Just as we care for our overall health, our voices deserve the same attention. Vocal health is essential for those who rely on their voices and want to communicate clearly and comfortably.

Corey Speers, M.D., Ph.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology as professor and chair in May 2025. Speers reflects on his first month in his new role and what he looks forward to as he helps shape the future of UAB Radiation Oncology.

The UAB Department of Microbiology is happy to welcome graduate students who have recently joined UAB Microbiology labs for their training.

Each year, rabies kills thousands of people worldwide, and it remains a silent threat right here in Alabama. Often transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, this viral disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Yet, with timely action and widespread vaccination, rabies is entirely preventable. Researchers in the UAB Department of Microbiology are working to understand the viruses and other pathogens at a molecular level, supporting new advances in diagnosis, treatment, and public health preparedness.

On June 10, 2025, Sight Savers America (SSA) honored Jeffery L. Haddox as the recipient of the 2025 Hall W. Thompson Hero For Sight Award at UAB Callahan Eye Hospital alongside the installation of this year’s Hero For Sight Tribute Wall art piece. 

The Department of Pediatrics announces with great pleasure and gratitude the appointment of Mark Law, M.D., professor in the Department of Pediatrics, to the permanent position of division director of Pediatric Cardiology.

Krystal Lee Rivera, a Ph.D. candidate in the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and mentee of Jillian Richter, Ph.D., presented an abstract last week in Boston at ShockCon, the annual conference of the Shock Society.

Members of the UAB Department of Pathology gathered for an outgoing reception for residents and fellows on June 5. Faculty, staff and trainees came together to celebrate at The Fennec with dinner and an awards ceremony.

Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named the recipient of the 2025 American Cancer Society (ACS) Professor Award. This award is the most prestigious grant made by ACS and recognizes professors who have made seminal, high-impact contributions to cancer research across a wide range of disciplines, including fundamental, clinical, psychosocial, behavioral, health policy, and epidemiologic fields. It provides $400,000 in funding for five years and can be extended for another five years.

Ananda Basu, MBBS, MD, FRCP, M.D., has been appointed as an associate director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) and will play an integral role on the center’s leadership team.

Brandon Rocque, M.D., M.S., and Andrew T. Hale, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery recently received individual pilot grants from the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health (MHIGH). 

Matthew Parr, M.D., Benjamin Saccomano, M.D., and Yasaman Alam, M.D., chief residents in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, recently participated in the Chief Residents Leadership Development Workshop hosted by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is excited to announce a new chapter in employee recognition by transitioning from Kudos Corner to UAB’s enterprise-wide Applause platform.

Join the Heersink School of Medicine for the 2025 Juneteenth Commemoration on Tuesday, June 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ALGEN lobby. Enjoy food, music, and reflections as we explore the significance of Juneteenth through community, education, and celebration.

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) showcased their latest findings at the 17th Annual Midwest Islet Club (MIC) Meeting, May 7-8, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A new study led by Ananda Basu, M.D., used novel non-radioactive, stable glucagon tracers for the first time to characterize glucagon metabolism in humans with and without Type 1 diabetes, providing tools for further exploration into pancreatic alpha cell function in both Type 1 and 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Lead author Sasha Still, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and her colleagues, published their experience of TAVR explantation in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and offer evidence-based strategies to optimize clinical outcomes in high-risk patients undergoing this procedure.

The UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) hosted the second annual Hops & Hope Fair on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Cahaba Brewing Company.

After nearly three decades as chair of the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology, James A. Bonner, M.D., is transitioning to an Emeritus status and will continue to work on research efforts within the department, leaving a legacy of growth, innovation, and excellence.

Carlos E. Cardenas, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, has been named the 2025 recipient of the McMaster University Emerging Science Co-op Employer of the Year Award. This award recognizes employers and supervisors who act as mentors for co-op students and provide a rich and fulfilling learning experience.

Sixto Leal, M.D., Ph.D., Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professor in Experimental Pathology and Division Director, Laboratory Medicine, was recently awarded the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS) Ellis Benson Award. Leal received the award at the ACLPS annual meeting on May 31 in Atlanta, Georgia.

David S. Geldmacher, M.D., FANA, FACP, professor, Warren Family Endowed Chair, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, and Director of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology in the UAB Department of Neurology, has been appointed to the rank of University Professor. This makes him the first person to hold the rank of University Professor in the 50-year history of the Department of Neurology.

  The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and UAB Callahan Eye are saddened to share the passing of Harold W. Skalka, M.D., on April 27 at the age of 83.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been chosen as a recipient of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Faculty Research Fellowship. The ACS research fellowship will begin in July 2025 and continue through July 2027, with an annual stipend of $40,000.

Designing Dreams, a nonprofit co-founded by UAB Division of Plastic Surgery resident Lauren Curwick, M.D., has begun broadening its mission to the state of Alabama. The organization's mission is to create healing spaces for children with cancer, bringing hope and happiness to their lives.

As summer ushers in the next generation in OB/GYN, we will soon bid a heartfelt farewell to our graduating chief residents. These eight exceptional physicians have left a lasting impact through their dedication to patient care, commitment to research, and contributions to medical education. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them well on their next chapter.

Testosterone plays a crucial role in men’s health, influencing everything from energy levels and mood to muscle mass, bone density, and sexual function. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options is the first step toward reclaiming health and well-being.

Last week, we honored our UAB Pediatric Residency graduating class of 2025! This class has been an absolute joy, and we are thankful and grateful to them. May they continue life-long learning and strive for greatness!

Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2025. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 28th. Please see below where they will be going after completing fellowship training.

Every year the Department of Pediatric Subspecialty Fellowship Programs give out achievement awards to graduating pediatric fellows in three separate areas: research, quality improvement, and service.