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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 awarded 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).

Congratulations to Andrew Donahue, M.D., fellow in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine on his acceptance into the Pandemic Network Pediatric (PPN) Disaster Science Research Training Program (R25)!

See updates from the Pediatric Pandemic Network from our UAB colleagues.

Congratulations to the 28 faculty promoted effective October 1, 2024!

Children’s of Alabama partnered with UAB’s Division of Pediatric Nephrology to host the inaugural International Neonatal Nephrology Symposium (INNS) Sept. 11-15 in Birmingham at the UAB Hilton.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed 10 new faculty members in the month of September. Please join us in making them feel at home!

Kara Huls, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, was featured by the Child Trafficking Solutions Project (CTSP) in a hero spotlight.

The Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) held its annual meeting in Birmingham from Aug. 27 to 29. The PPN seeks to enhance the nation's preparedness to address public health emergencies that affect children. The network, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), joins leading pediatric hospitals and partners to focus on pediatric preparedness and treatment in emergencies and disasters. Its goals are to improve collaboration between healthcare systems, create and share best practices, and increase preparedness. The UAB/COA Hub site is lead by Drs. Tamera Coyne-Beasley and Mitchell Cohen.

The Inaugural Pediatric Hospital Medicine Incubator Scholarship Fair was held Friday, August 23. This event served as an opportunity for faculty, staff, and trainees to share knowledge and network. Faculty shared their research, publications, and educational resources, while offering scholarship guidance. Chang Wu, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, said, “The event fueled enthusiasm for future collaborations, providing a platform for connecting and advancing pediatric hospital medicine scholarship”.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed one new faculty member in the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!

L to R: Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine, Viral Jain, M.D., creator of the NICU Bookworm program, Senator Katie Britt, Dawn Bulgarella,MSHA, CPA, CEO of the UAB Health System, Brian Massey, government relations at Children's of Alabama, Mitch Cohen, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics, and Wally Carlo, M.D., co-director of the Division of NeonatologyEarly child literacy is an important factor in the development of children setting them up for success in the future. Research has shown that reading and language deficits in a child are fixed by two years of age, so early intervention is crucial, especially for premature and sick newborns who are at a higher risk of neurodevelopmental deficits, including in language and reading.

Samantha Weaver, DNP, CRNP, CPNP-AC, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been accepted into the Thirteenth Annual Myology Course presented by Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University.

This is a supplemental training course on neuromuscular disease, molecular therapeutics and aspects of career development. This is the only workshop of its sort in the nation, with lectures combining basic and clinical science followed by specialized instruction in basic science laboratory procedures or clinical treatment protocols.

Congratulations Dr. Weaver!

Mohini Gunnett M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, has been accepted into the Spring 2025: SAIL (Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead): Junior Faculty Leadership Program.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed seven new faculty members in the month of July. Please join us in making them feel at home!

Michele Kong, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care has been named to the Birmingham Business Journal's Top Birmingham Women for 2024. These annual awards highlight women who have established themselves as key leaders in their companies or organizations and have reached career pinnacles.

Congratulations to Madeline Davis, M.D. and Meaghan Smith, M.D., graduating PGY-3 pediatric residents, on receiving the 2024 Carolyn Ashworth, M.D. Pediatric Primary Care Award.