The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been named a 2020 Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Center of Excellence (COE).

This designation is received by institutions and obstetric anesthesia programs that demonstrate excellence in obstetric anesthesia care.

“It is truly gratifying for our Labor and Delivery Unit to be recognized by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology for excellence in anesthesia care. It is another testament to the outstanding care that our team of nurses, technicians, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists routinely provide to our patients every day," says Brian Casey, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The desingation is the result of unmatched teamwork among multiple areas within UAB.

"This was a collaborative effort through multiple departments, including Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nursing, and Pediatrics," said Mark Powell, M.D., medical director of the obstetric anesthesia section.

2020 designees were named in March 2021 with designation remaining valid for four years.