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Pictured above: Dr. Cindy Joiner receives her vaccination.

Many in our Department were part of UAB Medicine's Phase 1 vaccine distribution plan which aims to provide vaccine for all UAB Medicine employees by the end of the month. From the initial shipment, nearly 7,000 UAB Medicine employees have received a vaccination, and additional vaccine is arriving soon. We are grateful to be part of the first wave of people receiving the safe and highly effective Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. For a primer on the science behind the COVID vaccines, take a moment to watch the JAMA video. 

Above: Drs. Joseph Park (OMFS), Graham Husband, Winter Williams (Attending), and Joseph Granade staff Tinsley Harrison Surge Team A.

The Department of Medicine is working with partners all across the clinical enterprise to respond to the latest increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Both intensive care (MICU) and acute care teams are rapidly deploying extra coverage to provide care for all who need it. The latest predictive models forecast a continued rise in infections that may last for the next four to six weeks. The Department is tremendously grateful for everyone who is making sure we stay on top of this surge. We urge everyone to stay vigilant and take all safety precautions to stay healthy in the days and weeks ahead.

For the third year in a row, UAB Medicine has recognized the “Top-Performing Providers” whose patients consistently scored them as exceptional communicators on satisfaction surveys. More than 150 DOM physicians and APPs rank in the top 20 percent of providers across UAB Medicine in the Physician Communication domain, despite the challenge of providing care during a pandemic. We salute each of them for their commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care!

Pictured above: Dr. Dhaval Raval (Assistant Professor, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) reviews a patient's scans at TKC.

A new interdisciplinary program now offers specialized care for patients who experience long-lasting symptoms following COVID-19. Appointments will span multiple clinics across pulmonary, cardiology, rheumatology, neurology, psychiatry and other specialties. This will enable physicians to treat the broad range of issues that frequently follow COVID infection, from fatigue and shortness of breath to brain fog and PTSD. Turner Overton, MD (Professor, Infectious Diseases) is medical director for the Post COVID Treatment Program, which is now accepting patients via self-referral, physician referral, and UAB Outreach.

After eight months of COVID, COVID, and more COVID, many of us are growing weary. Add to that the dwindling daylight and colder temperatures, and our mental health can take a serious hit. Checking in on our overall energy, engagement, and attitudes during the pandemic is the first step toward safeguarding our well-being. And take heart, there are simple tactics that experts recommend that can help you identify and address the burnout brought on by pandemic stress.