News

Arnold G. Diethelm, former chair of the Department of Surgery and a leader in transplantation surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, died Jan. 28, 2021. Diethelm was a native of Baltimore, Maryland. His career at UAB began in 1967 when he joined the UAB Department of Surgery, upon the completion of his two-year fellowship at Harvard, at the invitation of John W. Kirklin.

University of Alabama at Birmingham Assistant Professor Saulat Sajjad Sheikh, MBBS Division of Transplantation is one of the first female transplant surgeons from her originating country, Pakistan.

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week, and UAB Medicine is home to a program bringing new hope to those struggling with infertility: the Uterus Transplant Program.

The Inspire Institute Excellence Program named UAB Sleep/Wake Disorders Center a Center of Excellence for hypoglossal nerve stimulator implantation, a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Being physically active is an important part of heart health, but how should one take care of their heart while playing sports or exercising?

Behold the big toe. Called the great toe in medical circles, the big toe is essential in balance, as it displaces body weight throughout the foot. Without a big toe, walking, standing and even moving may be difficult. 

“Life over limb” is not a phrase Amanda Pullen-Hendrix ever thought she would hear, especially not on her 29th birthday. But on July 12, 2020, what she at first believed was an asthma attack turned out to be a life-threatening stroke and multiple blood clots.

Diabetes can weaken the immune system’s ability to fight infection, putting people with the disease at risk of serious complications from COVID-19. However, by paying extra attention to diabetes management and nutrition habits, many people with diabetes who do get the virus can avoid or manage serious complications.

In 2007, Diane Bishop arrived at her local hospital with an aortic dissection, a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, and a less than 1 percent chance of survival. The small but life-threatening tear was not only a physical wound but an emotional one as well.

Alan Spriggs, program manager of Authorization Development with Legacy of Hope, Alabama’s organ procurement organization, approached the Parsons family with this rare opportunity to be a part of something that could change the course of many lives. Parsons’ accident occurred in Montgomery, Alabama; but O’Hara had already made her way to Huntsville to be with their children and family when Spriggs connected with her on the phone. Spriggs asked if she would be open to talking to Locke about a potential study.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine announces today the first peer-reviewed research outlining the successful transplant of genetically modified, clinical-grade pig kidneys into a brain-dead human individual, replacing the recipient’s native kidneys. These positive results demonstrate how xenotransplantation could address the worldwide organ shortage crisis.

Teenagers experience many milestones as they transition to adulthood. There are dating and proms, learners permits and drivers licenses, first jobs and checking accounts. But one milestone that is often missed is the transition from pediatric care to adult health care.