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By: Caroline Newman Published Date: Nov 16

When they look toward their future in medicine, UAB Heersink School of Medicine students Carla Brown and Ellie Pitchford both envision practicing medicine in rural communities similar to the ones that shaped them.

Growing up in Batesville, Miss., Brown, who will study at UAB’s Tuscaloosa campus, saw how people in the small, rural town cared for each other, but also how they struggled to access high quality, timely medical care, particularly if they needed to see specialists or were facing an emergency.

“We have one or two family medicine physicians who I have known my whole life, and a small hospital that has threatened to close several times. We do not have a lot of specialties; they just got rid of labor and delivery,” Brown said. “Growing up in that environment, I have seen several people in life-or-death situations need to get to the nearest hospital with specialists who can treat them and unfortunately pass before they can make it there.”Carla Brown

Raised roughly 200 miles away in Scottsboro, Ala., Ellie Pitchford noticed similar trends as friends and family sought medical care.

“My grandparents often had to travel 45 minutes to see their primary care provider,” said Pitchford, who lived in Scottsboro until age 21, when her family moved to Birmingham. “There is also a significant lack of mental health resources in rural communities, something that I would like to address as a provider and make available to my patients.”

Both Brown and Pitchford are MS1 students and members of the latest cohort of the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine’s Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience program, or CU2RE. Launched in 2020, CU2RE is designed to enhance the recruitment, training and retention of medical students dedicated to serving as family medicine physicians in underserved rural and urban areas of Alabama.

The program recently admitted a second cohort of 16 students, Brown and Pitchford among them, after kicking off with an inaugural cohort of eight students in 2020. Students, who can choose between an urban underserved and rural medicine track, remain in the program throughout their four years in medical school. They are paired with a dedicated mentor and complete web-based modules, monthly early clinical exposure experiences and an intensive summer program during their first two years, along with a four-week Family Medicine Clerkship in their third year and a four-week Family Medicine Acting Internship in their fourth year.

“Our goal is to provide CU2RE students with early, hands-on clinical experience and a unique curriculum that will better prepare them to serve patients in these areas of critical need – both in rural and urban underserved communities,” said Jill Marsh, M.D., assistant professor and director of the CU2RE program’s urban underserved and rural pathways. “The students learn to be a personal physician for their panel of patients through mentorship and clinical exposure, but they also learn about how to assess and address the non-medical factors that are crucial to truly transform long-term health outcomes for their patients.”Ellie Pitchford

For example, students learn how to collaborate in interprofessional teams, how to address a patient’s social determinants of health, how to measure the quality of care delivery, how to adjust their care approach based on the unique cultural and linguistic needs of their patients, and how to use nontraditional methods of connecting with patients, such as telehealth.

“We want to ensure that, no matter where they live or what their situation, patients can access excellent care from physicians who are prepared to meet them where they are in life and location,” Marsh said.

Brown said she was especially drawn to the early clinical experience and mentorship that the CU2RE program offers.

“I am excited about getting a lot more hands-on experience early in medical school and about the mentorship aspect of the program,” Brown said. “I did not really have a lot of guidance getting to medical school, so it was very important to me to find that here. I am also excited to be with others who are interested in primary care and family medicine, to bounce ideas off each other and share experiences that might be different from those I have had.”

Pitchford, who will study at the Huntsville campus, said she applied to CU2RE because she is “hungry for clinical opportunities to start serving people now, instead of having to wait.”

“Growing up, I always saw the doctors [in Scottsboro] use medicine as a way to serve people and that is what attracted me to medicine,” she said. “If I am going to spend all of this time in school, I want to come out of it able to serve people and serve some of the most vulnerable populations, including rural people.”

Both women believe that an influx of family medicine and primary care physicians, supported by programs like CU2RE, can help solve some of the problems patients face in rural areas.

“I saw a lot of health disparities in my community, which really made me want to practice in a similar area,” Brown said. There are a lot of different challenges, she said, from gaps in health literacy that keep patients and providers from understanding the patients’ concerns and how to treat them, to logistical challenges like transportation to and from appointments.

“Providers in rural areas have to understand where patients are coming from, what challenges they face,” Brown said.

Pitchford also wants to make one thing clear to her classmates and fellow aspiring physicians: providing care in rural communities is challenging, meaningful and valuable work.

“I think sometimes there is this expectation or bias that medical students who are interested in rural medicine are limiting themselves or taking the easy route,” she said. “I want people to be encouraged. You are not limiting yourself in rural medicine. Medicine is all about serving the patient and you will do that every day.” 

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Nov 08

One in 10 Americans has diabetes and more than 88 million have prediabetes. With an often-irreversible diagnosis and lasting health implications, diabetes is a disease that can be prevented with the right strategies and support. For National Diabetes Awareness Month, two providers in the Department of Family and Community Medicine are sharing tips on how to prevent diabetes altogether.

Caroline Cohen, Ph.D., R.D., and Ksenia Blinnkova, M.D., MPH, are both assistant professors with the department. Cohen, a registered dietitian, regularly counsels patients on how to manage their health through personalized dietary plans. Blinnikova sees patients with diabetes management needs and specializes in weight management as part of her primary care practice. Both providers work with patients to avoid a diagnosis of diabetes and to support those living with the disease.

Here are their top four tips for preventing diabetes.

Ksenia Blinnikova, M.D., MPH

Know Your Risk Factors

Blinnikova noted that one in three people in the U.S. have prediabetes. Patients with pre-diabetes have a hemoglobin A1C, an indicator of blood sugar control, range between 5.7-6.4% and a high chance of developing diabetes. However, prediabetes can be reversed before a diabetes diagnosis occurs.

“Lifestyle modification is the basis for blood sugar management and avoidance of a diabetes diagnosis,” she said. “Making small diet changes and introducing regular exercise can help delay the onset of diabetes or even reverse a patient’s pre-diabetic blood sugar range.”

Blinnikova recommends that patients with elevated blood sugar levels, family history of diabetes, or a history of gestational diabetes talk with their primary care provider about their risk of developing diabetes.

Eat with Diabetes Prevention in Mind

“Patients should understand the role of nutrition in preventing chronic diseases like diabetes,” said Cohen. “The type, amount, and timing of the foods you eat all play a critical role in how you feel and in your blood sugar management. You can work with a registered dietitian to gain a better understanding of how a balanced diet impacts your health and can improve your overall lifestyle.”

Caroline Cohen, Ph.D., R.D.

Patients at risk for developing diabetes should eat a diet high in fiber, limit sugar-sweetened beverages, and choose poultry or fish over red or processed meats.

Find Support Through Prevention Programs and Your Primary Care Provider

According to Cohen, interested patients can enroll in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). The DPP provides education and resources to people who are interested in making lifestyle changes related to nutrition, exercise, and behavioral health, she said.

Blinnikova also encourages patients to seek out support groups and to talk with their primary care provider about diabetes prevention.

“Patients can get specific recommendations on dietary modification and prescriptions for exercise from primary care providers,” Blinnikova said. “Those conversations are a great starting point on a patient’s journey to healthier living.”

Maintain a Healthy Weight and Exercise Regularly

Cohen and Blinnikova also encourage patients to maintain a healthy weight.

“Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes,” Cohen said. “Research indicates that those with obesity can significantly reduce the risk of having type 2 diabetes by losing just 7-10% of their current weight.”

Blinnikova talks with her patients about integrating regular exercise into their daily lives to maintain a healthy body-mass index (BMI), even if they need to start small.

