In July of 2015, Dr. Lauren Tanner joined the UAB Division of Acute Care Surgery as an instructor and became an attending general surgeon at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. A native of New Jersey, she received her undergraduate degree from Amherst College in 2005, receiving the distinguished honor of Cum Laude with a degree in chemistry. Prior to matriculating to Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, she worked as a research assistant in New Brunswick, N.J., at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where her work focused on fetal lung development. After earning her medical degree, she came to UAB for general surgery residency training. She then stayed at her home institution to pursue emergency general surgery and participate in resident education.