Heersink School of Medicine
The Heersink School of Medicine is set to transform the North Pavilion Atrium into a global marketplace of flavors, traditions, and creativity with the Cultural Connections Food Fair on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 4:30 p.m.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across East Asian cultures as the start of the new lunar calendar, with each cycle associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals. This year, the Year of the Snake, is often seen as a time for transformation, renewal, and personal growth. In honor of the holiday, the Heersink School of Medicine spoke with Tom Chi, M.D., MBA, Chair of the Department of Urology, to share his favorite traditions and how the themes of the Year of the Snake resonate in his work.
Money is a significant source of anxiety for people, especially women, due to societal pressures, wage disparities, and financial expectations. Yet, it’s a topic often shrouded in taboo and rarely discussed openly. In January’s American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) lecture, Mary Gresham, Ph.D., examines the intersection of psychology and mental health in her presentation, “Becoming a Money Wise Woman.” The Heersink School of Medicine invites all faculty and staff to attend and learn more about this under-researched area and methods to improve their financial well-being.
Each year, on the third Monday of January, we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose leadership reshaped history during the Civil Rights Movement. His dedication to justice, equality, and human rights, particularly access to health care, resonates deeply in Birmingham, a city central to the struggle for civil rights. This year, the Heersink School of Medicine will host the MLK Commemoration on January 17 in the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium. This annual event provides an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring impact on society and celebrate the ongoing work of those who carry his message forward.
UAB Heersink School of Medicine plans to launch two new psychiatry residencies at the Huntsville and Montgomery campuses. By increasing the number of trained mental health providers in the state of Alabama, this expansion will help address the mounting burden of mental illness in the state, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine came together to honor faculty, courses, and course directors during the annual Argus Awards Ceremony. Voted on and nominated by medical students, the Argus Awards recognize outstanding faculty in various categories.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is pleased to announce the launch of the Distinction in Health Equity. This opportunity for students is part of a larger Heersink School of Medicine initiative called Areas of Distinction. The Distinction in Health Equity is being developed to address a critical area to the mission of the school, equipping students to combat health disparities in their future careers.
The UAB Office of International Medical Education at the Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the launch of the Recognition of Distinction in Global Health, an innovative program designed to empower future physicians to think globally, act locally, and lead boldly. Conceptualized by Majd Zayzafoon, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, professor of Medical Education and assistant dean for International Medical Education, the program combines experiential learning with real-world impact to prepare UAB medical students to make lasting changes in healthcare and public service.
This December, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement sought to connect with the medical community by learning about the season’s rich variety of holidays. In part three of our holiday series, we explore Christmas, celebrated worldwide for its message of love, generosity, and joy. To capture the spirit and significance of the holiday, we spoke with Monica Henderson, Administrative Director in Clinical Simulation, and Dominique McCray, Clinical Program Manager II in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, to learn more about how Christmas' themes of giving and togetherness resonate in their lives and work.
This December, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement sought to connect with the medical community by learning about the season’s rich variety of holidays. In part two of our holiday series, we explore Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African heritage, community values, and cultural reflection. To better understand the holiday’s significance, we spoke with Kim Ayers, nurse manager at the UAB Center for Psychiatric Medicine, who shared how Kwanzaa’s principles inspire her approach to health care and community building.
For December, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement set out to learn more about this season’s holidays by connecting with our faculty, staff, and students. In part one of our holiday series, we explored the history and traditions of Chanukah, celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Jewish religious year) in the Hebrew calendar, as light triumphing over darkness. To capture the spirit and significance of the holiday, we spoke with Rabbi Levi Weinbaum from the Chabad of Alabama, first-year social work student David Kirby, postdoctoral fellow Anna Stoll, and former Jewish Medical Student Association President Ben Honan.
The fight against breast cancer is about more than just treatment—it’s about empowering patients to live their best lives throughout their journey. The Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement sat down with Gabrielle Rocque, M.D., a breast cancer specialist at UAB, to discuss how her work goes beyond traditional treatment to enhance resilience and quality of life for patients.