“For people that have not been exercising, I recommend starting with 5-10 minutes a day and slowly increase intensity and duration,” she noted. “Chose what you enjoy doing- whether walking, jogging, biking, or other activities – and keep moving. Every minute counts!”

The UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine employs a comprehensive approach to healthy lifestyles. With an on-site dietitian, behavioral health specialist, sports medicine providers, and weight-loss specialists, the department’s clinics are available to work as a team to encourage patients and help them avoid a diabetes diagnosis and reach healthy living goals. For patients wanting to make lifestyle changes, the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) program is a great first step toward reaching health goals. EIM gives patients a discounted membership to a local YMCA and provides specific recommendations for starting an exercise plan that is accessible and effective for them.

Learn more about Exercise is Medicine and other departmental resources here.

By: Caroline Newman Published Date: Nov 03 In mid-October, 25 medical students gathered for a Special Topics course teaching procedures that could become a frequent feature of their lives if they go into family medicine.

Held from Oct. 19 to 22, the course included sessions on ultrasound use in primary care and sports medicine, joint injections, women’s health and wound care. Providers from the Department of Family and Community Medicine, the Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency, the Gadsden Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency and the St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency (Christ Health Center) taught the four sessions, which totaled about 20 hours of hands-on learning for students.

“We wanted to offer procedures training that students would not be able to access on their own,” said Assistant Professor Ksenia Blinnikova, M.D., MPH, who led organization and curriculum planning for the Special Topics course. “Students got a lot of hands-on experience and they also got to see the full scope of family medicine in the breadth of the topics.”

“This was a good opportunity for students to learn more about family medicine and about different residency programs in the area.”

MS2 student Claire Wilson said all four workshops were helpful and rewarding.

“It was especially helpful to get to meet with the residency programs in Birmingham and learn from residents, learn about women’s health procedures to prepare for clinical rotations and have a wonderful preview of the musculoskeletal system and different relevant pathologies,” Wilson said. “The ultrasound workshop and joint injection workshop were really well done and targeted at clinical skills that are more up and coming which was exciting.”

Students practiced using ultrasound in diagnosing and treating injuries and performing joint injections, and learned about colposcopy, endometrial biopsy, IUDs and OB laceration repair in the women’s health session, led by faculty from the Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency.

“Students had the opportunity to not only learn about these topics but also gain hands-on practice,” said Mojica Catarina, associate residency program coordinator at Cahaba Medical Care. 

Bradley Green, M.D., a faculty member with the Gadsden Regional Medical Center who helped teach the joint injection session, focused on treatments for the knee and shoulders.

"It was great working with the medical students for the joint injection course. Everyone was engaged and we all had a blast practicing with the knee and shoulder injection models,” Green said. “Procedures are an important part of family medicine, so we're happy to share a bit of what we do every day."

On the last day of the course, students learned about wound care and use of an Unna boot, a gauze dressing filled with zinc paste. The dressing is used to treat venous stasis ulcers, wounds on the leg or ankle caused by damaged veins.

Cleon Rogers, M.D., who taught the workshop, said he sees similar wounds every day at his practice with Christ Health.

“Venous statis ulcers can really isolate people from their community, because they cause wounds that have an odor and that drain. People don’t feel comfortable going out or going to work,” Rogers said. He talked to students not only about wound care, but about the importance of recognizing the stigma that might come with some wounds.

“We really want to train them not only to treat the wound, but to help patients integrate back into society and overcome social stigma and disenfranchisement. Left untreated, these wounds can cost people their job,” he said, noting that venous statis ulcers typically do not feature in medical education, leading to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and further frustration for patients.

As future physicians, students must learn to advocate for their patients in those cases, Rogers said, and start treatment early to maximize success.

“We at Christ Health are happy to be part of providing that education, especially for students who will provide primary care to underserved and disenfranchised communities,” Rogers said.

Dalton Frederick, also an MS2 student, believes what he learned during Special Topics week will help him as he moves forward in his medical education.

“We can learn a lot of things in a classroom, but it is very rewarding to be able to apply those things in practice with the help of all the residents and physicians that helped make the Special Topics week possible. Covering women’s health, ultrasound, MSK joint injections and wound care, we learned valuable clinical knowledge helping us go forward.”

By: Published Date: Nov 01

Becky Reamey, Ph.D.The Alabama Statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program announces the appointment of Rebecca A. Reamey, Ph.D., to fill the position of Associate Director upon the retirement of Glenda Stanley. Reamey joins Alabama AHEC at an auspicious time as the organization transitions back to normal operations after many months spent in COVID-19 relief. It has been a period of great growth in terms of increased outreach and potential for the development and fostering of diverse partnerships upon which Alabama AHEC hopes to capitalize in the coming months.

“Alabama AHEC is a valuable part of the state and the mission of UAB. It plays a pivotal role in creating a future pipeline of healthcare professionals that will ultimately address some of the major healthcare issues found in our state,” said Irfan M. Asif, M.D., professor and chair, UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, and associate dean for primary care and rural health in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. “We are honored to have Dr. Reamey join the team in her new leadership role. She brings a wealth of experience and a passion for education and research.”

Reamey holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from The University of Alabama, with an emphasis on student development with interest in leadership and workforce development. Her postdoctoral appointment was at the Center for Community-Based Partnerships in the Division of Community Affairs at UA. In addition, she holds a Master’s degree in Communication Management from UAB. With more than 18 years of experience in curriculum design, program management, leadership development and teaching, her research interests focus on program evaluation and outcomes.

For the last four years, Reamey has worked to improve health outcomes and research throughout the Deep South as the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Training Academy co-director. Through the development of training initiatives, she has helped to ensure that the next generation of healthcare researchers gain the skills needed to lead teams, conduct research, write grants and develop careers as researchers. As part of her role, Reamey helped to establish the Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellowship, leading the scholarship and research modules.

As the Deputy Director of the Center of Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education, Reamey has been able to connect outcomes researchers to form interdisciplinary research teams and facilitate educational opportunities regarding outcomes research methods. In addition, she currently serves as an assistant professor in Infectious Diseases where she has participated in various COVID-19 projects that include the Alabama Comet/RADx-Up grant that, in turn, partners with Alabama AHEC and the COVID-19 Collaborative Outcomes Research Enterprise (CORE).

As a native of Alabama and member of the Blackburn Institute, Reamey has great familiarity with the adverse conditions facing our state, and the diverse nuances to consider in addressing those conditions, as relates to public health, accessibility to care, and health education in Alabama’s rural and underserved communities.

On behalf of the Alabama AHEC leadership, its staff from the Program Office and five regional centers, network and community partners, and the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, we welcome Dr. Reamey to her new appointment and expect great developments in the coming months because of the broad and unique experience she possesses.

Written by Allison Abney

By: Caroline Newman Published Date: Oct 28

Fall sports are in full swing in Birmingham, and UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine fellows Matthew Miesch, M.D., and Christian Muller, D.O., are in the middle of it all, whether courtside in Bartow Arena, on the sidelines at high school football games or at the ice rink with the Birmingham Bulls.

Miesch and Muller are in the first year of the two-year UAB-Cahaba Sports and Exercise Medicine Fellowship, which is supported by Cahaba Medical Care and the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine. Fellows receive comprehensive training in all areas of sports medicine, including sports cardiology, ultrasound, concussion management, exercise as medicine and more, while also completing a Master’s of Science in Exercise and Nutrition.

