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Catherine Hough-Telford, M.D., FAAP, former UAB Department of Pediatrics resident and fellow in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, is the lead author on a recent publication in Pediatrics, which summarizes findings of a periodic survey of pediatricians on parental concerns around immunizations. "The vast majority of the work in this study was conducted by Dr. Hough-Telford while she was completing her fellowship here at UAB and Children's of Alabama." said David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, who is also an author of the study, "I expect we will be seeing Catherine’s name for years to come in vaccine advocacy roles at the national level." Click the links below to read the publicity from various outlets: ABC News, AAP News, Live Science, The Seattle Times, The Huffington Post, and AAP Smart Brief. 

Click here for the original study.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed four new faculty members during the month of August. Join us in welcoming the following faculty members: Christine Campbell, M.D., MSPH, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Christina Inman, M.D., Instructor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Rose James, M.D., Instructor, Pediatric Endocrinology Rachel Kassel, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition

Christine Campbell, M.D., MSPH, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at the UAB Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Campbell also completed her Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship in the UAB Department of Pediatrics. She completed her medical degree and masters of science in public health at UAB. Dr. Campbell's clinical focus is going to be quality and patient safety.

Christina Inman, M.D., Instructor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, completed her pediatric residency at the UAB Department of Pediatrics. She earned her medical degree at Wake Forest University. Her area of clinic focus is improved asthma management in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Rose James, M.D., Instructor, Pediatric Endocrinology, completed her pediatric residency at the UAB Department of Pediatrics. She earned her medical degree at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. Her clinical focus will be general pediatric endocrinology.

Rachel Kassel, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition completed her pediatric residency at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kassel completed her Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She earned her medical degree and Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kassel will be working with Intensive Feeding Program as well as seeing patients in the general, aerodigestive, and eosinophilic GI clinics.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics congratulates the following faculty on their new academic appointments, which will be effective October 1, 2016.

Ambika Ashraf, M.D., promoted to Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology.
David Askenazi, M.D., MPH, promoted to Professor of Pediatric Nephrology.
Tim Beukelman, M.D., MSCE,Associate Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology, awarded Tenure.
Nancy Tofil, M.D., ME.d., promoted to Professor of Pediatric Critical Care.
Marjorie Lee White, M.D., MPPM, MA, FAAP, FACEP, CHSE, Associate Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, awarded Tenure.

The UAB Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) Clinic at Children’s of Alabama, the only PCD Clinic in the region, is now accredited as a full center in the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Foundation Clinical and Research Network (PCDF-CRCN). Our Clinic is one of only four in the country to have achieved this designation. Full centers have the capability to do a complete diagnostic workup for PCD, including ciliary biopsy, nasal nitric oxide measurement and genetic testing. These sites receive specialized training in diagnostic procedures, participate in PCD research and clinical improvement initiatives and will be entry points for the PCD clinical registry. Full sites receive accreditation through a site visit and audit program. Click here for more information. 

Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., Neonatalogy, has been selected to serve on the NeoPREP Panning Committee Team. NeoPREP is a seven day review course in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, held every two years, which is sponsored by the Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Dr. Ambal's appointment to the planning committee is for 6 years. Congratulations!

The 2016 Committed to a Cure Marrow Registry Drive is set for Tuesday, Aug. 30 from noon until 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Aug. 31, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the Russell Lobby Performance Room at Children’s of Alabama.

The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s is partnering with Be The Match bone marrow donor registry in this regional effort to add people to the national registry of those willing to donate bone marrow. This year’s event is sponsored by the Alabama Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Prospective donors need to only complete a health questionnaire and conduct a simple mouth swab. Upon completion, the individual’s information is added to the registry as a potential donor match for a patient anywhere in the world. More information about the process is available at www.bethematch.org.

A Donor Reunion will be held at noon on August 30 in the Performance Area of the Russell Lobby. This is a can’t miss event!
To view the press release, click here.

The Children's/UAB Department of Pediatrics CME Program has once again been awarded Accreditation with Commendation by the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. This status is conferred to CME programs that demonstrate excellence in educational outcomes, which include involvement in multi-interventional and inter-professional collaborations with the goal of improving patient and population health outcomes. 

September is childhood cancer and sickle cell awareness month and is a time that is near and dear to us and many of the patients and families we serve. We are blessed to have wonderful family and community support and the month will be full of opportunities to engage with patients and families, community groups, and each other in honor of the work we all do.

To see a full list of the many events in the next two months, clickhere.

The UAB Pediatric Residency Program and Coat of Arms is working to help provide relief to the victims of the floods in Louisiana.  Many of the people affected are family and friends of our residents. There are many ways to contribute to the cause.

We will be holding a Donation Drive from Aug. 22 to Sept. 2 for supplies and various goods to assist affected families in the Baton Rouge, LA area. Goods requested include: cleaning supplies, mops, pillows, blankets, diapers, baby food and formula, toilet paper, packages of new underwear or socks, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, soap, lotion, deodorant, and school supplies. Boxes to donate will be located at the information desk of Benjamin Russell Hospital, the Pediatric Residency Housestaff Office and Lounge, and outside of the Aug. 25 Pediatric Grand Rounds. Goods collected over the next two weeks will be delivered to the Capital Area United Way and the Ascension Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness running the shelter at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center. Attached is the flyer, please feel free to share.

Additionally, for anyone interested in donating money, below is a list of links to various flood relief causes.
*Our Lady of the Lake (OLOL) Pediatric Residents suffered significant losses due to the recent flooding in Louisiana. Please contribute on Go Fund Me --https://www.gofundme.com/2k8aynw.
*The Louisiana Capital Area United Way --To make a monetary donation, text LAFLOOD to 313131 or visit www.cauw.org and click donate. Donations can also be mailed to Capital Area United Way, Attn: Flood Relief, 700 Laurel St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
*The Baton Rouge Area Foundation -- To donate, visit www.braf.org/louisiana-flood-relief, which also provides links for donating to employee assistance funds of several companies.
* The East Baton Rouge Schools Foundation has set up a fund to take care of facilities, students and teachers. Visit http://www.foundationebr.org/

Thank you very much for your thoughts and contributions!

Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Rheumatology, was recently selected by the Rheumatology Research Foundation to serve on their 2017 Scientific Advisory Board. The Scientific Advisory Council is charged with overseeing the Foundation’s research and education funding programs to ensure they are run effectively and efficiently and are meeting the needs of the rheumatology community and people with rheumatic diseases.