UA College of Community Health Sciences

06/04/2026

Explore recent research publications made by some of our CCHS faculty members! Read more: https://cchs.ua.edu/2026/05/publications-24/

06/03/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Jane Weida, clinical professor with the CCHS Department of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine! She was re-elected as vice-chair of the Board of Censors of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.

The Board of Censors is comprised of 12 members who manage the property and financial affairs of the association, which represents physicians throughout the state and works to promote the highest quality of health care for patients.

06/03/2026

Join us Thursday, June 4, at 5:30PM, as CCHS hosts its Art of Medicine Rounds.

The speaker, Dr. Alan Blum, the Gerald Leon Wallace, MD, Endowed Chair in Family Medicine with the College, will present “Polio: Forgotten But Not Gone.”

The lecture is free and open to the public in the CCHS Classrooms (850 Peter Bryce Blvd., Tuscaloosa, Ala.) It is also available via Zoom: https://bit.ly/artmedrounds.

05/29/2026

The College of Community Health Sciences will soon expand access to continuing medical education, offering more learning opportunities to physicians and other health professionals at The University of Alabama and at other institutions nationwide.

Continuing medical education, or CME, helps health professionals maintain and expand the knowledge and skills needed for patient care.

This approach allows users to have greater access to live and on-demand educational lectures and activities, along with a simpler way to complete learning, track participation, and access certificates and transcripts in one place. Stay tuned for more information!

05/20/2026

Congratulations to Drs. Cayla Graham and Eddie Higginbotham, who completed their third and fourth years of medical school at CCHS.

Both were named recipients of the UAB Medical Alumni Association Leadership and Community Service Award at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine commencement ceremony May 16. This prestigious award is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in addressing educational, societal and health care needs.

CCHS serves as a regional campus of the Heersink School of Medicine, providing the third and fourth years of medical school to a cohort of the school’s students.

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

Congratulations to residents and fellows who presented their research projects and findings at CCHS's Resident and Fellow Research Day May 19. They are a part of The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program, which is operated by the College. The residency is a three-year education and training program for medical school graduates seeking to specialize in the practice of family medicine.�

The research day also featured a panel where current chief residents (Drs. Chase Britt, Marwan Mahmoud, Emily Brown and Callie Hillman) shared insights from their experiences and offered advice to those who will follow in their footsteps. The chief residents will graduate from the program in June.

05/15/2026

Congratulations to the 32 medical students who completed their third and fourth years of medical school (the clinical education years) at CCHS! The students were honored for their achievements at the College’s Senior Banquet yesterday.

The students will graduate from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine on Saturday, May 16. After graduation, they will continue their training in residency programs in 12 different states across the country.

CCHS serves as a regional campus of the Heersink School of Medicine, providing the third and fourth years of medical school to a cohort of the school’s students.

05/14/2026

CCHS’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine hosted a Mental Health Awareness Month panel discussion luncheon Thursday, May 14, for faculty and staff.

Discussion topics included mental health concerns and resources involving caregivers’ mental health, children and adolescents mental health and individuals with conditions such as bipolar disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Did you know that more than 15.5 million U.S. adults receive treatment for ADHD, and symptoms can continue into adulthood. Panelists noted that mental health symptoms may also present physically such as headaches, fatigue and digestive issues.

From left: Dr. John Burkhardt, a clinical associate professor; Dr. Crystal Dillard, a clinical professor; Dr. Martha Crowther, a professor of community medicine and population health; Dr. William Brooks Burns, a clinical assistant professor; and Dr. David Panting, a clinical assistant professor

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Bob McKinney, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical associate professor in the CCHS Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. McKinney received the Outstanding Commitment to Practicum Education Award from The University of Alabama School of Social Work during its Buford Peace and Faculty-Staff Awards Ceremony May 4.

As director of the Department of Social Services at University Medical Center, which is operated by the College, McKinney supervises and teaches social work field students, as well as psychology and clinical behavioral medicine trainees. In the 10 years that he has been director, he and his team have provided practicum experiences for approximately 150 social work trainees, as well as trainees from psychology and clinical mental health counseling.

The Outstanding Commitment to Practicum Education Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to practicum education through professional support, mentorship and knowledge.