A stroke can strike without warning, and every minute counts when it does. It happens when the blood supply to your brain is cut off, causing severe damage in a short amount of time.

The twelfth annual Blazer Bolt for Brain Cancer 5K and Fun Run was held Saturday, May 17, at Railroad Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Despite the thunderstorms that rolled in early Saturday morning, racers still showed up, participated and made the event a success.

Brain tumor symptoms vary widely and can often resemble other common health conditions. Understanding the risks, symptoms and treatment options can help lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.

For one family, a difficult genetic diagnosis sparked a mission. With help from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute (PMI), they’re now turning their journey into hope for families worldwide.

On April 28, 2025, Jasmine Thum, M.D., M.S. assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery and Department of Biomedical Engineering, hosted a peripheral nerve education course for trainees at UAB.

Harrison Walker, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Neurology, was recently appointed as the Susan and Rodney Barstein Endowed Faculty Scholar in Parkinson’s Disease. The position was established by an endowed gift to UAB from Susan and Rodney Barstein, whose goal is to support innovative research in Deep Brain Stimulation to improve therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

A recent grant award in the Department of Neurology serves to help investigators analyze how a group of brain cells may be responsible for changes to neural circuits that lead to the movement disorder dystonia.

Monica Pasala, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Neurology in June 2024. Get to know Dr. Pasala better with three quick questions!

The UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office recently recognized eight individuals in its sixth cohort of Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL). The spring 2025 graduates were honored at a ceremony on April 8.

The UAB Department of Neurology welcomed Sarah Letang, Ph.D., to the faculty as assistant professor in February 2025.

Seasonal allergies are known for causing congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes, but for many, they also cause migraines. As the weather changes and pollen fills the air, people prone to migraines often notice their headaches becoming more frequent or intense.

The Center for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces (CNBCI) under the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine hosted its third annual NeuroGateways Symposium on April 10-11 at the UAB Alumni House.

Chronic stress can increase inflammation in the brain, which can impact sleep, cognition and memory and potentially increase one’s risk for neurodegenerative diseases.

The Killion family of Birmingham has given a $10 million gift to UAB to create the Wayne Killion Endowment for the Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics and to rename the center the Killion Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics.

A new endowed scholar position in the UAB Department of Neurology has been established thanks to a generous gift. The Susan and Rodney Barstein Endowed Faculty Scholar in Parkinson’s Disease, named in recognition of donors Susan and Rodney Barstein, serves to support a faculty member in the Department of Neurology whose specific focus is Parkinson’s disease.

L. Burt Nabors, M.D., William Austin Brown Endowed Professor, Vice Chair for Research, and Director of the Division of Neuro-Oncology in the UAB Department of Neurology, has been appointed to the rank of Distinguished Professor in the Department of Neurology.

Four members of the UAB Department of Neurology will be honored among 300 UAB employees for 20-plus years of service at a reception on April 8 at Hill Student Center: Randall L. Foster (35 years), Martina Bebin, M.D., MPA (30 years), Nita A.

Neuroscience is actively researching immunotherapies and neuroprotective compounds that could eventually help mitigate the impact of chronic stress on inflammatory states. However, prevention remains the primary focus for now.

Alyssa Leibengood, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Neurology in June 2024. A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Leibengood completed both her undergraduate education and medical school at the University of Kansas.

Via virtual submissions, UAB Medicine now offers remote second opinions from specialized care experts on diagnoses and treatment options.

Nine faculty members recently graduated from UAB Medicine’s LEading Advancing Developing (LEAD) spring 2025 program. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office, recognized its graduates at a ceremony on March 13, 2025.

The UAB Department of Neurology is proud to welcome our newest class of residents in the 2025 Match.

The Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of its 1R01 Award. Securing extramural research funding is a very competitive process, and this award is a testament to these investigators’ groundbreaking research and dedication to advancing biomedical science.

Stress is a natural part of life, but when does it shift from a temporary challenge to a long-term burden on our bodies, specifically as it concerns brain health? The key differences between stress and chronic stress lie in their duration, intensity, and overall impact on well-being.

Khurram Bashir, M.D., Distinguished Professor, director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, and vice chair for education, has been named the First Holder of the Burton Multiple Sclerosis Endowed Research Professorship in Neurology.

Erum Khan, M.D., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Neurology in June 2024. A native of Bharuch, Gujarat, India, Khan completed her medical degree at B.J.

The UAB Department of Neurology welcomed Rebecca Brown, M.D., Ph.D., as an associate professor in November 2024.

Claire Goode, D.O., PGY1, joined the UAB Department of Neurology in June 2024. A native of Birmingham, Goode completed her undergraduate education at Auburn University with a degree in biomedical sciences and her medical degree at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama.

Brittney Davis, PharmD., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurology, recently received a five-year, K23 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the NIH to study sex-specific pharmacogenomic and metabolomic factors related to adverse effects of anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners. The award amount is $818,838 starting in September 2024.

The UAB Department of Neurology welcomed Muhammad Bilal Tariq, M.D., to the faculty as an assistant professor in July 2024.