The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System and the Tombigbee Healthcare Authority, operator of Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital, have entered into a nonbinding memorandum of understanding to explore a possible relationship between the organizations. The action follows legislation passed in 2016 by the Alabama Legislature creating University Health Authorities to help Alabama hospitals.

“One of the main goals of this legislation was to help find ways to assist rural hospitals in remaining viable for the future,” said Will Ferniany, Ph.D., CEO of the UAB Health System. “This will be one of the first opportunities to utilize this legislation and explore ways in which UAB and Bryan Whitfield Memorial can work together to improve health and wellness in Demopolis and the surrounding region.”

“We are excited at the prospect of potentially working with UAB for the future benefit of providing health care for the patients we serve,” said BWWMH CEO Art Evans. “We look forward to our continued progress and moving forward through this process.”

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center, as well as Alabama’s largest employer, with some 23,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding $5 billion on the state. The five pillars of UAB’s mission include education, research, patient care, community service and economic development. UAB is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Center for Translational Science Award.