Latest News

The UAB Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is leading the way with a new non-clinical curriculum for its residency program that features practical courses for trainees as they prepare to take on leadership positions, start and run a practice, and more.

It is with great enthusiasm that the UAB Department of Surgery welcomes Teviah Sachs, M.D., MPH, as director for the Division of Surgical Oncology, beginning July 15, 2026.

Adolfo Molina, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to serve on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Quality Network (PACCQN) Steering Committee.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 Founders’ Fund recipients.

Ryan L. Melvin, Ph.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, has been appointed director of the newly-launched Heersink School of Medicine (SOM) Digital Service Unit (DSU), further elevating the department’s leadership role in advancing artificial intelligence initiatives across UAB.

Maria Rueda-Altez, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been appointed to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Microbiology and Immunology Test Material Development Committee.

For the past year, Emma Nichols, R.N., has served patients and families in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Primary Care Clinic. As a registered nurse with seven years of nursing experience, Nichols provides compassionate care to children while helping families feel informed and supported throughout their visits.

A landmark Alzheimer's disease clinical trial has provided the strongest evidence to date that lowering the protein tau can slow cognitive decline in patients. The findings build on pioneering research published in Science in 2007 by UAB neurologist Erik D. Roberson, M.D., Ph.D., who was first author on a study demonstrating that reducing tau protected mouse models of Alzheimer's disease from amyloid-related damage.

DataLENS, a robust clinical data access tool jointly managed by the Department of Biomedical Informatics and Data Science and the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, was awarded the AAMC Group on Information Resources (GIR) Excellence Award.

Karin Hardiman, M.D., Ph.D., the associate vice chair of basic research in the UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Eugenia Kharlampieva, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Chemistry, have pioneered a promising new strategy to overcome one of the most persistent challenges in rectal cancer care – resistance to standard chemoradiation therapy.

The UAB General Surgery Residency Program recognized outstanding residents, faculty, advanced practice providers, and staff during its annual Awards Day celebration. 

Anath Shalev, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center, was invited to speak on novel approaches to protecting pancreatic beta cells at the Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection Summit 2026, hosted by the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom on June 15-16.

After gaining hands-on experience as a clinic technician at UAB, Worathon "Ikq" Dechanuwong, M.S., is taking the next step in his journey to become a physician. This fall, he will begin medical school at the University of South Alabama, carrying with him a passion for compassionate, patient-centered care.

Trainees under the mentorship of UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center faculty members in the UAB Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism and Division of Pediatric Endocrinology presented their latest research at the Endocrine Society meeting in Chicago, June 13-16.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham startup TIXiMED Inc. has launched the next phase of clinical testing for a novel oral therapy for Type 1 diabetes, moving the treatment one step closer to potential use in patients.

Before becoming the first former UAB Blazer to appear on an NBA Finals roster, Trey Jemison III learned the importance of sports vision care at UAB. Read how ongoing eye care and protective eyewear have helped him protect his vision throughout his basketball journey.

Jacqueline Garonzik Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAB Division of Transplantation and co-director of the Comprehensive Transplant Institute, has been named the Arnold G. Diethelm Endowed Chair in Transplantation Surgery, recognizing excellence in academic surgery and leadership in the division.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System recently approved the formal establishment of the Section of Psychology within the Division of Adult Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology. The new section will serve to further strengthen the contributions of psychologists across the Heersink School of Medicine’s three mission areas: clinical care, education, and research.

Long before neurology became an official department at UAB, it existed as something much less defined: a small but steadily growing field shaped by the efforts of a few providers working to meet a need that was becoming prevalent across the region.

Anushka Arora, an undergraduate researcher in UAB's Honors College Personalized Pathway program, won first place in her category at the UAB Spring Expo for her poster presentation, “A Pilot Study: Psychosocial Correlates of Pain in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis.”

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics has named Steven Marchman director of financial research.

After a national search, David Schneider, Ph.D., has been named chair of the UAB Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics (BMG), effective Oct. 1.

Lillian Brady, Ph.D., assistant professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, is among 10 recipients of the 2026 McKnight Scholar Award, a prestigious honor supporting early-career neuroscientists with exceptional potential.

William Meador, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurology, has been appointed vice chair for clinical affairs, a role that will help guide the department's clinical strategy and coordinate neurological care across UAB and UAB St. Vincent's.

The Department of Pathology is thrilled to welcome our incoming class of fellows for 2026-2027. The following individuals joined our team on July 1:

The Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology (CDIB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Monica Vasiliu, Ph.D., as Executive Administrator.

The Department of Pediatrics congratulates Anna Paige Crumbley, M.D., and Jacob Wurst, M.D., on being named the 2025-2026 Joe LaRussa Interns of the Year.

The Department of Pediatrics congratulates Madelaine Southall, M.D., Stefan Raicevic, M.D., Chris Turley, M.D., Carson Huynh, M.D., and David Wolff, M.D., on receiving the 2026 Outstanding Resident Quality Improvement Project Award.

The Year Two Questionnaire (Y2Q) is administered by the AAMC each year to active second-year medical students regarding topics such as learning climate, adjustment to medical school, and future career plans. The results are reviewed closely by Department of Medical Education leadership to determine areas of success and areas of improvement within our learning environment and student experience.

The Thread Leaders for 2026-2027 in the Department of Medical Education will be overseeing the first- and second-year medical curriculum, contributing to the success of Heersink School of Medicine over the next academic year.