We can all agree that 2020 was a difficult year, especially for hospitals and health care workers. But UAB Medicine rose to the COVID-19 challenge, helping UAB earn the No. 1 spot on Forbes magazine’s national list of Best Large Employers for 2021.
“UAB has long been known for its extraordinary teams,” says UAB Medicine CEO Reid Jones. “But to receive this honor in 2021 is even more remarkable, knowing how our employees truly came together to overcome challenges, care for our community and state, and provide lifesaving care to patients across all specialties amid the pandemic. In reflection of all we have been able to accomplish together, I am confident that this recognition is just the start of people seeing what truly makes UAB a phenomenal place to work and grow.”
UAB topped the list of over 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities, and Fortune 500 companies in dozens of industries. Alabama’s largest public employer and home to one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, UAB employs more than 23,000 people across its university and hospital entities and generates an annual economic impact exceeding $7 billion on the state. More than half of those employees work for UAB Hospital, which is the centerpiece of UAB Medicine.
UAB Medicine has provided COVID-19 care for nearly 300 patients at a time during the pandemic, with some 30% of them in UAB Hospital intensive care units at various stages of the virus outbreak.
“The resilience of our employees during these times of greater stress has been remarkable,” says UAB President Ray Watts, MD. “They have done it without complaint. We often say that our people are what make UAB special. What makes Forbes’ recognition so meaningful is that it is based largely on whether our employees would recommend UAB to friends and family. Especially after such a challenging year, knowing that our people are proud to be part of the UAB family is eternally humbling and gratifying.”
Click here to read the official UAB announcement about the Forbes ranking. Read more here, and click here to learn more about the list and the methodology used by Forbes to compile it.