Whether you’ll be new to Birmingham or a local considering a neighborhood change, navigating the housing market can be tough. But we know from experience that an inside scoop from your peers is always beneficial. For this Student Insight feature, our co-contributors reached out to a few of their classmates to learn more about their current neighborhoods and how they feel it works for their med student lifestyle.

In part two of the Heersink School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s Black History Month Series, see how two UAB groups—the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office for Community Outreach and Engagement and Live HealthSmart Alabama—are addressing challenges in underserved communities and seeking equity for the groups they serve.

To help you get to know more about the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and its Student Senate, as well as the city of Birmingham, your Vital Signs Student Co-Contributors interviewed the MS1 Student Vice President, McKinley Williams, and Class Treasurer, Hemant Srivastava.

Three generations of the Killion family have been impacted by neurodegenerative diseases.

The UAB campus was transformed in 2021 as two buildings—the Pittman Center for Advanced Medical Studies and the Roy R. Kracke Clinical Services Building—were demolished, setting the stage for renovation to begin on the Lyons-Harrison Research Building.

Even before the emergence of COVID-19, UAB Health System and Ascension St. Vincent’s were embracing the concept of “we’re all in this together” by forming an alliance between the two organizations.

Ricky Hamm is no stranger to UAB Hospital. As a medevac helicopter pilot, he has flown ill and injured patients to UAB for 17 years. He was the first medevac pilot to touch down on the landing pad of UAB’s new North Pavilion when it opened in 2004.