The McMahon-Pleiad Prize recognizes a faculty or staff member at a UA System institution – The University of Alabama, UAB, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, or the UAB Health System – who has made significant contributions through teaching, research and service in alignment with the UA System’s missions, values and core principles.

“It is my great honor to receive the McMahon-Pleiad Prize,” Jun said. “I am deeply grateful to the University of Alabama System and UAB for this recognition and plan to use this award to directly support undergraduate and graduate students by expanding access to research and educational opportunities that foster curiosity, innovation and pathways into biomedical engineering and translational medicine.”

Jun is a national leader in regenerative medicine, known for pioneering self‑assembled bionanomatrix platforms that are advancing cardiovascular, kidney and orthopedic therapies. His research portfolio includes more than 70 publications, 10 U.S. patents, and over $11 million in NIH and NSF funding. His discoveries are directly translating toward clinical application through Endomimetics Inc., a company he co‑founded through collaborative research conducted at UAB and supported by more than $10 million in NIH SBIR funding for FDA‑directed studies.

Jun teaches cornerstone courses in biomaterials and tissue engineering, integrating problem‑based, team‑based and flipped‑classroom approaches that have redefined engagement in the biomedical engineering curriculum. His students consistently describe his courses as demanding yet rewarding, a standard that has earned him the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the School of Engineering Educational Excellence Award and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentorship.

The McMahon-Pleiad Prize honors Trustee Emeritus John J. McMahon Jr. and recognizes his family’s contributions to the UA System and the state of Alabama, including a generous gift that funds the prize. At least half of the $75,000 award is earmarked to further the recipient’s contributions through teaching, research or service.

Jun’s guidance spans more than 100 mentees who have earned national honors including Beckman Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and fellowships from the NIH. With the McMahon‑Pleiad Prize funding, he will build on this foundation by providing hands‑on research experiences and strengthening mentorship that shapes students’ academic and professional development, helping them turn ideas into real impact across the state.

“This award will allow me to further invest in students at critical stages of their training,” Jun said. “We can accelerate the development of future scientists, engineers and clinician-innovators who will translate discoveries into meaningful health solutions.”

As a 2025 Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, Jun is committed to increasing opportunities for future discovery in biomedical research and innovation. His efforts underscore the UA System’s work in public service and leadership in advancing knowledge and opportunity.

Under the agreement, UAB Health System Authority will assume ownership of all Ascension St. Vincent’s sites of care including the hospitals at Birmingham, Blount, Chilton, East and St. Clair, as well as the One Nineteen Campus; the Trussville Freestanding Emergency Department; and imaging centers and other clinics that are part of Ascension Medical Group. The transaction will include current Ascension St. Vincent’s services, facilities, caregivers and associates, including a robust network of providers serving the region.

“Patients will continue to have access to the healthcare services and providers they’ve come to trust, and ultimately gain access to a larger care network,” said UAB Health System CEO Dawn Bulgarella, who also serves as CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent’s Alliance. “UAB and St. Vincent’s exist to improve lives, and that purpose will drive our actions in the coming months and beyond.” 

The  to increase Alabamians’ access to high-quality, innovative medical care and help patients receive the right care at the right time and place. UAB and Ascension St. Vincent’s leadership view this agreement as the natural next step to continue to expand access to sustainable care in Alabama.

Ascension St. Vincent’s CEO and Ascension Senior Vice President Jason Alexander says UAB Health System – with a statewide network of 17 hospitals, both owned and affiliated, and with its integrated care delivery system and proven record of promoting patient-centric, sustainable care across Birmingham and Alabama – is best positioned to extend opportunities for patients to access a larger care network into the future.

“As part of our shared commitment to our patients, caregivers, associates and community, we have continued to discuss options to better deliver on our missions in an increasingly complex environment,” Alexander said. “It became clear that adding Ascension St. Vincent’s to UAB Health System’s network of owned hospitals – and combining and optimizing our collective strengths – is the solution to ensure that our community retains access to sustainable, high-quality healthcare. Among other benefits, patients will gain access to a larger network of local services through UAB.”

“Even as our structure is changing, Ascension’s dedication to health equity and to serving the most vulnerable in Alabama remains steadfast,” added Alexander. “The Ascension Foundation for Health Equity will continue its presence in the market and expand grantmaking beyond the transition period, investing in nonprofit organizations that accelerate positive change for generations of Alabamians.”

At a time when hospitals are closing across the nation, UAB Health System has made it a priority to strengthen Alabama hospitals, support care providers and increase community outreach and service through innovative partnerships that improve the state’s healthcare ecosystem.  