Joined by providers and faculty members, fellows provide sideline coverage at a huge range of sporting events all over Birmingham, including youth and high school sports, UAB varsity and club teams and professional teams such as Birmingham Legion soccer, Birmingham Bulls hockey and Vulcan Rugby. They will also be part of the UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine team providing medical coverage for both athletes and spectators at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham.

We caught up with Miesch and Muller ahead of UAB men’s basketball’s first home game on Monday to learn how the fellowship is going so far.

Q. What drew you both to sports medicine?

Muller: I swam for more than 14 years, including in college for the University of Buffalo. I love being in sports environments, dealing with athletes and coaches. Athletes typically have a special kind of drive. If they do get injured, they work very hard to get better and to come out stronger on the other side of the injury. They make for exciting patients and are just a lot of fun to work with.

Miesch: I was raised around a lot of sports – basketball, baseball, football, etc. – and played a few years of college baseball before going to medical school. I love that, as sports medicine providers, we get to be out in the community, on the sidelines, enjoying all sorts of matches and games. I wanted to choose a profession that would not feel like “work” every day because I enjoy it. For me, sports medicine offers that. The teams that we cover are a breath of fresh air, and we get to spend lots of time outside, at great events, with great teams and coaches. I love that environment and the sense of teamwork and camaraderie that comes with athletics.

Q. What sports are you covering right now?

Miesch: Along with professional teams like the Legion, Vulcan Rugby and the Bulls, we are working with a lot of UAB varsity athletics teams, including football, basketball, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer and cross country, as well as UAB club sports. We just finished up a club lacrosse tournament, for example. We also cover high school football every Friday night, which is a lot of fun. Going every week, you really get to know the athletes and their families. At all of the high school and club events, Christian or I serve as the primary attending physician on the sidelines, which gives us really great experience in that leadership role.

Q. What have been some of your favorite parts of the fellowship so far?

Muller: I knew that I was going to have a great experience working with the current staff. Dr. [Ian] McKeag [assistant professor and fellowship director] was a big reason I came to UAB. I really enjoyed meeting him during our virtual interviews and he is a very easy person to work with. He creates a productive, friendly learning environment, where it is easy to discuss and ask questions. I love all of the hands-on work that we have been able to do, and the trust placed in us as they continue to let us step into leadership roles. We get to make a lot of calls and decisions, and are really able to make a difference.

Miesch: I agree with all Christian said, and I have also really enjoyed the procedures we have learned to do, particularly ultrasound procedures. Ultrasound is a huge aspect of the sports medicine fellowship and I think it is a big part of our niche as nonsurgical sports medicine physicians. We also gain experience reviewing hundreds of CT scans and MRIs, but ultrasound is fairly unique in its use in sports medicine and mastering that really increases our value when we step into practice.

Q. What types of ultrasound treatments or services are you able to provide?

Muller: One of the most common uses is for joint injections, injecting corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid or gel injections, or PRP [platelet-rich plasma] injections to promote healing and joint function. We can also use ultrasound to diagnose rotator cuff tears or muscle injuries and identify fluid collections or even fractures. It can be both therapeutic and diagnostic and can be done on site, so that the patient does not have to go to another clinic for an MRI or CT scan.

Q. UAB basketball is about to tip off. What are you looking forward to?

Muller: I have not worked with the team much yet, but I’ve heard a lot of good things. I am excited to experience the energy in Bartow – you can probably feel it on your skin when you are there with the crowd. I am looking forward to experiencing that and watching the team play.

Miesch: It’s just great to be right there on the sidelines, really getting to know these Division I athletes and understand how to treat them and help them be their best. I also enjoy being around Dr. [Heath] Hale and Dr. [Amit] Momaya and watching how they interact with the team and the coaches.

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Oct 25

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), use of telehealth visits increased 50% at the beginning of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that many providers offer care, and it has created new ways for patients to connect with care teams from their homes.

While telehealth presents certain challenges, such as connectivity or access, it has broadened the ability for specialists and other care providers to reach patients who might not ordinarily make it to an urban area for a one-on-one visit. One provider in the Department of Family and Community Medicine believes this new pandemic precedent improves her ability to work with patients during nutrition counseling appointments.

Caroline Cohen, Ph.D., R.D., assistant professor and clinical dietitian, has found several advantages to having her nutritional counseling sessions via telehealth visits. Patients are able to show her their kitchens and the types of foods they can easily integrate into meal plans, and Cohen can quickly give resources by sharing her screen with patients. Cohen is also able to look at patients’ nutrition tracking apps which help facilitate individual recommendations for their nutrition plans.

“Telehealth visits give me increased access into a patient’s world,” noted Cohen. “This can really help with providing individualized dietary interventions and maximize the benefit of nutrition counseling.”

Nutrition counseling appointments allow for individualized conversation about health goals related to weight management, sports nutrition, and dietary management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and more. Cohen is also available for counseling surrounding pregnancy and lactation nutrition needs. She works with patients of all backgrounds and ages to counsel them on the best ways to integrate optimal nutrition into their diets.

For more information about nutrition services or to schedule an appointment, visit the UAB-Highlands Family Medicine portal.

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Oct 25

Claire Wilson, MS2At the same time that the world was reckoning with widespread outcry after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and dealing with the growing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Claire Wilson was experiencing a number of changes in her personal life. During her first year of medical school, a stressful and stretching time by itself, Wilson was managing family challenges and working through her own reactions to COVID-19 as an emerging medical provider and the racial injustice conversations happening around her as a multiracial woman.

It was a time marked by protests, personal reflection and increasingly honest storytelling surrounding racism in America, and Wilson’s own story began to unfold in a way she never imagined.

Months after these experiences, Wilson opened up to share her story with peers and mentors as part of a practical summer anti-oppression experience led by the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s Office of Identity, Inclusion and Collective Conscience (I2C2). I2C2 works to celebrate diverse identities, support inclusion and belonging of multiple stakeholders, and increase understanding and action around achieving health equity and social justice. Brandi Shah, M.D., MPH, director of I2C2, and Shyla Fields, program manager, work closely with U2P students to cultivate brave spaces for the students to learn how to elevate diverse voices and recognize and address social determinants of health in primary care and broader community.

A child of a multiracial family and resident of Birmingham, Wilson created a digital story during the culminating mini-storytelling workshop of the summer I2C2 program. The students were challenged to explore their and reconcile their own lived experience and personal connections to present-day anti-oppression and social justice issues that they learned about during the week. Wilson’s digital story demonstrates the brave and clear voice of a burgeoning physician committed to health justice, as well as the accessible skills-building of digital storytelling for health, all while weaving personal history into the critical conversations she is having as part of the CU2RE Urban Underserved Pathway (U2P) program.

I2C2’s week-long anti-oppression course took U2P students on tours of Birmingham and Montgomery Civil Rights locations, integrating the story of the southern cities into the broader story of the impact of racism, intersecting social determinants, and health inequity. The group focused on the complicated history of race and medicine, and how the students' own stories, past and future, could contribute to healing and equity. Shah and Fields provided creative support and mentorship for the students as they grew new understanding of each other and their practice community to engage in courageous self-reflection and personal and professional story sharing.

“Spending an intentional, mutually-enriching week with the inaugural CU2RE medical student cohort—and my emerging colleagues—provided some of the rejuvenating transformative power that sustains me in my own career,” said Shah. “I am grateful to the entire group for bringing all of themselves to the experience, and especially grateful to Claire for encapsulating the experience in her equally transformative digital story and reflections.”

