Robert J Heath

Background

About Robert J Heath

Robert J. Heath, Jr. has been employed with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Office of Radiation Safety since April 19, 1993. He currently serves as the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and enjoys using the knowledge, skills, and experience that he has gained over his career to help keep the UAB community safe. With UAB being one of the nation’s top academic, medical, and research universities, Robert employs his very unique skill set, vast and diverse knowledge, experience, and expertise in the field of Health Physics and Radiological Physics/Sciences to assist in the protection of the university. Robert finds great reward in cherishing the relationships that he gained over a productive and interactive career. It is the building of relationships that Robert finds the most joy. Through the building of such relationships, Robert has the opportunity to connect with the very people whom he has demonstrated an unswerving commitment to serve. Robert also enjoys interacting with diverse cultures and abilities. In 2017, Robert led the disposition of all four of UAB’s Category I/Category II Sources of Concern. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Office of Radiation Control’s very strict regulations served as a guide to governing the use, possession, and disposal of such sources. However, Robert leads the effort of coordinating and bringing together a collaboration of over 12 institutional, local, County, State, and Federal Radiological Agencies and Law Enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (U.S. NRC), and Los Alamos National Laboratories. This effort was successfully completed. The plan, methods, and implementation were all vetted and approved by ADPH and Federal Agencies and subsequently completed without harm or incident. When Robert is not working hand-in-hand with the UAB community, you may find him spending time with his family watching movies or enjoying a few of the “old school” board games. Robert also finds great joy in serving at the New Rising Star Church (affectionately referred to as The Star), where he has been a member since 1996. While there, Robert continues to explore and share his true love for people and to see their lives enriched. Robert’s dream for UAB is not unique, but rather common, which is for this vibrant university to continue to be an ever-growing leader among its peers and to continue to nurture a very encouraging record of compliance and a very healthy culture of safety.