“Our mission and vision to provide life-changing care and be the leader in improving the health and lives of all we serve aligns with the outstanding St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates who have served these communities for years,” Bulgarella said. “We look forward to supporting continued operations and providing opportunities for Ascension St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates to essentially remain in their current positions; our goal is to support fulfilling and meaningful careers in service to our patients and communities.”

The transaction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, subject to standard regulatory approvals and pending satisfaction of closing conditions and approval by the Catholic Church. Until that time, UAB Health System and Ascension St. Vincent’s will continue normal operations while their teams collaborate to plan the transition.

Both entities are committed to working and communicating diligently with patients, employees, caregivers, associates and community partners.  

“UAB Health System and Ascension are committed to our patients and employees, caregivers and associates and will work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition in the short term, and that we enhance the overall patient and employee experience in the long-term,” Bulgarella said.

Ray Watts, M.D., who chairs the UAB Health System Board in addition to serving as UAB president, says UAB Health System is uniquely positioned to deliver on that commitment to sustain patient and employee success.

“UAB Health System is recognized among the nation’s best for innovative, world-class, people-first care, as well as among the best places to work in healthcare,” Watts said. “As an Alabama-operated health system we love, understand and meet the needs of our local communities, and we deeply respect Ascension St. Vincent’s caregivers’ and associates’ similar community- and mission-focused commitment.” 

Bulgarella says Ascension St. Vincent’s central Alabama operations also has a proud history on which UAB Health System plans to build with Ascension caregivers and associates.

“Since 1898, Ascension St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates have served our community well,” Bulgarella said. “We are excited to honor and continue their culture and legacy, and make sure they feel secure and appreciated in this transition. I look forward to integrating our talented, mission-focused teams as we work together toward continuity and positive results for those we serve.”

During a special called meeting of the UA System Board of Trustees at which the membership interest purchase agreement passed with unanimous support, Bulgarella and UA System Interim Chancellor Sid J. Trant recommended the resolution for approval.

“As you all know, the University of Alabama System and the UAB Health System exist to improve the lives of Alabamians and beyond,” he said. “This acquisition will go a long way to that end and will move the UA System toward fulfilling its vision of becoming the preeminent public system of higher education and health care in the United States.”

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The ceremony, which included senior leaders from UAB, UAB Medicine, the Heersink School of Medicine, the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System, key donors, and representatives of state and local governments, including Gov. Kay Ivey, was held on the site of the new facility, at Seventh Avenue South, between 19th and 20th streets, in Birmingham.

“This facility, made possible by the foresight and help of our state and local leaders, as well as generous donors, will position UAB and Alabama to be a global leader in precision medicine and genomic sciences, enhancing world-class clinical care for our community and beyond,” said UAB President Ray Watts, M.D. “Advancements in precision medicine, informatics and data sciences will now be accelerated, and we will gain greater understanding of the roles our genes and the environment play in major human diseases. These discoveries will lead to the development of new lifesaving treatments.”

The 175,000-square-foot building will be iconic in its architecture, which features a visible-to-all double-helix design. Most importantly, it will be profound in its impact locally, statewide and globally.

The building will bring together researchers, equipment and staff for the Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute, the Informatics Institute, the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and translational scientists from many different disciplines to increase national and global competitiveness of both UAB and the state of Alabama in research, innovation, commercialization and economic development.

The project is being funded through $50 million from the state of Alabama via the Public School and College Authority — the largest-ever investment from the state in a university facility. An additional $5 million from Jefferson County also supports the project, as do funds supplied by UAB donors Altec/Styslinger Foundation and Marnix and Mary Heersink. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has expressed interest in working with other city leaders to support the project as well.

It is a facility that represents the power of public/private partnership among UAB, the UA System Office, individual and corporate donors, the local business community, and elected leaders in an effort to drive better health and prosperity for the people of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama and beyond.

“This is a signature investment for the state of Alabama and a bold project that will have a real impact on our economy and the long-term health of our citizens far beyond the dollars given,” said Gov. Ivey. “It will stimulate major strides in science and medicine and serve as a wise investment with a great return that serves all Alabamians.”

UAB will recruit upward of 75 additional investigators and some 350 new support staff over the next five-plus years to work alongside the talented and renowned team of researchers already in place. The leading-edge research they conduct in the facility will attract an estimated $100 million in additional research funding annually.

“�㽶��ƵAPP and the Board of Trustees are grateful for the visionary leadership of our elected officials and the generosity of our donors, who all recognized this project will truly change lives,” said Finis St. John, chancellor of the University of Alabama System. “This facility represents the future of modern health care and positions UAB to be the leader in genomics and personalized medicine. This transformational initiative was our top priority, and it is now becoming a reality thanks to the Altec/Styslinger Foundation, Dr. Marnix E. and Mary Heersink, Governor Ivey, state Senators Jabo Waggoner, Rodger Smitherman and Greg Reed, Commissioner Stephens, Mayor Woodfin, and other dedicated leaders in Birmingham, Jefferson County and the state.”

UAB’s efforts in research and development — from basic research to commercialization, drug discovery and the formation of startup companies — will also dramatically increase, says Selwyn Vickers, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine and CEO of the UAB Health System. Vickers says recruitment and retention efforts made possible by the project will attract dozens of “startups” to Birmingham and Alabama, each pursuing potentially groundbreaking ideas and treatments.

“When an investigator gets a federal grant, many of which are more than $1 million, their lab is like a startup company with employees often making more than $50,000 annually,” Vickers said. “This building will house dozens of these ‘small companies’ that would not be in Alabama if it weren’t for UAB and its research engine. It is a constellation of companies providing jobs at a high level and attracting new talent that will increase our competitive advantage in supporting researchers who will in turn bolster our economy and aid in the care of all Alabamians.”

Watts adds that UAB, working together with Southern Research and other partners, will make Birmingham the biotech commercialization leader in the Southeastern United States and a national and global nexus for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Private/public collaboration

Support from the Altec/Styslinger Foundation was the first major investment in the project. Altec, Inc., is a global company headquartered in Birmingham that provides equipment and service for international markets, including electric utilities, telecommunications and contractors. The Altec/Styslinger Foundation “is a collective family effort,” noted Lee Styslinger III, chairman and CEO of Altec, Inc., and a board member of the Altec/Styslinger Foundation.

“The main driver of this gift is the transformational impact that genomics will have in medicine,” Styslinger said. “As a foundation, we wanted to be supportive of breakthroughs in genomic sciences, and of a facility that will have a tremendous impact not only on UAB but on the state of Alabama and beyond.”

Collaboration among government entities was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

“The Jefferson County Commission is excited to support UAB and such a special project that will be a global center for personalized medicine,” said Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “You can’t ignore the unmistakable potential this cutting-edge facility will provide, and our investment will continue to have power far beyond this initial gift as it positively impacts the people of Jefferson County for years and years to come.”

“The city of Birmingham believes in UAB and appreciates its commitment to our residents through the education and jobs it offers and the care it provides,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin. “This investment will enable our city to attract more world-class talent, create more high-tech jobs, and help continue our upward trajectory as a destination for the best and brightest in Alabama and beyond.”

The new facility will involve renovation of the existing Lyons-Harrison Research Building, located at 701 19th St. South on the UAB campus. Two buildings — the Kracke Building and the Pittman Center for Advanced Medical Studies — have already been removed to make way for the project, which will include the Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation Conference Center. The Heersinks recently provided a transformational $95 million gift to name the Heersink School of Medicine, and a portion of that gift will fund the conference center.

The Altec/Styslinger building will include space for computational research, research support, offices, administrative and scientific collaboration, and meeting spaces designed to meet the specific needs of genomics and precision medicine investigators and their programs.

Initial initiatives will include cancer research, neuroscience research, rehabilitation medicine and pediatric research, as well as research into the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the new collaborations will include clinicians serving on the front lines of patient care and enhance translational health initiatives already active at UAB. Total project costs are expected to exceed $78 million. Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2024. This news story was originally published by UAB News.

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“We’ve had almost up to 300 Covid patients at a time with 30% in an ICU,” says President Dr. Ray Watts. “They have done it without complaint. The resilience of our employees during these times of greater stress had been remarkable.”

More than half of Watts’ employees work at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, which is among the 20 largest hospitals in the United States. To ensure their health this past year, Watts says all employees have been supplied with ample personal protective gear. After an outpouring of donations from the community and the university, the hospital had to open a 20,000 square foot warehouse, where it now stores more than 100,000 masks, 150,000 reusable isolation gowns and 5.5 million exam gloves. All employees were also given access to mental health resources, including a mental wellness app developed at the university.

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On Feb. 5, 2021, the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System unanimously approved the renaming of the former George C. Wallace Building on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus. Effective today, the facility is the Physical Education Building.

The decision followed a unanimous recommendation by a working group charged with reviewing named buildings on UA System campuses relative to Shared Values that include integrity, leadership, accountability, diversity, inclusion and respect.