Wilson shared her digital story and took time to reflect on her personal storytelling journey.

Q. What does storytelling in medicine mean to you?

A. “The practice of hearing and telling stories (even data driven stories) is, in my opinion what “makes the magic happen”. This is how we as medical professionals facilitate relationship and meaningful connection with our patients, which our curriculum teaches is the most fundamental skill to have as a physician. I think storytelling in medicine is at the heart of both the science and art of medicine.”

Q. How did the week of I2C2 summer programming meet your expectations as a U2P student?

A. “I2C2 brought an essential component to the U2P summer program. The week helped bridge gaps between classroom knowledge and real-world challenges and provided experiential context for many of the concepts that U2P focuses on, like racism in medicine and health equity. The program added important context to our medical education and connected us to the community.”

Q. What moments, activities, conversations, reflections stood out and why?

A. “One of the most impactful moments of the week for me was the spontaneous meeting with a member of the NAACP in the Civil Rights District and hearing her share stories of her experiences in Birmingham, growing up during the Civil Rights movement. It truly brought history to life and illuminated the importance of furthering the work of equality and equity in my generation. This visit was followed by a tour of the murals painted throughout the city after the violence and unrest of the summer of 2020. It was an eye-opening juxtaposition of what it looks like to be an activist then versus now. We also took a tour throughout Birmingham that included student research on different historical sites throughout the city. It was special to see the legacy of the city through the eyes of my fellow students.”

Q. The culminating activity of the week was a mini-workshop about using digital storytelling to reflect on your experience and raise awareness for change. Reflect on your experience of creating a digital story for this purpose.

A. “I thought the digital storytelling was an appropriate culmination of the week. It provided an opportunity for free expression, reflection, creativity and most importantly, was another opportunity to be radically honest with our colleagues. In a professional culture that is often fraught with burnout, high expectations, and perfectionism when the nature of medicine itself is inherently artistic and imperfect, I was thankful to have the opportunity to let my personal story and experience of the week be expressed authentically.”

Q. Overall, how did the week's programming influence you personally and professionally as you think about your career trajectory?

A. “After reflecting on all the experiences the week provided, I am more determined now to be a member of the medical community that values advocacy and healthcare policy reform. In addition to serving the underserved (especially in Birmingham), I hope my career affords me the opportunity to sponsor and support reform that affords more space for patient—doctor storytelling and reintroduces humanism and art into the culture of medicine that grows increasingly sterile, profit focused, and abbreviated.”

Q. What does an office like I2C2 provide for you as a medical trainee and other ways to meet your needs?

A. “I2C2 is a place I can ask questions about policy and advocacy, engage with the community and physician mentors, and reflect on my experiences safely. It’s a great place to find resources, support, and explore what the medical community is learning and unlearning together.”

Wilson’s digital story is available for viewing here or above. Learn more about I2C2 and their work by visiting their webpage.

By: Published Date: Oct 22

Student athletes are back and ready for a new season and the Sports and Exercise Medicine fellows at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are ready to provide the care they need.

The UAB-Cahaba Sports and Exercise Medicine Fellowship is a two-year program supported by Cahaba Medical Care and the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine. Fellows gain hands-on experience in sports medicine training as they diagnose and manage illnesses and injuries and provide coverage for professional, collegiate and high school athletes.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine fellows Matthew Miesch, M.D. and Christian Muller, D.O., are the sole physicians for Ramsey and Bessemer High Schools, respectively. They work closely with coaches, student athletes and parents at each school, participate in training room clinics and are on the sidelines during the games. For injured athletes, they provide non-surgical evaluations and treatment of these athletes with the goal to restore them back to their pre-injury performance level. In addition to Ramsey and Bessemer, the program works with UAB club sports, Vulcan Rugby Birmingham Legion and the Birmingham Bulls.

Matthew Miesch, M.D.

Along with helping student athletes, the partnership gives Miesch and Muller firsthand knowledge and experience of what can occur during the games and allows them to develop relationships with players and coaches.

Christian Muller, D.O.

“You have to get continuity with a team meaning you want to follow them along not just for one game not for two games but a whole season,” Miesch said. “You get to know the players you work with and the athletic trainers you develop good relationships with.”

The fellows can also help families get the care that they might not normally be able to access.

“The parents are so thankful that we’re there, and for the easy, convenient access to care,” Miesch said. “That’s the biggest thing I take home from this partnership. I’m able to go to them instead of them coming to me and that’s such a huge advantage for the families.”

The UAB SEM fellows strive to help athletes excel in their sporting activities and everyday lives. UAB is invested in cultivating a stronger community and brighter future by ensuring the students have the most excellent care possible.

“There’s such a variety of healthcare opportunities within the community and I’m glad to be part of helping make a difference for those that need it,” Muller said. “We have a bunch of really great athletes at all stages of life and athletics that I enjoy taking care of and watching them grow.”

This partnership makes high school football safer each time teams take the field, and makes it possible for student athletes, no matter their economic background, to receive excellent care and keep chasing their dreams on and off the field.

Written by Kenia Hernandez

By: Published Date: Oct 20

Glenda Stanley, MA, Associate Director of the Alabama Statewide Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program retired in October. Stanley has served the National AHEC Organization for over 20 years.

“AHEC has been like my family, I have worked with so many fun people through the years,” Stanley said. “AHEC has a tendency to attract like- minded people.”

Glenda Stanley, M.A.

Over the course of her career, Stanley has served in various roles within the National AHEC Organization including periods in Florida and her home state of Kentucky before joining Alabama Statewide AHEC Program. The Mission of the Alabama Statewide AHEC Organization is to recruit, train and retain a healthcare workforce for Alabama. The AHEC Organization provides accredited education programs to support the needs of practicing healthcare students in rural and underserved areas.

Stanley first worked with AHEC as a student back in the 1970s at the University of Kentucky, completing an interdisciplinary team experience in a rural area. Stanley was with four other health profession students and says she is a product of the AHEC system. Stanley began working with AHEC in 1993 as a student coordinator in Kentucky and served most recently as a Center Director in Florida before joining the Alabama Statewide AHEC Program.

“I was drawn to public health because I wanted to give people an opportunity a better life,” Stanley said. “I felt like the key to improving people's lives was education.”

While at AHEC Stanley strived to implement programs, services and activities that helped underrepresented and rural Alabamians build careers in the health professions by developing partnerships and facilitating resources with other organizations.

Award presentation from early in Stanley's career. Pictured (left to right): Maureen Guthke, Edna Apostol, Congressman Bill Young, Cindy Selleck, Glenda Stanley

Stanley has dedicated her time to countless efforts to improve the health and access to care for citizens in rural and underserved populations in Alabama.

“Education is just interwoven in everything that I believe in,” Stanley said. “A good education can change not only the student's life, but a whole generation. It provides another asset to the community.”

The goal of AHEC is to provide resources that give students in rural and underrepresented areas an opportunity to train as a health professional - that opportunity can change their quality of life, transform their future and uplift their communities.

The Alabama Statewide AHEC created the Alabama AHEC Network to initiate a coalition of community partners from the entire state by providing community-based training to the teams involved with COVID-19 testing in rural Alabama. AHEC has focused on testing and vaccinating rural and underserved areas and populations, In response to COVID-19, AHEC produced the playbook “How to Establish a Community-Based Vaccination Site for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine”. This playbook allows organizations to follow a series of steps and establish vaccination sites in the state where health care accessibility is limited. A UAB medical student led group, Equal Access Alabama (EEA), has partnered with AHEC to deliver vaccines primarily in the Black Belt region by going door to door with doses.

