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At the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, more than 1,100 residents and fellows are engaged in graduate medical education across over 100 programs. The House Staff Council (HSC) represents these trainees, bringing together residents and fellows from all programs to serve as a key liaison between learners and institutional leadership.
Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for Primary Care and Rural Health in the Heersink School of Medicine, has been selected for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Deans Fellowship program. Asif is the first UAB faculty member to be selected for this prestigious fellowship, which started in 2001.
Mark Hadley, M.D., professor and Charles A. and Patsy W. Collat Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, reflected on the history and evolution of spinal neurosurgery at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded travel awards to three trainees, who will present their research at national meetings this year.
James Johnston, M.D., professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, discussed the evolution of the department's Global Neurosurgery Program at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
Jeffrey Blount, M.D., MPH, professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, presented on the evolution of transitional care for patients with spina bifida and the development of the UAB and Children’s of Alabama (COA) transition clinic model at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
Jakub Godzik, M.D., MS, associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, discussed the future of spine care and the growing need for integrated and multidisciplinary systems designed to improve patient access, efficiency and coordination of care at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
Behind many of the critical decisions made in the emergency room is a highly specialized team working just out of sight: emergency radiologists. At UAB, these physicians play an essential, around-the-clock role, delivering rapid, precise diagnoses that help guide care when every second matters.
As a leader in her field, Coker has spent decades designing studies and translating research into meaningful change for patients. But in a powerful reversal of roles, Coker recently found herself on the other side of the consent form.
Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., has been named a university professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Before Trey Jemison III reached the NBA Finals, his sports vision care journey began at UAB. Now becoming the first former UAB Blazer to appear on an NBA Finals roster, Jemison's story highlights the importance of eye safety, prevention and specialized care for all athletes.
Nadine Bradley, pediatric neurosurgery nurse at Children’s of Alabama (COA), was recently selected as the winner of a 2026 Nursing Excellence Achievement Award.
Thirty-six members of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery have been recognized through the university’s annual Service Awards for their education, excellence and lasting contributions to UAB.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation hosted a regional conference aimed at introducing medical students to the specialty of PM&R.
In this installment, Ming Meng, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurobiology, explores his research using brain imaging, behavioral experiments, and computational modeling to study how perception, attention, and mental imagery work together to shape conscious experience.
James Markert, M.D., MPH, James Garber Galbraith Endowed Chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, highlighted the growth, innovation and impact of the department at the Society of Neurological Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting.
The UAB Department of Microbiology achieved a significant national ranking in the 2025 Blue Ridge Rankings, placing No. 15 among microbiology departments nationwide. In addition, five faculty members in the Department of Microbiology ranked among the top 18 percent of principal investigators (PIs) in the Microbiology/Immunology/Virology category for individual funding.
Four surgeons from the UAB Department of Surgery are now providing specialized surgical care to patients in Mobile and Baldwin counties through UAB's partnership with Infirmary Health, which is based out of the Mobile, Alabama area. Katelin Holmes, D.O., Jillian McCabe, M.D. R.D., James Sahawneh, M.D., and Udai Sibia, M.D., MBA, bring fellowship-trained expertise in a variety of fields, including diseases of the breast, skin and soft tissues, and the entire gastrointestinal tract, to Infirmary Health facilities, extending UAB's reach throughout southern Alabama.
For Chris Grijalba, D.O., an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, lacrosse is about speed, skill, and opportunity. One of the fastest games on two feet, lacrosse rewards athletes of all shapes and sizes who bring effort and skill to the field. That blend of intensity and purpose is part of what drew him to the game, and ultimately, helped shape his path into sports medicine. Today, Grijalba has built a career allowing him to care for athletes while staying closely connected to the game.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology hosted its 21st Annual Ann B. & Julius N. Hicks Lectureship in Otolaryngology and 2026 Residents’ Research Day on April 18 at Valley Hotel in Homewood.
Tanka Karki, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiology as an instructor in the cardiopulmonary imaging section in March 2026.
As temperatures rise and families head to pools, lakes and beaches, pediatric experts are reminding parents that water safety starts long before children step into the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, making prevention one of the most important steps families can take during warmer months.
With great pride and excitement, we announce the appointment of John Bridges, M.D., M.S., assistant professor, in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology as assistant program director for the Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, effective Oct. 1, 2026.
Carlos J. Orihuela, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology, was part of a spaceflight research project that examined why many individuals who survived pneumonia later experienced serious heart complications. The study focused on Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for most cases of community-acquired pneumonia, and how infection affected cardiac tissue. The biological mechanisms linking pneumonia to later cardiovascular disease remain difficult to define.
Historically, home accessibility has been viewed as specialized and often costly, designed specifically for people with disabilities. Today, advances in smart home technology are creating flexible, customizable solutions that benefit a wide range of needs.
On May 16, 2026, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine celebrated its annual Commencement ceremony. The event was held at Bartow Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, distinguished professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been named the 2026 recipient of the American Cancer Society Trish Greene Quality of Life Award.
Jordan DeMoss, MSHA, executive vice president of UAB Medicine, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Will Ferniany Academic Medicine Leadership Award. The Ferniany Award recognizes administrative executives who have advanced and supported UAB Medicine’s academic mission and inspire others through their commitment to that mission.
The UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine hosted its annual Research Day on May 11, 2026, bringing together faculty, fellows, and residents for an afternoon of scientific exchange, poster presentations, and oral abstracts at the Heersink Conference Center Lobby.
Four projects have been selected as the inaugural awardees of the Dr. Latesha E. Elopre Health Across the Lifecourse (HEAL) Pilot Program, supporting innovative research designed to improve health outcomes across the lifespan.