Department of Family and Community Medicine

05/15/2026

Irfan Asif, MD, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and UAB Heersink School of Medicine associate dean for Primary Care and Rural Health, will join the Standing Committee on Primary Care as part of a critical dialogue on primary care research.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s standing committee convenes the country's leading voices to guide policy, monitor trends, and strengthen care nationwide.

Register for tomorrow's open meeting and join the discussion translating research into real-world impact: https://buff.ly/zkTjQoS

The National Academies’ Standing Committee on Primary Care is hosting a public meeting on May 14th and 15th. The meeting will feature representatives from federal agencies and other experts to discuss primary care workforce innovations and research; payment for team-based primary care; workforce a...

05/13/2026

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in sports and 75% of all fatalities during sports are cardiovascular-related. In a cardiac arrest, every second counts!

Join Irfan Asif, MD, at the Robert A. Ferguson Lecture Series: A Conference on Sports & Exercise Medicine to explore the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and how to respond when seconds can save lives.

This is a must-see lecture for anyone providing sideline care.

Learn more and register today at go.uab.edu/fergusonlecture

05/09/2026

Get to know the team at the UAB Family Medicine East Clinic! 🩺

Assistant Professor Morvarid Sanandaji, MD, says: "What drew me in was the chance to be part of a team that was already doing the work I value most, while also giving me the opportunity to contribute and make a difference alongside them. Being part of a new clinic with fellow providers also recently out of residency has been exciting.”

After completing her training with the University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency program, Sanandaji, knew she wanted to serve the community that “welcomed and shaped” her as a physician.

To make an appointment at this clinic on the UAB St. Vincent's East campus, call 659-997-9700

05/05/2026

The new UAB Family Medicine Residency program with Birmingham and Selma tracks is now recruiting first-year residents! 🩺

UAB’s Birmingham campus will act as the main education hub, with Selma serving as a core training site where residents will live, learn and provide hands-on care. Family and Community Medicine will be able to offer residents robust educational opportunities while continuing our strong clinical presence in Alabama’s Black Belt region.

Learn more: https://www.uab.edu/medicine/news/family-community-medicine/new-uab-family-medicine-residency-program-recruiting-residents-to-train-in-selma-and-birmingham

04/28/2026

Working alongside people like paralympian Bob Lujano, MS, Family and Community Medicine providers and researchers are addressing the unique health concerns of people with disabilities.

"It is essential to build programs specifically for athletes with a disability because for decades people with disabilities have been excluded from sport participation or have limited recreation opportunities."

Learn more about the work our team is doing to improve sideline care for adaptive athletes: https://buff.ly/BPhUWnw

04/25/2026

Mabry Smyer, a CMA at the Highlands Family Medicine Clinic, is heading south to begin physician assistant training at the University of South Alabama.

"When I imagine myself as a provider, I think of someone who approaches every patient encounter, no matter how challenging, with energy and compassion. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside providers at UAB Highlands Family Medicine who bring both expertise and warmth to every patient interaction, and that’s something I hope to emulate as a PA."

Congratulations, Mabry! We are so proud of you.

04/22/2026

Congratulations to Jamya Patterson, Tania Anderson, and Genesis Bivens, the newest graduates of our Blaze to MD Primary Care Pathway Program! 🐉

As part of Blaze to MD, they not only enjoyed early exposure to a primary care clinic and hands-on clinical experience but also earned an MS in Biomedical Health Sciences. We cannot wait to celebrate your future successes!

04/21/2026

Congratulations to assistant professors Ben Echols, MD, Daniel Fijabi, MD, and Chris Grijalba, DO, who recently completed the Essentials of Teaching program!

Led by the UAB Center for Teaching and Learning, this program helps faculty build a stronger foundation in effective, research-informed teaching practices. The program spans classroom and clinical teaching contexts, creating space for collaboration, reflection, and shared growth.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our learners.

04/21/2026

Session Spotlight! 🎤

“The Great Debate: Optimal Management of Knee, Shoulder, and Hip Pathologies in Athletes,” will explore expert perspectives from Amit Momaya, MD and Steven Brown, MD, on surgical and non-operative treatment options, clinical decision-making, and the latest approaches to managing common and complex sports injuries.

Robert A. Ferguson Endowed Lecture Series: A Conference on Sports & Exercise Medicine
📅 June 13, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 UAB Alumni House

Learn more and register today!
🔗 http://go.uab.edu/fergusonlecture

04/16/2026

This… is Medical Jeopardy! 🧠

At the Medical Association of the State of Alabama annual meeting, our faculty turned learning into a game, guiding family medicine residents and medical students through high-energy Jeopardy rounds to put their knowledge to the test.💡

Drs. Sameera Davului, Daniel Fijabi, Marshall Pritchett and Minakshi crafted questions tackling everything from preventive medicine and cardiology to GI, derm, pediatrics, and OB/GYN.

04/10/2026

Congratulations to Devin Major, CMA, who was recognized as a UAB Medicine Patient Experience Hero! 🎉

Devin was nominated by her peers in the UAB Family Medicine Clinic at UAB Hospital-Highlands, who said: "What truly sets Devin apart is the empathy she brings to this work. She meets challenges with compassion and determination, often taking extra steps outside her normal responsibilities to ensure patients feel supported, heard, and respected."

Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of our patients and families.