News

UAB expands its treatment options for those struggling with urge urinary incontinence.

One UAB expert offers insight into the speculated connection between GLP‑1 medications and kidney stone risk.

Recent innovations include a noninvasive external urine collection device, a system designed to simplify how clinicians manage fluid balance in critically ill patients, an ergonomic assist device for ureteroscopy and new ways to prevent kidney stones.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated the graduation of 12 faculty members from the LEading, Advancing, Developing (LEAD) program for spring 2026. The cohort brought together leaders from across clinical and basic science disciplines who are committed to strengthening their leadership impact and advancing academic excellence across the institution.

Heidi Neas was diagnosed with cancer at 16 weeks pregnant, became cancer-free at 22 weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy.

Twelve providers in the Department of Urology were recently recognized by the UAB Office of Patient Experience and Engagement for the exceptional care they delivered to patients during fiscal year 2025. These providers achieved a rating of 95 percent or higher in care satisfaction, based on patient feedback in Medallia.

Ten Heersink School of Medicine staff have been honored with the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the school’s mission through their work in education, service, and research.

Screenings are important in the standardized health care of middle-aged men.

The UAB Department of Urology is pleased to announce a partnership with three global leaders in healthcare technology and pharmaceuticals to support its premier endourology fellowship program.

Three esteemed leaders in the field of prostate care are joining the UAB Department of Urology in 2025, bringing heightened expertise and a specialized subset of services to patients across Alabama and beyond.

Twelve UAB employees recently graduated from the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) spring 2025 leadership development program. The program, presented by the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its third cohort of graduates at a ceremony on June 5.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that chronic kidney disease affects more than one in seven adults in the United States, an estimated 35.5 million Americans. Additionally, the risk of developing kidney disease increases with conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Kidney stones are more than just a painful setback—they can be avoided. Studies show that with a few simple lifestyle and dietary changes, you can significantly lower your risk of developing these painful stones.

It has been said that experiencing a kidney stone is the closest a man will get to experiencing childbirth, though the pain of a stone is alarming for both sexes. One in 10 people will form a kidney stone in their lifetime.

  The University of Alabama at Birmingham, one of the nation’s leading hospitals in robotic surgery volume, is enhancing its robotic surgery portfolio. The School of Medicine recently added the new da Vinci SP® Single Port Surgical System by Intuitive Surgical, making UAB one of only 15 medical sites in the country with the single port robot.

Written by: Amy Jones Media contact: Adam Pope Vivek Lal, M.D., Photography: Steve Wood A University of Alabama at Birmingham professor who has launched two startups was honored with the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s most prestigious award during the institute’s annual Innovation Awards on Oct.

Join the UAB “Stubble To Support Men’s Health” campaign and make a difference in the fight against prostate cancer by growing facial hair in support of the cause.The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Urology and the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center are hosting the “Stubble To Support Men’s Health” competition to raise awareness for men’s health...

Thomas Chi, M.D., MBA, joined the UAB Department of Urology as professor and chair in January 2025. Chi reflects on his first month in his new role and what he looks forward to as he helps shape the future of UAB Urology.

Soroush Rais-Bahrami, M.D., MBA, FACS, has been appointed the William H. Boyce Chair in Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, effective June 1, 2025. 

The UAB Department of Urology is proud to welcome our newest class of residents in the 2025 Match. This year is particularly exciting as it celebrates the approval of a fourth spot in the highly competitive, ACGME-accredited residency training program.

The UAB Department of Urology is thrilled to announce approval for a fourth spot in its competitive ACGME-accredited residency training program for the 2025 match process. This supplemental match will occur through the secondary matching process from Jan. 29, 2025, to Feb. 3, 2025.

Marissa Keppley, MBA, was announced the new Executive Administrator for the UAB Department of Urology, effective Feb. 10, 2025.

Joseph Crivelli, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Urology, was recently named a recipient of the Rising Stars in Urology Research Award from the American Urological Association.

UAB has been named a Care Center by the Oxalosis & Hyperoxaluria Foundation (OHF), making it one of three designated OHF Care Centers in the world. The designation marks UAB’s recognition as an international research hub and multidisciplinary clinical site focusing on primary hyperoxaluria and other rare kidney stone diseases.

Kidney stones can quietly form in the urinary tract, often without any immediate signs or symptoms. These solid crystals develop when certain substances in the urine combine, and the type of stone that forms depends on the specific composition of the urine.

Each November, the Department of Urology is proud to partner with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and UAB Medicine to raise awareness for and promote education surrounding health issues like prostate and testicular cancer.

Nine providers in the Department of Urology were recently recognized by the UAB Office of Patient Experience and Engagement for the exceptional care they delivered to patients during FY24. These providers achieved a 95 percent or higher top box rating (n ≥ 30) in care satisfaction based on patient feedback in Medallia.

Kristi Gidley, PA-C, MSHA, has been named Associate Vice President of Practice Expansion at UAB Medicine, effective Oct. 1, 2024.

Sunil Sudarshan, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Urology, has been named the next Associate Director for Basic Science at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, effective October 1, 2024.

Could a common natural sweetener be silently fueling the spread of cancer? HyeYoung Nam, Ph.D., Instructor in the UAB Department of Urology, has been awarded an O’Neal NextGen Faculty Development award from the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center (OCCC) for her study, “Altered fructose metabolism drives renal cancer tumorigenesis by promoting lipolysis.”