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Hiboombe Haamankuli, DNP, MSN, ACNP-BC, is an experienced acute care nurse practitioner and instructor with the UAB School of Nursing, specializing in adult gerontology and a passionate advocate for increasing research and awareness for prostate cancer. Haamankuli is currently working with the UAB Department of Urology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center on a fundraising campaign in honor of his father who is now cancer–free thanks to early detection and intervention methods. In unison with the campaign, Haamankuli is training to complete two endurance races by the end of the year in order to raise awareness, promote education and fundraise for prostate cancer research.

As the oldest sibling of four boys, Haamankuli has always possessed a caring and nurturing spirit, qualities essential for his future career in nursing. His decision to pursue nursing medicine was solidified during high school, when Haamankuli witnessed his grandmother’s gradual decline due to complications from a stroke, and ultimately succumbing to them. Many of these complications could have been prevented had Haamankuli’s grandmother had access to adequate resources and care, which were, lacking in the rural parts of Zambia where she resided. This canon experience compelled Haamankuli to pursue a career that involved providing healthcare to all, especially the most vulnerable, and nursing thus became his chosen avenue.

Like many rural areas all over the world, patients from rural areas in Alabama deal with similar shortcomings in terms of conveniently receiving proper care. According to the Alabama Department of Health (ADPH), 43.6% of the entire state population lives in rural areas, which makes it challenging for many to have less sufficient access to healthcare.

Haamankuli became involved with prostate cancer care after his father was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of the disease. Early detection methods and treatment played a crucial role in saving his father’s life. However, Haamankuli soon realized that the majority of men diagnosed with lethal cancer do not have the same fortunate outcome. He made a personal commitment to raise awareness surrounding prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection and prompt treatment.

Haamankuli believes that there is a significant knowledge gap when it comes to prostate health among men in general, and even more specifically, the lack of understanding is even more pronounced in at-risk populations.

“I think there is also a lack of individuals who can disseminate prostate cancer research findings to the highly-vulnerable men. We need more clinicians and researchers to reach out to men in these communities,” says Haamankuli.

His primary approach to raising prostate cancer awareness involves fundraising for cancer research, after recognizing the pivotal role that research plays in developing life-saving treatments.

In collaboration with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Department of Urology, Haamankuli initiated a fundraising campaign as a tribute to his father, Bbwaani Haamankuli. The initiative's ultimate goal is to ensure that early detection and intervention resources are promoted to individuals at risk of developing prostate cancer.

Concurrently, Haamankuli is undertaking the challenge of completing two endurance races by the end of the year to spread awareness. He has already accomplished his first race, Xterra Oak Mountain, and is diligently preparing for the upcoming Ironman Chattanooga in September. In addition to these fundraising efforts, Haamankuli is undergoing the process of becoming a community health advisor through the program offered by O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Help support Haamankuli's awareness initiative through these quick and easy steps:

1. Click on the link 
2. Under the Make a Gift section, enter your desired gift amount
3. Select the "Give Now" option under Donation Frequency
4. Under Designation, select "Urologic Oncology Research Fund"
and enter the amount.
5. Under Additional Options, select "In Honor of Someone Special" and enter Bbwaani Haamankuli
6. Click "Save and Continue" and you will be then directed to your billing information.

Pediatric faculty from the UAB Department of Urology have had an amicable, long-term partnership with Children’s of Alabama and are making a difference in the lives of young patients through research and innovative, novel surgical techniques.

Two researchers from the Department of Urology were both granted DOD Kidney Cancer Research Program Concept Awards. This particular grant supports innovative and potentially groundbreaking novel concepts in kidney cancer research.

Department of Urology Associate Professor and Director of Medical Student Education Tracey Wilson, M.D., was elected into the Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM) Faculty Council in January 2023

After a decade of loyal service and leadership to the Department of Urology and Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, Dean G. Assimos, M.D., has been elevated to professor and chair emeritus status after his recent retirement.

In observance of National Cancer Prevention Month in February, three UAB patients share their experiences about how getting recommended prostate screenings helps save lives.

The Department of Urology had eight providers who were recognized by UAB Medicine as Patient Experience Leaders based on their patient feedback scores on Medallia.

Carmen Tong, D.O., an assistant professor of urology specializing in pediatric urology at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, recently gave a panel lunch discussion to the UAB chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) about her experience as a female in urology. Tong explains to us why it’s important to promote gender diversity within a traditionally male-dominated specialty.

Adam Baumgarten, M.D. is a physician who specializes in genitourinary reconstruction, urologic trauma, and prosthetic urology. He joined the UAB Department of Urology after completing training at the University of South Florida followed by a fellowship in urologic trauma, reconstruction, and prosthetics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He underwent advanced training in the treatment of urethral stricture disease, erectile dysfunction, male stress urinary incontinence, Peyronie’s disease, ureteral stricture disease, genitourinary trauma, and genitourinary fistulas. Baumgarten also has a concentration in performing operations such as urethroplasty surgery, penile prosthesis placement, artificial urinary sphincter and male transobturator sling placement, and both robotic and open urinary tract reconstruction.

After 10 years of service to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine and UAB Health System, Dean Assimos, M.D., will retire from UAB at the end of September 2022.

Dr. Keith Lloyd’s retirement celebration honored his long career advancing the field of urology.

The Research on Calculus Kinetics (R.O.C.K) Society held its annual meeting on March 25-26 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference was an eventful one for the UAB Department of Urology; it was also the first time the group had convened in person since the pandemic began.

UAB Faculty, residents, and School of Medicine medical students represented the Department of Urology in podium and poster sessions at the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association 86th Annual Meeting. 

After a long stint at UAB, Ross Holmes, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Urology, will retire at the end of 2021.