New Standardized Clinical Practices Reduce Premature Morbidity and Mortality in First Week of Life
The UAB Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit created the Golden Week program to improve outcomes for infants born prematurely at 28 weeks’ gestation or earlier. The program has resulted in a 30 percent relative risk reduction in infant mortality or severe intraventricular hemorrhage within the first week of life.“Our goal is to provide the best care for each of our patients,” said Vivek Lal, M.D., assistant professor in Neonatology and director of the Golden Week program. “Through the Golden Week program, we have standardized care that infants receive during their first week of life, ultimately improving their survival rates. The program provides guidance for physicians and nurses on clinical and nonclinical aspects of caring for an extremely preterm newborn.”
Recently, UAB’s Golden Week program was recognized by the Gage Awards for Innovation and Excellence, which honors the outstanding work of members of America’s Essential Hospitals. The strategic priorities of America’s Essential Hospitals include identifying and disseminating evidence-based best practices that enhance the quality of care for all — especially vulnerable people.
Read the story at UAB News.
View the video showcased at the GAGE Awards.
Dr. Kong is the 2017 Recipient of the Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award
Michelle Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, has been named the 2017 recipient of the Odessa Woolfolk Community Service Award. This award was established by UAB to recognize one of its faculty who has rendered outstanding service to UAB's community. A formal ceremony honoring Dr. Kong and this year's recipients of the President's Awards will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m. at the UAB Alumni House.
Dr. Tipple Receives Funding Through an AMC21 Initiative
Five UAB School of Medicine faculty projects were recently funded through an AMC21 initiative, giving NIH-funded investigators incentive to submit a second R01. The projects, chosen based on scientific merit, were eligible for $50,000 per year for a project period of up to two years, pending appropriate progress and achieving benchmarks. The goal is to have a new funded R01 by the second year. Trent Tipple, M.D., Neonatology, received funding for his project titled, “Harnessing the Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Effects of Thioredoxin Reductase-1 Inhibition to Treat Acute Lung Injury.”
Hematology & Oncology Fellow Receives St. Baldrick's Foundation Fellowship Award
Corey Falcon, M.D., Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology fellow, has been awarded a St. Baldrick's Foundation Fellowship award for his work titled, “Generation of novel suicide gene modified anti-CD19 CAR redirected T cells." For more information on the award and St. Baldrick's Foundation, click here.
Seven Children's of Alabama Specialties Recognized Among Nation's Best By U.S. News & World Report
For the eighth consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama is ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Seven of Children’s pediatric specialty services – Cancer, 
Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology – were placed among the top 50 in the United States in the magazine’s 2017-18 Best Children’s Hospital rankings. Currently, U.S. News & World Report ranks 10 specialties. The complete listing and corresponding rankings may be found at http://www.usnews.com/best-hospitals.
Read the story on Childrensal.org.
Diabetes and Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Pulmonology – were placed among the top 50 in the United States in the magazine’s 2017-18 Best Children’s Hospital rankings. Currently, U.S. News & World Report ranks 10 specialties. The complete listing and corresponding rankings may be found at http://www.usnews.com/best-hospitals.Read the story on Childrensal.org.
Dr. Walley Selected for Pediatric Hospital Medicine Advisory Board
Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been selected as a member of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Advisory Board for the Inaugural edition of Pediatrics Review and Education Program (PREP) Hospital Medicine, which will be released in January 2018 in anticipation for the first Pediatric Hospital Medicine Board Subspecialty Certification in 2019.More Information.
Inside Pediatrics: Spring/Summer 2017 Issue Now Available
You can access the recent Spring/Summer 2017 issue of Inside Pediatrics by clicking here. This Children's of Alabama publication highlights Dr. Friedman's Oncolytic Virotherpahy study, Dr. McCormick's efforts in treating newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients, improved access to autism experts through project ECHO, and much more. As always, feel free to share the link with colleagues around the country to highlight the excellent care provided by Children's of Alabama and the UAB Department of Pediatrics. https://www.childrensal.org/insidepediatrics
2017 Dean's Excellence Awards
A reception was held on Tuesday, June 6, to honor the award recipients of the 2017 Dean's Excellence Awards. Congratulations once again to Hussein Abdul-Latif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, and Nicole Jones, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine, for being among the eleven 2017 Dean's Excellence Award Winners. In addition, congratulations to all Department of Pediatrics faculty that were nominated for this year's award. To see a list of all pediatric faculty nominated, click here.
UAB Recognized for Excellence in Lactation Care
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners and International Lactation Consultant Association have recognized UAB for excellence in lactation care.“UAB is destined to be the preferred academic medical center of the 21st century,” said Elicia Jacob, DNP, director of Nursing for the UAB Women and Infants Center. “Part of this journey involves a commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. The IBCLC Care Award is an added seal of approval that is reflective of our efforts.”
Read the story at UAB News.
Dr. Boppana Selected for the PREP Infectious Diseases Editorial Board
Suresh Boppana, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, has been appointed to the PREP Infectious Diseases Editorial Board. Dr. Boppana's appointment will be July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. As a member of the PREP Infectious Diseases Editorial Board, Dr. Boppana will play an important role in the development and success of the PREP Infectious Diseases Self Assessment.
