Hand in Hand Early Intervention (EI) is a vital program that supports infants and toddlers with developmental delays, diagnosed disabilities, or those at risk of developmental delays during their first three years of life.
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed one new faculty member in the month of December. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Caroline Densmore, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Academic General Pediatrics, was recently selected as a 2025 American Pediatric Association (APA) Educational Scholar.
Dr. Cohen Farewell Event
KultureCity Race
KultureCity held its inaugural race series in Birmingham, AL, on Nov. 16, 2024, featuring a 1-mile run, 5K, and half marathon. The event was supported by more than 180 volunteers who completed KultureCity's Sensory Inclusive Training.
Participants and their families had access to the Sensory Activation Vehicle, a mobile safe space designed to help individuals manage sensory dysregulation, as well as sensory bags containing noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and other resources.
Runners from across the country joined the event to support KultureCity's mission of promoting inclusion and accessibility for individuals with invisible disabilities.
Youth Advisory Board Meeting-Wilcox County
The Youth Advisory Board in Wilcox County held a meeting on Nov. 13, 2024, led by Jasmine S. Kennedy, clinical research coordinator and Wilcox YAB PPN facilitator. The session focused on emergency and fire preparedness, including fire safety.
Jewon “Joe” Singleton, a recovery boiler operator, industrial fireman, and emergency medical technician at International Paper in Pine Hill, Alabama, served as the meeting’s presenter, sharing insights and safety tips.
Youth Advisory Board Meeting-Birmingham
The Adolescent Medicine Youth Advisory Board held a virtual meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, where 13 advisors participated in a modified version of FEMA’s “You Are the Help” training. The session focused on five key actions to assist severely injured individuals during the critical moments before professional medical help arrives.
Led by Katy Smith and Auriel Thomas, the meeting emphasized the advisors’ roles as leaders in emergency situations. This marked the first time a Youth Advisory Board cohort received this training. Advisors who participated will complete an anonymous survey to provide feedback on the training’s content and format. Their responses will help shape future disaster preparedness sessions as part of the ongoing development of the Youth Advisory Board curriculum
Injury Prevention Week
The PPN Community Engagement team participated in Injury Prevention Week activities organized by Children’s of Alabama. Katy Smith spoke with grandparents at the Infant & Baby Safety Shower, offering advice on building an emergency kit for households with babies.
The team also distributed emergency preparedness handouts and mini emergency kits to parents visiting the safety awareness table in the second-floor lobby of Children’s. The team appreciated the opportunity to share valuable information on keeping young children safe during emergencies and looks forward to participating again next year.
After losing their twin boys to Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), a rare genetic condition, Hannah and Jared Meads sought a way to support others affected by the condition. In memory of their boys, they launched the Meads Miracles Charity Golf Tournament. This foundation aims to advance CDG research and provide resources for families navigating life with this challenging disorder.
Congratulations to the three Department of Pediatrics faculty members awarded the Pediatric Health Services Foundation (HSF) Clinical Program Development Grant this year. Listed below are the faculty members and their initiatives:
The Pediatric Heart Transplant Study (PHTS) has recognized the Children’s of Alabama/UAB Pediatric Transplant and Heart Failure Team with the prestigious PHTS VANGUARD CENTER Award. This recognition highlights the outstanding dedication and hard work of the entire team at UAB Pediatrics/Children's of Alabama, whose contributions have significantly advanced the success of the Pediatric Heart Transplant Society Registry. Meeting the rigorous criteria for the award, including reliability, timeliness, and adequate volume, underscores the commitment to excellence in pediatric heart transplant care.
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to honor these faculty members. They have attained a level of excellence recognized by their peers due to their exceptional contributions for the development of the department and in turn, the achievers of tomorrow - our children.
Please join us in congratulating the winners in each category.
On October 19, Katy Smith, community and educational liaison for the Pediatric Pandemic Network, Lonnie Pressley, program director for the PPN and Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine and co-PI of the PPN, provided emergency preparedness resources to families at the Pediatric Health and Wellness Fair.
The team distributed children’s activity books, flyers and mini emergency kits, reaching about 40 children and 60 adults. Attendees were especially interested in guidance on assembling emergency kits and creating communication plans. Information about the Adolescent Medicine Clinic was also shared, and the team assisted another Children’s of Alabama group in distributing free gun locks.
The UAB Adolescent Medicine Youth Advisory Board held a meeting on Oct. 25, 2024, in Wilcox County focused on mental health. The presentation, led by Robbie Cochran, a school mental health specialist from Cahaba Mental Health. Many participants identified anxiety as a personal struggle. The discussion underscored the need for mental health resources and support for local youth.
Congratulations to Viral Jain, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, Melissa Mannion, M.D., instructor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Christine Stoops, D.O., associate professor in the Division of Neonatology on their elections to the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR).