab.edu. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
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  10. ^ Feigin, Andrew; Eidelberg, David (December 25, 1997). "Book Review". New England Journal of Medicine. 337 (26): 1931–1932. doi:10.1056/NEJM199712253372619. ISSN 0028-4793.
  11. ^ Oliveira, SA; Scott, WK; Martin, ER; Nance, MA; Watts, RL; et al. (May 2003). "Parkin mutations and susceptibility alleles in late-onset Parkinson's disease". Ann Neurol. 53 (5): 624–9. doi:10.1002/ana.10524. PMID 12730996. S2CID 42052568.
  12. ^ Watts, RL; Mandir, AS; Bakay, RAE (1995). "Intrastriatal cografts of autologous adrenal medulla and sural nerve in MPTP-induced Parkinsonian macaques: Behavioral and anatomical assessment". Cell Transplantation. 4 (1): 27–38. doi:10.1016/0963-6897(95)92155-r. PMID 7728330.
  13. ^ Watts, RL; Subramanian, T; Freeman, A; Goetz, CG; Penn, RD; Stebbins, GT; Kordower, JH; Bakay, RAE (1997). "Effect of stereotaxic intrastriatal cografts of autologous adrenal medulla and peripheral nerve in Parkinson's disease: 2 year follow-up study". Experimental Neurology. 147 (2): 510–517. doi:10.1006/exnr.1997.6626. PMID 9344575. S2CID 29039843.
  14. ^ Li, YJ; Oliveira, SA; Xu, P; Martin, ER; Stenger, JE; Scherzer, CR; Hauser, MA; Scott, WK; Small, GW; Nance, MA; Watts, RL; et al. (December 2003). "Glutathione S-transferase omega-1 modifies age-at-onset of Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease". Hum Mol Genet. 12 (24): 3259–67. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddg357. PMID 14570706. Erratum in: Hum Mol Genet. 2004 Mar 1;13(5):573
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  16. ^ Okun, MS; Stover, NP; Watts, RL; DeLong, MR (2001). "Complication of gamma knife surgery for Parkinson disease". Arch. Neurol. 58 (12): 1995–2002. doi:10.1001/archneur.58.12.1995. PMID 11735773.
  17. ^ Shoffner, JM; Brown, MD; Torroni, A; Lott, MT; Cabell, MF; Mirra, SS; Beal, MF; Yang, C-C; Gearing, M; Salvo, R; Watts, RL; Juncos, JL; Hansen, LA; Crain, BJ; Fayad, M; Reckord, CL; Wallace, DC (1993). "Mitochondrial DNA variants observed in Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease patients". Genomics. 17 (1): 171–184. doi:10.1006/geno.1993.1299. PMID 8104867.
  18. ^ Xing, D; Chen, P; Keil, R; Kilts, CD; Shi, B; Camp, VM Malveaux G; Ely, T; Owens, MJ; Votaw, J; Davis, MR; Hoffman, JM; Subramanian, T; Bakay, RAE; Watts, RL; Goodman, MM (2000). "Synthesis, biodistribution and primate imaging of fluorine-18 labeled 2b-carbo-1'-fluoro-2-propoxy-3b-(4-chlorophenyl) tropanes: Ligands for the imaging of dopamine transporters by Positron Emission Tomography". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 43 (4): 639–648. doi:10.1021/jm9902234. PMID 10691690.
  19. ^ Coa, X; Yasuda, T; Uthayathas, S; Watts, RL; Mouradian, MM; Mochizuki, H; Papa, SM (May 2010). "Striatal overexpression of ΔFosB reproduces involuntary movements developed after chronic levodopa treatment". J Neurosci. 30 (21): 7335–43. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0252-10.2010. PMC 2888489. PMID 20505100.