“AHEC was able to respond quickly; we've provided vaccinations in churches, the workplace, and all over the state,” Stanley said. “I'm very pleased that it also created a community health worker training program statewide, so we have community health workers deployed all over the state.”

Despite the COVID- 19 pandemic, AHEC continued to grow with Stanley’s quick efforts to adapt and reimagine the vision of how the organization might continue to serve Alabama. Stanley and her team were able to acquire and administer the funding that has made AHEC’s new vision attainable.

She advises health professionals and community members to show up, do their part and come together for something better. The rewards, she said, are well worth the effort. Looking back at her career, she is most proud of the way she has been able to help students, such as those in the Rural Health Club, which offers the opportunity to educate students regarding rural health issues in Alabama through volunteering, shadowing and workshops.

“While at UAB I've been most proud of our Rural Health Club, the student chapter of the Alabama Rural Health Association, so many of our students have been admitted into medical school, dental school and nursing school, the whole the whole range of health professions,” Stanley said. “I've had the privilege of being the faculty advisor for six years.”

In Stanley’s experience, the most rewarding part has been impacting one student at a time, and she plans to always remain a mentor for many of those who follow the path she helped pave.

Written by Kenia Hernandez

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Oct 18

Tiffani Maycock, D.O.Two faculty members from the UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency Program were promoted to associate professor in August 2021. Tiffani Maycock, D.O., residency program director, and Maria Oquendo, M.D., both received the promotion based on their achievements in resident education and patient care in Selma. 

Oquendo reflected on the promotion and the opportunity to share her knowledge with residents in Selma:

Marie Oquendo, M.D.

“Teaching residents and working in Selma has been a highlight of my career, so this promotion is very meaningful to me,” said Oquendo. “I look forward to continuing the good work we are doing on behalf of UAB and the community here in Selma.”

Oquendo and Maycock are just some of the faculty members in Selma. The unopposed residency program has operated for over 40 years and offers residents a completely rural experience, one of only a few such programs in the country. Under Maycock’s leadership, residents in the program have achieved a 100% board pass rate for the last five years.

"The four aims of our program are patient care, education, scholarly activity and research, and community engagement and service. Focusing on these areas for my own professional development as well as for the program has enabled me to grow in ways I never imagined and opened my eyes to opportunities I never knew existed,” said Maycock. “With this promotion, I feel an even greater sense of responsibility and pride in teaching and practicing medicine in Selma and extending my influence beyond.”

Both Maycock and Oquendo are part of the regional faculty of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. Maycock was recently named to the board of directors of the American Board of Family Medicine and Oquendo has been honored for several research projects at state conferences in the past few years.

“We are incredibly proud of both Dr. Maycock and Dr. Oquendo,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health. “Both of these outstanding physicians work tirelessly to provide our residents with engaging opportunities to learn and represent our department in Selma through innovative and compassionate leadership, particularly for medical students, residents and fellows.”

To learn more about Maycock and Oquendo’s work or the Selma Family Medicine Residency program, visit the UAB Selma website.

By: Published Date: Oct 12

Among the hidden costs of the COVID-19 pandemic is an alarming rise in domestic violence and intimate partner violence, a form of domestic violence in sexual and romantic relationships with devastating effects that can ripple across generations.

According the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, domestic violence cases increased by 25-33% globally in 2020, compared to 2019. More locally, domestic violence calls in Jefferson County, Alabama increased by 27% in March 2020, as compared to March 2019. Parallel increases were observed in other cities around the U.S., from Portland, Oregon to San Antonio, Texas or New York City.

In the midst of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Sumayah Abed, M.D., assistant professor in UAB’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and UAB Hoover Primary Care Clinic physician, is working to raise awareness among health care providers. She is especially concerned about the risk of intimate partner violence, which is already underreported and underdiagnosed by physicians.

“Even after recognizing the problem of intimate partner violence, victims may not get the necessary support, as many healthcare workers are unfamiliar with the policies and the resources to help them,” Abed said.

Intimate partner violence, defined as violence among current or former partners that may include stalking, physical, psychological and sexual violence, is common worldwide and affects both sexes. It is more commonly reported by heterosexual women, Abed said, but is likely to be underreported in men, transgender and gender non-conforming people and same-sex relationships.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of violent crime in the U.S., and approximately one in four women and one in nine men experience intimate partner violence.

The pandemic intensified many of the conditions that can fuel intimate partner violence. Some businesses shut down suddenly. Many families faced economic tension as well as the stress and uncertainty created by COVID-19.

“Besides the quarantine situation, the pandemic also aggravated alcohol abuse, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder,” Abed said. “All of these factors created an environment that exacerbates domestic violence.”

Sumayah Abed, M.D.

Assessing Risks

As the pandemic continues, health care providers should be especially conscious of those risk factors, including psychiatric illness, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and economic stress. Pregnant women are also at higher risk of domestic violence, which can also increase the risk of pregnancy-related complications, such as miscarriage, pre-term labor, and low birth weight in infants.

Additionally, children who come from families with a history of domestic violence are at a higher risk of replicating or falling victim to those behaviors in adulthood. All forms of domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, can have a devastating ripple effect in families and communities, something that family care providers like Abed are particularly concerned about. Early awareness, intervention and help can prevent generations of trauma.

What Health Care Providers Can Do

At the clinical level, prevention of intimate partner violence starts with consistent and accurate screening, Abed said. She and her colleagues at Hoover Primary Care and Hoover Family Medicine use several screening tools to detect domestic violence and intimate partner violence, including both self-reported information from the patient, physician-administered questions. They also follow the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommendation to screen all women of childbearing age for intimate partner violence.

Health care providers should pay particular attention to families at risk of domestic violence, Abed said, in order to protect the family and prevent future domestic violence by children in that family, who are exposed to that behavior early on.

Providers can also ask more general questions, such as, “Do you feel safe at home?”

More broadly, media campaigns, such as one launched by the World Health Organization to provide education about intimate partner violence, can also help to raise awareness and educate patients and providers. The WHO campaign aims to make that information accessible in clinics and patient settings, as well as among policymakers and researchers.

Finally, macro-level changes such as empowering women economically and creating a broad, interprofessional support network for victims can help bring about long-term change, Abed said.

“Interprofessional collaboration is key to helping victims of domestic violence,” she said. “Health care workers, social services, and legal and law enforcement officers are all essential to help victims and survivors of domestic violence.”

Anyone experiencing domestic violence or concerned about a loved one facing domestic violence can connect anonymously to a crisis counselor by texting “UAB” to 741-741 or call the Birmingham Crisis Center at 205-323-7777.

Written by Caroline Newman

By: Published Date: Oct 07

Erin DeLaney, M.D. Debbie and Johnny Scogin have been UAB Family Medicine patients since the mid-1980s. The Scogins were patients of Robert E. Kynerd, M.D., for 20 years, once he retired he referred them to Erin DeLaney, M.D., a family medicine physician, vice-chair for clinical affairs and quality, assistant professor and medical director for the Department of Family and Community at UAB Medicine-Highlands.

The Scogins have been with DeLaney ever since and their relationship highlights the importance of finding and developing a strong connection with a primary care provider. Primary care physicians are a frontline resource for a stronger and healthier life and have a big impact on the health of their patients and communities.

“Over time, as we hear our patients' stories and become part of their lives, we understand better their needs, goals, determinants, and preferences, which allows us to provide the right care at the right time,” DeLaney said. “This is precision medicine at its most basic level”.

