its kind in the Southeast and one of a handful nationwide. In March 2017, UAB in partnership with HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (Huntsville, AL) launched the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative to better meet health needs across the state. The project, funded by a $2 million appropriation from the Alabama legislature to UAB, supports one of the nation's first statewide efforts to harness the power of genomic analysis to help identify those at high risk for a genetic disease, and provide a basis for continuing research into genetic contributors to health and disease. At a press conference announcing the partnership, Watts said, "This new initiative will help us begin to harness genomic capabilities by sequencing the genome of patients from every county in the state....[and it] will be truly transformative for the state of Alabama. It will also position us—UAB and HudsonAlpha—at the very vanguard of genomic science and personalized medicine not only in the United States but around the world." UAB was ranked the top young university (50 years or younger) in the U.S. in both 2018 and 2019 (and 10th and 12th worldwide for those years respectively) by Times Higher Education. Watts attributed this further global recognition to the "dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community supporters" and further noted, "Together, we continue to make tremendous strides in education, research and every pillar of our mission.....I celebrate and share this tremendous honor with our UAB community, and I express our sincere thanks to all of those who came before us and formed the strong foundation we work tirelessly every day to honor and build upon." The Newcomen Society of Alabama (established 1937), which annually recognizes Alabama "organizations and institutions that demonstrate outstanding growth, service, innovation and achievement", named UAB its 2018 honoree. The Society had previously honored UAB in 1971, when the new university was led by its first president, Dr. Joseph Volker. On Nov. 7, 2018 at the annual Newcomen Banquet, Watts delivered the keynote address, "UAB Past, Present and Future: Fueling Innovation and Pushing Frontiers," saying in closing: UAB and Birmingham have, over five decades, thrived on challenge. Even as resources were limited initially, there was an abundance of talent and will to fuel the tremendous progress that continues to this day. I want to thank and give credit to all of the dedicated people at UAB who carry on our complex