Eight years into his tenure as president of UAB, Ray Watts is honored by the Birmingham Business Journal for his leadership during unprecedented times.

Shadi S. Martin, Ph.D., brings extensive experience in international and graduate education and a strong record of interdisciplinary scholarship to this new combined role.

UAB’s safety protocols are proving largely effective, and the university plans to continue to require masking indoors until the end of the calendar year while it monitors changes in viral transmission.

Incentive reporting helped UAB get a more accurate view of its vaccinated employees — and students — and the numbers are encouraging.

UAB’s annual open enrollment for benefits will be held Oct. 22-Nov. 8. Eligible employees can choose among dental, vision and health insurance plans, plus voluntary plan options and tax-deferred spending accounts for health and dependent care for 2022.

The U.S. Department of Education announced some short-term changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that may make it easier for UAB and UAB Hospital employees to get debt relief while it pursues long-term changes in the program.

UAB employees also will have the option to select insurance to cover accidents and identity theft and/or participate in a pet-care discount program during open enrollment.

Nationwide, the cost of everything is rising, and UAB is working to balance the impact of these costs on its employees and the organization. Here are some things you can do to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

For the second year, UAB employees will be offered premiums that are mostly flat or decreased.

UAB offers vision benefits, and eligible employees of UAB, UAB Hospital and UAB Hospital Management LLC will have the option to choose or decline that coverage during the open enrollment for benefits Oct. 22-Nov. 8.