We are pleased to announce this month’s UAB Medicine DAISY Award, recognizing the extraordinary care and compassion that nurses provide for patients and families every day. Submissions and stories are reviewed each month, and then the winner is surprised at a special ceremony. Click here to nominate a UAB Medicine nurse for the DAISY Award.

Cooper Pierce was 13 years old when doctors diagnosed him with pulmonary hypertension. After undergoing a heart and double-lung transplant at UAB Hospital, he is now a student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and hopes his story can inspire others.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham and UAB Medicine have established the first uterus transplant program in the Southeast and the fourth such program in the United States.

Infections occur mainly through exposure to respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks near someone who doesn’t have COVID-19. While it is not common for COVID-19 to spread from surfaces, these respiratory droplets can land on high-touch surfaces and spread. Other viruses, such as influenza, also can spread in this way. Washing our hands helps prevent viruses (and bacteria) from causing infections.

There is evidence that wearing a face shield (with a mask) helps protect wearers from respiratory droplets that could come in contact with the eyes. However, there have been no complete studies comparing mask use alone to face shields alone, so it is not recommended to use a face shield as the only protection against COVID-19.

Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), those diagnosed with COVID-19 are no longer considered infectious if they no longer have fever, if their symptoms have improved, and if they’ve remained in quarantine for at least 10 days. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and have quarantined for at least 14 days without any symptoms, it is safe for you to be around others. Even after quarantine, it is still important to continue wearing a mask, maintain social distancing, and wash your hands to prevent repeat infection and further quarantining.

Currently, the United States is seeing high levels of community spread of COVID-19, so travel – especially air travel – should be limited. If you are planning to travel, ensure that the place you are staying has policies and procedures in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, and you should eat outside or get takeout food whenever possible. Also, do not travel if you are sick.

If establishments follow the guidance set forth for standard air conditioning and ensure that surfaces are cleaned correctly, it is ok to visit after cleaning.

No. COVID-19 is caused by a virus (SARS-CoV-2), though some patients with severe infections can develop blood clots. It is thought that the clotting in patients occurs when antibodies that humans produce circulate in the blood, triggering clots in our blood vessels. When this clotting occurs, it is treated with blood thinners. Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections (such as strep throat).

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you are no longer considered infectious once your fever has stopped even after you are no longer using fever-reducing medications (such as Tylenol), your symptoms have improved, and it has been at least 10 days since your symptoms began. For people who are immunocompromised, it is recommended that you remain in quarantine for 20 days.

Thank you for your interest in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about the vaccine, safety, and other important information below including answers to the most common questions.

For New Year’s resolutions related to losing weight, the first concern is usually how long you can keep that promise. It’s easier if you have some basic concepts in mind that help you develop better habits for grocery shopping, meal preparation, and of course eating. Try these tips for a healthier, diet-smart New Year.