Latest News

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been chosen as the recipient of the UAB Department of Surgery’s John D. Kirklin Award.

UAB Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery Assistant Professor Manu Kaushik, M.D., visited the city of New Delhi, India, to share his experience in rural surgery with local healthcare providers and surgeons.

The UAB ALS Clinic, led by Nan Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., has reached several major milestones over the past year, reflecting its expanding leadership in ALS care, research, and innovation. From participating in groundbreaking national studies to expanding access to emerging therapies and receiving prestigious recognition, the clinic continues to advance its mission to improve the lives of individuals with ALS and their families.

David Standaert, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair, John N. Whitaker Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Neurology, delivered a special grand rounds and state of the department presentation titled “UAB Department of Neurology: Past, Present and Future” on Jan. 27, 2026. The grand rounds presentation was followed by a reception honoring the department’s 50th anniversary at UAB, with remarks delivered by UAB President Ray L. Watts and Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine.

Douglas J. Anderson, M.D., M.S., associate professor in the Division of Transplantation in the UAB Department of Surgery, has been selected to serve on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Surgical Research (JSR), a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and academic surgery.

For many Americans, a new year means new fitness goals. Three UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine physicians offer their tips for starting an exercise routine, preventing injury and even knowing if you are working out too much.

A research manuscript by Fernando Bril, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, is featured in the Endocrine Society’s Article Highlights of 2025, a selective list celebrating the quality and excellence of articles published in the past year.

UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Assistant Professor Sasha Still, M.D., has successfully performed the first robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement in the state of Alabama in December 2025.

In an ever-evolving global landscape, the urgency and complexity of public health challenges have only deepened. Yet, interest in global health continues to grow, and the Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program is seeing that firsthand. The MSGH program experienced growth in enrollment despite the challenging landscape in 2025.

The joint care team plays a vital role in delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care for individuals undergoing orthopaedic surgery, from hip and knee replacement to complex joint conditions across the continuum of care. Every day, this multidisciplinary group works collaboratively to support patients before, during and after surgery, ensuring safe, coordinated and compassionate care at every step of the journey.

Acute Care Surgery, a service line of the UAB Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, was recognized as one of UAB Medicine's top ten service lines for timely and effective consults, according to results from the 2025 hospital-wide Consult Optimization Survey.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, Anupam Agarwal, M.D., senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, delivered the 2026 State of the School address. The annual update focused on how the school navigated a year of national uncertainty while continuing to advance research, expand access to care, and invest in its people.

Etty (Tika) Benveniste, Ph.D., senior vice dean at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, has been selected as a 2026 Distinguished Fellow of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), one of the organization’s highest career honors. The title recognizes long-standing AAI members who have demonstrated exceptional scientific achievement, leadership, and service within the immunology community.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 2026 Pittman Scholars. This prestigious honor recognizes assistant professors for their exceptional research achievements and their potential to make future contributions to their fields. To be considered, the honoree must have held the rank of assistant professor for fewer than five years. Named after former School of Medicine Dean James A. Pittman Jr., M.D., this award highlights the school's commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in medical research.

Rondi Gelbard, M.D., a professor in the UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery, has received the 2025 Alliance Committed Leader Award from the Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance (The Alliance) which recognizes a leader who commits significant time and expertise to Alliance initiatives and taken on significant efforts to advance nationwide collaboration and engaged learning within the organ donation and transplantation community.

In 2025, the Department of Orthopeadic Surgery continued to show that caring for people goes beyond patient care. Throughout the year, we made space to support our staff, faculty, and trainees through moments of connection, appreciation, and wellness, recognizing that a supported team is essential to the work we do every day.

American Heart Month is a time to reflect on progress in cardiovascular care and emphasize a renewed focus on prevention. Today’s heart care is deeply connected to advanced imaging, with radiology and cardiology working side by side to detect disease earlier, guide treatment decisions, and ensure patients receive the right intervention at the right time.

The UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine made an impact at this year’s Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Conference on Medical Student Education. Faculty, residents, clinical and academic staff, and seven students from the department’s Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE) program contributed to the national discussion on the future of family medicine.

Satoru Osuka, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Uncle Kory Foundation to support his mission to advance treatment options for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

Brent Blackwell has joined the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery as an advanced practice provider (APP) serving the Neurosurgery Inverness Clinic and the Neurosciences One Neurosurgery Clinic at The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been awarded a $149,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research focused on a rare neuromuscular disease.

The UAB Medicine Vein Clinic has received reaccreditation and the 10-year Milestone Award from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC), reaffirming its continued commitment to excellence in patient care, clinical quality, and adherence to nationally recognized standards for venous disease management.

For nearly a decade, a dedicated team from the UAB Department of Radiology has been making a meaningful global impact by providing remote CT interpretation and mentorship to hospitals in resource-limited regions of Africa. Through ongoing partnerships with Mbingo Baptist Hospital in Cameroon and Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia, our team delivers high-quality subspecialty imaging support that helps bridge critical gaps in access to radiologic care.

UAB Hosptial-Highlands has completed a CT expansion project aimed at improving access and efficiency for patients across care settings. With the addition of a second CT scanner, the facility is now better equipped to serve a growing outpatient population while continuing to provide timely imaging for inpatient and emergency department patients.

Sharon Noser is a curriculum coordinator for the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) team, where she has served for more than 13 years. Before joining UME, she spent four years in the UAB contracts office. Noser was nominated to the 2025–2026 cohort of Medical Education Unsung Heroes by Mike Belue, program director for UME.

Hannah Zahedi, M.D., doesn’t just practice medicine; she lives it. In Marion, Alabama, her patients are neighbors, friends, and familiar faces she passes on her morning drive. A quick check-in call, a home visit, a conversation in the clinic, her day flows seamlessly between the office and the community she serves. For Zahedi, medicine is more than a job; it is a way of knowing the people behind every chart and responding to their needs with care and expertise.

The UAB Department of Urology is thrilled to announce the results of our 2026 residency match!

At the beginning of each year, many people set health-related goals with the best of intentions. Yet within a few months, those goals often fall away. While this pattern can feel discouraging, it is not a failure of motivation or discipline. Instead, it reflects how the brain, as well as our environment, form – and resist – behavioral change.

The UAB Department of Radiology had an outstanding presence at this year’s Southern Radiological Conference (SRC), with strong participation and recognition across both faculty and residents.

The UAB Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery led a holiday clothing and supply drive to support several local non-profit organizations, including Impact Family Counseling, the Offender Alumni Association, and the UAB Compassion Closet.