Yard work might seem like a low-stakes weekend chore, but beyond mulching flower beds and trimming hedges lies a real risk: back and spine injuries that can last long after the weeds are gone.

Mark N. Hadley, M.D., FAANS, Charles A. and Patsy W. Collat Endowed Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was the honored guest of the Georgia Neurosurgical Society at their 2025 spring meeting, held May 24-25 at The Cloisters in Sea Island, Georgia.

July 22 marks the 12th annual World Brain Day, a global campaign led by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) to promote brain health across all stages of life. This year’s theme, “Brain Health for All Ages,” emphasizes the importance of neurological care from preconception through late adulthood.

If you’ve ever wondered who fuels our department’s teaching, research, and creative problem-solving, look no further than Mississippi’s native son, ‘Bill Nye’-enthusiast, and champion to improve outcomes for all patients – Dr. Demario Overstreet.

Cellular health plays a crucial role in your overall well-being. On average, the human body has between 30-40 trillion cells of various types and with various functions. The healthier your cells are, the healthier your body tends to be, since all cells work together. For example, skin cells are one type of cell, but cells are present in every organ and tissue throughout your body. They contribute to digestion, immunity, and muscle function.

In the face of a bacterium that easily resists common antibiotics, members of UAB established testing to identify it in human disease. Mycoplasma, that is. Mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living organisms. They can cause drug-resistant bacterial infections that target various parts of the body, including respiratory and urinary systems and genitalia. Mycoplasmas commonly cause lung infections and often require a special antibiotic to treat the bacterium. Most antibiotics weaken bacteria by penetrating their cell walls. Mycoplasmas, however, don’t have cell walls to weaken.

Genomic sequencing is rapidly changing health care and is becoming a routine part of electronic health records (EHRs). But while today’s EHRs can support common clinical decision support (CDS) tools — like medication or allergy alerts — they often fall short when it comes to using genetic information to guide care.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to announce that Terri Epting will join the department as director of fiscal affairs, effective Aug. 11.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to welcome Hohyun Cho, Ph.D.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome the new class of Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical Education Scholars Program (PRIME) Scholars!

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the Pediatric Underserved and Global Health (PUGH) Scholars program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The PUGH Scholars Program is a longitudinal opportunity for UAB pediatric residents to receive focused education and hands-on experience in global and undeserved health during three-years of residency training.

I am excited to announce the appointment of Hanna Hussey, M.D., to associate vice chair of the Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology in the Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine. 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics has announced the appointment of three faculty members to serve on the Pediatrics Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee (APTC).

Jan Novak, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology, has been named the Inaugural Holder of the Jiri Mestecky Endowed Professorship in Microbiology.

  The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics David Askenazi, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, was recently recognized with the Nephrology Kidney Collaborative (NKC) Founder’s award at this year’s Pediatric Academic Society Membership dinner.

The UAB Department of Microbiology welcomed Hongjin Zheng, Ph.D., as associate professor in June 2025.

Following the Medical Education Committee (MEC) faculty retreat in May 2025, the committee has continued discussions relating to medical student experience. One current initiative focuses on how medical students face difficulties distinguishing themselves when applying for residency. To address this challenge, the MEC has recently approved the establishment of a Clinical Commendation designation for MS1–MS3 students.

Toria N. Pettway, LMSW, a psychiatric social worker for the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, has been named the 2025 recipient of the UAB Social Work Partnership in Community Service Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to patient care, mental health advocacy and community engagement.

Researchers in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology recently occupied a new, 3,400-square-foot lab space in the newly renovated McCallum Basic Health Science Building. Renovations to the McCallum Building involved revitalizing the historic building, creating more modern and collaborative research spaces, with floors three through nine dedicated to departments in the Heersink School of Medicine.

Peripheral artery disease is a severe form of cardiovascular disease affecting more than 230 million individuals worldwide. The correlation of peripheral artery disease with diminished blood flow in one or more major arteries has prompted numerous studies aimed at developing therapies that promote the formation of new mature blood vessels, known as neovessels, to restore blood flow. However, despite years of investigations, the medical therapies designed to do so have lacked therapeutic significance.

Hyeyoung Nam, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Urology, has been published in Science Advances alongside corresponding author, Sunil Sudarshan, M.D. and colleagues Richard L. Kirkman and Suman Karki, Ph.D. Their study, “HDAC7 promotes renal cancer progression by reprogramming branched-chain amino acid metabolism,” offers new insight into how kidney cancer cells grow and spread.

Summer marks the ideal opportunity for travel and relaxation, allowing individuals to plan their perfect getaway. However, for those who struggle with chronic joint pain, increased travel and outdoor activity can pose unique challenges, making movement more difficult.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS., an associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, joined UAB MedCast to discuss the complexity of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the use of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) as an effective treatment option.

Three students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), housed within the Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO), recently earned first place in an international hackathon hosted by the Mission: Brain Foundation. Hazel Cho, Abdulraheem Kaimari, and Riyaz Razi competed in the three-day virtual event, which brought together more than 80 teams from more than 40 countries to develop practical solutions to challenges in neurosurgical care. Their project stood out for its innovation, clarity, and teamwork.

Fran Lund, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Microbiology and director of the UAB Immunology Institute, along with other UAB researchers, recently published a study in Immunity illustrating the crucial role a protein called T-bet plays in protecting the body’s immune response to influenza.

Jianli Zhao, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been awarded $30,000 in pilot funding to further develop a research project focused on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with obesity.

After decades of living with chronic orthopedic issues, Terry Sanfilippo thought she knew what to expect from surgery and recovery. But thanks to the care she received at UAB Orthopaedics, her recent experience was both surprising and hopeful.

UAB Callahan Eyewear offers stylish, high-quality frames and expert optical services from Alabama’s most trusted name in eye care.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is proud to announce its spring 2025 cohort of REINVENT Grant awardees.

DNA is often called the blueprint of life, but what does that really mean? Elizabeth Worthey, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Genetics in the Heersink School of Medicine, explains everything you need to know about genetics.