In 2015, Chrystal Rutledge, M.D., an associate professor in the Division of Pediatrics, pioneered the idea for the COACHES Program—an initiative that is now transforming pediatric care in Alabama through education and simulation training. The Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement is excited to host Rutledge for this month’s American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) lecture, where she will share insights about the inception and impact of this groundbreaking program.
Faculty, staff, students, and their families gathered for an evening filled with cultural traditions, lively music, and a strong sense of community as the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement hosted its inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration at University Tacos, located on 5th Avenue North.
The Heersink School of Medicine is looking forward to hosting the next lecture in the Step AHEAD series, “Voices For Our Fathers.” This important panel discussion will feature family members of men who were unwittingly involved in the U.S. Public Health Service Study of Untreated Syphilis in the African American Negro Males, conducted in Tuskegee and Macon County, Alabama, from 1932 to 1972.
Caroline Harada, M.D., associate dean for strategic initiatives in the Heersink School of Medicine Department of Medical Education, has been awarded the 2024 Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
On September 28 and 29, 2023, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) held the inaugural UAB Global Health Symposium with a mission of “promoting equity in global health partnerships.” One year later, we reflect on the lasting impact of the symposium by recognizing collaborations that have seen continued success because of the event, including an ongoing partnership between UAB and Alexandria University.
The UAB Heersink School of Medicine announces the opening of a new office: the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement (OAE). The office will advise the dean and lead the strategic direction of the school’s programs and policies intended to identify and address barriers to success. It will promote an open and accessible environment for all students, faculty, and staff, ensuring every individual can thrive and contribute meaningfully to excellence in health care and science at UAB.
In observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement, in partnership with the UAB Office of Access & Engagement, gathered with members of the community to celebrate the achievements of Hispanic health care providers.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office welcomed 22 individuals in its ninth cohort of Institute for Leadership in August 2024.
The UAB Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) program is uniquely offered by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB School of Public Health. The degree connects students with cutting-edge global health research and practice through collaborations amongst the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health, the Sparkman Center for Global Health, the Global Health Consortium, and several international partners. Camryn Durham and Divya Annamalai, two recent graduates of the program, share their experience.
The Association for Hospital Medical Education (AHME) declared every third Friday in August the annual GME Professionals Day to recognize program coordinators and GME administrators who help make residency and fellowship training programs successful. This year, GME Professionals Day is celebrated on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.In recognition of GME Professionals Day, get to know several staff leaders working in residency and fellowship programs across UAB.
Megan Saalwaechter is an MS1 student at the Heersink School of Medicine. The first year is always an adjustment, so the Heersink communications team met with her during orientation last July and again during the second semester to see how her first year of medical school was going.
Jordan Beam, a third-year medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine, recently completed an international research elective at Oxford University in the United Kingdom as part of the Medical Student Enrichment Program (MSEP), sponsored by UAB’s Office of International Medical Education.
The UAB Medicine Leadership Competency Model features five domains and 19 competencies. In this series, we’ll examine this model and how it can be used to empower leadership.
Twenty-eight UAB employees recently graduated from the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) Spring 2024 program. In its pilot year, the program, presented by UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO), recognized its first cohort of graduates at a ceremony on May 23, 2024.
Twenty exceptional faculty members were honored with the 2024 Dean’s Excellence Awards for their outstanding contributions across service, teaching, research, diversity enhancement, and mentorship within the School of Medicine.
Eddie Higginbotham, an MS2 student at the Heersink School of Medicine on the primary care track, recently visited his childhood elementary school to perform vision screenings in partnership with Impact America’s Focus First.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine saw great success in acquiring research funding in 2023, making significant strides in securing resources to advance human health through biomedical discovery.
In part three of a three-part series, Heersink School of Medicine is exploring the many ways we invest in cutting-edge equipment and modernizing spaces for our enterprise
In part two of a three-part series, Heersink School of Medicine is exploring the many ways we invest in awards and research funding.
