Dr. Percy named Sarah Katherine Bateh Endowed Professor
Alan Percy, M.D., Pediatric Neurology, has been appointed the first holder of the Sarah Katherine Bateh Endowed Professorship for Rett Syndrome in the UAB School of Medicine. Dr. Percy is a leading expert on this neurodevelopmental disorder and is a national leader in pediatric neurology and genetics. He runs the UAB Rett Syndrome Clinic at Children’s of Alabama, one of the few centers in the United States that specializes in the diagnosis and care of individuals with the disorder, conducts clinical and basic research, and works to educate and promote Rett Syndrome awareness. "We have been investigating Rett syndrome for more than 35 years, particularly since 1992 at UAB," said Dr. Percy. "This honor recognizes both this dedication and our continued progress and provides us with a pathway to promoting exemplary care and exploring effective disease-modifying treatment." Children’s of Alabama, together with the Suki Foundation, provided the supporting funds.
The Suki Foundation was established in 2012 in honor of Sarah Katherine Bateh with the goal of making a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with Rett syndrome through the raising of funds to expand and accelerate research efforts and work toward a better understanding, new treatments, and a potential cure.
Three Division of Adolescent Medicine staff to participate in inaugural UAB Medicine Women's Minority Mentoring Academy
L to R: Sequoya Eady, Adrianne Marbury and RayShon Murdock-WilliamsSequoya Eady, MPH, Program Director I, Adrianne Marbury, MPA, Program Manager and RayShon Murdock-Williams, MBA/HCM, Administrative Supervisor, in the Division of Adolescent Medicine have been accepted to participate in the inaugural UAB Medicine Women’s Minority Mentoring Academy. As participants in the Academy, they will complete 90 days of mentorship for professional development, including interviewing and resume preparation. Upon completion of the program, they will compete via an interview process for one-on-one mentorship with select UAB Medicine senior leaders.
Congratulations to Sequoya, Adrianne and RayShon!
2018 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Scholar wins third place in poster competition
Congratulations to Meghana Gaini, 2018 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Scholar, for placing third in the poster competition at the Future of Pediatric Practice 2019 Conference in Orlando, Florida over Labor Day weekend. Her poster presented research she completed with David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and was titled "Oseltamivir Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Dosing in Infants Under 1 year of Age Based on Drug Disease Modeling in Infants with Influenza Virus Infection."
Meghana worked with Myriam Peralta, M.D., Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, on her project titled "The Effects of Demographic Differences in the Use of Breast Milk and Complementary Foods on the Growth of Preterm Infants" during her summer internship as a Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Scholar in 2018. “The Russell Cunningham scholarship provided me with a wonderful opportunity to truly immerse myself in the world of developmental pediatrics with Dr. Myriam Peralta," said Meghana. "I believe that it is a blessing to be able to influence a child’s life, which in turn influences the adult they eventually become. Through my summer research experience, I gained confidence in interacting with children and their families. I had such a positive experience that I continued pediatric research in the department of pediatric infectious diseases with Dr. David Kimberlin during my research block in my third year of medical school. This scholarship is beneficial to any student, whether they have a current interest in pediatrics or not; it is an opportunity to gain valuable medical experience with a pediatric population prior to the beginning of your third year of medical school. I already have and will continue to encourage medical students to apply for this priceless experience.” She is a 2021 UASOM MD candidate.
Dr. Moore named associate director of the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance
Stephanie Moore, Ph.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been named the new associate director of the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA) effective September 1st. Dr. Moore is taking over the position from Dr. Maaike Everts after her departure from UAB in June. Dr. Moore has a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a doctorate in molecular and cellular pathology, both from UAB. For the past four years, she has directed research in the lab of Dr. Trent Tipple, Neonatology, focusing on studies related to neonatology including hypoxic stress in neonatal mice and effects of selenium on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Prior to that, she completed rotations in the labs of Dr. Lou Del’Italia, Pathology, Dr. Larry DeLucas, Biophysics and Dr. Matthew Renfrow, Biochemistry, which has provided her with a breadth of experience in research labs across the UAB campus.
Congratulations Dr. Moore!
Dr. Coyne-Beasley elected to Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Board of Directors
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, has been elected to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) Board of Directors. The Birmingham City Council approved the new Board slate at the August 27th regular meeting. The Board will assist the BCRI will its strategic plan and mission. Dr. Coyne-Beasley looks forward to assisting in the strategic mission of the BCRI which is to “enlighten each generation about civil and human rights by exploring our common past and working together in the present to build a better future.”
