In the News

  • Gene therapy: What to know about the new FDA-approved treatment for sickle cell disease

    Gene therapy: What to know about the new FDA-approved treatment for sickle cell disease Sickle cell disease is the most common and clinically significant inherited blood disorder across the nation, and now there is an FDA-approved gene therapy to help those living with SCD.

  • Should FDA Approve Gene Therapy Exa-cell, 3 Key Implementation Challenges Loom

    Should FDA Approve Gene Therapy Exa-cell, 3 Key Implementation Challenges Loom Julie Kanter, M.D., Co-Director of the Lifespan Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, Director of the UAB Adult Sickle Cell Clinic As an FDA decision approaches and medical communities brace for potential advancements, Julie Kanter, M.D., Co-Director of the Lifespan Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center and Director of the UAB Adult Sickle Cell Clinic, sheds light on the intricate process of implementing new gene therapy treatment for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

  • 4 cutting-edge machines powering UAB discoveries

    4 cutting-edge machines powering UAB discoveries With research awards breaking all-time records, we toured labs where high-tech tools are driving science forward.

  • 7 DOM Faculty Recognized at Endowed Reception

    7 DOM Faculty Recognized at Endowed Reception Back: Drs. Ryan Kraemer, Britney Corey, Ravi Bhatia, Rubin Pillay, Javier Neyra, Anna Thackler-Mercer, Ken Boockvar, Brian Davis Front: Drs. Dan Chu, Akila Subramaniam, Rebecca Arend, Timmy Lee, Dana Rizk. (Not pictured: Dr. Brian Casey)On November 14, seven Department of Medicine faculty were celebrated at the Heersink School of Medicine Endowed Chairs and Professorships reception. School leaders recognized honorees and acknowledged the donors who generously contributed to the endowed positions. Following the ceremony, honorees joined their families and colleagues to enjoy group pictures and refreshments. Congratulations to all 14 honorees on this well-deserved honor!

  • Faculty honored at 2023 Argus Awards ceremony

    Faculty honored at 2023 Argus Awards ceremony On Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, students from Heersink School of Medicine gathered to celebrate faculty, courses, and course directors at the annual Argus Awards Ceremony.

  • Heersink School of Medicine welcomes 13 new endowed chairs and professorships

    Heersink School of Medicine welcomes 13 new endowed chairs and professorships Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, welcomed 13 esteemed faculty members, their families, and Heersink School of Medicine leaders to the Wallace Tumor Institute on Nov. 14 to honor the new endowed chairs and professorships for their contributions to modern medicine and medical education.

  • UAB employee reflects on receiving Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in rural south

    UAB employee reflects on receiving Type 1 diabetes diagnosis in rural south Department of Medicine Facilities Coordinator Corey Cates, M.S., was six years old when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. For doctors to uncover Cates’ diagnosis, it took a two-and-a-half-hour drive as well as a one-week stay at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas, TX in 1996.

  • Potential therapeutic target found to combat tuberculosis, a disrupted NAD(H) homeostasis

    Potential therapeutic target found to combat tuberculosis, a disrupted NAD(H) homeostasis Tuberculosis, the world’s leading infectious disease killer, caused 1.6 million deaths in 2021, along with 10 million new cases of tuberculosis every year.

  • This professor’s new startup aims to erase immune memories to stop Crohn’s disease

    This professor’s new startup aims to erase immune memories to stop Crohn’s disease Charles Elson, M.D., has developed an “antivaccine” that could remove the faulty memory cells that drive this autoimmune disorder. He launched ImmPrev Bio, Inc., in order to reach a first-in-human clinical trial.

  • The met and unmet health needs for HIV, hypertension, and diabetes in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: analysis of a cross-sectional multimorbidity survey

    The met and unmet health needs for HIV, hypertension, and diabetes in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: analysis of a cross-sectional multimorbidity survey Emily Wong, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, is the latest winner of the Heersink School of Medicine's Featured Discovery. This initiative celebrates important research from Heersink faculty members.

  • Diabetes diagnoses might get much more specific in the future, UAB expert says

    Diabetes diagnoses might get much more specific in the future, UAB expert says UAB endocrinologist Fernando Ovalle, M.D., explains why new subtypes of diabetes could lead to more precise treatments, fewer doctor visits and potentially reduced health care expenditures.

