Allie Hulcher, UAB Department of Surgery communications specialist and Trauma Survivors Network coordinator for the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was recognized with numerous awards at the UAB Marnix E. Heersink Excellence in Communications Awards. 
Hulcher received a gold award for the Best of 2024 Informational Article and Heersink Content of the Year for her in-depth feature, "From UAB to Afghanistan: How an Air Force Special Operations Surgical Team Saved Lives During the Last Days of the War in Afghanistan."
The story focuses on the life-saving mission of one of UAB’s four embedded Air Force Special Operations Surgical Teams (SOST). The SOST team, made up of a surgeon, a nurse, a scrub tech, an emergency medical physician, a respiratory therapist, and an anesthesia provider, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2021 and helped to save military and civilian lives.
Hulcher’s other awards were related to the UAB Heroes and Healers Gala. The Gala, which is an annual event, hosted by the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, is a night dedicated to honoring trauma survivors and their families, as well as the first responders and healthcare professionals who saved their lives and helped them on their road to recovery. Each year, three honorees are featured in powerful documentary style videos that introduce them and their unique stories.
Hulcher received the People’s Choice Award, which was voted on by her communications colleagues across Heersink, for her work in creating the event.
Alongside videographer Chris Carmichael, Hulcher won Heersink Video of the Year for the Heroes & Healers Trauma Gala Survivor Video Series. The pair also won gold in the category Best Video Project Management Award for their video series featuring three trauma survivor honorees. Additionally, Hulcher, along with graphic designers Rachel Hendrix and Tyler Furgerson, won gold in Best of Visual Assets for 2024 and won Heersink Creative Work of the Year for their work and design on the Gala’s brand identity.
“I feel incredibly honored to receive these awards, but the real privilege is getting to tell the stories of such courageous survivors and the teams who care for them,” Hulcher said, reflecting on the recognition. “I hope that through this work, people can better understand the strength, compassion, and expertise behind trauma care–and the importance of sharing patients’ stories.”
Hulcher graduated from The University of Alabama, earning two bachelor’s degrees – one in journalism and one in English. She joined the UAB Department of Surgery team as a communications specialist in 2021. Previously, she worked at Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama as a communications manager.
About the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Communications Excellence Awards
The annual UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Communications Excellence Awards celebrates the creativity, dedication, and impact of communications professionals across the community. These awards highlight the exceptional faculty and shine a light on their achievements in various communications categories.