Endocrinologist

From PCT to LPN to RN, UAB Medicine nurse makes most of education benefits. Jun 15, 2026 Shamond Curtis Jr., took advantage of the UAB/WSCC Nursing Workshop Initiative that allowed him to become and LPN then an RN before completing his bachelor's degree at UAB. Reprinted with permission from UAB Every challenge is an opportunity to excel for Shamond Curtis Jr., BSN, RN, CCRN-CMC. In just five years, Curtis worked his way up the nursing ladder by taking advantage of multiple UAB Medicine educational assistance programs while working full time. However, a career in healthcare wasn't always his plan. Curtis joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from college, hoping to serve his country. But after being discharged during boot camp, he had to pivot. That's when he turned to nursing - even though it meant starting at square one. "My mom's been a nurse for the majority of my life, so she was talking me into trying to do it for a long time," Curtis said. "Getting the opportunity to have an impact on people is my motivation, so shifting to nursing has been the best thing for me." Creating opportunities. Curtis joined UAB Hospital as a patient care technician (PCT) in September 2020, a challenging time for the healthcare industry. While hospitals across the country were losing nurses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, UAB Medicine sought to build stability in its workforce. As part of that effort, UAB Medicine partnered with Wallace State Community College (WSCC) to develop the UAB/WSCC Nursing Workforce Initiative. This scholarship program created a new pathway for full-time, benefit-eligible employees to advance their careers. By enrolling at WSCC, they can earn their licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificate while UAB Medicine covers tuition. "We lost a lot of nurses during COVID for a lot of reasons, but we saw this as an opportunity to help our great staff who wanted to become licensed nurses but needed support to reach that next level of licensure," said UAB Health System Chief Nursing Executive Terri Poe, DNP, RN. Nursing Program Development Director Aaryn Levert-Kidd says the initiative was designed to create opportunities for employees who already demonstrate dedication, compassion, and potential within the organization. "By removing financial barriers and building clear educational pathways for our UAB Medicine employees, we're able to invest in our current workforce while helping staff achieve long-term professional and personal goals," Levert-Kidd said. A bigger idea. Curtis heard about the program in October 2021 and was among the first to enroll. After three semesters of hard work, he earned his LPN certificate. But he had a bigger idea. "Shortly after that, he and a colleague came back to us and asked if we would pay for them to take two more semesters and earn their associate's degrees," Poe said. "The truth is that we'd never considered it. But then we thought, why in the world would we not want to do that?" Nine months later, Curtis and his colleague became registered nurses (RNs), opening the door for others to follow in their footsteps. "It's thanks to them that we extended it from just an LPN program to an RN program, which we've now graduated a lot of people from," Poe said. However, Curtis still wasn't done. Taking advantage of another free tuition benefit, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the UAB School of Nursing. "It's been great for my family," Curtis said. "I'm a husband and a dad now, so being able to take care of my family has been a big deal." Pathways to success. UAB Medicine's tuition assistance and career advancement programs have since been expanded, giving eligible employees even more opportunities to become an LPN or RN. And through the national Reach for the Stars nursing scholarship program, UAB Medicine also supports staff working in part-time and flexible roles who are interested in pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing. "We are seeing multiple avenues to support nurses who are already in our system, which is exactly what we started trying to do with the inaugural group that Shamond was a part of several years ago," Poe said. "I think the sky's the limit with these programs." Today, Curtis is an RN in the Cardiac Care Unit at UAB Hospital and is planning to pursue postgraduate education at UAB. "His trajectory in five years is amazing," Poe said. "He's motivated me to make a difference for more people and to reach out and touch the next Shamond. I believe that if we made this impact for him, we can grow it across the whole health system." Looking back, Curtis says he's proud of his persistence and recognizes that great things come from overcoming challenges. "If you want something bad enough, you'll make it happen, and you get great support here throughout the entire process," Curtis said. "If you're willing to work, UAB definitely will help you out." Learn about nursing career pathways at UAB Medicine and search for open jobs. Media contact. * Kristen Holmes * Vice President for Students and Chief Marketing Officer * 256-352-8233 * [email protected] submit a Marketing request June 16, 2026 June 9, 2026

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?