University of Alabama School of Medicine

About Us
AboutUABSOMOur nationally ranked school provides medical education and internship opportunities for students throughout the world. Its comprehensive approach to teaching future physicians covers all facets of medicine, including medical education, research, and patient care -- delivered in one of the most technologically advanced medical facilities in the country.

This "institution without walls" has grown from one initial building to a vast university and medical complex stretching over more than 80 city blocks.

A long tradition of interdisciplinary research has ensured that the School of Medicine consistently ranks among the leading recipients of National Institutes of Health funding in the Southeast.

The School of Medicine at UAB is dedicated to the education of physicians and scientists in all of the disciplines of medicine and biomedical investigation for careers in practice, teaching and research. Necessary to this educational mission is the provision of outstanding medical care and services and the enhancement of new knowledge through clinical and basic biomedical research.

For six decades, the University of Alabama School of Medicine has emerged as a national leader in primary care medical education, in pioneering research that improves people's lives, and in providing humanistic patient care at the bedside.

History & Overview
The University of Alabama System composed of the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa), the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville was created in 1969. At the same time, the Medical College of Alabama, located in Birmingham, became known as the University of Alabama School of Medicine.

The state legislature recognized a need for coordinating the medical education programs throughout the state, especially within the newly formed system and mandated a study for such a plan. The resulting program, adopted by the board of trustees in 1972, was the University of Alabama System Medical Education Program (UASMEP), which encompassed the university's medical education programs, including its residency programs, but specifically excluded nursing.

Under a revised operating plan adopted by the board of trustees in 1980, the University of Alabama School of Medicine now has responsibility for all aspects of this program: educating and training candidates for the M.D. degree, providing graduate education in biomedical and related health sciences, developing and analyzing new knowledge both in basic and in clinical sciences, and understanding and appreciating the socioeconomic factors involved in providing medical care. The school and its faculty must also provide patient care, not only for the benefit of clinical education, but also to help meet the medical care needs of the region.

In the predoctoral medical education program, the first two basic science years are taught on the main campus of the University of Alabama School of Medicine at Birmingham; the last two clinical years are divided among the main campus and the two branch campuses in Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. The three units are accredited as the University of Alabama School of Medicine by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which approves all programs in medical education in the United States and Canada.

Administration
At UAB, a variety of administrative units and offices work together to provide support for the ongoing business and success of the university - its students, faculty and staff.

The School of Medicine administration performs a diverse range of support services in a variety of academic and clinical areas: financial affairs, human resources, information technology, public affairs, academic and student programs, research, admissions, records and registration, financial aid, and other essential areas that are important factors to the success of medical students.

The School of Medicine administration particularly influences many aspects of student life. With continued dedication, assistance, and support of the vital administrative areas within the medical school, students are given the opportunity to excel as they receive the finest medical education. The administration both facilitates and promotes the value of the educational activities within the School of Medicine.

LCME Institutional Self-Study
Welcome to the University of Alabama School of Medicine LCME Re-accreditation Site.

This site contains relevant information and resources pertaining to the re-accreditation efforts for the School of Medicine in anticipation of the March 2014 LCME survey team site visit which begins on Sunday, March 9, with the majority of site visit meetings taking place on Monday, March 10, through Thursday, March 13, 2014.

The re-accreditation efforts involve both an institutional self-study component (consisting of five main committees and various subcommittees) and an independent student analysis self-study component. The SOM re-accreditation efforts involve participation of more than 200 faculty members (including all departmental chairs), students, residents and staff members from the school, university and health system. Students will be participating in both the institutional committees and independent student analysis self-study processes. The School of Medicine thanks each and every participant for their valued feedback, contributions, and efforts in the re-accreditation processes.

For the independent student analysis, the student survey and analysis component will be conducted between September to December 2012, with students sharing findings of the student self-study survey with the institutional self-study committees during the month of January 2013. For the institutional self-study component, committee members will meet regularly between September 2012 and April 2013. Self-study reports for both the independent student analysis and institutional self-study will be drafted during the Spring 2014. Some members will participate in a mock site survey visit (late fall 2013 or early winter 2014) and in the actual site survey March 10-13, 2014.

Strategic Plans & Priorities
Over the last year, UAB School of Medicine faculty and staff have engaged in a comprehensive strategic planning effort that will guide the SOM's research enterprise for the next five years.

At the same time, faculty from our Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa and Selma educational programs as well as leaders from the clinical practice community and public policymakers have convened to evaluate our programs in primary care and medical education. The UAB Health System has also conducted a parallel planning process for clinical care.

The goals for all of these efforts - collectively called AMC21, for we are committed to becoming the preferred Academic Medical Center for the 21st century -- are to build on our strengths, agree on areas that need strengthening, and commit our collective resources to sustainable excellence in each area of our mission.

Through strategic investment of institutional resources - financial and intellectual, from the University, the Health System and the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, our practice plan - and leveraged by transformational philanthropic investment, we can - and will - become the preferred academic medical center of the 21st century.

Watts_groupOur plan has seven thematic priority areas:

• Cancer
• Diabetes, obesity and metabolism
• The neurosciences
• Infectious diseases and global health
• Cardiovascular biology
• Immunology and autoimmunity
• Transplantation - kidney, pancreas, liver, heart and lung

Facilities & Libraries
Volker Hall
Volker Hall Education and Research Tower is home of the School of Medicine and serves as the primary teaching facility for students during the first two years of medical school. Volker Hall houses the majority of the classrooms, labs, and other medical education resources.

VolkerIn 2003, Volker hall underwent a $36 Million renovation bringing the School of Medicine's teaching and research facility well into the 21st century and included enhancements such as:

• Computer-based technology in newer, more intimate lecture rooms
• Multi-purpose teaching laboratories that will feature computer simulation
• Student learning communities conducive to studying individually or in small groups
• Security, including safer access to the building morning, noon, and night
• A modernized, completely up-to-date case study classroom

Volker Hall is located at 1670 University Boulevard, adjacent to Lister Hill Library for the Health Sciences. UAB Hospital, Children's Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and nearly all facilities where medical students do clinical work in Birmingham are a few blocks away, linked by walkways.

The University Boulevard entrances to Volker Hall are located across the street from the Ryals Public Health Building and the Campus Recreation Center. The 7th Avenue South entrances to Volker Hall are located across from Children's Hospital.

University of Alabama School of Medicine Degree Programs :

Medicine

Video Presentation

UAB School of Medicine Admissions Video