Author: Bryce Callahan


Deans Message

A Message from Dr. Richard Friend, Dean of the College of Community Health Sciences Unfortunately, COVID-19 numbers are on the rise again. While we are hopeful that this spike is short lived, we are seeing a significant number of COVID-19 positive cases in Tuscaloosa and statewide. Positive COVID-19 cases are also spiking in many parts…


A Message from Dr. Richard Friend, Dean of the College of Community Health Sciences

About this time every year, a new group of doctors joins The University of Alabama Tuscaloosa Family Medicine Residency Program – and our team of physicians at University Medical Center. These interns, as they are called in the first year of the three-year residency, are medical school graduates seeking additional education and training so that…


Health Notes

Health Matters is an award-winning weekly television series broadcast on WVUA-23 that features University Medical Center physicians and providers who raise awareness of important health issues and bring relevant and timely health information to the public. Health Matters airs on WVUA-23 on Wednesdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 10 pm. Segments are also posted…


UMC Spotlight – Family Medicine Obstetricians

Family medicine physicians often choose to incorporate obstetrics into their practices so they can better serve their patients. This is particularly helpful in rural and medically underserved areas, where the nearest obstetrician might be counties away. Dr. Connie Leeper is a family medicine obstetrician with University Medical Center. She said FMOBs, as they are called,…


The Health Matters Podcast – Traveling with Dr. Tom Weida

The Health Matters Podcast is a series created in collaboration with WVUA-23 and Alabama Public Radio that features University Medical Center physicians and providers who bring awareness of important health issues and relevant and timely health information to the public. Now that summer is here, many people are ready to travel again. Dr. Tom Weida,…


Staying safe in hot weather

High temperatures and extreme heat can cause heat-related illness, injuries and even death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those at highest risk include people aged 65 and older, children younger than two and people with chronic diseases or mental illness. The CDC said there are protective actions people at risk,…


Reusing N95 masks

You should be able to use N95 and KN95 face masks a few times, experts said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said health-care workers can wear an N95 mask up to five times, but how often the average person can safely wear one varies depending on how it’s used. Using the same…


The Health Matters Podcast – ADHD with John Burkhardt

When we think about ADHD, we often think only of children. But ADHD is a problem for adults, too. Dr. John Burkhardt is a clinical psychologist at University Medical Center. He describes ADHD as a life issue, but says there are medications and behavior changes can help. Your browser does not support the audio element.…


A message from Dr. Richard Friend, dean of the College of Community Health Sciences

In just a few months, COVID-19 will begin its third year of existence in our lives. Like last year and the year before, University Medical Center will continue to adjust and adapt, and our doctors, nurses and other medical professionals will continue to be here for our patients, providing the health-care services and support they…


Dean’s Message

As we arrive at the holiday season and look back over 2021, there certainly were challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic stretched on, often making 2021 feel like an addendum to 2020. At University Medical Center, we continued to learn about and respond to the virus and its variants, first delta and now omicron. We tested and…