Encompass Health, formerly known as HealthSouth, held a brand launch celebration in February with more than 550 Encompass Health employees and guests in attendance.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham had $538 million in research expenditures in 2016, and ranked No. 15 nationally among public universities and No. 31 overall in federally funded research in 2016, according to National Science Foundation data.

The UAB Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Clinic has opened, providing a one-stop shop for cancer care.

Kenneth Aldridge, MD, a urologist and vice president for medical affairs for the DCH Health System, recently received the Garber Galbraith Medical-Political Award from the Medical Alumni Association of the UAB School of Medicine.

CoreLife, a weight loss clinic based in Maryland, plans to open eight new locations in the Birmingham area this year, including Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Alabaster and Hoover.

Shelby Baptist Medical Center is now offering 3D mammography (breast tomosynthesis) for breast cancer screening.

Paul Betz, FACHE, has been named Chief Operating Officer of the DCH Health System.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama's Board of Directors has chosen Tim Vines to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Archana Jain, MD has joined Grandview Medical Group Rheumatology located on the Grandview campus.

OrthoExpress opened a free-standing orthopedic urgent care center, the first of its kind in Birmingham, in March. Bryan Wimbish, NP is the clinic's care provider.

The UAB Health System and its partners have established an Accountable Care Organization that manages more than 16,000 covered lives.

Marina Gorbatyuk, PhD, a researcher at the UAB School of Optometry, has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from the National Eye Institute to study the regulation of protein synthesis in photoreceptors of mice with inherited retinal degeneration.

Matthew Sample, MD has joined CVA.

The State Committee of Public Health has appointed Scott Harris, MD as Alabama's 12th state health officer.

Frank Malensek, MD, MBA, has joined the medical staff of Grandview Medical Center. Malensek is board certified in Internal Medicine and has a certificate of additional qualifications in Geriatric Medicine.

Ryan is an orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in sports medicine surgery, hip preservation surgery, and knee and anterior hip replacements.

LaShelle Barmore, DO has joined the medical staff of Grandview Medical Center. Barmore is board certified in Family Medicine and has a special interest in diabetes management.

Karen Lake, CMIS has joined Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore P.C. as a Healthcare Advisor.

The CVA Medical Education Foundation held its 11th annual Cardiovascular Update Conference at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham Hotel in Birmingham in February.

Birmingham MGMA featured guest speaker Robert Smith from the Amelia Center at the February luncheon.

Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Alabama, has entered into a management agreement with UAB Medicine to become a member of the UAB Health System.

Alabama's more than 8,700 patient care physicians fulfill a vital role in the state's economy by supporting 101,770 jobs and generating $16.7 billion in economic activity, according to a new report released by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the American Medical Association.

The Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama (NPAA) awarded the NPAA Power of One Award to Representative April Weaver at the 11th Annual NPAA Conference.

The 30th anniversary meeting of the International Symposium on Endovascula Therapy (ISET) was held in February at The Diplomat hotel in Hollywood, Florida.