We responded agressively to COVID-19 when it struck.

We're making an impact on the COVID-19 crisis through research, testing, guidance, and community care. Our leadership and infectious disease experts have been working around the clock to ensure the most effective plans are executed to guide our enterprise, the Birmingham community, and the State of Alabama. Our mission is to partner with stakeholders and influencers to ensure the health and safety of all Alabamians.

We went to work in all areas of our mission.

  • UAB is committed to decreasing racial and socioeconomic disparities for health and health care. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deadly consequences of health disparities, and our leaders recognize the importance of informing the public about health disparities and developing effective strategies to combat them.

    • Community-based COVID-19 testing sites in underserved areas launched April 30. The sites employ a mobile, drive-through, and walk-up testing model, and are currently serving many minority communities who may have transportation or health care barriers. Testing has been offered at locations across Jefferson County. Culturally-sensitive Patient Navigators guide individuals through pre-screening, testing, and test results.
    • Mobile community testing is possible due to UAB’s partnerships with the Jefferson County Department of Health, UAB Medicine, Live HealthSmart Alabama, and the Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center.
    • COVID-19 education is being disseminated at each site, and across Jefferson County to help stop the spread of the virus.

  • UAB clinicians and researchers work around the clock to make testing available for as many people as possible.

    • Sentinel testing is voluntary for staff and faculty, and individuals are selected at random to participate. Multiple other options for testing are available to UAB employees.
    • All students on campus are required to get tested. Read more here.
    • The GuideSafe™ Exposure Notification App tracks symptoms of individuals and directs them to a testing site based on their employment and/or student status.

  • UAB continues to be a leader in fighting the COVID-19 crisis with clinical trials and research.

    • On May 1, 14 basic science projects were selected for funding due to their high-impact probability on COVID-19. Read more here.
    • On Aug. 1, a second round of research initiatives began, focusing on high-impact studies related to COVID-19—from vaccines and therapeutics to antibodies, disparity risk, cytokine syndrome, and much more. Out of the 10 pilot projects, all principal investigators or co-investigators were selected from the School of Medicine, and one investigator was selected from the School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology.
    • UAB is a participant in the NIH-sponsored global clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel therapeutic drug, remdesivir. UAB is also conducting a first-in-U.S. study that is testing a treatment to halt the potentially fatal immune overreaction known as cytokine storm syndrome in COVID-19 patients. Last, expanded access protocol for use of COVID-19 convalescent plasma was activated onsite at UAB in spring 2020 organized through the NIH/NCATS’s Trial Innovation Network.
    • Browse research articles related to COVID-19 from UAB News.

  • As the 2020-2021 academic year began, the School of Medicine found ways to continue to meet our mission of training the next generation of leaders in medicine while safeguarding the health and safety of our students and trainees. Under the direction of Craig Hoesley, M.D., senior associate dean for Medical Education, program leaders continue to follow guidance shared by the AAMC and communicate regularly with each class to ensure they have the latest information possible.

    Medical students looking for updates can visit the COVID-19 Updates and FAQs page on the School of Medicine website.

    • Many preclinical courses moved to virtual learning, while clinical coursework continues with enhanced health check protocols to ensure the safety of our students and the patients they encounter.
    • Medical students have found numerous ways to contribute their time and service to those in need during the pandemic. Many have volunteered for organizations that are providing a variety of services to the community, including Bham Strong, Christ Health Center, and the UAB COVID-19 call center, among others. Read more about their contributions from SOM News.
    • While annual events like Match Day, Commencement, and the White Coat Welcome celebration were modified and moved to an online format, care was taken to ensure that these milestone events were still meaningful and memorable for our students. (A full White Coat Ceremony will be held for the 2020 entering class at the beginning of their third year of medical school.)
    • Read more about how the School of Medicine’s medical education programs are reacting and adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the news stories below.

  • We are honored that millions of patients each year trust UAB Medicine with their care. We are continuing to provide essential medical services throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Click here for information about COVID-19 and visiting UAB Medicine.

    • UAB Medicine will continue seeing patients who need us most at our hospital and emergency departments. Clinic visits are available in person and also available through UAB eMedicine, which includes video and phone visits with a health care provider. To schedule a visit with a provider, please call the provider’s office directly or call 205-934-9999 or 800-822-8816.
    • Your health and safety is our top priority. We are taking numerous steps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, including special cleaning measures and practicing social distancing throughout our operations. Additionally, all patients, caregivers, and employees are required to wear a mask while in our facilities. Click here to learn more about safety measures.
    • The UAB Medicine app is available for download from the app stores for both Apple iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) and Android devices. It gives patients easy access to many UAB Medicine services, including:
      • The Patient Portal, where patients may request refills and send messages to providers.
      • UAB eMedicine, which offers online diagnosis and treatment for common conditions.
      • Online bill payment.
      • Updates on the coronavirus and answers to common medical questions.

    Read more news from UAB Medicine here.

  • Aug. 3 marked the official launch of GuideSafe™, a campus entry program for higher education.

    • As of Aug. 17, 32 institutions across Alabama are participating in the GuideSafe™ re-entry program.
    • The GuideSafe™ platform promotes safer entry methods through COVID-19 testing, tools, and actions. By using testing and self-reporting, the GuideSafe™ app provides ongoing COVID-19 monitoring, so institutions can make informed decisions and help stop the spread. The platform has three tools to help mitigate the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19: Healthcheck, Exposure Notification Application, and Event Passport.
    • The GuideSafe™ platform and set of tools were developed by a team of expert health, anthropology, and information technology leaders at UAB, part of the University of Alabama System. Supported by CARES Act funding, the GuideSafe™ Exposure Notification App was built by UAB and Birmingham-based MotionMobs, founded by UAB alumni, in active collaboration with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
    • Click here to learn more about GuideSafe™, and check the news stories below for the latest news about our re-entry plans.

And we led the way in our state's response to the virus. 

  • We've advised key leaders across Alabama on best practices and next steps.
  • We've partnered with and provided guidance to Governor Kay Ivey’s office, the Alabama Department of Public Health, Jefferson County Public Health, and regional hospitals.
  • Selwyn Vickers, MD, FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine, has played an important advisory role since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, serving on the Executive Committee of Governor Kay Ivey’s Coronavirus Task Force and as co-chair of The University of Alabama (UA) System Campus Health and Safety Initiative to develop reentry plans for the System’s three campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and Huntsville.
  • We've joined forces with the Provost’s Office, Health Services Foundation, UAB School of Public Health, and the UA System on operations, coordination, planning, and more. Our teams, units, and departments are committed to guiding the UAB enterprise on research, clinical care, testing, and clinical trials.

Latest COVID-19 stories from across UAB

Russell named a Harvard Macy fellow

Russell named a Harvard Macy fellow

As a fellow, Stephen Russell, M.D., professor with the UAB Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, will design and pilot a new UAB program using art works from artists of color to teach medical students about diversity and clinical insights.