Physicians become familiar with patient medical history, lifestyle, and every day needs.

“Dr. DeLaney is family to us,” said Debbie Scogin. “My mother was a patient of Dr. Kynerd's also and is now a patient of Dr. DeLaney's, and our 16-year-old daughter is talking about switching over to Dr. DeLaney too.”

Primary care practitioners often treat several generations of the same family, as DeLaney does with the Scogins. DeLaney has built long-term relationships with the Scogins. She is aware of their daily lives, medical history and what works best for them.

“We never feel rushed or hurried when we have an appointment with her. She is someone that we can be honest and open with about anything and everything,” Scogin said.

(top) Debbie and Johnny Scogin and family

She recalled several instances where DeLaney went out of her way to make the family feel comfortable and welcome, including after Debbie Scogin had unexpected back surgery in August 2019.

“The day after my surgery the phone in my room rang, and it was Dr. DeLaney herself calling me to check on me,” she said.

She also really listens to her patients, Scogin said.

“She is patient with us, she takes the time to listen to what we have to say or ask her,” said Scogin. “She is very caring & listens to everything you have to say and she asks you for your opinion about what you think about what she says regarding what she believes you need to do for your health.”

Relationships with patients matter, and patients will be more willing to follow care guidelines if they have a welcoming provider. Two-way communication is crucial for a strong long-lasting patient relationship.

“A strong patient-physician relationship, built on mutual trust and respect, is critical to being able to provide good primary care,” DeLaney said.

Written by Kenia Hernandez

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Oct 04

The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation’s Center for the History of Family Medicine is accepting applicants for their 2021 essay contest. Essays must center on the history of family medicine but can include creative elements. Winners of the national contest can win up to $1,000 for their essay, and the Department of Family and Community Medicine is offering additional prizes for UAB applicants to encourage participation.

Students who enter the CHM essay contest and provide a video describing their storytelling process to the department by November 1 will be entered to win up to $1,500 in prizes sponsored by the Department of Family and Community Medicine. This opportunity is open to all UAB-affiliated medical students and residents. Requirements for the CHM national essay contest can be found here.

Brandi Shah, M.D., MPH, assistant professor and director of the Office of Identity, Inclusion and Collective Conscious, is willing to review and mentor interested students in as they craft their essays. Shah is a lifelong writer and creative who teaches students about the power of storytelling in medicine through elective courses and mentorship. Contact her with questions.

Interested students can submit their essay, video and a copy of the submission confirmation email to Adrienne Fowler Payne via email. Please include "essay contest - NAME" in the email subject line. 

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Aug 25

The Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU²RE) program has received a supplemental award from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for $5.2 million.   

The supplemental funding will be used to increase educational activities for medical students, redesign family medicine clerkship curriculum across all UAB regional campuses, provide CU²RE students with stipends to offset medical education costs and implement new faculty, staff and student development initiatives.  

“This supplemental funding will help us reimagine medical student education in primary care at UAB,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health for the School of Medicine. “We will be able to collaborate even more with our regional campuses and key community partners and help develop innovative models of care in clinics across the state such as telehealth suites and genomic programs.”  

As CU²RE begins its second year of programming, MS1 students in the School of Medicine are encouraged to apply to be a part of the 2021-2022 cohort. Selected students will receive longitudinal mentoring from family medicine physicians, early access to clinical hours, a 10-patient panel to work with over four years, leadership and interprofessional education and more. Interested students can learn more and apply here by September 1 for consideration. 

The CU²RE program is designed to enhance the recruitment, training and retention of medical students dedicated to serving as family medicine physicians to provide primary care in the medically underserved urban and rural areas of Alabama. HRSA provided the initial funding for the program in 2020. For more information, please visit the Department of Family and Community Medicine’s website. 

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Jul 28

Summer programs are a common way for medical students to gain even more experience following their first year of medical school. Students might spend a few weeks researching alongside a faculty member, learning more about a relevant medical topic through elective seminars or working in a clinic. For Urban Underserved Pathway (U²P) students, CU²RE summer programming involved a full schedule of these activities and more.

The Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU²RE) program recently finished its first year. The initiative, funded by a HRSA grant in 2020, aims to increase the number of primary care providers interested in caring for underserved populations in Alabama. 

U²P is the first pathway under the CU²RE program umbrella and connects students who are interested in serving underserved populations in urban areas to clinics and experiences designed to strengthen their ability to pursue careers in urban primary care. The CU²RE program welcomed eight students in the winter of 2020 to be a part of the first class of U²P students. These students participated in elective trainings, clinical hours, research and more to increase their ability to practice community-minded and patient-focused medicine.

So far, the program has given students access to more than 700 clinical hours, three skills labs, six educational modules informed by campus and state leaders, and financial stipends to offset the burden of a medical education. Students also spent 20 hours learning about social determinants of health and cultural humility, in addition to other core areas of focus. CU²RE leadership developed an engaging six-week summer program to complement the fall and spring portions of the pathway.

"Our intent with the planning of the summer program was to give each student full exposure to clinical opportunities, research, special topics and skills labs to create an unparalleled summer experience,” said Jill Marsh, M.D., assistant professor and director of the U²P portion of CU²RE. “These incredible students were able to experience many aspects of urban underserved primary care during their only summer in medical school and, we hope, had fun along the way.”

The six-week summer program included time dedicated to topics like research, behavioral health, telehealth, health disparities, social determinants of health, racism in medicine, intersectionality and more. Students also received training in dermatologic, sports medicine and women’s health procedures through skills workshops led by CU²RE and department faculty.

Jack Stein, a U²P student, shared his perspective on the summer program and its impact on him.

“The CU²RE summer program was an incredibly valuable experience. It went beyond the traditional approach of many summer programs by providing tons of clinical experience and hands-on procedural practice within the scope of family medicine.”

U²P students enjoying lunch during their trip to Montgomery

Students participated in discussions and immersive community experiences aimed at expanding their understanding of the impact that culture has on medical outcomes and treatment. Brandi Shah, M.D., MPH, assistant professor and director of the Office of Identify, Inclusion and Collective Conscience (I2C2), and Shyla Fields, program manager, took the students on tours of civil rights landmarks and museums in Birmingham and Montgomery. These experiences reinforced the lessons learned through the CU²RE modules on racism in medicine, anti-oppression and cultural competency.

“This summer with U²P was extremely impactful for me,” said Channing Bruce, a U²P student. “Not only did I get to spend a lot of time in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, I got to have meaningful discussions and attend sessions that are unique to this program.”

The integrated summer program challenged students to apply their knowledge through interactive interprofessional activities, leadership seminars and development of a 10-patient panel. Each student was also encouraged to choose a research focus and begin their scholarly activity with support from Kimberly Smith, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Alabama Practice-Based Research Network.

CU²RE’s growing team of faculty and staff members work continuously to innovate and provide the best experience for students to encourage interest and personal investment in a primary care career after medical school.

“Primary care is exciting and there are many ways that family medicine can help address the shortages and health status of our state,” noted Irfan Asif, M.D.

Asif is the chair of the department, associate dean for primary care and rural health for the UAB School of Medicine and the principal investigator for CU2RE.

“We want to showcase all the facets of primary care to our students and encourage them to become community-minded practitioners through exposure to important topics like social determinants of health, racism in medicine, telehealth, and much more. These student leaders are the future of primary care, and we believe our investment in them now will pay dividends for statewide health and wellness in the years to come,” said Asif.

