See how Blazers are working well in midst of COVID-19 crisis

During UAB’s limited business operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are highlighting employees who are continuing their mission-critical work — remotely or among the few employees still present on campus.

Some may be familiar, and others may be new to you. All of them set an example of resilience and UAB’s shared values of accountability, collaboration and excellence and achievement. If you would like to highlight a member of your unit or your unit as a whole, please submit a publicity request with the details and a photo.

University Relations | Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures | UAB Transportation
Health and safety professionals | Education Abroad | Radio services | American Sign Language interpreters
Blazer Kitchen | University Writing Center | UAB Police | School of Dentistry | Bill and Matt Mayfield
Department of Medicine faculty | UAB Information Technology | Student Involvement and Leadership
College of Arts and Sciences advisers | School of Public Health | Hospital Maintenance | MICU | Occupational Medicine

Spanish faculty lend their expertise to community messaging

Professors of Foreign Languages and Literatures Lourdes Sánchez-López, Ph.D., and María Antonia Anderson de la Torre, Ph.D., took a break from transitioning their courses to remote instruction to provide ad-hoc translation services for University Relations. Relevant information at uab.edu/coronavirus is available in Spanish language, including FAQs, patient information and mental health resources; Spanish-language versions of infographics are also available.

“I’m grateful for being able to help a little bit,” Anderson de la Torre said. “The real heroes are out there saving lives.”

“There is no need to thank us,” Sánchez-López agreed. “We are doing our job. We need to thank all the health care workers and scientists who are taking care of people. A lot of families do not speak English, so it is critical to make this information available to them — so the whole country wins.”

Education Abroad supports students during stressful travel, reacclimation

UAB’s Education Abroad team has worked tirelessly since late January to respond to the novel coronavirus situation, says Ashley Neyer, director (pictured, top right). The team evacuated 25 students on six continents within the past month, connecting with each student to assist in securing immediate return to the United States, verify their well-being during transit and arranging academic accommodations upon return.

The evacuation of each student required the Education Abroad team to remain on-call 24/7 for more than 30 days to answer questions and make travel arrangements. When UAB implemented international travel restrictions in early March, the Education Abroad team stayed after hours to answer calls from students and parents, many of whom were waking to evacuation news. Education Abroad team-members also visited with each canceled spring-break study-abroad group to hear their questions and provide support.

“No matter each individual’s position, everyone rallied together to serve the students and parents,” Neyer said. “The team has stood beside each student to ensure their unexpected return went well and that they felt supported.”

Also pictured are Education Abroad team-members Camryn Durham, top left, and Felicia Baltzell. 

UAB radio services aid public health at COVID-19 testing site

A partnership between UAB Radio Paging and WBHM, Birmingham’s public radio station, has been instrumental in helping UAB, the Jefferson County Department of Health and other area hospitals launch the first community COVID-19 testing site, which opened March 23. Radio Paging, which manages UAB and UAB Medicine two-way radios, paging and web-paging and assists with emergency management communications, along with WBHM and other broadcast partners helped establish a low-power radio signal at the testing site to give patients important testing instructions through their radio when tuned to 90.7 FM.

The broadcast requires daily maintenance and updates from Radio Paging personnel, who are alternating their remote and on-campus duties and continuing 24/7 on-call technical support for UAB and UAB Medicine paging services.

“The implementation of this radio system was no minor operation, for it required specialized equipment, multiple site visits to assess for proper equipment placement and an effective system design to provide prime radio signal transmission,” said Thomas Manthei, Radio Paging manager.

The announcement was produced by WBHM, plays on a continuous loop in both English and Spanish and is limited to the testing site location.

“Because of WBHM, we were able to move quickly on getting this set up as it required special permission from the Federal Communications Commission,” said Michael Krall, WBHM program director.

University Writing Center tutors help students grow where they are

When remote instruction began March 24, the University Writing Center sprang into action with distance-tutoring sessions and online services for students. Writers who need assistance can upload a paper and receive feedback or chat one-on-one with a tutor at any stage of the writing process.

The UWC has worked with more than 300 students in more than 470 virtual sessions, and 92% of students have rated their sessions as excellent or very good.

“The Writing Center is doing an awesome job helping students,” one student wrote. “They are reachable all the time, and tutors are very flexible in accommodating students.”

The center’s mission, says Director Jaci Wells, remains the same, whether they are helping students in-person or via distance tutoring.

“In the UWC, we simply love working with student writers and helping them grow,” she said. “I’m very proud of how well we have managed the transition to virtual instruction and how effectively the tutors continue to help students become stronger, more confident writers.”

Clinical faculty share effects of coronavirus on Alabama communities with UK counterparts

Associate Professor of Medicine Stephen Russell, M.D., and Assistant Professor of Medicine KeAndrea Titer, M.D., presented a seminar titled “The Effect of COVID-19 in Alabama” via Zoom webinar to the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh April 15.

