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 Pictured Above: Tasks force co-chairs Drs. Gutiérrez and Lyas. 

Division of Nephrology faculty Orlando Gutiérrez, MD, MMSc (Professor & Director) and Clare Lyas, MD, MPH (Assistant Professor) co-chaired a task force to reevaluate the way UAB Medicine reports kidney function, also known as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The current method of reporting requires the use of a race variable, which has come under fire for potentially introducing bias into the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. The multidisciplinary group reviewed the currently available data and proposed that UAB adopt the formula jointly recommended by the National Kidney Foundation and American Society of Nephrology—the CKD-EPI creatinine equation refit without the race variable. The group further recommended that the cystatin C assay be routinely available to augment clinical decision making.

Thanks to Dr. Gutiérrez and Dr. Lyas for their leadership on the task force, and to all the members for their thoughtful contributions: Liyun Cao, Ph.D., Jayme Locke, M.D., Denyse Thornley-Brown, M.D., Maria Taylor, Pharm-D, Vineeta Kumar, M.D., Brittany Shelton, Tennille Webb, M.D., Andre Lessears, MBA, Andrea Cherrington, M.D., Desalyn Johnson, Calvin Baker, M.D., and Marshall Lewis.

Tom McElderry, M.D., and William Maddox, M.D., Associate Professors in the Division of Cardiovascular Disease, performed the first commercial procedure in the nation using the Medtronic DiamondTemp™ Ablation system. The two were co-primary investigators for the clinical trial that led to this device receiving FDA approval. The system provides a minimally invasive approach to treating atrial fibrillation, a condition in which an irregular heartbeat can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. The diamond embedded tool allows for experts to create scar tissue, using heat, to interrupt irregular electrical signals in the heart and restore normal heart rhythm. Kudos on advancing cardiovascular science!

 Pictured Above: Members of the BMT & CT Program, representing more than 300 teammates who care for patients. 

Our Our Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cell Therapy (BMT & CT) program is celebrating 30 tremendous years of patient care. The program offers a wide range of blood and bone marrow transplant options, as well as related and unrelated donor stem cell transplantation. Since launching, BMT and CT has performed over 3,200 transplants, a success story Medical Director Donna Salzman, M.D., (Professor, Hematology and Oncology) attributes to dedicated health care professionals, technological advancements within the Center, and the generosity of donors. Congratulations to you all, and cheers to the next 30 years of service!

 Pictured Above: Tele-ICU Director Steve Stigler, M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine.  

During COVID-19’s summer surge, UAB couldn’t spare ICU beds for patients, but it could share its expertise with Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis, thanks to a tele-ICU partnership between the two hospitals announced in April of this year. Tele-ICU Director Steve Stigler, M.D., (Associate Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care Medicine) and other pulmonary experts were able to conduct exams, check vital signs, review patient records, and monitor alert systems from more than 100 miles away. For the patients who were especially critical and needed different types of life-support, the tele-ICU continuously provided high-quality care.

 Pictured Above: Pictured Above: Dr. Masood Ahmad (Inaugural Critical Care Medicine Fellow) and Dr. Sheetal Gandotra (Program Director).  

The Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, led by Program Director Sheetal Gandotra (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine) will add four new fellows to its training program—two in 2022 and two in 2023. The program launched July 2021 with a mission to train physicians in the field of critical care with competence in procedures such as airway management, paracentesis, basic bronchoscopy, percutaneous tracheostomy and arterial access. Training for this program is one year for trainees entering after the completion of a subspecialty and two years for those entering after residency. Recruitment is currently underway. Way to grow, team!