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14 Awarded COVID-19 research grants 

The School of Medicine has partnered with the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute to fund 14 Principal Investigators an award to study various implications of COVID-19. Part of the funds, $350,000, were philanthropic gifts to the School of Medicine, and another $300,000 was funded by the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute. The average award was $46,000. There was a tremendous response to the RFA, with over 50 applications.

Benjamin Larimer, PhD
Department of Radiology
Title: Development of a Rapid and Scalable COVID-19 Antibody Epitope Mapping Platform by Phage Display

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association Board of Trustees named Cheri L. Canon, M.D., FACR, FAAWR, FSAR, as a 2022 Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumni Award recipient.

The Ashbel Smith Distinguished Alumni (ASDA) Awards candidates are recommended to the Board of Trustees by the ASDA awards committee after an in-depth review that is based on recognized contributions to the medical field, support for the high standards of excellence within the profession, and the prestige reflected upon UTMB.

Dr. Canon, class of 1994, was presented the award at a reception held in honor of the 2022 recipients and during the UTMB John Sealy School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony.

The ASDA Awards are the highest alumni honor given by the university's John Sealy School of Medicine Alumni Association. It recognizes outstanding service to the medical profession and to humanity, while honoring the memory of Dr. Ashbel Smith, a prominent figure in Texas medicine, politics and education. Smith was considered the driving force behind establishing the University of Texas at Austin in 1881, and a medical department that would later be known as the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1891.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Canon!

The Academy for Radiology and Biomedical Imaging Research showcased Dr. Anna Sorace as this week’s #ImagingInnovator for her recent successes, receiving an R01.
Congratulations Dr. Sorace, and thank you for your continued work!

Congratulations to Drs. Elainea Smith, Jessica Zarzour, and AJ Gunn on being awarded the 2018 GME Works for Well-Being! This is an award of financial suppirt for our residents!

Elainea N. Smith, M.D. Resident Leader	Jessica G. Zarzour, M.D. Faculty Co-Mentor	Andrew J. Gunn, M.D. Faculty Co-Mentor

In February 2018, the GME Office announced GME Works for Well-Being, a call for proposals with the purpose of mirroring the ACGME’s Back to the Bedside Initiative to increase efforts within our institution to support innovated ideas, clinical practices or policies that will improve physician well-being and foster a sense of meaning in work and can be shared as best practices for all training programs within our institution.

The GME Wellness Subcommittee, chaired by Brenessa Lindeman, MD, Associate DIO for the Clinical Learning Environment, reviewed all submitted applications in May 2018. Based on the selection criteria of project purpose, design, budget, and overall impact, three applications were selected for funding. Award winners were finalized in June 2018. These programs and their projects were awarded financial support from the GME Office that is matched by their respective department. Please see the UAB GME Department wellness web page for available resources to support resident and fellow well-being.

Samuria Thomas, researcher I, has worked in the Department of Radiology Preclinical Imaging Facility for five years.She has become a skilled preclinical MRI technician, in addition to other preclinical instruments offered by this institutional core. Over the last few years, Samuria has decided to continue her education journey while continuing full time work in our department. She shared some of her thoughts on the journey below in an interview.

What motivated you to decide to continue your education?

I always knew I wanted to continue my education, but other life events were made the priority for a long time. I did not see the opportunity or the time to go to school while to raising my son. My career change at UAB in 2017 gave me a choice of remaining in the same position or gaining experience in an area I had little knowledge or background. I chose research. In doing so, I was able to strive for something different for myself and my son.  

Have you felt encouragement from the department on your journey? How have they shown support for your professional growth?

A group of veteran women who worked near my area saw something in me that I did not. I am grateful to them. The Depatment of Radiology has also been an encouragement since the day I accepted my position. I have been encouraged to learn the different imaging modalities in our lab and to take classes here at UAB. I decided to align my priorities and became a student and a full-time researcher.

The department shows personal interest in the steps I take each semester. In periodic meetings with my supervisor, we discuss my expectations for school, and this encourages accountability.

How do you balance your life between work, school, and family life?

Balancing my life with school and work was a struggle in the beginning. I had to find the balance and raise my son. At first, I thought I could do everything all at once, no breaks. I eventually found my balance; communicating with my son about things needed around the house before I got home and exercising became another way to balance and clear my mind. I was very scattered with home, school and work. God and family helped me through all these types of challenges I have faced thus far.

What words of advice would you have for anyone taking the leap to continue professional growth while working full time?

My advice to anyone wanting to take a leap of faith; is to go for it. Never stop learning, especially if it is something different. There is always room for growth and new experiences.

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