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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.
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.
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.
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.
The UAB Department of Microbiology achieved a significant national ranking in the 2025 Blue Ridge Rankings, placing No. 15 among microbiology departments nationwide.
Marisella Maribel Pillaca Horna, M.D., a pulmonologist from Peru, traveled to UAB as the first-ever physician in the Cassell Bidirectional Training Program. What she found here, and what she left behind, is already changing medicine on both sides of the world.
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.
Li’an Williams, a Medical Scientist Training Program student in the laboratory of Lalita Shevde-Samant, Ph.D., Endowed Professor in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, was recently named a recipient of the 2026 O’Neal NextGen Scholar Award.
Members of the UAB Department of Pathology attended a department wellness outing at Oak Mountain State Park on Saturday, May 16. Colleagues, alongside their families, enjoyed one another's company over an outdoor picnic.
Shi Wei, M.D., Ph.D., Hazel Gore, M.B.B.S., Endowed Professor in Women’s Health and director of the Division of Women’s Health, was recently recognized by Wiley for his 2024 article “Best practices for achieving consensus in HER2-low expression in breast cancer: current perspectives from practicing pathologists” as a top viewed article in the journal Histopathology.
The Recognition of Distinction in Global Health (RDGH) program at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine has reached a significant milestone with the graduation of its first two students. This achievement marks an important step in preparing future physicians with a broader understanding of health care delivered across diverse global settings. As the program continues to grow, it also welcomes a new cohort of twenty-three students who will build on that foundation through international experiences, research, and service.
In the span of four years, medical school asks students to master science, develop clinical judgment, and grow into physicians. For Audria Wood, MS4, it also meant learning how to care for a family member—her father.
When Dr. Amit Momaya patient Karma Kilgore stepped onto the court for summer travel basketball, she was ready for a breakout season. But just minutes into the game, a hard fall changed everything. After suffering a devastating ACL and meniscus injury, Kilgore turned to UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine for expert care and a path back to the sport she loves. Through surgery, rehabilitation and resilience, her recovery journey became far more than returning to basketball, it became a lesson in perseverance.
At the May public meeting of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Standing Committee on Primary Care, Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean of Primary Care and Rural Health, joined national leaders to spotlight the value of primary care research.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has implemented an innovative fast-track surgical evaluation program designed to improve access and efficiency for patients with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and epilepsy.
University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Satoru Osuka, M.D., Ph.D., was recently awarded a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Foundation Young Investigator Award (YIA) for his project, “Tumor-Matrix-Binding TGF-β scFv to Suppress TGF-β Signaling in Recurrent Glioblastoma.”
As the demands of daily life intensify, many find themselves trapped in an endless loop of worry. Whether it’s anticipating tomorrow’s challenges or replaying “what if” scenarios at 3 a.m., this universal human experience can quickly spiral from helpful concern to overwhelming anxiety. Heather Clark, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in physical medicine and rehabilitation at UAB says worry is a natural response—but one that can take over if left unmanaged.
The UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is excited to announce the results of its hand fellowship match for the 2027 program year!