Department of Family and Community Medicine

06/03/2026

Two posters. Big impact.

At this week’s AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting, Tanjila Nawshin, M.S., joined other members of our research team to present posters focused on how primary care research is turning data into practical solutions that can improve lives.

One poster explored trial data on how interventions like digital health coaching, food delivery and remote monitoring can support better Type 2 diabetes management in the Deep South. While another looked at real-world data on the role of participant adherence in remote patient monitoring to lower blood pressure.

05/28/2026

Thank you to the Rural Health Interest Group for inviting us to talk point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) today!

Drs. Coppiano, Ambrozy, Brake and Fijabi worked with learners on ultrasound-guided injections and diagnosis, giving them valuable extra experience with this critical tool.

Why perfect POCUS? These devices can be particularly helpful in caring for patients in resource-strapped areas with limited access to care, who already face significant wait times for appointments or must travel long distances for medical care.

05/28/2026

Did you know mental decluttering can be just as beneficial as physical decluttering? Explore tips to "spring clean" your brain for more energy and focus.

Cleaning your mind: How to declutter the brain

05/22/2026

Chris Grijalba, DO, is rooted in community 🌱

By day, he's caring for patients in UAB's Family Medicine and Sports & Exercise Medicine clinics or teaching Heersink School of Medicine students. By night, he's on the sidelines coaching Mountain Brook girls varsity lacrosse and growing the sport he loves.

Read more about Dr. Grijalba's lacrosse background: https://www.uab.edu/medicine/news/family-community-medicine/rooted-in-community-grijalba-serves-as-a-doctor-by-day-and-lacrosse-coach-by-night

05/21/2026

Whether you’re supporting athletes on the sidelines or caring for them in a clinic, emergencies can happen at any time.

Join Jeremy Towns, MD, at the Robert A Ferguson Lecture Series: A Conference on Sports & Exercise Medicine as he dives into Emergency Medicine in Athletics. Drawing from real-world experience, he’ll walk through how to recognize critical situations on the field, approach emergency evaluations with confidence, and communicate effectively with the emergency department to ensure seamless care.

Learn more and register today: https://buff.ly/SPoiCoI

05/19/2026

Proud of the work our team is doing to create safer sidelines for every athlete!

A first-of-its-kind effort from UAB is helping close a critical gap in emergency preparedness for adaptive athletes.

Developed by the UAB Sports & Exercise Medicine Clinic in partnership with the Lakeshore Foundation, the nation’s first adaptive CPR and defibrillation training video gives sideline providers guidance on delivering lifesaving care to athletes with disabilities both in and out of a wheelchair.

The work reflects a growing national leadership role for UAB in adaptive sports medicine and para-athlete research, including the PARA-WISE Registry, a first-of-its-kind network tracking injuries, wellness and training patterns among adaptive athletes.

It also comes as the Department of Family and Community Medicine climbed to No. 13 nationally in NIH research funding in the 2025 Blue Ridge Rankings.

05/18/2026

UAB Family and Community Medicine Chair Irfan Asif, MD, joined a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine panel spotlighting the value of primary care research. This discussion with the Standing Committee on Primary Care highlighted the importance of cross-sector voices, patient-centered design, innovation and messaging to drive our national research agenda.

Read more about the panel: https://buff.ly/iUMJjeG

05/15/2026

Irfan Asif, MD, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and UAB Heersink School of Medicine associate dean for Primary Care and Rural Health, will join the Standing Committee on Primary Care as part of a critical dialogue on primary care research.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s standing committee convenes the country's leading voices to guide policy, monitor trends, and strengthen care nationwide.

Register for tomorrow's open meeting and join the discussion translating research into real-world impact: https://buff.ly/zkTjQoS

The National Academies’ Standing Committee on Primary Care is hosting a public meeting on May 14th and 15th. The meeting will feature representatives from federal agencies and other experts to discuss primary care workforce innovations and research; payment for team-based primary care; workforce a...

05/13/2026

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in sports and 75% of all fatalities during sports are cardiovascular-related. In a cardiac arrest, every second counts!

Join Irfan Asif, MD, at the Robert A. Ferguson Lecture Series: A Conference on Sports & Exercise Medicine to explore the most common causes of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes and how to respond when seconds can save lives.

This is a must-see lecture for anyone providing sideline care.

Learn more and register today at go.uab.edu/fergusonlecture

05/09/2026

Get to know the team at the UAB Family Medicine East Clinic! 🩺

Assistant Professor Morvarid Sanandaji, MD, says: "What drew me in was the chance to be part of a team that was already doing the work I value most, while also giving me the opportunity to contribute and make a difference alongside them. Being part of a new clinic with fellow providers also recently out of residency has been exciting.”

After completing her training with the University of Alabama Family Medicine Residency program, Sanandaji, knew she wanted to serve the community that “welcomed and shaped” her as a physician.

To make an appointment at this clinic on the UAB St. Vincent's East campus, call 659-997-9700