Caroline Harada, M.D., associate dean for strategic initiatives in the Heersink School of Medicine Department of Medical Education, has been awarded the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

On September 28 and 29, 2023, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) held the inaugural UAB Global Health Symposium with a mission of “promoting equity in global health partnerships.” One year later, we reflect on the lasting impact of the symposium by recognizing collaborations that have seen continued success because of the event, including an ongoing partnership between UAB and Alexandria University.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine announces the opening of a new office: the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement (OAE). The office will advise the dean and lead the strategic direction of the school’s programs and policies intended to identify and address barriers to success. It will promote an open and accessible environment for all students, faculty, and staff, ensuring every individual can thrive and contribute meaningfully to excellence in health care and science at UAB.

Training grants are an essential component of fostering research, education, and professional development for scientific pathways. They help support students through career development, collaboration and specialized training. The UAB Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program is a NIH T34 training program for students pursing a Ph.D. in biomedical research. 

In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement, in partnership with the UAB Office of Access & Engagement, gathered with members of the community to celebrate the achievements of Hispanic health care providers.

The Society of Neuroscience (SfN) is the world’s largest scientific organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of the brain and nervous system.

The Department of Radiology is pleased to announce that, effective October 1, 2024, Siddhartha Gaddamanugu, M.D., will assume the role of program director, Neuroradiology Fellowship, succeeding Vee Prattipati, M.D.

Lisa M. Curtis, Ph.D., has been appointed associate dean for Research & Training within the UAB Graduate School and Global Affairs (GSGA), effective May 1.

UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office welcomed 22 individuals in its ninth cohort of Institute for Leadership in August 2024.

Five new scholars have joined the UAB Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's (ADRC) REC Scholars program, which aims to develop research expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. As part of the Research Education Component (REC), the program offers mentorship and a specialized curriculum, helping scholars build experience in cross-disciplinary, team-based science.

Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) is a center dedicated to integrating knowledge and methods from various scientific fields to improve the lives of those who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Graduate Biomedical Sciences (GBS) at UAB recently welcomed its new class of GBS students pursuing their Ph.D. across eight interdisciplinary training themes. The GBS Doctoral Training Program provides interdisciplinary education and mentorship while allowing GBS trainees to perform doctoral research in more than 350 labs across campus.

Heersink School of Medicine awarded nine staff members as the 2024 Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff winners. Individuals selected for this honor showcased outstanding accomplishments beyond their daily duties and contributed considerably to Heersink’s core mission areas – education, clinical care, and basic, translational, and clinical research.

The UAB Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and the UAB Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, hosted a seminar on Thursday, Aug. 29, featuring guest speaker Michael Vinikoor, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Medicine at UAB.

In a recent study, UAB researchers found that rather than stimulating both sides of the brain using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), unilateral right DBS may avoid DBS-related declines in verbal fluency and response inhibition in patients with movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

Camerron Crowder, Ph.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Neurobiology and assistant director of the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute (PMI), offers a unique research opportunity for undergraduate students by teaching the PMI research process, how to develop animal models, and the use of artificial intelligence to identify treatment options through courses in the Undergraduate Neuroscience Program.

In August 2024, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Graduate Medical Education office hosted a grand opening for its newly completed GME Wellness Center. The celebratory open house was attended by Heersink School of Medicine deans, faculty, UAB Hospital residents and fellows.

The UAB Medicine Leadership Competency Model features five domains and 19 competencies. In this series, we’ll examine this model and how it can be used to empower leadership.

The UAB Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program is uniquely offered by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB School of Public Health. The degree connects students with cutting-edge global health research and practice through collaborations amongst the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health, the Sparkman Center for Global Health, the Global Health Consortium, and several international partners. Camryn Durham and Divya Annamalai, two recent graduates of the program, share their experience.

Dale Colorado, DO, MPH, has been named assistant dean for Student Experience, a new position established in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine to support medical students in the learning environment.

Healthcare is an environment that is inherently challenging, with providers often facing intense emotional and physical demands. Beyond the high-stakes and long hours, healthcare professionals also bear the emotional weight of their patients’ suffering, making them particularly vulnerable to stress and burnout.  In her recent AMWA talk, Marie-Carmelle Elie, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., F.C.C.M., presented “Navigating Compassion Fatigue in the Workplace,” which explored the topics of stress, burnout, and coping strategies as it relates to individuals in healthcare. 

Lara Ianov, Ph.D., assistant professor and managing director of UAB's Biological Data Science Core (U-BDS), is playing a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of research at UAB.

The Department of Neurobiology invites the UAB community to attend the inaugural Robin Lester Memorial Lecture on Sept. 26 to hear a presentation from special guest David Linden, Ph.D., professor of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Heersink School of Medicine introduced four new research focus areas in 2022. Of these focus areas, Brain Health and Disease Across the Lifespan aims to improve understanding of brain development, aging, health, and disease.

Thirty-three individuals comprising seven teams recently graduated from UAB Medicine’s High Performing Care Collaborative summer 2024 program. The program, presented by UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office, recognized its graduates at a ceremony on Aug. 14, 2024. 

Cristin Gavin, Ph.D., serves as associate dean for undergraduate biomedical programs for the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. In this role, she has fostered thriving opportunities for UAB students, many of whom matriculate into medical schools, through the programs she oversees.

Blazer BRAIN is an eight-week undergraduate summer program that offers students an opportunity to conduct research and participate in an intensive professional development program as they work towards earning their Ph.D. in neuroscience.

On August 10, 2024, members from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine incoming MS1 class gathered with friends, family, faculty, and staff to celebrate the White Coat Ceremony. The annual ceremony is the first milestone event for medical students, honoring the receiving of their white coats. The ceremony took place at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL and was facilitated by Heersink School of Medicine leadership from each of its campuses.

The Association for Hospital Medical Education (AHME) declared every third Friday in August the annual GME Professionals Day to recognize program coordinators and GME administrators who help make residency and fellowship training programs successful. This year, GME Professionals Day is celebrated on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.In recognition of GME Professionals Day, get to know several staff leaders working in residency and fellowship programs across UAB.

David S. Geldmacher, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Neurology and Warren Family Endowed Chair in Neurology, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Brewer-Heslin Award for Professionalism in Medicine. Established by the late Gov. Albert Brewer, the award honors faculty members of the Heersink School of Medicine who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to providing highly skilled and deeply compassionate medical care to their patients.