Ortal Resnick, M.D.Ortal Resnick, M.D., a third-year fellow in the UAB Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, has been selected as a 2026 RAPID Scholar.
The national Research in Academic Pediatrics Investigator Development (RAPID) program, sponsored by the American Pediatrics Association (APA) and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), supports the professional advancement of early clinician-investigators. The RAPID Scholar Award is highly competitive and designed to help junior faculty and senior fellows build successful academic research careers.
Resnick was selected for her work on low-carbohydrate nutritional approaches aimed at improving glycemic control and metabolic health in adolescents with Type 2 diabetes. Because the disease is often more aggressive in youth, her goal is to identify simple, sustainable strategies that can be implemented early to improve long-term outcomes.
Resnick is one of 10 scholars in the 2026 RAPID cohort. As part of the award, she will receive structured national mentorship and career development to help her transition to an independent academic career. Ambika Ashraf, M.D., Director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and Associate Director of the UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center, will serve as Resnick’s institutional mentor.
Resnick said the award represents a significant milestone in her development as a clinician-scientist.
“It provides valuable support to further develop my research in diabetes,” she said. “I am especially excited about the mentorship and opportunities to connect with other investigators, which will be instrumental in shaping my future research.”
Prior to her UAB fellowship, Resnick earned her medical degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and completed her pediatrics residency at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel.