Displaying items by tag: retrospectives

When UAB celebrated its first commencement in June 1970, the university awarded 478 diplomas to its first graduating class. Now, with a second virtual commencement planned for August, summer 2020 graduates can contribute their best campus memories to make the online ceremony just as special.

In 1977, the world’s first effective treatment for a viral disease occurred at University Hospital when Richard Whitley, M.D., and Charles Alford developed vidarabine. Now, investigators across UAB have mobilized their research interests to help us better understand and fight coronavirus.

Beginning with iron lung treatments in the 1950s, UAB has long been committed to the respiratory health of its patients. That continues with its COVID Respiratory Clinic to better evaluate treatments needed for coronavirus patients.

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but UAB engineers are the ones who bring them to life.

In 1960, many incoming patients were first admitted to the Isolation Unit before transferring to another ward; there were fewer antibiotics at the time, and undiagnosed infections were more prevalent. Today, protecting patients in the time of coronavirus takes an even more complex and multilayered approach — including visitation restrictions and the use of negative airflow rooms.

In 1968, the Medical Center’s computing capability consisted of an IBM 1401 setup and IBM 729 Magnet Tape Units. Now, during limited operations, much of UAB’s mission-critical work is happening on thousands of computers — all of them not on campus.

In March 1947, officials broke ground in the medical center for a new building to house the Jefferson County Public Health Department (JCPHD), now the Jefferson County Department of Health. The department is working alongside UAB and other organizations to monitor closely the ongoing situation surrounding novel coronavirus COVID-19.

UAB Hospital has come a long way since 1929 — all the way to the America’s Best Hospitals list.

UAB’s volleyball players score on and off the hardwood. Check out UAB Women’s Beach Volleyball team during the Green and Gold match 2 p.m. Feb 14 and season opener against North Alabama 10 a.m. Feb. 22, both at home.

Six years ago, Blazers kicked a soccer ball back and forth on campus during Winter Storm Leon, which brought Birmingham to a standstill on Jan. 28, 2014.

In 1975, UAB completed a pedestrian bridge crossing University Boulevard at 13th Street South to accommodate a quickly growing student population. This year, UAB art students brightened the footbridge with a UAB-themed mural.

The new “Clinical Pearls” podcast is an audio-only format of the live UAB Nursing Health Network’s YouTube series in which faculty share their expertise and educational resources with the show host and offer up-to-date information and insights on current health care issues and the nursing profession.

In 1967, Santa Claus himself spread holiday cheer to UAB Hospital Staff during a busy workday. More than 50 years later, Blazers can still find the Christmas spirit on campus with various holiday activities.

In 1992, UAB had recycling mascot Trash Gordon. Now, we have a Sustainability Strategic Plan that aims to reduce disposal of waste in local landfills and develop the university grounds for ecological stewardship. And you can help — by recycling correctly.

In 1968, Anita Sellers, secretary in the Office of Communications, posed with the new 96-page campus directory listing all employees, offices and programs. Today, the campus directory is housed online at uab.edu/directory and requires BlazerID log-in to protect against phishing.

Take a cue from Jo Ann Hyatt, who perused the library’s collections in 1958, and check out Reynolds-Finley’s featured exhibits on nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale and its collection of 30 pre-1500s printed books.

As Homecoming Week approaches, mark your calendars for noon Oct. 18 to catch our favorite dragon showing his UAB spirit alongside the original Blazer, UAB’s vintage 1969 Chevy K5 Blazer.

Campus has been home to an ROTC program since 1980. Nearly 40 years later, the corps has a new $3 million training facility with classrooms, office space, a cadre lounge and more. The facility’s formal grand opening is scheduled 1:30 p.m. Sept. 25.

Members of the UAB School of Optometry’s first class were recruited by founding dean Henry B. Peters and began their studies in September 1969, exactly five decades ago.

The west side of UAB’s campus, formed in 1958 during an urban renewal project, looks a bit different these days with the opening of the College of Arts and Sciences’ new University Hall.

In 1971, members of the first social sorority manned a table during recruitment. Today, there are dozens of ways for students to learn about UAB clubs, organizations departments and interest groups.

There’s a key element of summertime fun missing from this vintage photo of medical students relaxing on a sunny rooftop in 1949.

While enrollment increased from 4,600 students in 1966 to more than 21,000 in 2018, campus was growing in other ways — setting itself apart as the top young university in the country, a champion for diversity and the best college for LGBTQ students in the state.

In 1968, UAB hired two instructors to teach art-classes part-time. That fledgling art program is now the thriving Department of Art and Art History, whose faculty are busy this summer season pursuing their passions and honing their crafts.

In the 1970s and ’80s, UAB used school buses — shown here in 1975 — to transport students from parking lots to academic buildings and university events. In May, a new vendor began operating the Blazer Express buses, with big plans for the future fleet.