Pictured Above: Surge Team members Julie England (PGY2), Jacob Roemen (PGY2) and Alonso Heudebert (GIM Attending) step up to provide additional coverage for rising numbers of hospitalized patients.

As cases skyrocket across Alabama, Department of Medicine faculty, staff and trainees have taken on additional shifts to provide care for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The teams are working diligently to stay ahead of the rising numbers, arranging (and re-arranging) personnel to meet the need. Current models project total hospitalizations to exceed our previous high last winter, with as many as 250 patients in our system by the end of August.

More Good News for August 20, 2021

Glenn Rowe, Ph.D, (Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Disease) will lead an investigation of how mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated FGF-21 protein contribute to a decrease in adult skeletal muscle mass. This research ultimately aims to reduce acute and chronic conditions associated with skeletal muscle atrophy.

UAB Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology investigators and colleagues published three papers in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology—the entire section devoted to gout! We are proud of Dr. Ken Saag (Professor and Director) and all the contributors whose research was featured by the American College of Rheumatology!

Drs. Arora (Professor) and Parcha (Fellow) from the Division of Cardiovascular Disease recently found that Southeastern states in the U.S., including Alabama, has a 16 percent higher death rate due to cardiovascular causes compared to the rest of the country. Researchers conclude access to health care, education, and addressing disparities could reduce this trend.

Lynn Matthews, M.D., MPH (Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases) has been named Associate Director for Global Health Partnerships and Research in the School of Medicine. In this role she will work to advance UAB's global partnerships to reduce global health disparities through research, service and capacity building.

Mohamed Ismail, M.D., MSc, (Asst. Professor, Gastroenterology) joins UAB as a clinician-researcher who will focus on delivering comprehensive care for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. He completed his training at Johns Hopkins, one of the largest centers for this specialty. Welcome to UAB, Dr. Ismail.