Dr. Coyne-Beasley joins 18 other community leaders including: Cassandra W. Adams, Samford University, Cumberland School of Law; Nyesha Cheyenne Black, PhD., Noire Analytics; William H. Burgess III, The Burgess Group; Yolanda Clayton, Alabama State University & Alabama A&M University/Clayton and Associates, LLC; Robert Dickerson, Birmingham Resource Center; Daryl R. Grant, KPMG Advisory Services; Rosilyn Houston, BBVA USA; Danny Markstein, Markstein; Angela D. McKenzie, Regions Bank; J. John Oros Jr., Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau; Jonathan Porter, Alabama Power; Richard A. Rice, The Rice Firm, LLC; John D. Saxon, John D. Saxon, P.C.; David A. Thomas, Starbucks; Rev. Gwendolyn C. Webb, Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church/Foot Soldiers International, Inc.; and Rev. Thomas L. Wilder Jr., Bethel Baptist Church.
Dr. CaJacob elected 2019-2020 president of Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Amy CaJacob, M.D., Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, will serve as the president of the Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology for the 2019-2020 term. In 2020, the Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology will be celebrating its 41st year. One of Dr. CaJacob's major responsibilities as president is planning the annual conference. "Our largest event is an annual conference in Sandestin, Florida with nationwide representation. I am looking forward to planning a successful, diverse meeting focused on food allergy, oral immunotherapy and eosinophilic gastroenteropathies," said Dr. CaJacob.
Congratulations Dr. CaJacob!
Pediatrics welcomes four new faculty members in August 2019
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes four new faculty members during the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Vanessa Cardenas Soto, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Adnan Haque, M.D., Instructor in Academic General Pediatrics
Samantha Hill, M.D., Instructor in Adolescent Medicine
Kathryn Lalor, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology
Vanessa Cardenas Soto, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, earned her medical degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Cardenas completed her pediatric residency and pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Michigan. She has a special interest in quality improvement and completed the Patient Safety and Quality Leadership Scholars Program during her fellowship. Her research experience has been focused on Drug-Induced Liver Injury in pediatric oncology patients. Her clinical interest is in patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and she has worked on developing several protocols for the University of Michigan IBD program to improve the delivery of care of these patients.
Adnan Haque, M.D., Instructor in Academic General Pediatrics, earned his medical degree from New York University in New York, New York. Dr. Haque completed his pediatric residency at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
Samantha Hill, M.D. Instructor in Adolescent Medicine, earned her medical degree at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Hill completed her pediatric residency at Thomas Jefferson University/AI duPont Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania/Wilmington, Delaware and her adolescent medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Additionally, she received a Masters of Public Health focusing on health policy from UAB. Her other clinical interests include advocating for the health and wellbeing of adolescents and young adults, contraceptive management with a focus on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), HIV treatment, and HIV prevention with a specific focus on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV. Her research interests include improving uptake and adherence to PrEP and as well as uptake of LARCs for adolescents and young adults in the Deep South.
Kathryn Lalor, M.D. Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology, earned her medical degree at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Lalor completed her pediatric residency and child neurology residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Dr. Whitley recipient of the 2020 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases John P. Utz Leadership Award
Richard Whitley, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) John P. Utz Leadership Award. This award recognizes Dr. Whitley's leadership in the field of clinical virology and infectious diseases. “Johnathan Utz has been a hero in infectious diseases. All of us who practice this specialty emulate his contributions. This is very much of an honor," Dr. Whitley said about receiving this award.
The John P. Utz Leadership Award was established by the NFID in 2007 as a lasting memorial to the late John P. Utz, MD, a champion in the fight against infectious diseases. The award is presented to individuals who exemplify leadership in the field of infectious diseases, as selected by the NFID Board of Directors. Previous recipients include Drs. L Pickering. R. Besser, A. Schuchat, C. Baker, W. Schnaffer, among others.
The award will be presented on Monday, Dec. 14 at the virtual 2020 Awards Gala. Learn more about the other awardees here.
Congratulations Dr. Whitley!
Two Department of Pediatrics faculty selected as members of the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy Class of 2020
Congratulations to Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, and Matthew Kutny, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, on being accepted into the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA). The HLA is a collaboration between the Collat School of Business and the School of Medicine. The program offers training opportunities and develops leadership skills essential to academic healthcare. 24 members were accepted into the academy for the 2019-2020 class and represent a well-balanced and diverse group. The program will begin in October 2019 and conclude in May 2020.
