After he suffered a traumatic brain injury in May 2024, doctors said Jacob Smith had a 100 percent chance of an unfavorable outcome. Two years later, Smith is walking, talking and still pursuing his passion, a pursuit connected to the accident that changed his life.

As warmer weather draws families to pools, lakes and rivers, a University of Alabama at Birmingham expert, Jakub Godzik, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Neurosurgery, urges families to take diving safety seriously. 

UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center hosted the 18th annual Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) Leadership Forum April 15–17, welcoming rehabilitation professionals from across the country to share expertise and strengthen collaboration in traumatic brain injury care.

A pastor’s spouse is often a pillar of the community, speaking and ministering on behalf of the church. Katie Fordham embraced this role at Oak Bowery Church in Ohatchee, Ala., along with raising her three school-age children.

A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis changes a person’s life forever. But the path of the condition varies, and some aspects of the journey can be controlled.

UAB Hospital has once again earned international recognition, securing a place as Alabama's top-ranked hospital on Newsweek’s prestigious list of the World’s Best Hospitals 2026.

UAB Medicine’s Staging Transition for Every Patient (STEP) program helps young adults age 18 and up with chronic and complex childhood medical conditions move from pediatric to adult health care. The program manages care for some of Alabama’s most vulnerable patients, and recently it increased the number of patients and families it serves and expanded staff and services.

Becker’s Hospital Review recognized UAB Hospital on its 2025 list of “100 Great Neuro and Spine Programs”, which highlights national leaders in spine and neuroscience care. The annual list honors organizations that elevate patient outcomes, pioneer new research, and expand access to essential services.

At 9 years old, Ruben Vuittonet Jr. learned origami from a young boy whose father was a marine in Okinawa, Japan. Little did he know, 50 years later, he would be using this hobby to give hope to people all around the world, including at UAB Medicine.

On May 20, 2025, Grayson Pope walked across the stage at his high school graduation. The straight-A student smiled as he accepted his diploma. It was a milestone moment — one his family thought they may never witness.

UAB Sports and Exercise Medicine has donated 800 Guardian Caps to the Birmingham Youth Sports League to decrease the risk of traumatic brain injuries and concussions.

Every week, Laura Lieb and Brooklyn White talk with people who have received terrible news. “Someone will call and say, ‘I was just told I have Parkinson’s disease in a 20-minute visit with my doctor, and I don’t know what to do next,’” Lieb said. “That is not uncommon.”