Members of the UAB Department of Pathology gathered for an outgoing reception for residents and fellows on June 5. Faculty, staff and trainees came together to celebrate at The Fennec with dinner and an awards ceremony.

Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named the recipient of the 2025 American Cancer Society (ACS) Professor Award. This award is the most prestigious grant made by ACS and recognizes professors who have made seminal, high-impact contributions to cancer research across a wide range of disciplines, including fundamental, clinical, psychosocial, behavioral, health policy, and epidemiologic fields. It provides $400,000 in funding for five years and can be extended for another five years.

Ananda Basu, MBBS, MD, FRCP, M.D., has been appointed as an associate director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) and will play an integral role on the center’s leadership team.

Brandon Rocque, M.D., M.S., and Andrew T. Hale, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery recently received individual pilot grants from the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health (MHIGH). 

Matthew Parr, M.D., Benjamin Saccomano, M.D., and Yasaman Alam, M.D., chief residents in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, recently participated in the Chief Residents Leadership Development Workshop hosted by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is excited to announce a new chapter in employee recognition by transitioning from Kudos Corner to UAB’s enterprise-wide Applause platform.

Join the Heersink School of Medicine for the 2025 Juneteenth Commemoration on Tuesday, June 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ALGEN lobby. Enjoy food, music, and reflections as we explore the significance of Juneteenth through community, education, and celebration.

Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) showcased their latest findings at the 17th Annual Midwest Islet Club (MIC) Meeting, May 7-8, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A new study led by Ananda Basu, M.D., used novel non-radioactive, stable glucagon tracers for the first time to characterize glucagon metabolism in humans with and without Type 1 diabetes, providing tools for further exploration into pancreatic alpha cell function in both Type 1 and 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Lead author Sasha Still, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and her colleagues, published their experience of TAVR explantation in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery and offer evidence-based strategies to optimize clinical outcomes in high-risk patients undergoing this procedure.

The UAB Pancreatobiliary Disease Center (PDC) hosted the second annual Hops & Hope Fair on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Cahaba Brewing Company.

After nearly three decades as chair of the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology, James A. Bonner, M.D., is transitioning to an Emeritus status and will continue to work on research efforts within the department, leaving a legacy of growth, innovation, and excellence.

Carlos E. Cardenas, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, has been named the 2025 recipient of the McMaster University Emerging Science Co-op Employer of the Year Award. This award recognizes employers and supervisors who act as mentors for co-op students and provide a rich and fulfilling learning experience.

Sixto Leal, M.D., Ph.D., Jay M. McDonald Endowed Professor in Experimental Pathology and Division Director, Laboratory Medicine, was recently awarded the Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS) Ellis Benson Award. Leal received the award at the ACLPS annual meeting on May 31 in Atlanta, Georgia.

David S. Geldmacher, M.D., FANA, FACP, professor, Warren Family Endowed Chair, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, and Director of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology in the UAB Department of Neurology, has been appointed to the rank of University Professor. This makes him the first person to hold the rank of University Professor in the 50-year history of the Department of Neurology.

  The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and UAB Callahan Eye are saddened to share the passing of Harold W. Skalka, M.D., on April 27 at the age of 83.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been chosen as a recipient of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Faculty Research Fellowship. The ACS research fellowship will begin in July 2025 and continue through July 2027, with an annual stipend of $40,000.

Designing Dreams, a nonprofit co-founded by UAB Division of Plastic Surgery resident Lauren Curwick, M.D., has begun broadening its mission to the state of Alabama. The organization's mission is to create healing spaces for children with cancer, bringing hope and happiness to their lives.

As summer ushers in the next generation in OB/GYN, we will soon bid a heartfelt farewell to our graduating chief residents. These eight exceptional physicians have left a lasting impact through their dedication to patient care, commitment to research, and contributions to medical education. Please join us in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them well on their next chapter.

Testosterone plays a crucial role in men’s health, influencing everything from energy levels and mood to muscle mass, bone density, and sexual function. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options is the first step toward reclaiming health and well-being.

Last week, we honored our UAB Pediatric Residency graduating class of 2025! This class has been an absolute joy, and we are thankful and grateful to them. May they continue life-long learning and strive for greatness!

Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2025. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 28th. Please see below where they will be going after completing fellowship training.

Every year the Department of Pediatric Subspecialty Fellowship Programs give out achievement awards to graduating pediatric fellows in three separate areas: research, quality improvement, and service.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed one new faculty member in the month of May. Please join us in making them feel at home! 

Think a sunburn is just temporary redness? Discover how UV radiation penetrates deep into your skin, damaging DNA, accelerating aging, and silently increasing your risk of cancer—even before the burn begins.

The Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce Oyedele Adeyi, M.D., FRCPC, as director of the Division of Anatomic Pathology, effective June 6, 2025. Adeyi joins the department from the University of Minnesota Medical School where he served as professor since 2019 and as director of surgical pathology. Prior to his appointment at Minnesota, Adeyi joined the University of Toronto in Canada as an assistant professor in 2006 and was promoted to associate professor in 2014.

Anthony P. Nicholas, M.D., Ph.D., recently left UAB after spending 29 years as a faculty member in the Department of Neurology. In that time, Nicholas established himself as a leader in the field of movement disorders on both clinical and research fronts, all while acting as a mentor for young neurologists representing medical students, residents, and junior faculty.

At UAB Heersink School of Medicine, many work quietly behind the scenes to ensure medical students have the tools, support, and structure to succeed. One key figure is Kenneth Hurd—a technician turned educator whose influence shapes everything from high-stakes exams to hands-on electives. His blend of technical expertise and student-centered service makes him a trusted presence during one of the most demanding phases of a future physician’s journey.

On May 9, 2025, members of the Heersink School of Medicine Medical Education Committee (MEC) met for its annual retreat to discuss directions for the undergraduate medical education curriculum. The MEC’s primary responsibility is to plan and oversee the curriculum and the communication of curricular changes to wider faculty, student, and administrative audiences across Heersink’s four campuses and instructional sites. The presentations and organized discussions throughout the day facilitated the beginning of conversation around the future of undergraduate medical education.

The UAB O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center recently announced five winners of the O’Neal Invests grant awards, two generously funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama (BCRFA).