UAB Briefs: Highlighting spring grads, COVID-19 testing

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In this weekly online feature, we keep track of interesting people and events on the UAB campus.

We also provide updates regarding the university's efforts to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Last weekend, May 1-2, UAB held its first-ever virtual commencement ceremonies. More than 2,700 students were scheduled to graduate.

We include items today about a few of those graduates.

For the latest updates on UAB’s response to COVID-19 and health information, visit uab.edu/coronavirus.

Exploring one’s culture

By attending UAB, Sharan Kaur — a native of the small town of Ardmore, Tennessee — not only earned a degree but learned a lot more about her own cultural heritage.

Kaur is graduating this spring with High Distinguished Honors and a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts and Sciences in biology, with minors in public health, business administration and chemistry, according to UAB Media Relations.

She is also part of the Honors College Global and Community Leadership Honors Program.

While her family comes from two different Indian cultures, Kaur lived in a predominantly white town and never encountered her culture unless it was through her parents or by traveling to attend events.

Coming to UAB gave her lots of chances to explore her culture.

“UAB allowed me to showcase my culture and educate others by being selected as co-president of the Indian Cultural Association,” Kaur said. “Never would I have imagined that I would be one of the lead organizers of a community event for so many people; but thanks to UAB, I was able to surpass my own expectations.” 

The biggest event held each year by the Indian Cultural Association is the Diwali show in the fall semester.

“That’s when a bunch of different Indian dancers and singers perform at the Alys Stephens Center,” Kaur said. “The dancing definitely is my favorite part. We give out food afterward so people can get a taste of the culture as well as seeing it. It’s a huge event. We always have roughly 2,000 people in attendance, with tickets sold out well in advance.”

While at UAB, she was also a chemistry teaching assistant, a research assistant in the Translational Research for Injury Prevention Lab, a UAB Ambassador, an Honors College Ambassador and a 2018 Ms. UAB finalist. 

Kaur says she is truly proud of all that she was able to accomplish at UAB. 

“As a UAB Ambassador, I was able to represent the university as an official hostess at events,” Kaur said. “UAB taught me the importance of a strong support system, and I was able to serve my support system as chapter president. I came to college without any knowledge about research, but thanks to the TRIP Lab, I was able to utilize my interests and present my findings on the national stage and be selected for highly competitive national and international conferences.”

Kaur will continue to live in Birmingham for the next year. After graduation, she plans to work full time in the medical field before seeking admission to medical school.

Mobile testing

In an effort to increase COVID-19 testing in underserved communities in the Birmingham area, UAB Medicine and the Jefferson County Unified Incident Command are implementing mobile testing in Jefferson County.

Testing began on April 30 in the Central Park neighborhood and on May 1 in Center Point, according to UAB Media Relations.

The Jefferson County Department of Health is covering the cost of the testing for county residents who lack health insurance. People with symptoms associated with COVID-19, including fever, a dry cough and shortness of breath, can call 205-975-CV19 (2819), for a screening. 

If the patient has a positive screen, an appointment time will be given.

“Not every person has the ability to come to our drive through Downtown Testing Site, so we want to be able to go to them and meet them in their communities,” said Jordan DeMoss, vice president of clinical operations at UAB Medicine.

Community partners in the current mobile testing endeavor include the Jefferson County Department of Health, the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center at UAB, Bham Strong, AIDS Alabama and the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama.

Walk-up sites were to be piloted the week of May 4, DeMoss said.

The Downtown Testing Site at University Boulevard and 22nd Street South has tested more than 5,000 people since it opened March 23.

For hours at the downtown site, click here.

Women rise in engineering

During the UAB spring commencement on May 1, the School of Engineering awarded doctorates to three female Alabama residents in the same term for the first time in its history

Sandra Cutts, Jaquice Boyd and Ashlyn Manzella all received their doctoral degrees in civil engineering.

Cutts is from the Huntsville area, Boyd is from Brighton and Manzella is from Hoover, according to UAB Media Relations.

All three look forward to beginning their careers and also doing what they can to encourage other women to enter the field.

During graduate school, Cutts worked on numerous unique projects for advisor, Dr. Robert W. Peters, professor of Environmental Engineering.

As an African-American woman with a Ph.D. in engineering, Cutts said that she has an obligation—through her sorority and public speaking activities—to support and encourage future generations of minorities pursuing STEM education.

Boyd says she will continue in her current position with the Birmingham Water Works Board as an environmental engineer specializing in drinking water treatment optimization.

Like Cutts, Boyd also wants to be a voice for women and minorities.

“I currently speak at various schools and programs throughout the city,” Boyd said. “The biggest impact I would like to make is to continue motivating young girls to pursue a STEM field, as there is still a lack of female minority representation in the STEM industries. Currently, only 13 percent of engineers are women, with 3 percent being women of color.”

Manzella plans to begin a career in water purification with the Birmingham Water Works Board and continue to instruct courses at UAB and other institutions.

“I hope to continue mentoring other individuals interested in engineering,” she said.