Clinical Trials Growth
Giving patients hope for a healthier future
Clinical trials enhance healthcare by offering patients access to the newest and most promising experimental treatments.
Read about our clinical trialsFuture Foundations
Enhancements to our campus
Heersink, UAB, and the UAB Health System celebrated the completion of exciting new facilities and facility upgrades in 2025, while ongoing construction projects continued to take shape.
Read about our facilities
Advocacy and Action
Promoting transparency and improving efficiency
In response to significant changes in federal policy that affected research funding and other areas, Heersink School of Medicine and UAB leaders took swift and direct action to strengthen continuity and stability for our faculty and staff and support our missions.
Read about actions we took
See our Year in Review Booklet
The Year in Review Booklet offers a snapshot of the scope, scale, and impact of the Heersink School of Medicine in 2025. These metrics reflect the dynamism of the people, programs, and partnerships that drive our mission forward.
Recognizing Excellence
Our faculty were honored with prestigious national and international appointments, awards, and leadership roles that recognize their contributions to research, education, clinical care, and service. These honors underscore the tremendous impact of their work and our school’s continued commitment to advancing medicine and improving health.
New Department Chairs
Last year, the Heersink School of Medicine welcomed dynamic new department chairs whose leadership is already making a meaningful impact. Bringing fresh perspectives and deep expertise, they are advancing excellence in education, research, and patient care while helping shape our school’s future.
Powered by Philanthropy
In 2025, the support of alumni, grateful patients, faculty, staff, and community partners fueled innovation and excellence across the Heersink School of Medicine, expanding educational opportunities, advancing transformative research, and enhancing healthcare across Alabama and beyond.
In 2025, UAB Medicine advanced its mission of delivering exceptional, accessible care by meeting patients where they are—both through cutting-edge digital innovation and community partnerships. From expanding telehealth services that bring UAB’s expertise to hospitals across Alabama, to launching new programs that connect with vulnerable populations directly in their communities, our providers are redefining what it means to offer patient-centered care.
Patient Care Facts and Figures
Meeting People Where They Are
UAB Medicine expanded its reach in 2025, bringing expert care to communities across Alabama. Through new Tele-ICUs, a pilot teletrauma program, and innovative on-the-ground initiatives—including street psychiatry, rural training, and student-led outreach—we are strengthening access to high-quality care for patients wherever they are.
A Year of Growth
The first anniversary of a pivotal turning point for healthcare in Alabama. The launch of new and innovative programs to increase mental healthcare access for people of all ages. A statewide genomic medicine milestone. 2025 was a year of purposeful growth, opening pathways to needed care and bringing the promise of precision medicine to people in every part of our state.
A Year of Firsts
UAB Medicine marked a year of remarkable milestones—redefining emergency care, transforming cancer therapy, performing groundbreaking surgical procedures, and even welcoming its first facility dog. Discover just a few of the pioneering ways we are elevating care for patients across Alabama and beyond.
#11 in Rheumatology
#14 in Ear, Nose & Throat
#28 in Obstetrics & Gynecology
#42 in Neurology & Neurosurgery
#49 in Geriatrics
From uncovering mechanisms behind some of the world’s most challenging diseases to pioneering clinical breakthroughs and strengthening international research partnerships, our investigators pushed the boundaries of scientific knowledge. Here we highlight just a few of the past year’s achievements, reflecting a research enterprise driven by collaboration, energized by bold ideas, and committed to translating scientific insights into solutions that improve health in Alabama and across the world.
Research Facts and Figures
Microbiology Moves Science Forward
The UAB Department of Microbiology—long a powerhouse of basic and translational research—built on that record of excellence in 2025, publishing cutting-edge research and enhancing its reputation nationally and internationally.
Huntington’s Disease Breakthrough
A new treatment that slowed the progression of a devastating neurodegenerative disorder long considered untreatable marked a major breakthrough in 2025.
Combating Chronic Disease
Addressing the burden of chronic diseases that are especially widespread in the South is the focus of a new research center and research focus area introduced in 2025.
Strengthening Global Research Ties
Heersink School of Medicine faculty traveled to South Africa and Zambia in September 2025 to strengthen ties with valued partner organizations and researchers.
In 2025, the Heersink School of Medicine continued to advance its mission of educating the next generation of physicians through building a learning environment shaped by mentorship, community engagement, and academic excellence. We honored influential educators whose legacies continue to guide our school, deepened students’ real-world impact by removing barriers to care, and strengthened valued community partnerships.
Medical Education Facts and Figures
New Learning Community Honors Elopre
In September 2025, the Heersink School of Medicine announced a new Learning Community named in honor of a beloved medical education leader whose influence continues to shape our school.
Hoesley Named Burleson Endowed Chair
A dedicated medical education leader was appointed to the school’s first endowed chair specifically designated for the Department of Medical Education thanks to a gift from the Paul W. Burleson Foundation.
Bus Pass Program Boosts Patient Access
The Heersink School of Medicine’s student-run free clinic, Equal Access Birmingham, has partnered with the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, operator of MAX Transit, to address one of the greatest barriers to healthcare—transportation.
Med School Milestones
Each year, our school celebrates our students as they mark major milestones that bookend the medical school journey. Here we share scenes from Match Day, Commencement, and the White Coat Ceremony.
Inspiring Future Physicians
Heersink medical students held a white coat ceremony for aspiring young medical professionals at Barrett Elementary School on September 26, 2025. The students recited the Hippocratic Oath, learned about healthcare careers, and tried out various medical instruments.
Heersink Students Win Brain Hackathon
Three students from the Heersink School of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program won first place in an international hackathon hosted by the Mission: Brain Foundation.