The U²P students' participation in the summer program reinforced and elaborated on the lessons that they learned in the spring, beginning the longitudinal path all CU²RE students will experience throughout medical school. They will continue with supplemental programming as they begin another year of medical school.

“This summer, I expected to grow my understanding of what it means to be a future physician,” said Kristina Redd, a U²P student. “I had no idea that this summer would create memories that captured my soul and resonate with me in such a way that affirmed my work and calling as a healer.”

In addition to the summer programming, Marsh and Adrienne Fowler Payne, MPA, program director for CU²RE, worked to recruit and expand the program to accept more students in fall 2021 for its second year of programmatic offerings.

"We are expanding the program to include our regional campuses this year,” said Payne. “As CU²RE grows, so does our potential impact on the state. It is an exciting time to be involved with our department and we encourage all interested first-year medical students to apply.”

First-year medical students at UAB can apply to the program online on the CU²RE program’s webpage. Applications for the 2021-2022 cohort are due by September 1.

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Jul 19

Earl Salser, M.D., is the director of medical student education for the departmentTo complete their medical school training, students in the UAB School of Medicine must train under practicing physicians in most specialties through third-year clerkships. The Department of Family and Community Medicine connects dozens of medical students with community preceptors each semester, giving medical students a chance to interact and build relationships with doctors in family medicine. Earl Salser, M.D., is the director of medical student education for the department and is a dedicated preceptor.

Salser has mentored students for more than 15 years and has encouraged many to find a deeper appreciation for patient-centered medicine. Salser, like other departmental preceptors, has built lasting relationships with some of his students. Jonathan Peters, M.D., is a graduate of UAB and a former student of the family medicine department. He is now a community preceptor for family medicine, mentoring and teaching students in his role as a physician at Cahaba Medical Center. Peters and Salser met when Peters was a first-year student in medical school, unsure of what specialty he would go into after completing school.

“Earl took a sincere interest in all of his students as people,” said Peters. “He wanted to encourage us beyond just medical training but through advice and empathizing with where we were in our medical journey.”

After working with Peters at a local clinic, Salser recommended that he participate in a pathway program over the summer to gain more experience in the family medicine specialty. The summer program instilled a love of family medicine and gave Peters a clear path forward as he continued his medical education.

“Earl’s recommendation helped steer my interest in medicine,” said Peters. “No one in my family was a doctor. I knew that the relational piece with patients was something that I wanted, and I was exposed to it that summer through family medicine.”

Salser says that it was natural for him to encourage students toward a career in family medicine. While each medical specialty has its benefits, Salser and others note that family medicine is an easy fit for those who enjoy creating and maintaining relationships with patients.

Before returning to UAB to work in the department and focus on medical student education, Salser treated hundreds of patients in private practice and taught students as a preceptor. Even before he created a career educating the next generation of physicians, he was contributing to their education in his clinic.

Jonathan Peters. M.D., is one of the department's community preceptors

“I enjoyed having students at my practice and found it intellectually challenging,” said Salser. “It made me want to be a better doctor so I could help them in their journey. When I made the switch to UAB, it seemed fitting that mentorship would be a big part of my new role. I enjoy being that connector for students to learn and find a path that they can succeed in.”

After working with Salser and other family medicine faculty members at UAB and in the community, Peters graduated and began a specialty training program in family medicine in Kansas. He went on to complete an international fellowship and work in private practice in Kansas serving rural areas. Once he returned to Birmingham, he began working with Cahaba Medical Care as one of their family medicine residency faculty members. Peters and Salser connected again as Peters began accepting UAB students in his clinic, just as he had been accepted years earlier.

“Working with students showed me that you don’t know what you don’t know until someone helps make the road a little smoother for you,” said Peters. “As a preceptor and mentor, you can turn around and do the same for someone just starting their medical journey. It is amazing to invest in others in this way and see the rewards that come out of it.”

Salser and Peters were both mentored throughout their family medicine journeys and have done the same for dozens of students. They view their contributions as a way to give back to a specialty that has given so much to them. Many of the department’s preceptors are community practice physicians who volunteer their time to train and encourage the next generation of family medicine practitioners. For family medicine, training new leaders is part of the fabric of their work and energizes these physicians as they see future medical leaders in their students.

“Teaching students revives my sense of purpose and reminds me why I got into medicine,” said Salser.

To learn more or apply to become a preceptor, visit the Department of Family and Community Medicine's preceptor webpage.

A condensed version of this story appears in the Department of Family and Community Medicine's "2020 Year in Review."

By: Jessica Jernigan Published Date: Jun 30

HRSA GRANT ENABLES DEPARTMENT TO TRAIN MORE PHYSICIANS FOR RURAL AND URBAN UNDERSERVED AREAS OF ALABAMA

By Julie Cole Miller

The Department of Family and Community Medicine was awarded a $7 million grant to address the need for training additional family medicine physicians to serve in rural and underserved areas of the state. The grant, from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, will enable the department to develop novel high school and college pipeline programs, medical student programming, and faculty development programs to enhance curriculum and mentoring efforts.

“Currently, our state needs more than 600 additional primary care pro-viders to meet the needs of the patients and the kinds of health conditions that we’ll be seeing by 2030,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. “To address this deficit, we must be aggressive in the family medicine and primary care programming that we develop and im-plement. This grant will go a long way toward helping us achieve that goal.”

HRSA, the primary federal agency for improving health care for people who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable, has awarded the grant for a four-year term, with an annual budget of $1,750,000. Asif has begun laying the groundwork for the department’s enriched training program—the Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE)—which will address six core areas related to interprofessional education, behavioral health, social determinants of health, cultural and linguistic competency, practice transformation, and telehealth.

Alabama needs to add hundreds of additional primary care physicians in the next 10 years to meet demand. “The CU2RE program will help identify, train and retain students interested in family medicine and primary care, particularly those from urban and rural underserved backgrounds,” Asif said. “We will tap into our regional campuses across the state to help broaden our reach, as well as partner with programs such as the Alabama Area Health Education Center, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, Office for Diversity and Inclusion, and others to identify high school and college students with a passion for service.” Asif says the grant will help offset the challenges that the region has long grappled with, particularly in its most vulnerable populations. “With an insufficient physician workforce, Alabama struggles to adequately prevent disease; this contributes to our state ranking in the bottom five in the country for many chronic illnesses,” he said. “This HRSA grant is meant to help address the state of Alabama’s primary care workforce shortage and sets the stage for making a considerable impact on the health and well-being of the patients we serve.”

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $7 million with 10% financed with non governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

THE CU2RE PROGRAM

By Erin Slay-Wilson

The CU2RE program is an educational approach that aims to ensure that more primary and family care physicians graduate from UAB ready to serve urban underserved and rural areas across the state. The program will engage first-year medical students in activities, educational discussions, and hands-on experiences thatwill educate them on the unique challenges that underserved populations face in Alabama.

In June of 2020, the department was awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration that has allowed the department to build a team and put the CU2RE plan into action. The pilot cohort of eight students, who are first-year medical students, started the curriculum in January 2021.

Through the program and the opportunities it offers, the department is poised to continue growing toward community-minded medicine over the next four years and beyond. The structure of the program will encourage regular assessment and longitudinal relationships with CU2RE students and organizations involved with the program.

Partnerships with UAB’s Huntsville, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa campuses are integral to the program’s success, as well as collaborations with organizations like Christ Health Care and Cahaba Medical Care in Birmingham. The CU2RE mission’s cornerstone isto collaborate with students and healthcare leaders across the state
to better address issues facing all Alabamians and their access to care. In considering the potential impact of CU2RE and the importance of educating providers on the need for such a program, Asif and his colleagues are ready for a busy four years as the program is implemented.

“In 2021, I am excited about the delivery of the UABSOM’s first Urban Underserved Pathway in primary care,” said Asif. “This program aims to teach students more about differences in cultures, social determinants of health, and common medical conditions in the underserved, and also potential mechanisms to improve care delivery. In 2022, we will unite our efforts with our regional campuses to deliver similar programming aimed at caring for the rural underserved. This is a game-changing opportunity for our state, and I am thrilled to be a part of this initiative.”

Looking Ahead 

Another core part of the CU2RE program is working to open a pathway for students in high school and college to pursue family medicine and primary care. A pathway is being developed to give students from around the state, especially those from underserved areas, a chance to shadow family medicine physicians and receive early experiential learning from UAB faculty members. In partnership with other pipeline programs on campus, this part of CU2RE creates longevity for the program as students are exposed to the medical field and the need for primary care in underserved communities before applying to medical school.

“By collaborating with established pipeline programs on campus, we are able to move the needle for CU2RE’s mission through widening exposure to medical curriculum to underserved areas and students studying in those communities,” said Adrienne F. Payne, CU2RE program director. “It is exciting to join with other visionary organizations in increasing access to primary care in Alabama through the healthcare leaders of tomorrow.”

By: Jessica Jernigan Published Date: Jun 30

Training the next generation of compassionate physicians is a statewide effort. In addition to UAB School of Medicine’s main campus in Birmingham, four regional campuses provide opportunities for educating physicians in family medicine and primary care, with concentrations in rural or urban underserved populations.

BIRMINGHAM

UAB School of Medicine’s Birmingham campus is home to the new Comprehensive Urban Underserved and Rural Experience (CU2RE) program for medical students, as well as the Urban Underserved Program (U2P). These programs are designed for medical students with an interest

in primary care, health equity, and a heart for serving vulnerable urban communities. Over the course of the four-year program, students will have one-on-one faculty mentorship at Christ Health Center, Cahaba Medical Care, and UAB Family Medicine–Highlands. For residents and fellows, the Department of Family and Community Medicine partners with Cahaba Medical Care to offer a residency program for both urban and rural tracks, a sports and exercise medicine fellowship, and

an emergency medicine fellowship. The physicians of Cahaba Medical Care serve as adjunct faculty members in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. The department also collaborates with Christ Health Care physicians; they are affiliated with St. Vincent’s/Ascension. A multidisciplinary faculty development fellowship is also housed within the Department of Family and Community Medicine.

HUNTSVILLE

The Huntsville regional campus includes a family medicine residency program and a rural medicine program. With one of the premier family medicine residencies in the Southeast, an accredited internal medicine residency program, and the UAB Health Center Huntsville, the north Alabama anchor of UAB Medicine has the largest multi-specialty physician practice in the region. They offer required and elective clinical experiences necessary for third- and fourth-year medical students. The Huntsville Rural Medicine Program is a primary care curriculum for students with rural backgrounds, and they offer other rural pipeline programs.

MONTGOMERY

This accredited campus in Montgomery is home to programs for medical students and physicians training in internal medicine, family medicine, and hospital medicine. With 11 faculty members, 40 staff members and 82 students and residents, the Montgomery campus provides crucial clinical care and medical education within the region. A collaborative partnership between UAB, the city of Montgomery, and Baptist Health, this campus aims to help stem a shortage of physicians in underserved rural areas across the state and improve access to health care in central Alabama.

SELMA

UAB School of Medicine’s Selma location hosts a family medicine residency program and family medicine fellowship. The UAB Selma family medicine residency program has been training family physicians in Central Alabama for more than 35 years and is one of the few truly rural family medicine residency programs in the country. This program combines knowledge and resources from a world-class academic medical center with a hands-on community setting, and our residents treat a diverse patient population with a wide range of medical needs.

TUSCALOOSA

As the dedicated home for the primary care track, the Tuscaloosa Regional Medical Campus, housed in the College of Community Health Sciences at The University of Alabama, provides students with a strong foundation in clinical medicine through longitudinal experiences and special programming on population health. Primary care track students spend their third year in a longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC). In a LIC, students work closely with physician instructors to build mentoring relationships; they also develop longitudinal relationships with patients.

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Jun 29

Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for Rural Health and Primary Care at the UAB School of Medicine, has accepted a position on the national board of the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA). Asif will take his board position as part of his leadership role within the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine and as a leader in the sports medicine community.

The PAA aims to improve the lives of all Americans by championing physical activity through advocacy, policy and system changes, and community support. As a board member, Asif will join 11 other leaders in the physical fitness and health space to determine the strategic direction of the PAA and enact its national action plan.

“It has been amazing to see all of our partner organizations come together to be collaborative and unified in promoting physical activity,” said Monte Ward, PAA board president. “We are excited to have Dr. Asif join us and know that he will play a critical role in decision-making for the alliance.”

Much of Asif’s career has focused on providing safe, accessible opportunities for his patients and communities to become more physically active.

“Whether through Exercise is Medicine, volunteering with community teams, or being active myself, it is always exciting to promote physical activity as a physician and athlete,” said Asif. “The PAA is an awesome platform to educate people about the fun, rewarding side of daily activity.”

Learn more about Asif’s work and what the Department of Family and Community Medicine is doing to promote sports and exercise by visiting our website.

The mission of the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) is to lead efforts to create, support, and advocate policy and system changes that enable all Americans to enjoy physically active lives. The PAA envisions an active and healthy nation where the opportunity for physical activity is easily available in the daily lives of all Americans. To learn more about their work, please visit paamovewithus.org.

By: Erin Slay-Wilson Published Date: Jun 29

Kaylee B. Crockett, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, recently received a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development (K23) award from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $662,578 award will fund Crockett’s research for five years. Crockett is the first full-time faculty member in the department to serve as a principal investigator for an NIH-funded career development award.

Crockett’s K23 research project focuses on the adaptation of a behavioral physical activity intervention with peer support for women with HIV and co-occurring hypertension. The NIH award gives researchers like Crockett salary and research support for a period of protected time to complete longitudinal and comprehensive research studies.

“This award is an enormous opportunity to develop my scientific skills with greater focus on health behavior intervention and implementation,” said Crockett. “Moreover, I get to apply these skills to understanding daily decisions women make about physical activity behavior and the social and psychological factors - like stress, social support, and self-efficacy - that affect those decisions.”

Hypertension is the most common comorbidity among women with HIV. Crockett’s research will utilize lifestyle behavior interventions to provide support for women with HIV and hypertension. Crockett aims to measure the feasibility and impact of introducing lifestyle behavior interventions, such as physical activity prescription, blood pressure self-monitoring, and peer support.

According to Crockett, the intervention is sorely needed.

“In my research leading up to this application, many women express wanting more support related to ‘whole-person health’ from providers and their communities,” she said.

Awards like Crockett’s are part of the department’s larger goal of improving physical health and mental wellness through primary care and lifestyle medicine-centered research.

“Our department is dedicated to increasing the quality of life for all patients through preventive methods, particularly through physical activity and lifestyle medicine,” said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair and professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and associate dean for primary care and rural health in the UAB School of Medicine. “We are proud to support and work alongside clinical scientists like Kaylee and look forward to the ways that our patients will benefit from her work.”