Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, has been named the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama Young Professional of the Year.
The award is given annually to a young professional volunteer who reflects commitment and exceptional service to the organization. Fobian served as the vice president of the nonprofit’s Junior Board for 2017 and chaired the annual Red Carpet Rendezvous event that raised almost $35,000 for the families the Ronald McDonald House serves on a regular basis.
“Being named Young Professional of the Year by the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama is something that’s very dear to me, as I’m passionate about the work they do in helping families with sick children in the hospital feel at home and comfortable during their stay,” Fobian said. “For these families, there must be nothing better than knowing they have a home to go back to while here in Birmingham, and I look forward to continuing to help raise funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House moving forward.”
At UAB, Fobian oversees the Somatic Symptom Psychology Clinic, where she treats children and adolescents with various types of chronic pain and functional neurological disorders. The clinic focuses on non-pharmacological management of physical symptoms and addresses related functional deficits. Additionally, she is the director of the Pediatric Health and Somatic Symptom Laboratory, where she researches cognitive behavioral treatments for functional neurological disorders, sleep and obesity in children.