Tina Simpson, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, has accepted the position of vice-chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Pediatrics (DOP). Dr. Simpson currently serves as the director of the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) in the DOP and will continue in this role. Through her work in the OFD, Dr. Simpson has helped clinicians, educators and research faculty and also addressed the broad issues of engagement and advancement for all faculty in a meaningful way. As a recognition of her efforts and the fact that she is already relied on for critical advice on a wide range of issues, Dr. Mitch Cohen, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, asked her to become a vice-chair. "Faculty development is important and deserves a voice and a seat at the table and I can think of no one better than Tina to have that seat and that voice," said Dr. Cohen. "I am thrilled she will be taking on this new role."
Congratulations Dr. Simpson!
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.
2019 DOP Faculty Achievement Awards
Community Educator Award
Vera Egorshin, M.D.
Jefferson County Department Of Health
Research Achievement Award
Senior
Randy Cron, M.D.
Pediatric Rheumatology
Junior
Vivek Lal, M.D.
Neonatology
Diversity And Inclusion Award
Brian Sims, M.D.
Neonatology
Educational Achievement Award
Senior
Ann Klasner, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Junior
Sarah Novara, M.D.
Pediatric Neurology
Service Achievement Award
Senior
Joe Chewning, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Junior
Erin Swanson, M.D.
Pediatric Rehab Medicine
Mentoring Achievement Award
David Bernard, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Model of Team Excellence Award
Division Of Pediatric Nephrology- Drs. David Askenazi, Erica Bjornstad, Sahar Fathallah-Shaykh, Daniel Feig, Michael Seifert, and Tennille Webb.
Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Healthcare
Carden Johnston, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Tom Howard, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Members of the TECaN executive council with Dr. Lilly Lou, chair-elect, SoNPM on the far right front row and Dr. John Zupancic, past chair, on the back rowAnisha Bhatia Attawala, M.D., Third Year Fellow, Neonatology, had a very successful experience at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Convention and Exhibition (NCE). As part of her role as membership chair and District 10 representative for Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN), a subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, she took part in an exciting meeting at where TECaN received recognition from leaders from the Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SoNPM) for the productivity of the group from their recent #NavigatingNAS campaign, a year-long educational campaign focused on neonatal abstinence syndrome. Dr. Attawala helped develop a section of the program and created the informational video. The attached photos show.
Dr. Attawala also organized a travel grant competition for this meeting generously sponsored through Abbott nutrition for TECaN members attending NCE. We were able to support 10 recipients. She also presented a poster at NCE for my project entitled "Donor Breast Milk Improves Feeding Tolerance in Infants with Critical Congenital Heart Disease."
Vivek Lal, M.D., Neonatology, recently completed the Young Physicians Leadership Alliance (YPLA). The YPLA is a three-year training program presented by the Section on Early Career Physicians of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is designed to develop leadership skills and establish a network of ambitious early career pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. The program uses interactive forums and small group coaching with expert faculty to guide participants through an exploration of their own leadership capacity, learning about leadership principles, behaviors, and tools that can help them achieve their personal and professional goals.
Congratulations Dr. Lal!
Teresa Magruder, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonology, and Peter Weiser, M.D., Pediatric Rheumatology, have been named among Birmingham Parent's Favorite Kids' Docs 2019. Doctors were nominated by Birmingham Parent readers for providing the best care for their children. They will be recognized along with other honorees in the December issue of Birmingham Parent.
Below is a list of the other pediatricians from Children's of Alabama practices that were also honored.
Dr. Charlotte Prejean
Dr. Phillip Harmon
Dr. Jamie Powell
Dr. Daniel Carter
Dr. Brian Dudgeon
Dr. Nicholas Smith
Dr. Angela Redmond
Dr. Betsy Crum
Dr. Toren Anderson
Dr. John Cortopassi
Dr. Julia Stewart
Dr. Abby Allen
Dr. Audie Woolley
Dr. Elizabeth Irons
Dr. Stacey Gilbert
Dr. Joseph Jolly
Dr. Garland Youngblood
Dr. Richard Stone
Dr. Diane Dietline
Dr. Judy Habeeb
Dr. Julie Dennis
Each year the Pediatric Residency Program organizes the Coat of Arms 5K Spring Scramble to support a cause selected by the residents - such as Reach Out and Read, Healthy Active Living, and Weight Management. Spring Scramble 2019 was held May 12, 2019 at Railroad Park. This year's race beneficiary was Children's Harbor, specifically Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, which provides children with serious illnesses and their families a place to have fun and relax. Proceeds from the race were used to purchase two water dispensers that were placed on the two sides of the camp for campers to have easy access to fresh water. We are so delighted that this initiative was met with such excitement by the Children’s Harbor!
The UAB Pediatric Primary Care Clinic (PCC) and Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) have joined forces to improve the patient experience. “We are excited about this collaborative effort to improve our patient’s access to medical care outside of normal office hours,” said Candice Dye, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, Medical Director of Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.
This collaboration began with a mutual goal as the PCC and JCDH both strive to achieve Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) certification.
Extended hours are a core component to PCMH certification. Our practices recognize that patients’ care needs are not confined to normal operating hours. Offering appointments outside typical business hours not only gives patients greater access to care, but it also provides a cost-effective option in today’s current health system where we need to use resources more judiciously. In an effort to work together to address this challenge, the PCC and JCDH have entered into a joint venture in an extended hour model starting in November where we will see each other’s patients two evenings a week, from 5:00-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Extended hours are by appointment only and available to established patients by utilizing the usual phone coverage for their own primary care practice and then being directed to the designated site. This new collaboration not only helps us achieve PCMH certification, but more importantly, it offers a much needed resource to our patients and families.
The PCC is also accepting new patients. For appointments, call 205-638-9096. To find out more, please visit our website.
Terry Wall, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, was accepted into the Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Center at Harvard University. The two-week intensive course is hosted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Wall attended the course October 13-25 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers is designed to serve a wide array of physician leaders and provides the opportunity to study critical leadership and management issues faced by physicians in administrative positions and academic health centers.
Michele Nichols, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine, will receive the 2020 Pediatric Educator Award from the Southern Society for Pediatric Research (SSPR). According to the SSPR nominating committee, this award recognizes an outstanding pediatric educator in pediatric medicine who is widely recognized for their stimulation of pre- and post-doctoral students in the care of children, contributed to the development and administration of programs and curricula for pediatric learners and parents, and recognized as a role model as a pediatric educator. Dr. Nichols will receive this award at the 2020 SSPR Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana February 13, 2020.
Congratulations Dr. Nichols!
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of October.
Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Khalisa Syeda, D.O., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology
Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, earned her medical degree and completed both her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. Her research/clinical interests include management of sickle cell pain crisis in the pediatric emergency department and simulation.
Khalisa Syeda, D.O., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology, earned her medical degree at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Syeda completed her pediatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois and her pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas.