The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is excited to announce the creation of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Medicine Fellowship, which will begin accepting applications in April 2026. Cassandra Buchanan Renfro, D.O. will serve as the program director and Radhika Sharma, M.D. will serve as assistant program director.

The UAB Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology (CDIB) has launched a new article series titled Meet the Minds of CDIB. The series spotlights the diverse faculty who power the department’s groundbreaking research. Through candid interviews, it gives readers a closer look at the career paths, passions, and real-world impacts of UAB researchers shaping the future of medicine.

In March 2025, Heersink School of Medicine held its annual Match Day ceremony, recognizing 183 medical students discovering where they would complete their medical residency training. These students have begun their residency journey around the state of Alabama and throughout the United States, taking the next step in their journeys of becoming the next generation of physicians. For Todd Peterson, M.D., assistant dean for students, Match Day is a culmination of four years of dedicated training and mentorship, preparing Heersink students for the transition to residency.

The Department of Microbiology hosted the 2025 Susan Roberts Dubay Endowed Lecture on Oct. 14, welcoming Lora Hooper, Ph.D., as this year’s keynote speaker presenting, “How the microbiome harnesses vitamin A to shape gut immunity.”

Ian McKeag, M.D., M.S., associate professor and head team physician for the USA Lacrosse Women’s Sixes team, recently played a pivotal role in helping the team secure a historic gold medal at the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.

Emily "Emme" Stewart, senior communications manager of the UAB Department of Surgery, has been elected to the board of directors Association of Academic Surgical Administrators (AASA), serving as chair of the communications committee.

Chas Peyton, M.D. associate professor in the UAB Department of Urology, has been selected as a recipient of the highly competitive 2025 NCI Early Career Cancer Clinical Investigator Award (ECIA). The ECIA is a funding mechanism provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support early-career clinician-investigators who aim to pursue a career in cancer clinical research. Candidates must be nominated by their institution, typically an NCI-designated cancer center.

Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, recently received a patent coin to honor her hard work and dedication as a UAB inventor. The patent coin recognition program is led by the UAB Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Beginning this past spring, UAB researchers who are named on a full patent will receive a ceremonial coin stamped with their name and patent number.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to highlight Tanner Teat, program coordinator II for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine.

High-pressure professions not only demand technical skill, composure, and moral clarity, but they also test one’s values and resilience. For Chief Annetta Nunn, Birmingham’s first African American woman Chief of Police, those same pressures became the foundation for a leadership philosophy rooted in courage, self-awareness, and service.

At 4:30 a.m., while much of Birmingham is still asleep, Taylor St. Martin, M.D., is already moving through the quiet rhythm of her morning. With bottles prepared for her daughter and her scrubs on, she heads out the door before sunrise. By 5:30, she is at UAB Hospital, ready to begin another day in anesthesiology residency — a role that demands focus and precision.

From September 21-27, 2025, a delegation from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) traveled to South Africa and Zambia to enhance institutional partnerships aimed at improving global health outcomes. The UAB delegation included Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health; J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., chair, UAB Department of Microbiology; J. Martin Rodriguez, M.D., FACP, FIPSA, Paul W. Burleson, M.D., Endowed Professor of Medicine; Rena C. Patel, M.D., MPH, MPhil, associate professor, UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, associate director, MHIGH Global Health Research; and Stephen Obaro, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, associate director, MHIGH Faculty Engagement and Service Initiatives.

UAB researchers are involved in a new clinical trial to explore a promising treatment for adults suffering from major depressive disorder, especially for those who have not been successfully treated after trying four or more antidepressants. The study involves researchers from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology and the Department of Neurosurgery.

Regan Gaskin, MPA, clinical research coordinator in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, was selected as a recipient of the Heersink School of Medicine 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards.

Through hands-on activities, panel discussions, and the inaugural Research Day poster and lightning round competition, UAB Primary Care Week introduced students to the full scope of primary care careers.

October 2025 marked the 10th anniversary of the UAB Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which became the 26th department in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in October 2015. Starting with just two faculty members in the surgery department in 1982, the department has grown into a destination for top-tier care in Alabama and the surrounding areas, boasting nearly two dozen faculty members and countless success stories.

A new music video released by the Brain Health Advocacy Mission (BHAM), part of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at UAB, serves to convey the impact of lifestyle habits on brain health. The video reflects BHAM’s mission to inspire members of the community to prioritize brain health across the lifespan—starting at a young age.

This year signifies a remarkable milestone for the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine—30 years of delivering life-saving care, excellence in clinical training, and driving innovation.

Stephanie Spain, CRNP, advanced practice provider in the UAB Department of Neurology, recently received the 2025 APP Champion Award in recognition of exceptional advanced practice providers. 

The UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology recognized eight members for their outstanding work this year in the 2025 Chair Awards.

In honor of our 10th anniversary as a department in 2025, we've been highlighting top headlines from throughout the past decade. Here's a roundup of the historical headlines we've featured!

Several members from the UAB Department of Pathology ran on October 11 in Equal Access Birmingham's (EAB) 10th Annual Heart + Sole 5K Run, promoting health and wellness in the Birmingham community. All proceeds from the fundraiser support EAB operations and the EAB Clinic to provide medications and medical services for patients. This year was the run's first time returning in person since before the pandemic. 

The UAB Department of Surgery was honored to recognize the second-annual awardees of the Moore-McDougal Staff Excellence Awards in Surgery on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the annual Surgery Staff Town Hall.

The UAB Department of Surgery has launched a new wellness initiative, through YogaLab Birmingham, to offer free yoga classes to faculty, residents, and staff through the end of October.

Joseph Johnson, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has been inducted as a fellow of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) during its 138th Annual Leadership Meeting.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is proud to announce the 2025 OB/GYN fellows.

The 2025 Tri-State Pathology Conference took place October 4-5 at the New Orleans Marriot in Louisiana, hosted by the Louisiana Pathology Society, in conjunction with the Mississippi Association of Pathologists and the Alabama Association of Pathologists. 

The UAB Orthopaedics’ Optimization Clinic was established to improve surgical outcomes for patients with complex medical needs by proactively addressing modifiable risk factors before surgery. The clinic focuses on patients who may have one or more co-morbid conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, or nicotine use, that can increase the risk of complications during or after orthopaedic procedures, especially hip and knee replacement surgeries.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to welcome two new faculty members to the department – Drs. Jillian McCabe and Shelby Svientek.

Over the past six months, the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at UAB has taken meaningful steps to expand access to care for all communities in Alabama. Gabriela Halder, M.D., MPH, an assistant professor in the division who spearheaded the initiative, elaborated on the team’s approach to community engagement, its impact so far, and its plans for the future.