With the chilly weather in the air, summer may feel like a distant memory; however, that sun exposure you soaked up this summer on the lake, beach, or hiking trail, may be catching up with you.

A new study involving researchers in the UAB Department of Neurology could help doctors better understand a chronic pain-causing condition associated with diabetes mellitus and, therefore, improve treatment options and reduce pain for diabetic patients.

Angela Hays Shapshak, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Neurology, has been selected as a recipient of the Association of University Professors of Neurology (AUPN) Faculty Leadership Award.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Anderson Marshall, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, will be joining the Med-Peds Residency Program as an assistant program director as of Nov. 1, 2025.

Meg Francis, M.D., PGY2, joined the UAB Department of Radiology in July 2025. Originally from Louisville, Mississippi, she earned her undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and later completed her master’s degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She went on to complete medical school at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine.

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Research & Education (R&E) Foundation recently expressed its appreciation to Christopher T. Hensley, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Radiology, for his recent service on the foundation’s grant review study sections.

Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that causes seizures and affects millions worldwide. Though seizures are a commonly recognized symptom of epilepsy, the disease can present differently depending on the patient.

Members of the UAB Department of Neurology attended and presented at the 2025 Northeast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (NEALS) Consortium annual meeting in Clearwater, Florida, Oct. 7-10.

Gerardo Torres-Flores, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiology as an assistant professor in the emergency radiology section in July 2025. With a diverse background, he brings a passion for teaching and dedication to advancing the field of radiology.

This month, we’re excited to feature Division of Breast & Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Victoria Huynh, M.D., for this month’s UAB Department of Surgery’s Access & Engagement Committee Spotlight.

More than 120 physicians, hospital leaders, legislators, and educators gathered in Birmingham for the Rural Primary Care Summit, hosted by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine in partnership with the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Alabama Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Network, and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama (MASA). The goal: to identify practical, community-driven solutions to sustain rural health care across the state.

The UAB Department of Surgery is excited to welcome two new faculty members in the month of November 2025: Drs. Eliot Gagne and Lauren Theiss Gleason.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine launched the Family Medicine Integrated Residency (IR) program on the Huntsville campus in 2017, marking the beginning of a new approach to preparing physicians for long-term service in Alabama communities. The IR program combines early recruitment, hands-on training, and strong mentorship to help medical students transition seamlessly into residency.

Between lectures, labs, and late-night study sessions, medical students at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine have found a unique way to unwind—on pickleball courts. The Pickleball Interest Group, led by second-year medical students Juan Contreras (president), Bradley Dorin (vice president), and Krishna Josyula (tournament director), has grown into a popular way for students to stay active and connected.

UAB General Surgery ResidentEmily Baird, M.D., M.A., has been elected to serve as the Resident/Fellow Councilperson at-Large for the Excelsior Surgical Society (ESS), an organization affiliated with the Military Health System Strategic Partnership of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). 

From its vibrant culinary scene to its stunning Appalachian foothills, Birmingham is gaining recognition as both a medical hub and a city where life outside the hospital thrives.

UAB Department of Surgery Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery Assistant Professor Lily Gutnik, M.D., has been selected to participate in the 2026 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Presidential Scholars Program, a prestigious initiative that recognizes early-career surgical oncologists demonstrating exceptional promise in academic leadership, mentorship, and research.

Two physician-scientist trainees in the Department of Pathology participated in the UAB Global Health Symposium on October 29 and 30. Chiamaka Umah, M.D., PGY3, and Falone Amoa, M.D., M.S., a PGY5 and Ph.D. candidate in the laboratory of Upender Manne, Ph.D., M.S., participated in a range of engaging sessions to gain insights into innovative applications of artificial intelligence across diagnostics, health systems, disease surveillance, and more.

Chronic granulomatous fungal sinusitis is a rare, debilitating infection characterized by an enlarged mass in the nasal cavity or sinuses, facial pain and swelling, eye bulging, vision problems, headache and nasal congestion. While most cases are found in subtropical regions of Sudan, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia caused by Aspergillus flavus, a pathogenic fungus, cases have recently been identified in the Southeastern United States caused by Curvularia, an emerging pathogen.

One ambulatory clinic in the UAB Department of Neurology has recently achieved outstanding results in patient experience.

Sometimes it’s difficult to make time for hobbies outside of work. Doing so, however, can reduce stress and improve mental and physical health. The Department of Pathology’s Committee for Access and Engagement is on a mission to provide a welcoming environment that fosters the professional and personal development of faculty, staff and trainees. This month, several members from the committee shared some of their favorite hobbies, and why they find them meaningful.

Rithvikha Nair, a senior studying in the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), has received a 2025 undergraduate fellowship program funding award from Cayman Biomedical Research Institute (CABRI) to support her research in Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Thi Yen Ly Huynh, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in the Ramanadham Lab at the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC), was selected as a finalist for the Outstanding Young Scientist Awards to be presented at the International Meeting on Lipid Mediators in Health and Disease.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated seven distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL) program at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The program, facilitated by Celeste Morgan, Ph.D., CDMS, senior leadership development specialist, is designed to help early-career faculty strengthen their leadership skills, refine their academic identities, and chart clear, sustainable paths toward long-term success.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated ten distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the LEading, Advancing, Developing (LEAD) at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23. Facilitated by Kellie Carter, Ph.D., senior leadership development specialist, this cohort demonstrated a culture of growing leadership skills and advancing academic impact in the UAB community.

As the current cycle of the NAF Heersink Family Charitable Foundation Scholarships wraps up, we’re proud to spotlight the journeys of this year’s two fellows: Cristian Ghergu from Maastricht University and Marcelo Malisano Barreto Filho from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Their experiences reflect the power of international collaboration to advance global health research while fostering personal and professional growth.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Christy Foster, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, has been elected to membership in the Society for Pediatric Research. 

Two ambulatory clinics in the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology have achieved outstanding results in patient experience. The Office of Patient Experience and Engagement recently reported performance levels from July through September across all UAB ambulatory settings, showing that both Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Center and the Action Road Radiation Oncology Clinic achieved Level 5 ratings.

The Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce the winners of its inaugural 2025 Chair’s Excellence Awards. These awards celebrate faculty members in the Department of Pathology who exude clinical, research and educational excellence. This year’s winners are Hua Guo, M.D., M.S., Chair’s Award for Clinical Excellence, Ming He, M.D., Ph.D., Chair’s Award for Research Excellence, and Valeria Dal Zotto, M.D., Chair’s Award for Educational Excellence. Winners are chosen by Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., Robert and Ruth Anderson Endowed Chair.

A recent study published in Redox Biology by researchers from the UAB Department of Pathology revealed that too much of a good thing, specifically excessive antioxidants, can lead to heart damage. Traditionally, antioxidants and reducing agents have been found to protect cells. The new study “Reductive stress induces unresolved ER stress and proteotoxic cardiomyopathy” authored by Sini Sunny, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, and Rajasekaran Namakkal-Soorappan, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, challenges this notion with their findings.