of the bottom 10 nationally in key health metrics by the year 2030, and he noted, "There could be no grander or more worthy challenge than this, and we well know we are up to the task. It will require the fullest measure of dedication, innovation and collaboration with our community and state — those very strengths that have defined and propelled UAB from the start and now inspire us to push the frontiers even further in our 50th anniversary year and beyond. With our collective will and energies mobilized behind this monumental effort, we will together have an impact that will be felt for generations to come." 2020 - Present On January 9, 2020, Watts joined Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and other city officials at a press conference to announce UAB's partnership in the Birmingham Promise scholarship program. Watts said, "As we begin a new year and a new decade, UAB is pleased to join Mayor Woodfin and his entire team and the City of Birmingham in an initiative that speaks to the very heart of our mission and our longtime partnership with our community and state. UAB is honored to be the first academic partner to support the Birmingham Promise scholarship program by providing Birmingham City Schools graduates with an opportunity to attend our university with a one-to-one, full scholarship tuition match." In March 2020, as COVID-19 began to impact the U.S., Watts and other senior administrators of UAB and UAB Health System established an Incident Command Committee holding daily virtual meetings to coordinate the institution's leadership role in combating the pandemic, which included immediately partnering with the University of Alabama System as well as local and state agencies to develop and implement a statewide response; transition on campus to a Limited Business Model and online instruction; development of a central website, UAB United, as a resource of COVID-related information for the campus and larger community; research and clinical trials of potential treatments and vaccines; development of an exposure notification app used state-wide; and ultimately the treatment of more than 7,000 COVID-positive patients, delivery of more than 272,000 vaccinations, and numerous interviews with UAB experts in national and international media. Watts commented in May 2020, "We have worked very hard to respond to the pandemic from every aspect of our organization. I'm proud of the people of UAB: frontline health care workers, researchers, support staff, faculty, and students