  • DOM Research Investment Rewards 60 Exceptional Investigators

    DOM Research Investment Rewards 60 Exceptional Investigators In academic medical centers across the nation, the research environment is increasingly complex. While conducting research that generates exciting discoveries can be considered a reward unto itself, department leaders have a responsibility to recognize principal investigators for exceeding expectations in their research.

  • Stringer-Reasor named the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the DOM

    Stringer-Reasor named the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the DOM Erica Stringer-Reasor, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, will serve as Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Medicine, effective November 1, 2023.

  • Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship names winners of 2023 Innovation Awards

    Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship names winners of 2023 Innovation Awards Vivek Lal, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the founder of both ResBiotic Nutrition and Alveolus Bio, was given the 2023 Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship.

  • Breast cancer preventive measures for younger and older women

    Breast cancer preventive measures for younger and older women One UAB experts says the roles of screenings, warning signs and a healthy lifestyle are all keys to cancer prevention.

  • Dionne leads new R01 focused on helping pregnant mothers keep their unborn babies safe from syphilis

    Dionne leads new R01 focused on helping pregnant mothers keep their unborn babies safe from syphilis Jodie Dionne, M.D., associate director of Global Health in the UAB Center for Women’s Reproductive Health and associate professor in the Department of Medicine, is working on a new R01 funded by NIH/NIAID focused on helping pregnant mothers keep their unborn babies safe from syphilis.

  • Three DOM Faculty Earn Innovation Awards

    Three DOM Faculty Earn Innovation Awards Drs. Ashita Tolwani, Surya Bhatt, and Sandeep Bodduluri were honored for their game-changing innovations at the 2023 Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Awards. Ashita Tolwani, M.D., (Professor, Nephrology) was recognized for developing user-friendly citrate solutions for patients undergoing Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy. Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care faculty Surya Bhatt, M.D., MS, (Professor) and Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D., MS, (Assistant Professor) were honored for their invention Spiromatics, an artificial intelligence-based lung function solution suite. Congratulations to each of you for your innovation and entrepreneurship.

  • DOM Recognizes Outstanding Faculty and Staff

    DOM Recognizes Outstanding Faculty and Staff 2023 Unsung Heroes. Back Row, L-R: David Fettig, M.D., Paul Goepfert, M.D., Donna Stevens, DNP; Lisa Jinright. Front Row, L-R: Amber DeGrado, Nancy Masucci, Anitra Baylor, Gwendolyn Wilkins, Carrie Lenneman, M.D.On Wednesday, over 100 employees gathered in the Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium for DOM Recognition Day — a day to celebrate the people of the Department who advanced its mission excellence and reached major milestones over the past year. Dr. Glenn Cobbs kicked off the ceremony by presenting the 2023 Cobbs/Rutsky awards for top doctors. Department Chair Dr. Seth Landefeld and division directors honored excellent teachers, researchers, staff, and our[…]

  • Frank Retires as Executive Vice Chair of the DOM

    Frank Retires as Executive Vice Chair of the DOM Stu Frank, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Medicine, Cell Biology, and Physiology.Stu Frank, M.D., has retired from his role as Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine, effective October 31. He joined UAB's faculty over 30 years ago and rose to Professor of Medicine, Cell Biology, and Physiology. Frank has served as the Director of the Division of Endocrinology, Chief of the Endocrinology Service at the Birmingham VAMC, Interim Director of the Comprehensive Diabetes Center, Director of the Basic Science Section in the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, and Vice Chair for Research. He will maintain his role in[…]

  • Brito, Turnipseed Serve as UAB Medicine Department Value Officers

    Brito, Turnipseed Serve as UAB Medicine Department Value Officers General Internal Medicine faculty Amando Brito, M.D., and Elizabeth Turnipseed, M.D.General Internal Medicine faculty Amanda Brito, M.D., (Assistant Professor) and Elizabeth Turnipseed, M.D., (Associate Professor) have been appointed Department Value Officers for UAB Medicine. In this role, they will leverage partnerships with nursing and administrative peers to advance quality outcomes and efficiency in operations, reporting jointly to the Chief Medical Officer and DOM Chair. Congratulations, Drs. Brito and Turnipseed on your appointments!