In this three-part series, we look into the ways Heersink School of Medicine operations and leadership invests—year after year—in our growth.
The Annual Professional Excellence Awards, hosted by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, were announced during Second Look Weekend at the Annual Diversity Grands.
Alan Tita, M.D., Ph.D., has been promoted from associate dean for Global and Women’s Health to senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Tita is also the director of the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health and holds the Mary Heersink Endowed Chair of Global Health.
After a national search, Cristina Magi-Galluzzi, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Pathology, effective March 4, 2024. Magi-Galluzzi is a professor and the director of the Division of Anatomic Pathology, and the director of Genitourinary Pathology in the Department of Pathology. She holds the C. Bruce Alexander Endowed Professorship in Pathology.
In the fast-evolving landscape of international education, the importance of cross-border partnerships cannot be overstated. The collaboration between the UAB International Medical Education at the Heersink School of Medicine and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Medical University of Bahrain stands as a model of the transformative power of international medical education exchange programs.
On Dec. 6, 2023, the UAB Comprehensive Transplant Institute (CTI) announced a change in leadership. Jayme Locke, M.D., MPH, resigned her position as CTI director, and Clifton Kew, M.D., and Carlton Young, M.D., have been appointed as interim co-directors for the CTI. Both changes are effective as of Dec. 5, 2023.
Adam Agee has been named director of Information Technology for the Heersink School of Medicine, effective December 1, 2023. In this role, Agee leads Medical Education Information Services (MEIS) in its mission to guide, procure, develop, support, manage, and secure all aspects of information technology for the Heersink School of Medicine’s faculty, staff, and students.
Congratulations to all the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, UAB Medicine, UAB Health System, and Health Service Foundation leaders who were recognized on the Who’s Who in Healthcare list!
After a national search, Justin Turner, M.D., Ph.D., has been named chair of the Department of Otolaryngology in the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine, effective May 31, 2024. In this role, Turner will support the growth of the department; identify future opportunities and needs; and provide strategic leadership for all aspects of the department, including representing the department within the UAB enterprise, creating collaboration opportunities, and building bridges across the institution.
Ryan Outman has been appointed executive officer for Finance and Administration for the Heersink School of Medicine effective December 1, 2023. He will report to Jason Daniel, senior executive officer for Finance and Administration and vice president, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation.
On Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, Heersink School of Medicine and UAB Health System leaders, faculty, staff, and supporters gathered in the new Heersink Active Learning Center at Volker Hall for the unveiling of the official portrait of former Senior Vice President for Medicine and Dean Selwyn Vickers, M.D., FACS.
Momentum in Medicine's third cohort includes an impressive list of 15 women leaders from a variety of roles, departments, and backgrounds within UAB Medicine.
On Thursday, Aug. 10, the UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office (LDO) held its first annual reception to honor the participants of six cohorts (91 graduates) who have completed the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership.
On Thursday, May 18, UAB celebrated Clinical Trials Day. Since 2020, UAB has averaged nearly 300 new clinical trials annually.
On Wednesday, May 24, The All of Us Research Program at UAB Medicine hosted an enrollment event for physicians at The Kirklin Clinic.
The Strategic Research Retreat event, held in February 2023, featured presentations from the task force leaders of the four Research Focus Areas that the Heersink School of Medicine announced in September 2022: Disruptive Technology Empowering Precision Health (D-TECH), Infection, Inflammation, Immunity and Immunotherapy (I-4ward), Brain Health and Disease Across the Lifespan, and Health Equity. We spoke with the theme leads about the main Research Retreat takeaways and the next steps for implementation.
In the last several years, UAB Medicine and Heersink School of Medicine have worked to bring leadership development to faculty and staff through the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership and Momentum in Medicine programs.
Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been awarded the junior faculty 2023 Dean’s Excellence Award for Mentorship.
Jennifer McCain, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, has been awarded the junior faculty 2023 Dean’s Excellence Award for Service.