Dr. Sara Williams Awarded Primary Care Clinic Extra Mile Award
The winner of the Primary Care Clinic (PPC) Extra Mile Award for this quarter is Dr. Sara Williams. Dr. Williams was alerted by the PICU that one of her PCC patients was involved in a motor vehicle accident and had a poor prognosis. Dr. Williams took time out of her day to go be with the family in the PICU as they prepared to remove support on this infant. Dr. Williams went beyond her clinical responsibilities to be source of comfort for this family.
USA Pediatric Leadership Alliance Session | June 16 - 17
The University of South Alabama (USA) would like to invite UAB Department of Pediatrics and affiliates to join them at the University of South Alabama Pediatric Leadership Alliance (PLA) Session on June 16-17. This event was developed in partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Alabama Chapter of the AAP to enhance the healthcare provider's leadership skills to facilitate clinical practice changes that align with the medical home model. This is a free educational session, with 9 CME hours offered. This will be a great opportunity to network with the USA Department of Pediatric Faculty and staff, as well as the pediatric providers in the Mobile and Baldwin County area. Interested participants can register and find out more at the link below. Registration Link: https://usa-pla-session-2017.eventbrite.com
Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic Launched
UAB has established the Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic to provide specialized follow-up care for breast cancer patients based on their individual health care needs. Survivorship care is provided by a nurse practitioner with expertise in breast cancer care and survivorship issues, and the program is carried out in collaboration with each patient’s primary treatment team.“The UAB Breast Cancer Survivorship Clinic will provide a comprehensive approach to the care of our breast cancer survivors as they complete their treatment and are ready to turn their attention to leading a healthy and productive life,” said Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, professor in the UAB Department of Pediatrics and director of the UAB Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship.
Read this story at www.uab.edu/news
Dr. Dye Featured on Consumer Reports on Steps for Safe Swimming
Dr. Candice Dye spoke to Consumer Reports on how to prevent and treat Swimmer's Ear this pool season. Read the story on ConsumerReports.org
Carolyn Ashworth Primary Care Award Goes To...
The inaugural Carolyn Ashworth, M.D. Pediatric Primary Care award, a newly created award named in honor of the wonderful Dr. Carolyn Ashworth, Division Director of General Pediatrics, was given last week to Thomas Tyner, M.D. pediatric resident, for his excellence in Pediatric Primary Care. This is a new award that will be given annually to a graduating resident by the Division of General Academic Pediatrics. The award is given in recognition of a graduating resident’s excellence in primary care pediatrics; in their provision and coordination of care to meet the patient's medical, social, emotional, and psychological needs which define high-quality, comprehensive care in the context of the family and society; and for a demonstrated commitment to life-long learning and advocacy.
Mark Your Calendars to Celebrate Dr. Ashworth
Thursday, June 29 | 2:30 p.m. | Bradley Lecture Center Carolyn Ashworth, M.D., division director of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, will retire at the end of June. Join us as we celebrate her outstanding career and devotion to the UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children's of Alabama on Thursday, June 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Bradley Lecture Center.
Download the invitation.
Extreme Preterm Infant Death or Disease May Be Predicted by Biomarker
Tests of cells collected from the umbilical cord blood vessel walls at birth can predict death or poor pulmonary outcomes in extremely preterm infants, say researchers at UAB.“Now that we know there is useful information from cells we obtain from the umbilical cord, we could use their bioenergetics as a biomarker and for therapy approaches before bronchopulmonary dysplasia develops,” said Jegen Kandasamy, M.D., a neonatologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at UAB, and corresponding author of a study detailing the findings.
Read the story at UAB News.
Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., Neonatology, is also an author. Funding for the study came from a UAB Dixon fellowship grant and National Institutes of Health grants
Children's of Alabama Offering Autism Expertise to State Physicians This Summer
Medical providers across Alabama can now connect with autism experts at Children’s of Alabama through an innovative program called Project ECHO: Autism.
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a “telementoring” platform that allows subspecialists to share expert knowledge among healthcare providers in the community.
Read the story at Childrensal.org.
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a “telementoring” platform that allows subspecialists to share expert knowledge among healthcare providers in the community.
Read the story at Childrensal.org.
UAB Again Ranks High in NIH Funding
UAB ranked 25th nationally in 2016 funding from the National Institutes of Health, according to data obtained from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. Grants to UAB’s six health- and medical-related schools totaled more than $238 million last year.The School of Medicine had the largest dollar amount, topping $186 million to rank 22nd in the nation. The School of Dentistry ranked third with grants totaling $12.1 million, and the School of Optometry ranked fourth nationally with $2.0 million. The School of Public Health, with $13.6 million in grants, ranked 17th, and the School of Nursing ranked 23rd with $2.2 million. The School of Health Professions has active grant funding of more than $6 million, placing it within the top ten nationwide.
Within the School of Medicine, 15 departments ranked within the top 25 in grant funding, led by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ranked fifth in the nation, and the Department of Anesthesiology, ranked 10th.
In particular, the departments of Microbiology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics and Pharmacology saw large increases in funding over previous years.
Read the story at UAB News.
Congratulations Fellowship Class of 2017
Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2017. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 23. Please click on link below to see more photos.https://goo.gl/photos/YWrk5bwMgvvE4Zsv8