Category Newsletter


New Physicians Join UMC

University Medical Center has welcomed two new physicians to its practice. Dr. Russ Guin is a family medicine physician and will care for patients in UMC’s Family Medicine Clinic and Sports Medicine Clinic. Guin received a bachelor’s degree in health sciences from The University of Alabama. He received his medical degree from the University of…


Evening Hours for Scheduled Appointments and Walk-Ins Resume at UMC

University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa resumes evening hours this week for in-person scheduled appointments and walk-in care. Beginning Tuesday, August 11, evening clinic hours will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Appointments will be scheduled, and walk-ins will be accommodated according to capacity. Scheduled appointments can be for routine health-care…


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

Until there is a vaccine, Covid-19 testing remains critical to gaining control of the spread of the virus and allowing for a return to normalcy. Testing helps find the virus in the population, hopefully early, and lets people know they need to quarantine or isolate themselves from others. This is one way we can help…


University Hospitalist Group Physicians Care for UMC Patients in the Hospital

Physicians with University Hospitalist Group are caring for University Medical Center patients hospitalized at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. University Hospitalist Group was established by UMC in 2003 in partnership with DCH. Services provided to UMC patients by physicians of the group include in-patient care at DCH after emergency room visits or doctor referrals,…


University Medical Center Resuming Evening In-Person Patient Appointments

University Medical Center in Tuscaloosa will resume evening, in-person patient appointments in August. UMC had converted evening office visits to telemedicine visits this past spring due to Covid-19. Evening clinic hours will return on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm for scheduled appointments and urgent care for both new patients and established…


Covid-19 and Re-Opening K-12 Schools

Local, state and federal officials are considering a re-opening of K-12 schools, leaving parents understandably concerned about the safety of their children at school. Dr. Brian Gannon, a pediatrician at University Medical Center, said it is important to consider the benefits and risks of both in-person and virtual learning. Gannon is also assistant professor of…


The Health Matters Podcast:
Covid-19 and Youth Sports

On this episode of Health Matters, Dr. Brett Bentley, a sports medicine physician at University Medical Center, discusses Covid-19 and youth sports, and talks about ways to keep players safe. Your browser does not support the audio element. Download


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

Last week, a city of Tuscaloosa ordinance took effect requiring people to wear face masks or face coverings in public. There are some exceptions. Children under the age of 2 are not required to wear masks. Face coverings are also not required when people are eating or drinking, if they have health conditions that make…


Testing, Returning to Campus and Emergency Room Care During COVID-19

The University of Alabama is working to bring students, faculty and staff safely back to campus. Drs. Myron Pope and Richard Friend are closely involved with those efforts. Pope is UA’s vice president for Student Life. Friend is dean of the UA College of Community Health Sciences, which operates University Medical Center, and a family…