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Listening first: helping patients understand HFpEF
For many people living with heart failure, the hardest part is not managing symptoms. It is understanding what is actually happening inside their heart.
During Heart Health Month, we are highlighting recent work by Yulia Khodneva, M.D., Ph.D., that takes this issue head-on. Her study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, focuses on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF, a condition that is common and frequently misunderstood.
Building Power Together: Join Us at the 2026 Black Male Summit
On February 7, 2026, Birmingham will once again become a gathering place for connection, growth, and possibility as the 4th Annual Black Male Summit returns to the UAB Hilton Downtown Birmingham from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Community Collaboration and Success,” reflects a powerful and timely truth. Meaningful progress does not happen in isolation. It happens when people, organizations, and systems come together with intention.
El Pueblo’s Mi Corazón Program Puts Heart Health at the Center of Community Care
January is Healthy Weight Management Awareness Month and a time to recenter or start fresh with a focus on practical, everyday choices that support long-term health. In Mississippi, one community organization has turned that idea into action in a way that feels personal, accessible, and rooted in trust.
Healthy Weight Awareness Month: Small Steps Toward a Healthier 2026
January is Healthy Weight Awareness Month, a time that aligns with New Year’s resolutions and offers a fresh opportunity to focus on habits that support overall health and well-being. At the Forge AHEAD Center, we recognize that a healthy weight looks different for everyone and that lasting change often begins with small, sustainable steps rather than quick fixes.
Beyond the Holiday Table: Four Community-Informed Projects Advancing HIV Research and Wellness in the Deep South
December is a time to pause, reflect, and renew our commitment to one another. As HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, it calls attention to the progress made in HIV research while underscoring the work still needed to support individuals and communities across the Deep South. This season reminds us that caring for our communities extends beyond the holiday table. It means working toward health, hope, and connection for everyone.
Staying Healthy Through the Holidays: Alabama Researchers Lead Community-Driven Diabetes Solutions
The holiday season is a time of celebration, filled with food, family, travel and traditions. But for many people, it can also mean disrupted routines, more time sitting, and eating habits that stray far from the norm.
Even for those who don’t have a chronic condition like diabetes, this time of year can make it harder to stay healthy. And for those who do, it becomes even more important to keep track of medications, maintain physical activity, and make intentional choices about meals.
CMG Spotlight: Food Is Medicine – Edwards Street Fellowship Center Brings Fresh Solutions to Diabetes Care in Hattiesburg
In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Edwards Street Fellowship Center has long been a place where compassion meets action. Through its Fellowship Health Clinic, the Center provides free medical, dental, and pharmaceutical care for uninsured and underinsured adults in Forrest and Lamar counties. Every service, every interaction, shines with the Center’s mission to extend a helping hand to those who need it most and to reflect the light of faith.
Forge AHEAD Center Announces Fifth and Sixth Cohort of Scholars Focused on Advancing Cardiometabolic Health
The Forge AHEAD Center (FAC) is pleased to introduce the recipients of its pilot funding for the fifth and sixth cohorts – early-stage investigators dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions that address cardiometabolic health challenges and differences in health outcomes across the Deep South.
Community Micro-Grant Spotlight: Pinktopps – Building a Healthier Future after Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to create awareness and honor the millions of lives affected by breast cancer (WHO, 2025). For Alabama’s Pinktopps, this month is also about honoring people who have faced breast cancer and to spotlight programs that help survivors thrive.
InspireHER Women’s Health Walk: Walking to Wellness
The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to collaborate with community partners to support the InspireHER Women’s Health Walk, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, AL. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., with the program and walk from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Work With Us to Improve Health Outcomes
Contact us today to learn more about the Forge AHEAD Center, our research, and how to partner with us.
Cite Forge AHEAD's Grant
Forge AHEAD Center is a regional multi-chronic disease research center funded by a P50 grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). Click below for citation information.