  20. ^ Sung, VW; Watts, RL; Schrandt, CJ; Guthrie, S; Wang, D; Amara, AW; Guthrie, BL; Walker, HC (December 2013). "The relationship between clinical phenotype and early early staged bilateral deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease". Journal of Neurosurgery. 119 (6): 1530–6. doi:10.3171/2013.8.jns122025. PMC 3992872. PMID 24074493.
  21. ^ Langston JW, H Widner, D Brooks, S Fahn, T Freeman, C Goetz, RL Watts. "Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantations (CAPIT). Movement Disorders J 7 (No. 1):2-13, 1992
  22. ^ Parkinson Group, The; et al. (2004). "Levodopa and the rate of progression of Parkinson disease, the ELLDOPA study". New England Journal of Medicine. 351 (24): 2498–508. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa033447. PMID 15590952.
  23. ^ Pullman, S; Watts, RL; Juncos, JL; Chase, TM; Sanes, JN (1988). "Dopaminergic effects on simple and choice reaction time performance in Parkinson's disease". Neurology. 38 (2): 249–254. doi:10.1212/wnl.38.2.249. PMID 3340288. S2CID 16535241.
  24. ^ Watts, R. L.; Jankovic, J.; Waters, C.; Rajput, A.; Boroojerdi, B.; Rao, J. (January 2007). "Randomized, blind, controlled trial of transdermal rotigotine in early Parkinson disease". Neurology. 68 (4): 272–276. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000252355.79284.22. PMID 17202432. S2CID 22813933.
  25. ^ Jankovic, J.; Watts, R. L.; Martin, W.; Boroojerdi, B. (May 2007). "Transdermal Rotigotine: Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Parkinson Disease". Archives of Neurology. 64 (5): 676–682. doi:10.1001/archneur.64.5.676. PMID 17502466.
  26. ^ Rosenberg, Roger (December 2007). "Notice of Redundant Publication: "Transdermal Rotigotine: Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Parkinson Disease" (Arch Neurol. 2007;64[5]:676-682)". Archives of Neurology. 64 (12): 1800–1801. doi:10.1001/archneur.64.12.1800. PMID 18071051.
  27. ^ Jankovic, J.; Watts, R. L.; Martin, W.; Boroojerdi, B. (December 2007). "Notice of Redundant Publication: "Transdermal Rotigotine: Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Parkinson Disease" (Arch Neurol. 2007;64[5]:676-682)—Reply". Archives of Neurology. 64 (12): 1801. doi:10.1001/archneur.64.12.1801.
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  29. ^ West, Ty (December 6, 2016). "UAB's Watts to remain BBA chair in 2017". www.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
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  32. ^ "Call for President's Resignation". UAB NAS. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
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  34. ^ "UAB - Finish the Drive - Home". www.uab.edu. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
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  36. ^ "UAB becomes nation's first health-promoting university". Alabama NewsCenter. January 3, 2021.
  37. ^ UAB Office for the Vice President for Research, November 2021; National Science Foundation, Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, 2020; Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research 2021, NIH RePORTER 2021.
  38. ^ "100 of the largest hospitals and health systems in America | 2021". beckershospitalreview.com. March 23, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  39. ^ a b "2021 BBJ CEO Awards: Ray Watts, UAB". www.bizjournals.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  40. ^ Watts, Ray. "Stronger than Ever." UAB Magazine, spring/summer 2022: 1.
  41. ^ "Ascension St. Vincent's officially becomes UAB St. Vincent's". UAB News. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  42. ^ Thornton, William (November 1, 2024). "St. Vincent's 5 hospitals, 5,200 employees join UAB Health. What will change?". al. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  43. ^ Martin, Grant. "Opportunity of a Lifetime - Magazine | UAB". www.uab.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  44. ^ Lollar, Jennifer. "Nancy Watts joins Board she calls "a great group of people"". www.uab.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  45. ^ "Dr. Ray L. Watts - Neurology - Birmingham, AL". Castle Connolly. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  46. ^ "UAB - Commencement - Distinguished Alumnus Award". www.uab.edu. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
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