Scott Austin, MBA, senior advisor for Faculty Affairs, and Shane Wiley, MBA, executive administrator in the Department of Medicine, have been named 2025 Will Ferniany Academic Medicine Leadership Award recipients.

On April 5, students representing the UAB Center for Community Outreach Development (CORD) attended the Alabama State Science and Engineering Fair at Auburn University.

Gregory Payne, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine, has been named the latest recipient of the school’s Featured Discovery award. This recognition celebrates notable research contributions made by faculty and highlights the impact of their scientific advancements.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that chronic kidney disease affects more than one in seven adults in the United States, an estimated 35.5 million Americans. Additionally, the risk of developing kidney disease increases with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

In this facilities update, we will highlight our major projects that are both nearing completion and recently completed but will not discuss all ongoing construction or renovation projects.

The recent Montgomery Health Policy Meeting brought together state leaders and healthcare experts to discuss mental health care in Alabama.

The Heersink School of Medicine has introduced a new Bridge Funding program—"Under Extended Review.” This program is designed to support investigators whose proposals have received a “fundable score” but await the Advisory Council meeting.

 As a lab manager, Khadija Seck oversees daily lab operations and helps coordinate experiments in the Habegger Lab.

The Heersink School of Medicine launched a new brand refresh on March 19, creating a more cohesive and unified identity. This article provides a deeper look into some of the new brand usage and how you can help ensure a unified image.

The Office of Service Learning has announced the largest cohort of Health Equity Scholars (HES) in the program's history, with 15 medical students embarking on this transformative opportunity. The Health Equity Scholars Program aims to cultivate future physician leaders by equipping them with the skills needed to provide quality health care to communities with less resources.

Eight students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine have been selected for the 2025-2026 class of Alabama Albert Schweitzer Fellows. These distinguished students are part of a broader cohort chosen from institutions across the state. Over the upcoming year, these fellows will dedicate themselves to implementing service projects aimed at addressing the social determinants that impact health outcomes in underserved communities.

Research is an essential part of health care. Every year, new discoveries are made that allow us to better understand the human body. Many of these discoveries would not be possible without enrolling patients as research participants. This is where the UAB Institutional Review Board (IRB) comes in. By protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects, UAB is able to continue learning through conducting human subjects research while also ensuring the health and safety of the participants.

The Heersink School of Medicine offers various programs designed to spur innovation and enhance leadership, communication, and networking skills in academic medicine. Join us this April for three upcoming events where faculty, staff, students, and trainees can explore key topics such as mentoring, career development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and work-life integration.

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.

Thirty individuals comprising eight teams recently graduated from the UAB Medicine High Performing Care Collaborative (HPCC) spring 2025 program. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office, recognized its graduates at a ceremony on March 6, 2025.

Discussing salary, promotions, or career advancement can feel daunting, particularly in health care, where a culture of teamwork and patient care often overshadows self-advocacy. Yet, these conversations are essential to career growth and professional fulfillment. In March’s American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) lecture, Stacey Lee, J.D., tackles these challenges in her presentation, “Navigating Your Career.” The Heersink School of Medicine invites all faculty and staff to join this necessary discussion on how health care workers can effectively negotiate for raises, promotions, and other career opportunities.

Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, professor of Pathology and Medical Education, has been named the associate dean for Global Initiatives and International Medical Education in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. This new role expands his leadership and builds on his success as assistant dean, further positioning UAB’s role as a global leader in international medical education.

For faculty in academic medicine, career growth and professional development often come with challenges. To explore these challenges and opportunities for growth, Sima Patel, M.D., FAES, FANA, an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, began collaborating in 2021 with Jane B. Allendorfer, Ph.D., FAES, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UAB, and 24 investigators through the Women in Neurology Collaborative Study (WINCS).

The Heersink School of Medicine transformed the UAB North Pavilion Atrium into a vibrant celebration of global traditions on February 6, 2025, during the Cultural Connections Food Fair. From the moment guests arrived, they were immersed in sights, smells, and sounds from around the globe, setting the tone for an evening of celebration, unity, and joy.

The Heersink School of Medicine hosts a variety of events each month to enrich and connect faculty, staff, and students. This February is no exception, with events ranging from a food fair to educational seminars to trivia. Here are six ways to get involved this month!