This new mural in Health Professions fosters feelings of joy, unity and pride

After almost a year of planning, a new mural on the first floor of the School of Health Professions building captures what it means to be a Blazer in a variety of vibrant greens, yellows and blues.

Centered on the institutional goal of changing lives through transformative health care, the mural also incorporates UAB’s strategic plan, Forging the Future, and its shared values of innovation, stewardship, collaboration, respect, excellence and achievement and diversity and inclusiveness alongside positive messages of resilience, wellness, empathy and joy.

Kelan Mercer, creative services manager for the School of Health Professions, designed the mural. She says she wanted to create something meaningful for all Blazers, but that especially would resonate with the school family. She used color, shape and pattern to convey the movement of people working and collaborating while keeping it simple enough to work in a color-by-number format.

“This mural was a fun and uplifting way to come back together after being apart this past year,” Mercer explained. “It gave us a hands-on chance to contribute to something that will inspire positivity and make people smile. I hope it serves as a lasting reminder of who we are, what we stand for and what we can accomplish together.”

Darian Bester, who is pursuing her master’s in occupational therapy and helped paint the mural, says the mural demonstrates the school’s commitment not just to cultural diversity, but also that of health care professions.

“Each profession is essential when providing quality care to our future clients,” Bester said. “Interdisciplinary engagement is what makes the biggest difference, and I am delighted to see this depicted within our mural.”

To help guide the group of more than 150 student and employee volunteers who worked in socially distanced groups to paint the mural in one week, local organization Mammoth Murals and Signs stenciled the wall prior to painting and provided onsite sanitization and direction during the painting process.
 

UAB Provost Pam Benoit, a painter herself, also joined the volunteer group to finalize the inspirational mural.

"I was honored to participate in this project, especially alongside students,” she said. “The final product was a group effort that really demonstrates the school’s mission. I think it ends up being more special because we did this together.”

Click through the slideshow below to see the mural come to life at the hands of Blazers volunteers.