The UAB Department of Surgery welcomes two new faculty members, Margaret Romine, M.D., and Matthew Romine, M.D., who both completed their surgical residencies and fellowships at UAB.

How do you celebrate an extraordinary family? One that has devoted themselves to bringing skilled nursing into thousands of homes across Alabama? One that has given generously in support of hospice and palliative care for decades? For the family of the late Charles D. Beard Jr., the answer is simple. Keep on giving.

Harshad P.A., Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neurobiology. 

University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) senior Nic Amison recently spent two semesters serving as the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center’s (UCDC) first communications intern. 

The UAB General Surgery Residency Program honored its chief residents, as well as supporting faculty and residents across the program, at an annual awards day celebration.

A new UAB clinic offering a range of ENT services is backed by decades of experience in one convenient location on Highway 119. UAB ENT at 119, previously known as Alabama Nasal and Sinus Center, officially opened its doors under its new moniker in January 2025. The clinic is led by Michael J. Sillers, M.D., FACS, who recently rejoined the UAB Department of Otolaryngology as a clinical professor specializing in rhinology.

You’re not the only one digesting your lunch—so are your microbes. Every time you eat, an entire ecosystem inside your gut gets to work, breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and boosting your immune system. Probiotics, live microorganisms found in certain bacteria and yeasts, are at the heart of this process. But understanding how they function (and why you should care) can be more complicated than it seems.

Each year the Pediatric Endocrine Society (PES) selects a member who advocates for cost-effective practice and quality improvement in pediatric endocrinology to present the Paul Kaplowitz, MD, Endowed Lectureship at the annual meeting.

Sarah Novara, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been named a Fellow of the Child Neurology Society (FCNS).

The Cassell Family Bidirectional Training Program—empowered by the generous support of Ralph Cassell, Dr. Gail Cassell, and Dr. Cynthia Cassell—had its first major milestone in advancing global health initiatives and medical training in Peru with the launch of its first collaborative workshop. This program focuses on the bidirectional training of physicians in a global health fellowship through the UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and Partners in Health (PIH), known locally as Socios En Salud, in Lima, Peru.

When most people think of a surgeon, they don’t typically imagine handcrafted musical instruments, hill country blues, or early morning painting sessions. But for Kirk Withrow, M.D., associate professor and director of Salivary and Sleep Surgery in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, creativity isn’t a side hobby; it’s part of how he sees the world.

The Chu Family generously donated funds to Children's of Alabama and the Department of Pediatrics to support educational initiatives.

The Dixon Foundation supports the Dixon Pediatric Fellowship training program for fellows who intend to pursue an academic career with a research emphasis (ranging from basic and translational science to education or QI-centric research) in approved pediatric subspecialties.

UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation hosted the Kessler Foundation for on-site training as part of collaborative research project within the Spinal Cord Injury Model System. UAB is one of four research institutions participating in the study.

The UAB Pediatric Residency Program hosted the 19th Annual Coat of Arms Spring Scramble 5K on Saturday, May 17 in downtown Homewood.

UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center (UCDC) members and trainees will share their latest scientific findings at the world’s largest diabetes conference, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, June 20-23, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Research at UAB Heersink School of Medicine gives medical students hands-on experience in investigative medicine, helping deepen their understanding of and develop solutions for health care access and accessibility.

Yanna Brooks, certified medical assistant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery, has been selected for the 2025 Patient Experience Hero Award. She was nominated by Clinic RN team lead, Jessica Wesson for her commitment to patient care and ability to build meaningful connections with patients and colleagues.

For Donna Duke-Pope, “You’re not alone” isn’t just a cliché phrase—it’s a truth she’s lived and now shares with others. She knows how isolating mental health struggles can be. More importantly, though, she knows the healing power of feeling seen, heard, and supported. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Heersink School of Medicine sat down with Duke-Pope to learn more about her advocacy journey.

UAB Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Associate Professor Berdale S. Colorado, D.O., MPH was selected to receive the 2025 Innovators & Influencers Award by the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to welcome Angelina Unich as an MSHA administrative intern.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery is pleased to welcome Anna Parker as healthcare management undergraduate intern in the Chair’s Office.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) is proud to announce the first Fellow selected for their North American Spine Society (NASS) recognized Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine (ISMM) Fellowship.

The Department of Genetics at UAB Heersink School of Medicine is pleased to announce that Jia Xuas been selected to receive the prestigious Elsa U. Pardee Foundation Award

Johan Latorre, M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), is the junior faculty winner of the Dean’s Excellence Award for Faculty in Access & Engagement by UAB Heersink School of Medicine.

Following a successful Match Day, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery welcomes a distinguished group of physicians who will continue their advanced training in specialized fellowship programs.

Schizophrenia is a serious and often misunderstood mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It involves a combination of symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and social withdrawal.

Erin Shaughnessy, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been announced as the executive vice chair of operations for the Department of Pediatrics, effective June 1, 2025.  

A new era in kidney disease care management has begun with the launch of Dialytix, a pioneering start-up founded by UAB faculty.

Melad Dababneh, M.B.B.S., Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology, will serve as section head of Head and Neck Pathology, effective June 1. Dababneh joined the UAB Department of Pathology in 2024 from Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Robert J. Tomsich Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute where he completed his fellowship in head and neck pathology.