Department of Pediatrics welcomes three new faculty members in October 2020
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes three new faculty members during the month of October. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Sugantha Krishnan, M.D., Assistant Professor in Academic General Pediatrics
Diana Montoya Melo, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Sheetal Phadnis, M.D., Instructor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Three Department of Pediatrics faculty receive Argus Awards
Hussein Abdullatif, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes, Laurie Marzullo, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and Stephanie Berger, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, were among those honored at the Argus Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 27 during a live ceremony on Zoom.
Dr. Latif received the Caduceus Club Award for Excellence in Clinical Education on the Birmingham Campus.
Dr. Marzullo received the inaugural Introduction to Clinical Medicine Clinical Skills Scholars Award. This award was created to honor the best educator for Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM). Dr. Marzullo has taught ICM as a Clinical Skills Scholar for the last eight years.
Dr. Berger received the Best Career Advisor Award.
Read moreInaugural Safety & Quality Day: Great Success
The inaugural Safety & Quality Day was held Thursday, Oct. 22 virtually on Zoom. The day consisted of several presentations focused on patient safety and quality improvement and a poster session.
Dr. Xavier one of the collaborators on the new National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines
Ana Xavier, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was a panel member in the development of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines and Evidence Blocks for Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Dr. Atkinson receives inaugural Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award
Prescott Atkinson, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, has been awarded the inaugural Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award (ALAP). This award was created to honor amateur paleontologists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of paleontology in Alabama.
Child Neurology Residency Program transitions to new leadership
Sarah Novara, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has recently been named program director for the UAB Child Neurology Residency Program. Dr. Novara will take over for Tony McGrath, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, who has served as program director of the residency program since 2008.
Inaugural Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical Education Scholars Announced
Please join us in welcoming our inaugural group of Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical Education (PRIME) Scholars! Residents participating include Andy Marshall, M.D., PGY-4 Med-Peds, Meghan Harrison, M.D., PGY-3 Pediatrics, McGee Hopper, M.D., PGY-3 Pediatrics, Stephen Hudson, M.D., PGY-3 Pediatrics, Carter Barnett, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatrics, Leah Bittles, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatrics, Gabe Daniels, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatrics, Amelia Schuyler, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatrics, and Karen Wang, M.D., PGY-2 Pediatrics.
Dr. Kimberlin to join expert group of the World Health Organization to consult on mother-to-child transmission of SARS-CoV-2
David Kimberlin, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been invited to join an expert group of the Departments of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SHR) and Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (MCA) at the World Health Organization (WHO) to review evidence on mother-to-child transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and to create a consensus case definition.
Six Pediatric Faculty receive promotions in 2020
Congratulations to the six faculty being promoted effective October 1, 2020!
Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members in September 2020
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of September. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Helena Gutierrez, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Erin Shaughnessy, M.D., MPH, DTMH, Associate Professor in Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Dr. Coyne-Beasley invited to join the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials for Children
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, has been invited to join the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials for Children (I-ACT for Children). In this role, she will help principal investigators of clinical trials to develop protocols and procedures to recruit more children and adolescents and to improve their diversity. I-ACT for Children is a non-profit organization that works to ensure that clinical trials are designed to produce sufficient data to allow for the use of new medications and devices for pediatric patients.
“I am honored to be asked to join I-ACT for Children and to lend my expertise to help recruit diverse participants in clinical trials for pediatric patients,” said Dr. Coyne-Beasley.
Dr. Askenazi awarded funding from the Harbert Institute for ZorroFlow project
David Askenazi M.D., MSPH, professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, has received funding from the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to support his project ZorrowFlow.
The ZorroFlow is a neonatal external urine collection device that has been designed to provide a safe, comfortable, and easy-to-use system for continuous measurement of urine output and sampling in neonates.
Read moreDr. Wolfson becomes member of the Center for Women's Reproductive Health
Julie Wolfson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been invited to become a member of the Center for Women's Reproductive Health (CWRH).
The mission of the CWRH is to conduct research aimed at improving the reproductive health and survival of all women, especially minority and under-served women and offspring, and their families, and to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between UAB researchers and others and developing scholars interested in women's reproductive health.
Adolescent Medicine Clinic begins Voter Registration Initiative
The William A. Daniel Jr. Adolescent Health Center launched its voter registration drive on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The Voter Registration Initiative is a unique nonpartisan program done in collaboration with Government and Community Relations at Children’s of Alabama that provides voting age adolescents, young adults and parents the opportunity to register to vote, apply for an absentee ballot and learn more about voting in Alabama. Through this initiative, patients and their parents have the opportunity to register to vote during their visit to the Adolescent Clinic using iPads or by scanning a QR code with their phone. During their clinic visit, they are also shown how to access information on clinic iPads such as their voting location and the identification needed to vote.
