Rodney O. Tucker, MD, MMM, FAAHPM

Rodney O. Tucker, MD, MMM, FAAHPM, was born in Gadsden, Alabama, and attended Litchfield High School, graduating in 1980. He then attended UAB and received his undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Social Work in 1984. After a year of graduate work at UAB, he entered the Heersink School of Medicine at UAB and graduated in 1989. Dr. Tucker served an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Carraway Methodist Medical Center from 1989-1992 and then served as Chief Resident from 1992-1993. At that time, he entered private practice in Internal Medicine at Medical Center East in Birmingham, where he practiced until December of 2001. Dr. Tucker joined the Center for Palliative and Supportive Care at UAB in January of 2002 and also attended the University of Southern California, obtaining a Master’s in Medical Management. Dr. Tucker is currently serving as Director of the UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care since 2013, the Ritchie Endowed Chair since 2016, and served as the Chief Experience Officer for UAB Medicine from 2013-2018. Dr. Tucker has been active in a number of local and regional Boards and served as the President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine in 2020. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and his interests include palliative care and serious illness in older adults and those in the LGBTQ Communities. Dr. Tucker serves as the Faculty Chair for the LGBTQ Faculty Association at UAB and has a private practice at an affirming clinic in Birmingham called the Magic City Wellness Center. In his time away from medicine, Dr. Tucker is married with multiple four-legged children and likes to travel to warm climates and is an avid collector of American art, pottery, Mid Century modern antiques, and works by local artists.