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The University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine has announced the appointment of William W. Andrews, M.D., PhD, as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) as of April 20, 2023. This prestigious appointment recognizes Andrews' significant contributions to the field of medicine, particularly in women's health.

Alabama Department of Public Health, in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, TogetHer for Health, Rotary Club of Birmingham, and the American Cancer Society launched a statewide action plan, Wipe Out Cervical Cancer, to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama.

Teresa Boitano, M.D., is a fellow in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology. Her team was recently awarded a National Ovarian Cancer Coalition Quality of Life Research pilot grant.

Concurrent with its presentation as a Late Breaking Abstract at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting in Tampa, Florida, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently published an international, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial that evaluated the effectiveness of adding Pembrolizumab to the current front-line standard of care for women with advanced primary or recurrent endometrial cancer. Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyDivision of Gynecologic Oncology Director Charles A. Leath, III, MD, MSPH, was named among the investigators the study.

The O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has recently announced the appointment of Rebecca Arend, M.D., MSPH, Associate Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Associate Scientist in the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, as Co-Leader of the Experimental Therapeutics Program.

Black Maternal Health Week, which is celebrated annually from April 11-17, was founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance and is part of National Minority Health Month. It serves to raise awareness of Black maternal health issues and promote dialogue around solutions, policies, research, and community involvement.

Through a vote by UAB Medicine’s active medical staff, J. Michael Straughn Jr., MD, was chosen as chief of the medical staff-elect. He will serve a one-year term beginning in January 2023 before assuming the chief of the medical staff (COMS) role in January 2024 for a three-year term.

Two faculty members in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery have been awarded $1,519,450 in funding from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) grants for two different studies focused on urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in women.

On March 4, 2023, the annual Laura Crandall Brown Foundation Taste of Teal Gala was held at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. The event celebrated the efforts of individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to gynecology cancer patients and survivors, and one outstanding honoree was Warner K. Huh, M.D., FACOG, FACS, professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Cynthia Brumfield, M.D. broke barriers in the field of medicine when she became the first female chief of staff for UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. As a trailblazer in obstetrics and gynecology, Brumfield has also been recognized for her outstanding contributions to women's health.

March 13-17 is Patient Safety Awareness Week. We asked J. Michael Straughn, Jr., M.D., associate chief medical and quality officer for Women and Infants Services, vice-chair of quality and patient safety, and professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology some questions about Patient Safety Awareness Week, the importance of patient safety, and the responsibility of patient safety as a provider.

Jennifer Kelley, MSN, RN, APRN, AMB-BC, has been named vice chair of Strategy and Clinical Operations for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) and senior administrator for OB/GYN Clinical Affairs.

The UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) is excited to welcome Rick Burney, M.D., M.Sc., as director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI).

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, and we asked Haller Smith, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Division of Gynecologic Oncology, some questions about gynecologic cancers, the importance of awareness, how the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is making a difference, and more.

July is Cord Blood Awareness Month, and we asked Brian M. Casey, M.D., professor and division director for the UAB Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, some questions about umbilical cord blood, cord blood banking, how the UAB Department of OB/GYN is making a difference, and more.

Gena Dunivan, M.D., FACOG, FACS, recently joined the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) as vice chair of Mentorship and Faculty Development and division director of the Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.

The role of vice chair of Mentorship and Faculty Development is new to the Department of OB/GYN and will be key to both the professional development and leadership development of our faculty.

For Pelvic Organ Prolapse Awareness Month during June, we asked Gena Dunivan, M.D., FACOG, FACS, professor and division director for the UAB Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, some important questions about pelvic organ prolapse, the importance of awareness, what makes UAB’s Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery special in this area, and more.

For National Women's Health Week in May, we asked Todd Jenkins, M.D., MSHA, FACOG, professor and division director for the UAB Division of Women's Reproductive Healthcare, some important questions about women's health care, common misconceptions, what makes UAB OB/GYN special, and more.

The UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) is excited to welcome Gena Dunivan, M.D., as division director of the Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. Dunivan will also serve as vice chair of Mentorship and Faculty Development for the department.

Infertility is more common than people think and continues to be a growing problem among women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 19% of women with no prior births between the ages of 15 and 49 struggle with infertility.

Regardless of the increasing number of those struggling with fertility problems, many insurance companies do not provide coverage for fertility treatments. However, as of Jan. 2022, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), began including coverage of infertility care for employees and dependents in all of its medical plans.