2022 is off to a promising start. We’ve celebrated groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings, breakthroughs, milestones, and a championship, among other student, faculty and staff achievements.

You are part of an institution that cherishes Shared Values that guide our campus community to overcome challenges, achieve greatness and do both the right way.

I am excited to share a remarkable milestone — for UAB, our health system and organ transplant program, and the world — that represents several extraordinary firsts. This great news will be shared around the world today: A team of our highly skilled and dedicated surgeons successfully transplanted the kidneys from a genetically modified pig into the body of a brain-dead human recipient on Sept. 30.

As student, faculty and staff vaccinations have climbed, and cases of COVID and hospitalizations have dramatically declined, I am increasingly optimistic for the 2021-2022 academic year.