Dr. Michael Saag completed his medicine residency and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While there, he made early discoveries in the genetic evolution of HIV in patients. During the last six months of his fellowship, Dr. Saag conceived the concept of an HIV outpatient clinic dedicated to the provision of comprehensive patient care in conjunction with research and high-quality clinic trials.

Since the establishment of the clinic, Dr. Saag has participated in many studies of antiretroviral therapy as well as novel treatments for opportunistic infections. He has published over 320 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed over fifty chapters to medical textbooks. He serves on the editorial board of the journal AIDS and the Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy and has served on the board of directors of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Among many other awards, Dr. Saag has received the Myrtle Wreath Award from Hadassah, was listed as one of the top ten cited HIV researchers by Science (1996), and has been listed as one of the Best Doctors in jAmerica since 1994. He received the Hettie Butler Terry Community Service Award, received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, was named a "Health Care Hero" aby the Birigham Business Journal (2003), and received the 201 President's Medal from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.