Category Newsletter


UMC Pediatrics Clinic Recognized as Patient-Centered Medical Home

The Pediatrics Clinic at University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa was nationally certified in March as a Patient-Centered Medical Home in recognition of its commitment to place patients at the forefront of care, and to continuously advance quality in the healthcare it provides. The certification was granted by the National Committee on Quality Assurance, an organization…


UMC and Student Health Center Merger Will Expand Care for Students

Health care services at The University of Alabama will expand and become more efficient as the Student Health Center, currently managed by the Division of Student Life, merges its medical services and administrative operations with the University Medical Center, which falls under the College of Community Health Sciences. The full transition is expected to be…


UMC Town Halls

University Medical Center and WVUA 23 have partnered to provide the West Alabama community with important information and resources from UMC health experts through weekly virtual town halls. UMC Town Halls in March: Responding to and improving health care disparities in rural Alabama, with guest Dr. Drake Lavender, family medicine physician at UMC and director…


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

At University Medical Center, we have been vaccinating The University of Alabama community against COVID-19 since early January, and it has been a privilege to do so. The effort has placed considerably more work on our faculty and staff. UMC is primarily vaccinating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There have been long hours and long…


The Health Matters Podcast – COVID-19 Vaccine

Now that COVID-19 vaccines are available, it is important to understand more about them. Dr. Tom Weida is chief medical officer of University Medical Center. In this podcast, he explains the different vaccines available, their safety and effectiveness, and what people can expect after vaccination. Your browser does not support the audio element. Download


Health Notes

In the United States, there are more than 13,000 cases of cervical cancer every year. Most people don’t know that cervical cancer can be prevented. Dr. John McDonald, an OB/GYN at University Medical Center, talks about ways to help prevent cervical cancer Read More. Dr. Robert Osburne is a practicing endocrinologist at University Medical Center,…


February is American Heart Month:
App helps users monitor their blood pressure, provides learning resources

A mobile app developed by faculty at The University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences and the Center for Advanced Public Safety is helping individuals manage their blood pressure while also providing valuable resources that promote a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Louanne Friend, associate professor and director of residency research with CCHS, was the principal…


Sentinel Testing Promotes Health and Safety

The College of Community Health Sciences worked closely in 2020 with The University of Alabama’s efforts to mitigate community spread of COVID-19 by conducting sentinel testing of employees and students. The College, which operates University Medical Center, is continuing the work in 2021. Sentinel testing is one of several important measures for preventing the spread…


UMC-Fayette to Offer Prenatal

University Medical Center opened a location in Fayette, Alabama, Feb. 5 that will provide prenatal care services to expectant mothers in a county that has a high infant mortality rate. UMC-Fayette will be open from 8:30 am to noon on Fridays. Dr. Cheree Melton, a family medicine-obstetrician at UMC in Tuscaloosa, will care for patients…