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Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, Ph.D., a professor emeritus in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, was recently elected by the British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB) as its 2026 recipient of the BSMB Medal Award. This award is given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of matrix biology through a distinguished career. Murphy-Ullrich will be recognized at the 2026 BSMB Spring Meeting in Manchester.

Ashley Battarbee, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been appointed as director for the Center for Research in Women’s Health at UAB, effective March 1.

Peter Anderson, D.V.M., Ph.D., a professor emeritus in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, has recently been awarded the Edward Patrick Finnerty Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated sustained commitment to the advancement of the IAMSE through exceptional contributions to the organization. Anderson will be recognized at the 30th Annual IAMSE Conference in June.

In this month's UAB Department of Surgery Access & Engagement Spotlight, Dr. Sergio Acuna Mancilla shares his experience as an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Transplantation and the pathway that led him to becoming an academic surgeon.

Katie Ellison, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, a postdoctoral scholar in the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine, recently received the Science for Public Good Fund Award from the Union of Concerned Scientists on behalf of the Science Policy Advocacy Network (SPAN) at UAB, where she serves as treasurer. The award funding supports activities and events that highlight the role of science in informing public policy, with a focus on understanding and addressing local impacts.

Behind every successful study is a network of people willing to participate, share their experiences, and contribute to knowledge that can improve health outcomes. At the Comprehensive Healthy Living Research Center, that critical connection between investigators and participants is supported by the Participant Access to Research Core (PARC).

For a quarter century at UAB and the past decade within the Department of Urology, Liranda Howard, Education Administrator Senior, has focused on people and processes. Upon her retirement at the end of this month, she looks back with deep gratitude, having strengthened the residency program and created a supportive, organized environment for trainees and faculty.

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) has named Ellen Konadu Antwi-Adjei, OD, MPH, a Ph.D. candidate in the lab of Lyne Racette, Ph.D., at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, as a recipient of its 2026 Emerging Advocate Award.

One fellow and three residents were elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (AΩA) in the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Falone Amoa, M.D., M.S., Gian Piero Carames, M.D., PGY4, Nicholas Eisele, D.O., PGY2, Chief Resident, Education and Outreach, and Alyssa Lee, M.D., M.S., PGY4, were selected to join the Honor society in February.

The UAB Department of Urology recently launched its new Section of Academic Community Urology, which seeks to integrate aspects of academic urology into community-focused care and initiatives. Care is delivered to communities while maintaining strong ties to UAB as an academic medical center. Karishma Gupta, M.D., assistant professor, and Dustin Hyatt, M.D., clinical associate professor, both in the Department of Urology, are leading the charge in these efforts. 

Recognizing the importance of emotional and physical well-being, the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation launched a wellness initiative to support its faculty and staff.

The UAB Department of Radiation Oncology recently launched a unique osteoarthritis program that uses low-dose radiation therapy as an additional treatment option for patients with debilitating joint pain. Delivered over six short sessions following an initial consultation, the therapy aims to reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort without the side effects typically associated with cancer radiation treatments.

James George, Ph.D., a professor of UAB Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery for over 30 years, has been appointed to the prestigious role of professor emeritus for the UAB Department of Surgery.

After more than 25 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and nearly a decade with the UAB Department of Pediatrics, Cathy Turner, MSHA, CPA, CGMA, is retiring as executive administrator, concluding a career defined by steady leadership, operational strength and an unwavering commitment to the people who power pediatrics.

The department continues to make meaningful progress on quality initiatives focused on improving efficiency, consistency, and patient care. Recent enhancements include updates to treatment planning, patient scheduling, and dosimetry workflows.

UAB Division of Surgical Oncology Assistant Professor Kimberly Kopecky, M.D., MSCI, has been awarded the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Geoffrey Dunn, M.D., Research Award.

The Association of Academic Physiatrists has selected UAB Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Robert B. Kyle Endowed Professor and Chair Vu Q. C. Nguyen, M.D., MBA, to receive the 2026 AAP Outstanding Mentor Award.

When Christy Nation, MSHA, BSN, RN, reflects on her leadership journey, she doesn’t begin with a title. She begins with growth. Christy began serving as Chief Nursing Officer at UAB St. Vincent’s Hospital in January 2026. Before that, she spent more than six years as Senior Director of Women and Infants Services at UAB Medicine, where she helped lead one of the system’s most active service lines. Her path to executive leadership began long before leadership, though, as a patient care technician in home health while still in nursing school.

The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences will host its 27th Annual Research Symposium on Friday, June 12, 2026, in the UAB Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building (ALGEN).

A recent avenue for grassroots outreach, a rural forum for addressing women’s health concerns, has positioned the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with an outstanding opportunity to further focus on supporting and educating women in rural Alabama. Through a free, monthly women’s health column published in local newspapers, UAB OB/GYN faculty are sharing accessible, evidence-based women’s health topics with communities where access to care and health education can be limited.

A national study led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is helping explain why some childhood cancer survivors develop new cancers years after their original treatment. The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that inherited genetic changes can greatly increase the chance of developing a second cancer later in life.

Thomas Chi, M.D., MBA, FACS, professor and chair, Anton J. Bueschen Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Urology, presented the 2026 State of the Department on Tuesday, Feb. 17. 

UAB Division of Vascular Surgery integrated resident Joseph Chitwood, M.D., was awarded the Founder's Award at this year’s Southern Association of Vascular Surgery (SAVS) annual meeting for his project entitled “Trainee impact on postoperative outcomes for open and endovascular aortic repair in the vascular quality initiative.”

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen unexpectedly, affecting children, teens and adults who may seem healthy just moments before collapsing. Through patient care, education and statewide partnerships, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama are working to improve awareness and preparedness across Alabama.

The UAB Department of Radiology held its 4th annual Radiology Research Retreat on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Faculty, trainees, students, and research staff came together to share the incredible work happening across the department. The retreat continues to grow each year, reflecting the momentum and collaboration driving the department’s research forward.

After nearly three decades of leadership, Carl Coghill, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, will step down as medical director of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s of Alabama as he prepares for retirement in May 2026. Stepping into the role is Allison Black, M.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, who previously served as associate medical director.

Sid Gaddamanugu, M.D., served as Quiz Master for the Neuroradiology section at the International Quiz Finals held in Hyderabad, India, on Jan. 31, 2026.

In this installment, Caroline G. Richter, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, explores her research in the Science of Child Development and Neurodiversity (STARS) Lab, focusing on practical ways to improve the well-being, learning, and daily functioning of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities.

In 2025, the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine launched a transformative redesign of the Family Medicine Clerkship leveraging overhauled content and modern delivery platforms. Now implemented across all four UAB Heersink School of Medicine campuses, the initiative ensures a unified educational experience for every student that is aligned with national best practices.

Megyn Mielke is a program manager I for the Physician Scientist Development Office (PSDO), where she has served since late 2022. In her role, she oversees several key programs supporting medical students and undergraduate learners across the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Mielke was nominated to the 2025–2026 cohort of Medical Education Unsung Heroes by Stefanie B. Varghese, Ph.D., MBA, program director II for PSDO.