This past year, Russell and Titer collaborated with Andrew Elder, MBChB, president of the RCPE, on a bedside medicine initiative, and Elder visited campus to present during the Department of Medicine’s Medical Grand Rounds in April 2019. When he assumed the presidency in March, Elder reached out to Russell and Titer, who also are practicing physicians, to learn about the effects of the novel coronavirus on Alabama communities.

The impact of Covid-19 in Alabama during the first four weeks of the pandemic revealed long-standing health disparities in Alabama communities, Russell says. The two physicians shared their collective experiences of providing care in hospital and outpatient settings, touching on issues such as personal protective equipment and communicating via telehealth.

“When it comes to the impact of Covid-19 in Alabama, Southern writer William Faulkner was correct: ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past,’” said Russell, quoting from “Requium for a Nun.”

“Alabama's history illuminates both present health disparities and future hopes for resilience from coronavirus,” he said.

See the presentation online.

UAB IT workers keep campus plugged in during limited business operations

From printing checks to maintaining mobile devices for hospital staff, UAB IT employees who continue to work on campus are performing critical work for campus and the Health System.

Ed Ramsey, computer system administrator for UAB IT Desktop Services, who celebrated 30 years of service to UAB this year, still reports to his office at the Administration Building nearly every day. His work maintaining mobile devices and UAB’s TechTools program ensures that employees have the equipment they need, whether they are on campus or working remotely.

Ramsey also oversaw distribution of a limited number of loaner devices for students when UAB initially began working and learning remotely.

Members of UAB IT’s Desktop Services team also are reporting to campus on a rotating basis to fulfill emergency equipment needs and respond to urgent incidents. Technicians are responsible for configuring desktop and laptops and provisioning equipment for remote work. At least one technician is on campus every day.

To help protect employees, UAB IT has implemented a number of safety measures, said Jamie Witter, director of IT Client Services. Technicians work in separate rooms and alternate through the schedule to reduce their time on campus. Equipment hand-off processes are in place to adhere to social-distancing guidelines, and equipment is sanitized using wipes and gloves.

UAB IT’s Data Center and check-printing operations also are operational.

Payments still need to be made to individuals, and UAB IT staff must actively monitor the Data Center and its services, including identity management and business-critical applications, to ensure they are operating under optimal conditions.

Cotant develops programs, supports student orgs virtually

Lauren Cotant, assistant director for Leadership and Service in the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, has continued to identify opportunities to support student leaders and organization-members since limited business operations began. She has engaged more than 1,100 student-organization leaders and members though an Instagram TV miniseries, developed a virtual recognition ceremony for the UAB Student Excellence Awards and led the development of a three-part virtual training for 80 student leaders. Currently, she is facilitating monthly roundtables through her new “Student Organization Leaders Unite!” series.

“Lauren’s contribution to the virtual co-curricular experience has allowed students to develop competency in the areas of communication, digital technology, critical thinking and problem-solving, professionalism and leadership,” said Jennifer Griffin, director of Student Involvement and Leadership. “She’s proven that co-curricular engagement is not only possible in a virtual environment, but can have a positive impact on our students. She has truly gone above and beyond in ensuring our students don’t experience any gaps in support and service during this time of virtual operations.”

CAS advisers reassure students, foster relationships during remote instruction

Disruption has been difficult for many students who were in class one minute and online the next. Fortunately for the College of Arts and Sciences, two advisers who recently earned recognition from the National Academic Advising Association are here to help.

For Deborah Littleton, who advises criminal justice students and those minoring in American studies, forensic psychology, forensic science, human rights and legal affairs, the adjustment to remote advising is challenging, at times, but rewarding. She primarily uses Zoom, telephone and email, which the students seem to be enjoying, to maintain consistent contact with them and ensure they feel supported.

“I think students like the Zoom sessions and the telephone sessions,” said Littleton, who received NACADA’s Outstanding Advising Administrator Award Certificate of Merit. “It makes them feel connected to us. Emailing students to reassure them we are still working and are here for them and encouraging them to ask questions with all the new policies in place helps alleviate their anxiety.

Littleton’s colleague, Whitney Woodard, who advises students neuroscience and pre-neuroscience students, says her transition to remote advising was made trickier by the presence of a new colleague, her 2-year-old son — who sometimes makes surprise appearances during her Zoom meetings.  Woodward works hard to maintain relationships with advisees, many of whom are disappointed with the abrupt changes in their lives.

“Sometimes students just want to know they have someone in their corner or someone to vent to, and I wanted to be that person for them,” said Woodward, who received NACADA’s Outstanding Advising Award Primary Advising Role Certificate of Merit. “My philosophy of advising is built around relationships, and having established those relationships with my students, they are comfortable coming to me during this stressful and unique time.

“The thing they probably don’t know is that I needed them during this time of isolation just as much as they needed me. I’m beyond thankful UAB has given me the opportunity to serve students in this capacity,” Woodward said.

