Latest News

Nirupama Singh, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Laboratory Medicine, and medical director for the Stem Cell Collection Laboratory, has been named associate departmental value officer, effective October 1. Singh will serve in this role alongside Isam-Eldin Eltoum, M.D., MBA, Vice Chair for Quality and Patient Safety, Departmental Value Officer.

Recent attention surrounding blood clots in athletes has raised questions about how these conditions develop and what they can mean for long-term health. Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, Heersink Endowed Professor of Sports & Exercise Medicine, and a sports cardiology specialist, shares general information about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), its causes, and the recovery process.

For Boopathy Sivaraman, Pharm.D., M.Sc., MBA, manager of pharmacy services at Cooper Green Mercy Health, effective leadership means looking beyond day-to-day operations to understand how pharmacy services contribute to broader organizational goals.

Passionate about helping employees strengthen their leadership skills and prepare for future leadership opportunities, Steven Minkin, D.M., brings more than 33 years of leadership experience across the federal and private sectors to his role as senior leadership development specialist with the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office.  

Toby Gropen, M.D., James H. Halsey, Jr., M.D. Endowed Professor, director of the Division of Cerebrovascular Disease, and director of the UAB Comprehensive Neurovascular and Stroke Center, was recently honored with the 2026 Joe E. Acker EMS Award for Vision and Leadership to EMS System Development by the Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 68th Annual Meeting provided a national platform for members of the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology to share innovative research, clinical advancements, and educational initiatives with colleagues from around the world.

J. Bart Rose, M.D., MAS, associate professor in the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology, has been elected to membership in Surgical Biology Club II, a selective national society of academic surgeon-scientists. His election was announced at the society’s annual business meeting during the 2026 American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C.

UAB is a leader in the field of bioenergetics, or mitochondrial function, which plays an important role in common diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary disease, obesity, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. As new standards for scientific research are developed, acquiring advanced technology is vital for the institution to remain competitive in the field.

The 2026 Tri-State Pathology Conference took place on October 24-25 at Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, bringing together the Alabama Association of Pathologists, the Louisiana Association of Pathologists, and the Mississippi Association of Pathologists.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics welcomed Murray in the month of October. Please join us in making her feel at home!

The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) is the largest private funder of mental health research grants, dedicated to alleviating suffering caused by mental illness by supporting scientific discoveries that advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This year, Elizabeth Doncheck, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology, has been selected to receive a 2026 BBRF Young Investigator Grant.

Five medical students conducting research under the guidance of UAB Department of Surgery mentors earned top awards at the 2026 UAB Heersink School of Medicine Dale J. Benos Medical Student Research Day, including three trained through the department's summer research programs.

Four faculty members in the UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery have received promotions, and one has received an award of tenure, effective Oct. 1, 2026.

Yang Zhou, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, has received a new NIH R01 grant to study ELMSAN1, a protein that regulates gene activity in heart cells and could potentially help protect the heart from disease.

Rehabilitation therapy professionals from across the country gathered at UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center for the 46th annual Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Therapy Leadership Forum.

When most people think of medical imaging, they think of X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or ultrasounds. While those tests reveal the body's structure, molecular imaging provides something equally important.

On Sept. 22, Farah Lubin, Ph.D., distinguished Triton Endowed Professor and vice chair of Trainee Engagement and Development in the Department of Neurobiology, joined the Gardendale Civic Center’s 55+ fitness event to discuss how the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 can promote healthy aging and support lifelong brain and body health.

Seventeen providers from the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology have been recognized by UAB’s Office of Patient Experience and Engagement for their patient satisfaction scores during fiscal year 2026.

A new family medicine residency program is set to strengthen physician training and expand access to care in North Alabama. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has approved the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Family and Community Medicine’s new UAB Marshall Family Medicine Residency. The program plans to welcome its inaugural class of residents in July 2027.

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recently welcomed Kelly Staricha, M.D., as an assistant professor.

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology recently welcomed Kristina McMahan, Ph.D., as an assistant professor in the Division of Adult Psychiatry.

The UAB Department of Microbiology hosted the 32nd Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat Oct. 16-18 at Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville, Alabama. The retreat continues a decades-long tradition of bringing together faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students for a weekend of scientific exchange and collaboration.

Flashing lights, unfamiliar costumes and unexpected sounds can make Halloween overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities. Preparation and flexibility can help families create a comfortable, enjoyable celebration.

Lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a type of radiation treatment that uses carefully focused X-rays to target and destroy small tumors in the lung. Because the radiation is delivered precisely to the tumor, SBRT can provide an effective, noninvasive treatment option while limiting exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.

Breast cancer treatment is not one-size-fits-all, and researchers in the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology are working to make care more personalized than ever before.

Ten staff members of the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine have been named recipients of the 2026 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff. Now in its fourth year, the award recognizes staff who go beyond the expectations of their roles to advance Heersink’s core missions of education, clinical care, and research.

Children’s of Alabama has been recognized as one of the nation’s best pediatric hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by the U.S. News & World Report (USNWR).

Ahmed Lazrak, Dr.Sc., associate professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been awarded a two-year, $409,750 R21 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate a potential treatment for chlorine-induced lung edema. The project, titled “Therapeutic Potential for NPS-2143 as Treatment for Chlorine-Induced Lung Edema,” will run through June 30, 2028.

Meg Crew, CRNP, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery has received an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Champion Award from UAB Medicine's APP Executive Council and APP Central Office.

S. Justin Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has received an NIH K24 Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research to support mentorship, career development, and translational research in sleep and circadian rhythms.