“This is simply the right thing to do,” said Trustee Judge John England Jr., who represents the Board workgroup. “The UA System, the Board of Trustees, our working group and our campuses recognize Governor Wallace’s complex legacy, including the well-known acceptance of his apology by civil rights icon John Lewis. That said, his stated regret late in life did not erase the effects of the divisiveness that continue to haunt the conscience and reputation of our state.”

• Read the Board Resolution

In his presentation to the Board, England cited the reaction of Peggy Wallace Kennedy, the daughter of George Wallace, who had shared a comment about the Board’s pending action.

“I, along with my husband Mark, have confidence in the Board’s decision to rename the UAB Physical Education Building,” she said. “It is important to the university to always seek positive and meaningful change for the betterment of students, faculty and the community.”

In June 2020, then-President Pro Tem Ronald Gray announced formation of the working group to review and study the names of buildings at UA, UAB and UAH. Members include England as chair, Barbara Humphrey, Vanessa Leonard, Harris Morrissette, Scott Phelps and Stan Starnes. The group’s recommendations are presented in formal meetings of the Board and voted by the 15 members.

UA System Chancellor Finis St. John said, “Researching the contributions and longstanding impact of individuals whose names are on our campus buildings is directly in keeping with our commitment to champion diversity, equity and inclusion and to fulfill the core principles that guide our future. The Board’s working group has taken on this complex charge with thoughtful consideration and in-depth research.”

UAB President Ray L. Watts commended the thorough review process. “On behalf of UAB’s diverse community of students, faculty and staff who live our every day, I thank the Board of Trustees, the University of Alabama System leadership and particularly the dedicated members of the working group for their thoughtful study of history as we look forward to building a bright and successful future.”

George Wallace was the 45th governor of Alabama. In 1972, he ran for president of the United States and, while campaigning in Laurel, Maryland, was shot in an assassination attempt, which left him paralyzed. Wallace underwent extensive physical therapy at the Spain Rehabilitation Center, a part of the UAB Health System. Since the then-new physical education building was closely connected to the Spain Rehabilitation Center, and in recognition of Wallace’s “substantial support, interest, and contributions to the University of Alabama in Birmingham,” the Board of Trustees named the physical education building on the Birmingham campus the “George C. Wallace Building” at its meeting on July 14, 1975.

University of Alabama System Thanks Governor Kay Ivey — Governor’s $50 Million Commitment to Genomic Medicine/Data Sciences Center is an Investment in Every Alabama Citizen

“We deeply appreciate Governor Kay Ivey’s $50 million commitment to the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building at UAB,” Chancellor Finis St. John said today in response to Governor Ivey’s announcement of a $50 million commitment to the project. “This transformational research facility will have a life-changing impact on the citizens of Alabama for generations to come while improving health care delivery around the world.”

According to Chancellor St. John, the goal of securing funds for the Genomic Medicine Center has been the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees’ number one priority since the project’s inception. UA System leadership has been integrally involved in building a strong coalition of public and private partners to bring the research center forward.

“In addition to the Governor’s foresight and dedication to this project, today’s announcement would not have been possible without the support of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, the Birmingham City Council, the Jefferson County Commission, the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation and a generous gift from the Altec/Styslinger Foundation,” Chancellor St. John emphasized.

As a global leader in precision medicine and genomics science, the University of Alabama at Birmingham will be home to the new center. UAB President Ray L. Watts reiterated the impact of bringing the precision medicine facility to life. “Recognizing this rare opportunity for our state, Chancellor St. John, the University of Alabama System and the Board of Trustees made this transformational project their top priority,” Watts said.

“We share a great appreciation for Governor Ivey’s affirmation and visionary leadership that will allow UAB and Alabama to be a leader in the future of precision medicine.”

Watts said Governor Ivey’s support is an investment in every Alabama citizen. “This facility will accelerate advancements in precision medicine, informatics and data sciences as we gain greater understanding of the role our genes and the environment play in major human diseases.”

Dr. Selwyn Vickers, Senior Vice President of Medicine and Dean of the School of Medicine at UAB, estimates the building will bring in more than 50 additional leading researchers and 300 research support staff, generating an increase of $75-80 million in research funding.

Dr. Selwyn Vickers, Senior Vice President of Medicine and Dean of the School of Medicine at UAB, estimates the building will bring in more than 50 additional leading researchers and 300 research support staff, generating an increase of $75-80 million in research funding.

“This facility will be pivotal to recruiting and retaining high-level researchers,” Vickers said. “We are already on the leading edge, but this facility will increase our competitive advantage in supporting researchers who will bolster our local economy.”

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