In an AcademyHealth blog post in honor of Mother's Day, Christy Harris Lemak, Ph.D., chair of the UAB Department of Health Services Administration, reflects on the disproportionate effect working from home is having on colleagues with young children and offers ideas for how to help. "As one of my colleagues noted, rather than pitting ourselves against each other in a dystopian version of 'academic hunger games,' the goal should be to support one another, recognizing that we all face different barriers and we should put our collective brainpower on how to fix a flawed system."

Alabama has been particularly affected by the opioid epidemic, say health care providers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Armed with a grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health, UAB is launching a pilot program aimed at getting more opioid users into treatment.

Lynne Shelton, a student in the UAB School of Health Professions’ M.S. in Healthcare Simulation program, has been named Teacher Educator of the Year in the Health Science Division by the Alabama Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE).

School of Health Professions' Dean Andrew Butler joined Amanda Dorsey, faculty member in the Department of Health Services Administration, for their "Quarantine Conversations" recently. This is a series of candid conversations posted on the department's LinkedIn page that captures people in their "natural habitat" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the Deep South sees a surge in cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, experts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have created a symptom checker to identify hot spots where the virus is spreading. The new website, HelpBeatCOVID19.org, will provide public health officials insight into underserved areas based on the symptomatic data collected from the region and could help inform and enhance public health observation.  

"I want you to know that every day I think of you collectively and individually, as I know you are doing battle in the trenches every day and night without end. On the one hand, I feel proud because we know the stuff you are made of and we know your resilience, passion and dedication to your life’s work. On the other hand, I wish I could see and talk with you individually to assess your situation and provide whatever guidance and support I can.

First-year students in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) program, placed second in the Mendix Student App Contest.

Katherine Meese, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Health Services Administration, joined a surgical mission hosted by Hispaniola Medical Charity. She witnessed this dedicated team of American physicians working long hours with limited resources. But at the end of each day, rather than being exhausted, the team felt the exact opposite.

The UAB Departments of Health Services Administration and Nutrition Sciences united for a "Poster & Lightning Talks Session" at the Edge of Chaos. The two departments, each members of the School of Health Professions, used a poster session format to bring together faculty, staff, students and scientists to discuss research and teaching.

Students from three programs in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Health Professions Department of Health Services Administration won first place at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Student Case Competition.

Five members of the UAB School of Health Professions faculty earned certificates for completing the National Inclusive Excellence Leadership Academy (NIXLA). Members of the Class of 2019 are Dina Avery, DHSc, Brenda Bertrand, Ph.D., April Rollins-Kyle, MAEd, Sarah Tucker, Ph.D., and Neena Xavier, M.D.

Eta Berner, EdD, professor in the School of Health Professions and director of the Department of Health Services Administration’s Center for Health Informatics for Patient Safety/Quality, is newly elected to the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) 2018 and 2019 Class of Fellows.

When students in the top-ranked health administration program in the United States look to apply their training in the real world, they don’t have to go far. One of the nation’s top academic medical centers is just across the street.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham launches the pilot class of the UAB Healthcare Educators Academy at an opening ceremony and reception on September 17, 2019. The HEA is a strategic partnership between the UAB Schools of Medicine, Health Professions, Dentistry, Public Health and Nursing designed to strengthen educators through mentorship that fosters a culture of excellence, develops innovative teaching resources and advances a collaborative environment.

Monica Aswani, DrPH, assistant professor in the UAB School of Health Professions’ Department of Health Services Administration, will receive a UAB National Alumni Society (NAS) Young Alumni Rising Star Award at a ceremony on September 19, 2019, at the UAB Alumni House.

Sue Feldman, RN, MEd, Ph.D., Director, UAB School of Health Professions’ Graduate Programs in Health Informatics, completed the 2019 HERS Institute at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) is a leadership development and research organization dedicated to women in higher education.

On August 17, 2019, Sister Almeda Golson, the first and only nun to graduate from the UAB School of Health Professions’ Master of Science in Health Administration program, passed away in Evansville, Indiana.

Mercy Catholic Medical Center announces Christopher Cullom, FACHE, alumnus of the UAB School of Health Professions’ M.S. in Health Administration program (Class 42), as president effective August 12, 2019. He will oversee MCMC – Mercy Fitzgerald Campus and MCMC – Mercy Philadelphia Campus. Mercy Catholic Medical Center is part of Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic.

Enyonam “Enyo” J. Kpomblekou-Ademawou, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management in the pre-professional track from the School of Health Professions is announced as the speaker for UAB's undergraduate ceremony. Kpomblekou-Ademawou has earned presidential and dean’s list honors. 

Tapan Mehta, Ph.D., a scientist with appointments in UAB’s Diabetes Research Center and Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC), has been named director of research for the Department of Health Services Administration.