COVID-19 seems to be settling down, with fewer positive cases and hospitalizations in Alabama, but that doesn’t mean we can relax just yet. It is still important for people to get vaccinated and boosted against the virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August authorized updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster shots for people who are…
Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work, school or family events, or it can result in potentially more serious illness that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart…
COVID-19 bivalent vaccines, also referred to as updated boosters, are now available in the U.S. The vaccines add Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components to the current vaccine composition, helping to restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination by targeting variants that are more transmissible and immune evading. The vaccines can be given…
Dr. Lisa Gillespie, who has extensive practice and leadership experience in hospital medicine, was named medical director of the Capstone Hospitalist Group Aug. 1. She has served as interim medical director of the Tuscaloosa-based group since September 2021. Capstone Hospitalist Group was established in 2020 by University Medical Center in partnership with IN Compass Health…
A Message from Dr. Richard Friend, Dean of the College of Community Health Sciences COVID-19 has been a part of our lives for the past two-and-a-half years. Now, we are contending with another virus – monkeypox. Though monkeypox is endemic to West and Central Africa, there are currently 15,000 cases in the United States. As…
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. Studies show that older adults tend to have better mental health than younger people. The…
University Medical Center’s clinic in Livingston, Ala., is open and accepting new patients. With hours Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5pm, UMC-Livingston provides primary health care for individuals and families. Call (205) 348-4055 to make an appointment. The Faculty-Staff Clinic at University Medical Center is located on the north side of the UMC building, adjacent to the UA…
More than 6 million Americans are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. John Burkhardt, a clinical psychologist at University Medical Center, says memory loss is one of the first signs, but the condition eventually impacts cognitive skills and the ability to carry out simple tasks. Learn more.
Flu and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a coronavirus first identified in 2019. Flu is caused by infection with a flu virus. From what health experts know, COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and can cause more serious illness in some…
Monkeypox is a rare disease that causes a rash and flu-like symptoms and usually goes away on its own after two to four weeks. Monkeypox is spread when a person comes into contact with an infected animal or a person infected with the virus, although person-to-person transmission is less common. In the United States, the…
