President Ray Watts, M.D., sits down with Selwyn Vickers, M.D., FACS, dean of the School of Medicine, to discuss the resilience and fortitude of the UAB community throughout the distressing year of COVID-19.

Dr. Vickers talks with Mayor Randall Woodfin about the interconnected relationship of UAB and the city of Birmingham, the mayor’s experience with COVID-19, leading a city during crises, and bringing justice to communities of color.

Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, professor in the Department of Pediatrics, discusses the intersection of community health and academic medicine, how racism and bias impact adolescent development, and the many ways COVID-19 has pressed on our social systems to highlight resource and education disparities. Dr. Coyne-Beasley also talks with Dr. Vickers about her journey to UAB and the university’s commitment to adolescent health and underserved populations. 

Monica Baskin, Ph.D., professor in the Division of Preventive Medicine, sits down with Dr. Vickers to discuss why acknowledging systemic racism and health disparities is critical, how social determinants of health impact disparities, and how her work is bridging a gap of research to community partnerships. Baskin also shares her personal story, explaining why this work is meaningful to her.