UAB Medicine partners with Junior Achievement to launch innovative Emergency Department Classroom at new McWane Economic Education Center. * By integrating healthcare education with financial responsibility, the UAB Medicine Emergency Department Classroom will equip Alabama's youth with the essential tools and soft skills needed for lifelong economic empowerment. UAB Medicine, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Alabama, will sponsor a brand-new, immersive storefront at the upcoming Junior Achievement McWane Economic Education Center. As part of this collaboration, UAB Medicine will introduce an interactive Emergency Department Classroom designed to introduce middle school students to the intersection of healthcare, financial literacy and career planning. The JA McWane Economic Education Center features JA Capstone Programs JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, which blend traditional classroom curriculum with a hands-on, experiential site visit. In this unique "learning lab," students participate in daylong simulations that mirror real-world economic and community environments. "This experience helps students connect purpose with possibility by showing the next generation how a career in healthcare can change lives, including their own," UAB Health System CEO Dawn Bulgarella said. "By combining healthcare education with financial literacy, we are equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions for themselves and their communities." Within the UAB Medicine Emergency Department Classroom, students will step into the shoes of healthcare professionals and consumers. The interactive storefront will serve as a dynamic workforce development hub, preparing students for multifaceted roles in medicine and healthcare administration. Simultaneously, the curriculum builds essential personal financial literacy. Students gain critical insights into healthcare economics, including budgeting and operational costs, while mastering practical concepts like insurance structures, income deductions and the financial impact of medical decisions. "We're grateful for the partnership with UAB Medicine," said Chip Reed, President of Junior Achievement of Alabama. Financial literacy and career exploration coupled together make such a lasting impact on young people. We can help them understand so much more about their opportunities in life, the educational pathways that lead to success, and provide skills that will equip them for economic mobility." By integrating healthcare education with financial responsibility, the UAB Medicine Emergency Department Classroom will equip Alabama's youth with the essential tools and soft skills needed for lifelong economic empowerment.

UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine creates first CPR training video for athletes in wheelchairs. * Home * News * UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine creates first CPR training video for athletes in wheelchairs. UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine has developed the nation's first training video on how to perform CPR and defibrillation on athletes with disabilities. The video and accompanying tools are designed for medical professionals and others who provide sideline coverage for adaptive athletes, offering detailed guidance on performing CPR both in and out of a wheelchair. These resources, created in partnership with the Lakeshore Foundation, fill a critical gap for medical teams and sideline staff supporting adaptive sports. "Shifting the focus of sports and exercise medicine toward groups like para-athletes and providing the right training tools is essential for ensuring these teams are prepared to respond effectively in emergency situations," said Irfan Asif, M.D., chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and team physician for USA Wheelchair Rugby. "Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on the playing field. I was surprised at the lack of available training resources to guide sideline medical providers on correctly administering life-saving CPR to athletes who require certain adaptations." Paralympian Bob Lujano, MS, who won bronze with the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby team in 2004, echoed the importance of addressing the unique health concerns of people with disabilities (PWD), who are three times more likely to experience secondary health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease "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," said Lujano. "With health disparities being so extreme for PWD, specifically creating programs geared toward fitness and wellness can address secondary health concerns, as well as provide social interaction." Designing effective emergency protocols for athletes with disabilities requires a deeper evidence base than what currently exists, making tailored research, training programs, and clinical resources essential. "Because of so many vast disability types, it can be difficult for trainers or health care professionals to be aware of the many health issues that derive from having a physical disability," said Lujano. "This can make treatment options limited for para-athletes." While CPR training is broadly standardized, performing effective chest compressions and emergency procedures on athletes in wheelchairs requires tailored approaches, modified positioning strategies, and sometimes adapted equipment. Wheelchair users may experience unique cardiovascular risks based on disability type, training load, autonomic function, and secondary medical conditions. Until now, no nationally recognized training resource existed to guide clinicians, athletic trainers, and sideline responders specifically on emergency care for this population. This video is part of UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine's continuing effort to close gaps in emergency preparedness for para-athletes. This milestone aligns with the department's broader leadership through the Para-Athlete Research for Wellness, Injury Prevention, and Sports Medicine Excellence (PARAWISE) Registry. This multi-institution collaboration was designed to build the first nationwide network dedicated to tracking para-athlete injuries, wellness, and training patterns. PARAWISE uses weekly online questionnaires over a three-month period to collect longitudinal data on injuries, illness, training load, and quality of life - data essential for developing sport-specific injury prevention strategies. Researchers say the CPR video and the PARA-WISE project share a common goal: improving safety and evidence-based care for athletes with disabilities. "Historically, many injuries among athletes with disabilities go unreported in traditional hospital or emergency department data, making it difficult for clinicians to design prevention and response protocols," explained Asif, the study's co-principal investigator. "PARA-WISE is addressing this gap by creating a nationwide network of adaptive athlete injury data, informed not only by clinical insight but also by the guidance of an advisory council composed of world-class para-athletes." UAB Medicine updates in your inbox. Have an inspiring story to share? Did UAB Medicine have a positive impact on you or a loved one?

UAB O'Neal Cancer Center expanding Acton Road clinic. * home * news * UAB O'Neal Cancer Center expanding Acton Road clinic. To improve service and better meet demand, the UAB O'Neal Cancer Center began expanding its Acton Road clinic in March. The project should be completed by fall 2026. The renovation will double capacity by adding seven new exam rooms, allowing more patients to receive timely, compassionate care close to home. It also will enable staff to deliver more efficient and personalized service. This growth reflects its larger commitment to improving convenience and access to cancer services for the community. Patients will enjoy greater scheduling flexibility, fewer treatment delays, and better support for complex diagnoses. By investing in this facility, UAB Medicine hope to strengthen the role of its Acton Road clinic as a regional destination for high-quality oncology care. UAB Medicine updates in your inbox. Have an inspiring story to share? Did UAB Medicine have a positive impact on you or a loved one?