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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Diabetes Research Center (DRC) has named six recipients of the 2026 Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program, which identifies and supports new outstanding and innovative diabetes research projects at UAB.
Omosefe Ogbeifun, M.D., MPH, an Obesity Medicine fellow in the UAB Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, was accepted into the 2026 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scholars Program, a career development program that supports early-career professionals who treat and/or research diabetes and its complications.
New federal legislation was passed last year that impacts federal financial aid for our current and incoming medical students. Most changes will be implemented on July 1, 2026, which is the beginning of the 2026-2027 academic year. Changes include new annual, aggregate, and lifetime limits to the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan; the discontinuation of the Graduate PLUS Loan Program; and new federal loan repayment plans. Limited exceptions (“Legacy Provisions”) may be available to current borrowers for a limited period.
With a career defined by advances in clinical research, the growth of clinical programs, and, now, departmental leadership as chair, Rohit Dhall, M.D., an alumnus of both UAB Neurology residency and fellowship programs, credits UAB for establishing a foundation on which he could thrive.
Elizabeth Beierle, M.D., Charles D. McCrary Endowed Chair in the UAB Division of Pediatric Surgery, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 O’Neal Invests Award from the O’Neal Cancer Center.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences are developing technologies designed to improve how eye conditions are studied, monitored, and managed through advanced imaging software and light-based therapies.
Gary Turner, M.D., a former faculty member in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, has continued to support the department through an endowed lectureship that routinely brings internationally renowned experts to share their expertise with residents, fellows, and faculty.
For the past several years, Audrey Minter has been a welcoming presence for patients and families visiting the Sparks Center for Development and Learning Disorders at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. As a Patient Services Coordinator I, Minter helps ensure clinic operations run smoothly while creating a positive experience for those receiving care.
Theresa Wright, administrative supervisor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, and Leen Matalka, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, have graduated from the Elevate Leadership Academy, an eight-month leadership development program designed to strengthen leadership skills and prepare participants for expanded leadership responsibilities.
Callie Clowdus, LPN, and Laurel Waldrop, NP, of the Division of Surgical Oncology graduated from the UAB Wound Scholars Advanced Program on May 14, 2026.
UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair Herbert Chen, M.D., has been named a distinguished professor, one of the highest academic honors UAB confers, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to surgical education, clinical care, research, and leadership in academic medicine.
After more than two decades of dedicated service, Tracey Cotton-Bickham is retiring from the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology, leaving behind a legacy defined by compassion, mentorship, and a deep commitment to resident education.
The Department of Urology is proud to spotlight Kaylin Swoboda, MPH, education administrator, who recently joined the department and brings a thoughtful, steady approach to her role.
The UAB Department of Pathology is pleased to announce a new faculty member joining our team, effective June 1.
The UAB Department of Pathology is thrilled to announce a new faculty member joining our team, effective June 1.
Ioannis Liapis, M.D., MPH, a postdoctoral research fellow in the UAB Department of Surgery, recently received the Steve Sotsky Pancreatic Cancer Research Award from the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) for his presidential plenary presentation on diagnostic delays in pancreatic cancer at the 2026 AHPBA Annual Meeting, held March 19-22, 2026, in Miami Beach, Florida.
As a leader in her field, Jenn Coker, Ph.D., MPH has spent decades designing studies and translating research into meaningful change for patients. But in a powerful reversal of roles, she recently found herself on the other side of the consent form.
At the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, more than 1,100 residents and fellows are engaged in graduate medical education across over 100 programs. The House Staff Council (HSC) represents these trainees, bringing together residents and fellows from all programs to serve as a key liaison between learners and institutional leadership. In 2026, the HSC voted to officially change its name to the Resident/Fellow Council (RFC).
The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded travel awards to three trainees, who will present their research at national meetings this year.
Behind many of the critical decisions made in the emergency room is a highly specialized team working just out of sight: emergency radiologists. At UAB, these physicians play an essential, around-the-clock role, delivering rapid, precise diagnoses that help guide care when every second matters.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation hosted a regional conference aimed at introducing medical students to the specialty of PM&R.
Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., has been named a university professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The UAB Department of Microbiology achieved a significant national ranking in the 2025 Blue Ridge Rankings, placing No. 15 among microbiology departments nationwide.
Marisella Maribel Pillaca Horna, M.D., a pulmonologist from Peru, traveled to UAB as the first-ever physician in the Cassell Bidirectional Training Program. What she found here, and what she left behind, is already changing medicine on both sides of the world.
Four surgeons from the UAB Department of Surgery are now providing specialized surgical care to patients in Mobile and Baldwin counties through UAB's partnership with Infirmary Health, which is based out of the Mobile, Alabama area. Katelin Holmes, D.O., Jillian McCabe, M.D. R.D., James Sahawneh, M.D., and Udai Sibia, M.D., MBA, bring fellowship-trained expertise in a variety of fields, including diseases of the breast, skin and soft tissues, and the entire gastrointestinal tract, to Infirmary Health facilities, extending UAB's reach throughout southern Alabama.
For Chris Grijalba, D.O., an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, lacrosse is about speed, skill, and opportunity. One of the fastest games on two feet, lacrosse rewards athletes of all shapes and sizes who bring effort and skill to the field. That blend of intensity and purpose is part of what drew him to the game, and ultimately, helped shape his path into sports medicine. Today, Grijalba has built a career allowing him to care for athletes while staying closely connected to the game.
The UAB Department of Otolaryngology hosted its 21st Annual Ann B. & Julius N. Hicks Lectureship in Otolaryngology and 2026 Residents’ Research Day on April 18 at Valley Hotel in Homewood.
Tanka Karki, M.D., joined the UAB Department of Radiology as an instructor in the cardiopulmonary imaging section in March 2026.
As temperatures rise and families head to pools, lakes and beaches, pediatric experts are reminding parents that water safety starts long before children step into the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, making prevention one of the most important steps families can take during warmer months.
With great pride and excitement, we announce the appointment of John Bridges, M.D., M.S., assistant professor, in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology as assistant program director for the Combined Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, effective Oct. 1, 2026.