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Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham 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.
Emma Hobby, Ph.D. student in the UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences program, neurosciences theme, is earning international recognition for her innovative research in Alzheimer’s disease.
For many patients, the idea of brain-focused treatment can sound intimidating, but advances in technology have made Central Nervous System stereotactic radiosurgery a safe, efficient, and minimally invasive option.
Anya McDaniel, UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine second-year student, has been selected as a national recipient of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship. The award will fund McDaniel’s second year of research in the UAB Department of Surgery on a collaborative project between Angela M. Carter, Ph.D., and Karin M. Hardiman, M.D., Ph.D., which McDaniel joined last summer as a participant in the department's Short-Term Research Experiences Advancing Medical Students (STREAMS) program.
On June 4, the Department of Pathology hosted its ninth annual C. Bruce Alexander Lecture in Pathology Education featuring Samuel Borak, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Community Practice Pathology Program. Borak delivered the lecture "Academic medicine in the community practice setting and the ever changing landscape of pathology."
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, has begun her term as the 138th president of the American Pediatric Society (APS), one of the most prestigious academic pediatric organization in North America.
The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to recognize the outstanding research contributions from its faculty, trainees, and staff.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Diabetes Research Center (DRC) has named six recipients of the 2026 Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program, which identifies and supports new outstanding and innovative diabetes research projects at UAB.
Omosefe Ogbeifun, M.D., MPH, an Obesity Medicine fellow in the UAB Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, was accepted into the 2026 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scholars Program, a career development program that supports early-career professionals who treat and/or research diabetes and its complications.
New federal legislation was passed last year that impacts federal financial aid for our current and incoming medical students. Most changes will be implemented on July 1, 2026, which is the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. Changes include new annual, aggregate, and lifetime limits to the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan; the discontinuation of the Graduate PLUS Loan Program; and new federal loan repayment plans. Limited exceptions (“Legacy Provisions”) may be available to current borrowers for a limited period.
With a career defined by advances in clinical research, the growth of clinical programs, and, now, departmental leadership as chair, Rohit Dhall, M.D., an alumnus of both UAB Neurology residency and fellowship programs, credits UAB for establishing a foundation on which he could thrive.
Elizabeth Beierle, M.D., Charles D. McCrary Endowed Chair in the UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 O’Neal Invests Award from the O’Neal Cancer Center.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences are developing technologies designed to improve how eye conditions are studied, monitored, and managed through advanced imaging software and light-based therapies.
Gary Turner, M.D., a former faculty member in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, has continued to support the department through an endowed lectureship that routinely brings internationally renowned experts to share their expertise with residents, fellows, and faculty.
For the past several years, Audrey Minter has been a welcoming presence for patients and families visiting the Sparks Center for Development and Learning Disorders at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. As a Patient Services Coordinator I, Minter helps ensure clinic operations run smoothly while creating a positive experience for those receiving care.
Theresa Wright, administrative supervisor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, and Leen Matalka, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, have graduated from the Elevate Leadership Academy, an eight-month leadership development program designed to strengthen leadership skills and prepare participants for expanded leadership responsibilities.
Callie Clowdus, LPN, and Laurel Waldrop, NP, of the Division of Surgical Oncology graduated from the UAB Wound Scholars Advanced Program on May 14, 2026.
UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair Herbert Chen, M.D., has been named a distinguished professor, one of the highest academic honors UAB confers, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to surgical education, clinical care, research, and leadership in academic medicine.
After more than two decades of dedicated service, Tracey Cotton-Bickham is retiring from the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, mentorship, and a deep commitment to resident education.
The Department of Urology is proud to spotlight Kaylin Swoboda, MPH, education administrator, who recently joined the department and brings a thoughtful, steady approach to her role.
The UAB Department of Pathology is pleased to announce a new faculty member joining our team, effective June 1.
The UAB Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce a new faculty member joining our team, effective June 1.
Ioannis Liapis, M.D., MPH, a postdoctoral research fellow in the UAB Department of Surgery, recently received the Steve Sotsky Pancreatic Cancer Research Award from the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) for his presidential plenary presentation on diagnostic delays in pancreatic cancer at the 2026 AHPBA Annual Meeting, held March 19-22, 2026, in Miami Beach, Florida.
As a leader in her field, Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH has spent decades designing studies and translating research into meaningful change for patients. But in a powerful reversal of roles, she recently found herself on the other side of the consent form.
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. In 2026, the HSC voted to officially change its name to the Resident/Fellow Council (RFC).
The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded travel awards to three trainees, who will present their research at national meetings this year.
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.