we have great people — leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni, fans, donors, and civic and business leaders — who share a commitment to our mission and values." When asked to name to "interesting fact about" himself that "most people don't know," Watts replied, "While people know I am a medical doctor in neurology, many are surprised to hear that I still practice medicine and see patients every week. Helping people, treating and curing them, and improving lives are something that, as a doctor, I have always found very rewarding. It is humbling to have the honor and trust of patients and make their lives better — and to guide them and show compassion in difficult times. When I became president at UAB, I hoped very much that I would be able to fulfill my duties in that role and continue to see patients. It makes me very happy to say that it has worked out well, and I have been able to do both." A December 17, 2021 column on AL.com read, "Watts delivered the goods this year for UAB athletics [with Protective Stadium], and that's great for people who like sports, but his leadership on the east side of campus has been far more valuable to the city, state, region, country and world." On January 22, 2022, UAB announced that Heersink School of Medicine researchers and surgeons had successfully tested the world's first human preclinical model for transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into humans. Watts called this major breakthrough in xenotransplantation "a milestone in medicine...that could provide a robust, sustainable supply of lifesaving organs to patients worldwide." At the annual UAB Institutional Presentation to the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees (February 4, 2022), Watts discussed among other highlights how UAB, through its Campus Master Plan, "continues building one of the most vibrant, state-of-the-art and sustainable urban campuses in the nation". He detailed how, over the previous five years, UAB had invested with the Board's support more than $375 million in total construction, with 16 major new construction projects adding roughly 600,000 GSF of new space (about 250,000 GSF of that being new residential student space), including most recently opened McMahon Hall (May 26, 2021) and Technology Innovation Center (Sept. 15, 2021). Watts also described strategic planning with partner Southern Research and planning for a "new, world-class facility, the Center for Pandemic Resilience" that would "help Southern Research