Since that time, the School of Medicine has made considerable progress in our goal of becoming the preferred academic medical center in the 21st Century.
Meeting goals doesn’t give us reason to be complacent—there are still areas of growth where the School of Medicine is poised to lead. We’ve already started the process in planning for AMC21 Reload, a continuation and reevaluation of the strategic plan. Under AMC21 Reload, I plan build off the programs Dr. Watts established and focus UAB’s research mission in a way that broadly encompasses all our disease states.
We’ll be focusing on five cross-cutting areas that are national priorities for investigation, have a high translation opportunity for patient care, and can build on UAB strengths to make the School of Medicine nationally prominent in research. Our research focus areas will also reflect the healthcare needs in the Deep South.
Two of these areas—personalized medicine and informatics— have already been selected.
Faculty were asked for their input on these strategic areas for excellence. AMC21 co-chairs, department chairs and research leaders will discuss the proposed research areas later this month during a half-day retreat.
Going in hand with the revitalization of basic research, the School of Medicine will be committing significant resources to infrastructure and support through the Academic Enrichment Fund. The AEF formalizes a directed commitment from UAB Medicine’s clinical enterprise to support research growth in the School of Medicine. We must stay on track to fully fund the $40 million AEF amount over the next three years, which will allow us to rebuild infrastructure needs around buildings and cores, recruit new and funded faculty, and invest in our top-notch faculty.