An estimated 11 million Americans have heart valve disease (HVD), a condition that involves damage to one or more of the heart’s valves. Symptoms often go undetected or are dismissed as a normal part of aging, yet HVD can lead to serious heart conditions or even death. This makes it especially dangerous.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals tightened restrictions on visitors and who could access certain areas. This meant that no photographers, videographers, or others could visually document what was happening inside COVID-19 intensive care units.

Through a month-long series of events and promotions, Legacy of Hope (formerly the Alabama Organ Center) recognizes National Donate Life Month in April. The celebration, established by Donate Life America to raise awareness about organ donation, will showcase the various perspectives of families and individuals touched by donation and transplantation.

Genetic counselors are now required to be licensed in Alabama, thanks to a 2019 state law that regulates the service and sets minimum practice standards. About half of U.S. states require licensure for genetic counselors, to help ensure competency and as a first step toward billing for reimbursement for their services.

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) is again the recipient of awards for quality and performance. For 2021, three national organizations that evaluate and spotlight high-performing hospitals and health systems recognized the UAB CVI in various categories of achievement.

As Easter approaches, celebrating the holiday during a pandemic may seem more optimistic than last year, but community members should remain diligent in their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (March 22-28,2021) is an annual, week-long health observance that aims to inspire dialogue about the science of drug use and awareness of addiction among youth. This is the 11th year the National Institutes of Drug Abuse, which is a federal agency serving as part of the National Institutes of Health, has sparked conversations for this observance.

For more than a year now, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected almost every area of daily life. Masking, social distancing, vaccine distribution, and other issues have led to what many health care experts call “COVID fatigue”.

At UAB Callahan Eye Hospital & Clinics, we are dedicated to providing excellent patient care to everyone who comes through our doors. To help deliver a better patient experience, we are upgrading our elevators near the parking deck.

On January 25, 2021, an EF-3 tornado ripped through the community of Fultondale, Alabama. The 100-year-old oak tree in Arnoldo Vasquez-Hernandez’s yard did not stand up to the 150 mph winds that evening.

Children from 20 schools in the Birmingham area turned what is in their hearts into art and created colorful cards for UAB Medicine workers. Morning and evening shift staff will get a handmade valentine along with individually wrapped cookies and popcorn on Sunday, Feb. 14.

We can all agree that 2020 was a difficult year, especially for hospitals and health care workers. But UAB Medicine rose to the COVID-19 challenge, helping UAB earn the No. 1 spot on Forbes magazine’s national list of Best Large Employers for 2021.