09/24/2026
From looking at small slides to seeing the big picture, microbiology junior Izzy Franchione addresses maternity care deserts in West Alabama through her research with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine.
Supported by an ASSURE grant, Franchione began working with Dr. Holly Horan in the Department of OBGYN after hearing her speak during a McCollough Scholars Program class.
“One of the things that Dr. Horan talked about in her presentation was how so many women, especially in West Alabama, have to travel over 30 miles to receive care,” Franchione said. “That really opened my eyes, and I have a personal connection thinking about if my mom was in that scenario, so just from there, I feel like it really resonated with me, even though it’s beyond what I study on a typical day-to-day basis.”
Read more about Franchione, her research and ASSURE in the first comment.