We are pleased to announce this month’s UAB Medicine DAISY Award, recognizing the extraordinary care and compassion that nurses provide for patients and families every day. Submissions and stories are reviewed each month, and then the winner is surprised at a special ceremony.

Each year, the Amputee Coalition recognizes the month of April as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLAM) to honor its community and educate others about limb loss and limb difference.

Anyone working in clinical health care settings understands the importance of “crash carts”, the rolling cabinets of trays and drawers containing emergency medications and lifesaving equipment. Health care teams also know the importance of training to make the most efficient use of crash carts.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and it nurtures and protects the body in several ways. Taking care of that skin is an important part of staying healthy, so it’s a good idea to know when and why to see a dermatologist.

Mark McColl, chairman of Lakeshore Foundation and a longtime patient of UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center (SRC), is the 2020 recipient of SRC’s Ambassador of Hope Award. The annual award goes to a disabled individual whose courage and determination inspire hope in others who face the challenges of disability.

I practiced ophthalmology for 40 years in Cullman, Alabama, before retiring two years ago. When I look back at my career, I often reflect on my residency at the Eye Foundation Hospital (EFH), now known as Callahan Eye Hospital where I experienced several highlights of my career.

Talking about sexuality isn’t easy for many people. Embarrassment, shame, or anxiety can prevent partners from having meaningful conversations about sex or talking to their doctor about problems in the bedroom.

The UAB Medicine Division of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy received the highest possible rating in the Vascular Quality Initiative® (VQI) awards program. The rating is reserved for medical centers that successfully participate in the VQI, which is a nationwide effort to improve cardiovascular care.

In celebration of its 70th anniversary, the UAB School of Nursing honored 70 alumni who are leaders in the field of nursing, nurse anesthesia, and health care with its Visionary Leader awards. Two of the 70 award-winners are UAB Medicine leaders: Chief Nursing Officer Terri Poe, DNP, RN, NE-BC, and Family Nurse Practitioner Lindsey Harris, DNP, CRNP, who in 2020 was inducted as the first African-American president of the Alabama State Nurses Association.

COVID-19 has been especially difficult for hospital patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions, such as COPD and heart disease. Along with older adults and people suffering from obesity, these patients often face greater challenges and worse outcomes with COVID-19, including a higher death rate.

Each Mother’s Day we honor and celebrate the maternal figures in our lives and the positive impact they make. It’s also a good time to recognize that many new and expectant mothers may feel overwhelmed by the challenges motherhood brings. Janeen Arbuckle, MD, PhD, of UAB Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, provides advice that may be helpful for women and their partners as they navigate this exciting phase of life.

UAB Medicine congratulates the 2021 recipients of the Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award, the highest honor available for nursing staff within UAB Health System. Each year, professional nurses and nursing support staff are considered for this award based upon nursing knowledge, technical skills, and clinical leadership.