We can look forward to an exciting ten days of competition and camaraderie with our guests from around the world." The Games attracted a total of 3,459 athletes from 99 nations, 375,000 spectators, and 3,000 volunteers, and a local reporter described how the Games had turned Birmingham into a "melting pot". By July 12, UAB Medicine had treated more than 400 patients, including 89 athletes and 312 spectators and visitors. UAB faculty and students were involved in production of both the opening and closing ceremonies held at Protective Stadium, with UAB University Professor of Music Henry Panion III serving as the World Games artistic director. Following the Games, Watts sent a second newsletter applauding "UAB's Gold Medal Performance". "The World Games was a two-week whirlwind more than two years in the making. As a native of Birmingham and president of UAB, I could not be more proud that visitors and viewers from around the world experienced the strength and beauty of our city and our great institution..... The competition was truly world-class. Equally impressive were the dedication, excellence, teamwork, sacrifice and strong sense of service from you that made it all possible....This was a big moment for our campus, our city and our state, and you delivered. On behalf of a grateful community and world — thank you." Watts delivered his tenth State of the University Address on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 at the Hill Student Center Alumni Theater. “Let me just start by saying how proud I am to be able to serve alongside you at this great institution that is so mission-focused in everything we do. Our 26,000 employees and 22,000 students are committed to making the world a better place each and every day.” He went on to announce that UAB had achieved another consecutive year of record research funding, topping $700 million to reach $715 million, and continuing the most successful era of research funding in UAB’s history, with 50 percent growth over five years. “All of our schools are excelling” in research and scholarship, Watts said, also noting the “global competitiveness in research and innovation,” with the recently published U.S. News & World Report “Best Global Universities” ranking UAB among the top 8 percent globally and top 20 percent nationally, based on “critical criteria such as publications and citations.” Among other accomplishments in what he called “a remarkable year,” Watts highlighted: Fall 2022 total enrollment