Department of Pediatrics welcomes three new faculty members in August 2020
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes three new faculty members during the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Jessica Schmitt, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
Nora Switchenko, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Carmelle Wallace, M.D., MPH, DTMH, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Dr. Feig receives PAS Service Award
Dan Feig, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, received a Service Award from the Pediatric Academic Society in gratitude for his leadership, service, and commitment as a member of the Pediatric Academic Societies 2020 Meeting Program Committee. Dr. Feig represented the International Pediatric Hypertension Association on the Meeting Program Committee. His dedication to advancing child health and working collaboratively with other researchers and health care professionals made a significant contribution to building a high-quality scientific program.
Congratulations Dr. Feig!
Drs. Aye and Bemrich-Stolz to assume leadership roles in Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
Effective September 1, 2020, Jamie Aye, M.D., and Christy Bemrich-Stolz, M.D., both assistant professors in the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, will assume leadership roles in the division.
Dr. Aye has been named medical director of Inpatient Services for the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She obtained her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and her pediatric hematology oncology fellowship at UAB. Dr. Aye is currently a member of the Solid Tumor Program in the division. As medical director of Inpatient Services, Dr. Aye will refine our inpatient models to provide the best education and patient care. She will enact policies to the address the needs of the resident and NP services and she will collaborate with administration, IT, patient relations, and pharmacy to improve processes such as chemotherapy safety.
Dr. Bemrich-Stolz has been named medical director of Outpatient Services for the UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She currently directs the Bleeding Disorders Program in the division. Dr. Bemrich-Stolz is a UAB thoroughbred, completing her undergrad, medical school, pediatric residency, and pediatric hematology-oncology fellowship at UAB. As medical director of Outpatient Services, she will oversee and help improve the processes to provide the best care possible to patients seen in our pediatric hematology-oncology outpatient clinic. She will serve as a liaison to Children’s of Alabama Outpatient Services, work with our divisional quality improvement/patient safety officer on efforts to improve the delivery of services in the clinic arena, and enact policies to the address the needs of the faculty and staff in clinic 8.
Congratulations to Drs. Aye and Bemrich-Stolz!
Dr. Alexander selected for the McNulty Civitan Scientist Award
Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been selected to receive the 2020-2021 McNulty Civitan Scientist Award. This honor is given on behalf of the McNulty Civitan Scientist Committee and the UAB Civitan International Research Center. Dr. Alexander was selected in recognition of his excellence in neurodevelopmental disorders research and will help fund continuation of his work.
"The award is a reflection of my lab's determination and focus on helping children and adults with neuromuscular disorders through our research,” said Dr. Alexander. “I am honored every day to work with fantastic clinical and basic science researchers whom prioritize developmental disabilities research at UAB and the Civitan International Research Center".
Congratulations Dr. Alexander!
Dr. Wang selected for 2020 Rud Polhill Award
Congratulations to Karen Wang, M.D., pediatrics resident, on receiving the Rud Polhill Award. This award is presented every year by the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine in memory of Dr. Rutherford B. Polhill to an intern who demonstrates excellence in pediatric emergency medicine and dedication to life-long-learning.
Dr. Rud Polhill was an esteemed faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics and former division director for the UAB Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine who unexpectedly died in April 2002. Lifelong learning was his passion and he had just given a grand rounds presentation entitled “Lifelong Model of Pediatric Education.” His tragic passing stunned us all but through his leadership, he inspired our division to engage in lifelong learning so that we could provide the best care possible for our patients.
2020 KPRI Quality and Safety Award winners announced
Children’s of Alabama and the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) are pleased to announce the 2020 Quality and Safety Awards. The major goal of the KPRI Quality and Safety Grant Program is to allow teams to identify and address specific quality and safety issues that cannot easily be addressed using existing operational resources or structures.
This year, two grants were awarded. All funded applications are directed toward the improvement of child health care. Thank you to all who submitted applications!
Read more- Dr. Askenazi selected to serve on International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA) Special Projects Subcommittee
- Drs. Guimbellot and Oates co-authors of book chapters in new cystic fibrosis book
- Dr. Willis awarded pilot grant from UAB Microbiome Center
- Dr. Ashraf to co-chair program committee for Pediatric Endocrine Society meeting