The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) regrets to announce the passing of past president J. Max Austin, MD. Dr. Austin passed away peacefully on August 14.
His full obituary is available online.
He received a bachelors degree at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and a doctor of medicine degree from the Medical College of Alabama, now the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. From there, Dr. Austin completed internships and residencies at Mobile General Hospital, Emory University, and the Medical College of Alabama. He also served as a major and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida from 1971 to 1973. In 1973, Dr. Austin became the first fellow in gynecologic oncology at UAB. He also completed a gynecological fellowship in Norway in 1974.
For 23 years, he was in private practice while also serving as a faculty member at UAB. In 2000, he closed his practice and joined the UAB as a full-time professor. After 14 years as a professor, he would go on to serve as the Margaret Spain Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, director of philanthropic initiatives for the department, and then professor emeritus.
Dr. Austin holds several UAB honors, including the J. Max Austin Jr., MD, Professorship of Gynecological Oncology, the J. Max Austin Endowed Chair of Gynecology, and the Excellence in Medical Student Education Award. The UAB Medical Alumni Association honored him with their Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2007. He was also nominated numerous times by his UAB medical students for teaching awards, including the Excellence in Medical Student Education Award for seven straight years.
Dr. Austin had a significant influence on the education and training of medical students, obstetrics and gynecology residents, and gynecologic oncology fellows for four decades. During his tenure, he contributed over 75 articles and abstracts to professional publications in his field, and he trained 42 fellows and over 250 residents.
Dr. Austin and his wife Nancy resided in Birmingham, AL, and enjoyed spending time at Lake Martin. He took great pride in his two children, Lindsey and Max, and in his five grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Comments from Dr. Austin’s colleagues:
“Dr. Austin was an amazing physician, surgeon, teacher, and colleague. During his career, he taught countless OBGYN residents and gynecologic oncology fellows the art of pelvic surgery. I will always remember the kindness and respect he had for his patients, their families, nurses, staff, and colleagues.”
– J. Michael Straughn, Jr., MD, UAB Medicine Chief of the Medical Staff and J. Max Austin Jr., MD, Endowed Chair in Gynecologic Oncology
“Dr. Austin was the consummate gentlemen, citizen, and cancer surgeon that worked to ensure and provide excellent gynecologic cancer care to those across the state of Alabama and the Southeast. In conjunction with leaders in gynecologic oncology at the UAB, Dr. Austin helped implement a system of combined private and academic gynecologic cancer care for the city of Birmingham and the state of Alabama, which served as a model for other communities and institutions to emulate. Dr. Austin contributed directly to the education of nearly 50 gynecologic oncology fellows at UAB, including thankfully my own, and his teachings on surgical efficiency, novel surgical approaches, and practice management are still followed to this day. His role as one of the few private practitioners to serve as the president of the SGO is further testament to his national impact on gynecologic cancer care. The division of gynecologic oncology will greatly miss Dr. Austin, and we will be forever indebted to him for the foundation of our current practice.”
– Charles A. Leath, III, MD, MSPH, Director, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Ellen Gregg Shook Culverhouse Chair in Gynecologic Oncology, and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UAB