Public Health, community partners promote volunteer safety during pandemic

The impact of community spread on people experiencing homelessness has the potential to be more severe, because the population is especially vulnerable due to underlying medical conditions and inadequate access to hygiene facilities, safe lodging and health care.

In partnership with the Jefferson County Department of Health, the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency and the Alabama Fire College, the School of Public Health created a specialized training video, available on YouTube, detailing best practices for volunteering safely at homeless shelters and meal service providers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The training outlines the basics of COVID-19 transmission — who is most vulnerable to infection, when and how to wear personal protective equipment and clean to prevent contamination — and provides guidance on how to volunteer safely during the pandemic.

Their recommendations? Ask service agencies about the risks involved with volunteering, allow extra time for health screenings and continue to practice social distancing while interacting with others. And be sure to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms in the 14 days following a volunteer shift.

Hospital Maintenance continues work in areas caring for COVID-19 patients

Jimmy Branch, maintenance supervisor (left), and Chip Cooley, a general mechanic on Branch’s team, and other members of UAB Hospital Maintenance have been hard at work keeping hospital facilities in working order despite altered operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Branch says Cooley, who maintains some units and floors in Spain Wallace Tower, West Pavilion and the Medical Education Building, has been especially conscientious during the past several months in a work area that spans several units caring for COVID-19 patients. No two days look the same for Cooley, who often can be founded changing lightbulbs or fixing leaks, Branch says.

“The biggest change to his duties on the COVID units is that he doesn’t go in the room with the patients,” Branch explained. “One of the units in his area was the first COVID-19 unit at UAB. He was spending a lot of time there when all of this was very new and scary and none of us knew exactly how it was going to work out. He did not hesitate to go there and did his job to the best of his abilities given the situation.”

MICU staff ‘smiling behind our masks’ despite demands of COVID-19 care

Clinicians in UAB Hospital’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) — a team comprising physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, respiratory therapists and pharmacists — are no strangers to caring for patients with critical medical conditions. When COVID-19 spread to Alabama, the MICU became UAB’s COVID care unit.

While the 100-plus MICU staff are accustomed to working with patients who require ventilator supports, vasopressors and continuous dialysis, working with coronavirus patients has required some changes in their routine. The team wears N95 masks and face shields throughout their entire shift and have collaborated with the Division of Nephrology to keep patients’ continuous renal replacement therapies (CCRT) machines outside the rooms.

Several years ago, the team created a new protocol for proning treatments, which involves treating respiratory patients by positioning them face-down, rather than on their backs. Before COVID-19, the MICU cared for around two or three prone patients at a time, says Barbara Thornton, registered nurse on the unit. Now, they have as many as 10 out of 25 patients proned, which required the team to adapt in order to provide the treatment seamlessly.

Due to visitor access restrictions, the MICU staff also has become a stand-in for patients’ families and friends, Thornton says, using telehealth video conferencing to connect patients and their loved ones. This kind of adaptation is an example of the optimism and dedication the MICU team feels despite the pandemic, she continued, and morale remains high.

“The MICU staff has always worked with outstanding teamwork and positive attitudes each day,” she said. “This hasn’t changed at all even though protocols and treatments change hourly during the pandemic. Everyone is always willing to help each other with a smile, even though we’re smiling behind our masks these days. I am more proud than ever to be a part of the MICU staff.”

‘Small, but mighty’ Occupational Medicine team rises to meet challenges posed by coronavirus

The Environmental Health and Safety Occupational Medicine team has met the trials posed by the coronavirus pandemic head-on, says Nurse Susan Kurre (center), pictured with Director Tim Key, M.D., (right) and Nurse Practitioner Julie Allen. Kathy Jo Baker, administrative assistant, is working remotely during limited business operations.

The team, which uses risk assessment, management and education and preventive medicine to anticipate, evaluate and control potential health, safety and environmental factors that could affect the UAB community, has had to adapt to many changes since the pandemic began, Kurre says. Perhaps their biggest challenge, she continues, is prioritizing use of personal protective equipment such as N-95 masks, of which there is a national shortage, while ensuring that UAB employees are protected as well as possible.

The team works diligently to meet demand for respirator fit testing, immunizations and preventive teaching methods to help keep employees safe, along with implementing COVID-19 screening processes and ensuring employees are utilizing proper hand hygiene, practicing social distancing and avoid coming to work ill — Kurre says the challenges the novel coronavirus has presented to Occupational Medicine are “the greatest I have seen within my nursing career,” but that they are up to the task.

“We may be small, but we are a mighty team,” Kurre said of Occupational Medicine, which currently has a staff of just four employees. “We are stretched thin at times, but we continue to adopt a collaborative approach to ensure a consistent pathway in supporting our employees.

“Positivity is a mindset that doesn’t just come when we need it,” she continued. “It is something we try to practice every day, especially at times like these. I feel we have become an even closer team throughout this ordeal. I can honestly say that, despite the challenges, I love my job.”