UAB Medicine has been named to Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2025 list of “100 Great Neuro and Spine Programs,” which recognizes hospitals and health systems that demonstrate excellence in neuroscience and spine care.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to welcome Courtney McSlarrow.

Lori Allison is a program manager for the Office of International Medical Education where she has served since 2024. Before her work for IME, she spent 27 years in Information Technology, holding roles in Project Management, Process Development, and Risk and Quality Management. She was nominated to the 2025-2026 cohort of Medical Education Unsung Heroes by Michael Massey, program director for IME.

As part of the Medical Education Committee’s (MEC) charge for curricular planning and oversight, the group has recently voted to make several changes to the curriculum that will allow the students to have more time for career exploration and strengthening their credentials before applying to residency programs.

Ryan Outman has transitioned from his role as executive officer for Finance and Administration to senior executive officer for Finance and Administration in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Outman steps into the senior executive officer role Jason Daniel has held since September 2023. Daniel will devote himself full-time to his position as vice president of the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States, and it is more common in men, with an estimated 20,030 new male cases diagnosed in 2025. Multiple myeloma is the accumulation of clonally expanded plasma cells in the bone marrow, with risk factors such as age, race, family history of plasma cell disorder and male sex. It has been unclear why an increased risk of multiple myeloma occurs for men.

Fatigue, unexplained weight changes, and mood swings. These common complaints can have many causes, but one often-overlooked culprit is the thyroid. This small, butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck produces hormones that influence every cell, tissue and organ in the body, controlling metabolism, heart rate and how quickly the body processes everything from food to sugar.

This month’s UAB Department of Surgery Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight highlights Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Advanced Practice Provider Jamie Theodore, CRNP. From her journey as a nurse in the ICU to the UAB Cardiovascular Institute, her breadth of knowledge and personal experiences highlight her empathetic approach to patient care. In her interview, which was led by UAB Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Marvi Tariq, M.D., Theodore shares journey into medicine, along with the full life she lives outside of the clinical space.

The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences celebrated the opening of The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Surgical Skills Laboratory with an open house on Dec. 10 at UAB Hospital-Callahan Eye.

One couple with faculty roots in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine not only contributed to the school’s clinical, educational, and research-driven missions while serving their respective departments, but they are now giving back to support future clinicians, mentors, and scientists in doing the same.

Herbert Chen, M.D., the Fay Fletcher Endowed Chair of the UAB Department of Surgery, gave the 2026 State of the Department presentation earlier this week, spotlighting achievements from the past year and reflecting on the 80 year history of the department.

The Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (DBIDS) is spotlighting its expanded leadership team, featuring four vice chairs whose expertise strengthens the department’s mission.

A new research study led by UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center scientist Kirk Habegger, Ph.D., shows that cholesterol-lowering drugs enhance weight loss facilitated by glucagon receptor agonist obesity drugs.

Our Get to Know series highlights our dynamic researchers from across the UCDC, from faculty members to trainees and laboratory staff. This month, we’re spotlighting Huixian Hong, M.D., Ph.D., an experienced researcher who joined the lab of Kirk Habegger, Ph.D., as lab manager in 2025.

UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine Assistant Professor Haoyang Yan, Ph.D., received the Borrelli Family Lynch Syndrome Research Award at the 2025 Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer Annual Meeting in recognition of her research to improve cascade testing.

Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the UAB Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (CEDHARS) and professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), has received a 2-year, $199,029 research grant from the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation to lead a national study examining the demographic profile of and long-term outcomes after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine medical students Thanushri Srikantha, Neil Chaudhary, and Alison Levine were awarded among the best projects of the 2025 UAB Medical Student Research Day (MSRD).

D. Matthew Sherrer, M.D., associate professor in Anesthesiology, has been named assistant dean for Faculty Affairs at the Heersink School of Medicine. In this role, he will lead initiatives to strengthen clinical faculty development, advancing a key mission area for the school and UAB Health System.

The Department of Pathology is pleased to announce a new faculty member joining our team, effective January 15.

Robert Hollis, M.D.,MSPH, an assistant professor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery and leader of the colorectal cancer management team in the O’Neal Cancer Service Line, was recently featured on a national medical education podcast episode focused on the modern management of diverticulitis for hospitalists and frontline clinicians.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office would like to welcome 19 individuals in its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership in the spring of 2026. The goal of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership is to enhance existing personal, leadership, and management competencies while leveraging current leadership strategies and trends. The 6-month program features guest speakers from executive-level leadership positions at UAB, including former graduates of the Institute for Leadership.

The DATA coordinating and Collaborative Research Unit (DATA CRU) at UAB will lead the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for the United States arm of the international WARRIORS trial (Women’s Aneurysm Research: Repair Immediately Or Routine Surveillance).

As the temperature drops, it is not uncommon to experience joint pain. Joints may become stiffer and more painful due to colder temperatures, and this can be attributed to several reasons. Joint conditions, such as arthritis, can additionally impact joint health during the winter months.

Joint problems and conditions can be debilitating and significantly impact a patient's overall quality of life. Conditions such as forms of arthritis, cartilage damage, and injuries can affect mobility and cause pain during daily activities. Recognizing these conditions can enable early treatment and reduce the discomfort that joint conditions may cause.

Robby Van Sciver, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, whose research focuses on studying Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and cilia biology using mouse models.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Cardiovascular Institute patient services were recently recognized in Newsweek’s list of the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026, highlighting its position as a leading institution in treatment and care.

UAB Department of Surgery providers have been recognized by UAB Medicine for their excellence in patient care. This year, 42 providers have received the Provider Excellence Award – based on patient evaluations and feedback.

The UAB Department of Surgery is honored to congratulate five faculty members who have recently graduated from the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine Emerging Leader Series (ELS) professional development program, which was developed by UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office (LDO).

Matthew Trotta, M.D., PGY2, joined the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology in July 2025. He is originally from Pittsburgh. He earned his undergraduate degree in microbiology from Ohio State University and completed medical school at West Virginia University.

Muayad Alzuabi, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Neurology in September 2025.