Children's and Kaul Pediatric Research Institute release 2020 grant application
Two Department of Pediatrics faculty appointed to latest KL2 Scholars cohort
Donna Murdaugh, Ph.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Brandi Pernell, DNP, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, are part of the latest six-member cohort of Scholars for the Deep South Mentored Career Development (KL2) awarded this summer by the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS).
Selected through a rigorous, competitive process, Scholars enroll in an educational program, usually the MSPH in Clinical and Translational Science, and also conduct mentored research apprenticeship with a primary mentor. Designed for junior faculty in a clinical or related discipline, the CCTS KL2 program aims to provide knowledge, experience, and perspective to candidates who show promise for becoming independent investigators. A key component of the program is protected time, typically two years, to allow both formal training and conducting hands-on research.
Read more about the program here
Dr. Coleman to serve on American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force
Aubrey Coleman, M.D., PGY-2, Pediatrics Resident, was selected to serve on the 19/20 Resolution Task Force of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Pediatric Trainees (SOPT). As part of her role on the task force, Dr. Coleman will attend the Annual Leadership Forum in March 2020. While on the task force, she will participate in the entire resolution process from the beginning of the idea to the adoption of the resolution at the Annual Leadership Forum. She will serve on the task force from July 2019 to March 2020.
UAB Pediatrics faculty and fellow receive Loan Repayment Program awards from National Institutes of Health
Nazia Kabani, M.D., Third Year Fellow, Combined Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Neonatology, Tennille Webb, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology, and Michael Lopez, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Neurology, receive Loan Repayment Program (LRP) awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. Kabani receives her award through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Dr. Webb receives her award through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Dr. Lopez receives his award through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. These awards are for a period of two years.
According to the LRP website, "The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers.
The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher's qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Since tomorrow's medical breakthroughs will be made by investigators starting in their research careers today, the LRPs represent an important investment by NIH in the future of health discovery and the wellbeing of the Nation."
Congratulations to Dr. Austin on the Following Awards and Appointments
Heather Austin, Ph.D., Adolescent Medicine, is the recipient of the 2019 Dr. Helen L. Coons Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Scholarship awarded by the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Austin, has been invited to serve a three-year term starting in 2020 on the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Health Services- Mental Health Committee. She has also been offered the position of mentee in the UAB Healthcare Educators Academy.
Dr. Austin and her colleague, Dan Marullo, Ph.D., Pediatric Psychology, in the Behavioral Health Ireland Center at Children’s of Alabama have been appointed as liaisons to the American Psychological Association (APA) Deep Poverty Initiative. APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, Ph.D., ABPP, has made examining psychology’s role in ending deep poverty a key initiative of her presidential year. This initiative will establish ongoing collaboration between psychological science and the public and private sectors through advocacy efforts, user-friendly science-based resources and partnerships to effect population-level change. The American Psychological Association proposes moving beyond understanding causes and consequences of poverty - towards using psychological science as a catalyst to address and help solve deep poverty. Please visit the American Psychological Association website for more details.
Dr. Atkinson Elected as New President of the Unites States Organization for Mycoplasmology
Prescott Atkinson, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, was elected as the new president of the United States Organization for Mycoplasmology at the 5th Biennial Meeting on July 11-12 in La Jolla, CA.
Congratulations Dr. Atkinson!
Pediatrics Welcomes Nine New Faculty Members in July 2019
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes nine new faculty members during the month of July. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Erica Christen Bjornstad, M.D., MPH, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Nephrology
Matthew Clark, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Medicine
Leslie Collins, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology
Courtney Crayne, M.D., MSPH, Instructor in Pediatric Rheumatology
Christy Foster, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology
Thanh Summerlin, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Colm Travers, M.D., MSPH, Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Aman Wadhwa, M.D., MSPH, Instructor in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Elizabeth Worthey, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Erica Christen Bjornstad, M.D., MPH, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Nephrology, earned her medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and her masters of public health at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Bjornstad completed her pediatric residency and pediatric nephrology fellowship at the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bjornstad also completed a mini-fellowship in renal ultrasonography at Emory University. Prior to joining UAB, she has worked extensively in Latin America and Africa, publishing a resource guide for healthcare providers in Africa - North Carolina Children's Global Health Handbook. Her research/clinical interests include: epidemiology of acute kidney injury, novel diagnostic tests, and global health, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Matthew Clark, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri. Dr. Clark completed his internal medicine and pediatric residency at the University of Missouri, his pediatric critical care fellowship at Saint Louis University and his pediatric cardiac critical care fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His major/clinical research interests include: clinical trials and quality improvement.
