In case you missed this Oprah episode, watch as Dr. Oz explains why “the stem cell debate is dead.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Karen, Adam, Bryan, and Nathan Blakeney. Adam is holding the Dean's Award.

Birmingham is one of my favorite places to visit–I love the shopping (the Summit!), the restaurants (Cheesecake Factory, Jim and Nicks, Kobe…), and the rolling beauty of the countryside.  Bryan, Nathan, and I  just spent a lovely weekend there to witness our oldest son, Adam, as he received awards at UAB’s Thirty-fourth Annual Honors Convocation.

The event honoring the top undergraduate and graduate students in each department was held at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.  Adam was the recipient of the Dean’s Award for being the most outstanding undergraduate student in the School of Engineering.  He was also named the Biomedical Engineering Student of the Year.

We can hardly wait to have Adam home again in the summer.  Unfortunately, our reunion will be brief as he will return to Birmingham to continue working with professors in adult stem cell research.  I can’t fuss too much.  Who knows?  Maybe he’ll have a hand in developing improved treatments for congenital heart defects one day.