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Wednesday, over two hundred Department of Medicine employees joined to watch Department Chair Seth Landefeld, M.D., and our 11 division directors for the annual State of the Department Address. Landefeld kicked off the presentation by thanking all our staff, faculty, trainees, and practitioners for their dedication to the department. He detailed our 2023 accomplishments, emphasizing the advancement of wellness, new innovations in research, and the continued success of educational programs. Division directors added highlights from their divisions in mentorship, clinical care, training and more. If you missed the session, you can watch the recorded presentation and view the slides online.

Veena Antony, M.D., (Professor, PACCM) led a study published in Scientific Reports, detailing the effect of low dose cadmium — a highly toxic metal and environmental pollutant found in cigarette smoke — on lung epithelial cells. Investigators focused on the interaction of microRNA-381 and AN01 in lung epithelial cells by comparing lung tissue samples from participants who never smoked and individuals with COPD who previously smoked a minimum of 15 pack years. Participants with a smoke history presented increased AN01 expression in their airway epithelial cells, which could exacerbate COPD.

Co-principal investigators in the Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Jasvinder Singh, M.D., MPH, and Emeritus Professor Winn Chatham, M.D., have launched the MyLupus app — a free mobile application designed to inform patients with lupus about their disease and improve their ability to partner with medical professionals when making critical health care decisions. This innovation is the result of a multicenter initiative funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute which aims to implement computerized decision-aid processes. UAB partnered with twenty-two institutions to increase feedback for the app and diversify its professional knowledge base.

Last week, the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education hosted its 2024 Methods Symposium, "Scientific Methods to Support Implementation Science" at the Edge of Chaos in the UAB Lister Hill Center. The symposium featured four dynamic presenters from UAB and across the country. Participants were invited to partake in discussions surrounding common challenges in implementation science, novel methods and ways to leverage social networks.

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!