Leslie Collins, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology, earned her medical degree at the East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine. Dr. Collins completed her pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research/clinical interests include: imaging, fetal ECHO, and heart failure and transplant.
Courtney Crayne, M.D., MSPH, Instructor in Pediatric Rheumatology, earned her medical degree and master of science in public health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Crayne completed her pediatric residency at Tulane-Ochsner Pediatrics and her pediatric rheumatology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Crayne is also on the Government Affairs Committee for the American College Rheumatology. Her major research/clinical interests include vaccination outcomes in children with autoimmune disease. She is also active in advocacy efforts with a special interest in legislative affairs and healthcare policy reform.
Christy Foster, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology, grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and earned her medical degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Foster completed her pediatric residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center this year. Her research/clinical interests include: investigating novel biomarkers in adolescent females with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), developing an endocrinology curriculum for the general pediatrics resident trainees. She is working to develop a PCOS-specific clinic to better address the needs of this population.
Thanh Summerlin, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology, earned her medical degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Summerlin completed her pediatric residency and neonatal-perinatal fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She will join the community neonatology group.
Colm Travers, M.D., MSPH, Assistant Professor in Neonatology, earned his medical degree at the University College in Dublin, Ireland and completed pediatric residency and membership examinations in Medicine of Childhood through the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Dr. Travers completed his neonatal-perinatal fellowship and pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His major research/clinical interests include: reducing major morbidities and mortality among preterm infants, long term outcomes in survivors of prematurity, implementation of evidence based practice, disparities in neonatal-perinatal care, and global neonatal health.
Aman Wadhwa, M.D., MSPH, Instructor in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, earned his medical degree from M.S. Ramaiah Medical College in India and master of science in public health degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Wadhwa completed his pediatric residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and recently completed his pediatric hematology and oncology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His major research interests include: investigating factors that increase the risk of treatment-related toxicity in children undergoing treatment for cancer, with the eventual goal of reducing the morbidity experienced by these children. His clinical interests are in caring for patients with hematologic malignancies.
Elizabeth Worthey, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, earned her doctorate degree in genetics from the Imperial College London in London, England. Dr. Worthey completed her postdoctoral training at the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute and the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Prior to joining UAB, Dr. Worthey was a faculty investigator and director of Software Development and Informatics at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama. Her research interests include the development and application of omic, informatic, and data science based methods and technologies in order to identify and understand causal molecular variation in rare, undiagnosed or misdiagnosed disease. Her lab also focuses on the identification and study of variation that alters an individual's response to therapeutics or modifies clinical presentation, progression, and/or outcome.
Dr. Gunnett receives Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1st/2nd Year Clinical Fellowship Award
Mohini Gunnett, M.D., First Year Fellow, Pediatric Pulmonology, was awarded the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1st/2nd year Clinical Fellowship Award, which began July 1, 2019 and runs through June 30, 2021.
This competitive award supports fellows who intend to make cystic fibrosis a priority in their academic careers. As part of this award, recipients benefit from salary support and travel funds to attend the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference each year of the 2-year award period. The award promotes the training of leaders in cystic fibrosis care and research.
Congratulations Dr. Gunnett!
O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center Welcomes New Member
Girish Dhall, M.D., Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, has joined the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. Dr. Dhall has been appointed as a Senior Scientist in the Neuro-Oncology Program.
Congratulations Dr. Dhall!
KPRI Quality and Safety Awards
Children’s of Alabama and the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) are pleased to announce the 2019 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, three grants were awarded. All funded applications are directed toward the improvement of child health care. Thank you to all who submitted applications! Congratulations to the following awardees.
Michael Seifert, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology - Reducing residual cardiac risk after pediatric kidney transplantation
Betsy Hopson, MSHA - QI project to improve bowel management in Spina Bifida Clinic
Avi Madan-Swain, Ph.D., Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, and Margaux Barnes, Ph.D., Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition - Improving family centered psychosocial screening
Dr. Hulsey Receives 2018-2019 Spring Research Roundtable/Fellow Core Conference Attendance Award
Hannah Hulsey, M.D., Adolescent Medicine Fellow, received the 2018-2019 Spring Research Roundtable/Fellow Core Conference Attendance Award. This allows Dr. Hulsey to attend a scientific meeting of her choice within the continental United States.
The next award will be presented at the end of December 2019 for the fellow with the highest attendance at Fellows’ Research Roundtable and Fellow Core Conferences from July – December 2019. Thank you to all of the fellows who have been dedicated to attending these conferences.
Congratulations Dr. Hulsey!