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The UAB Department of Pediatrics hosted the 6th Annual Pediatric Science Day last Thursday, March 25 with as an opportunity to illustrate research activities in the department and support collaboration between young investigators. The event included in-person presentations and a simulcast on Zoom for attendees to participate virtually. Presentation topics included clinical research, basic/translational research, clinical case reports, and quality improvement. 

Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been appointed an associate editor of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). In this role, Dr. Bhatia will assist the editor-in-chief in selecting the scientific and editorial content of JCO. She will also oversee and participate in the peer review process. JCO is a premier journal in oncology, with an impact factor of 32.9.

Congratulations Dr. Bhatia!

The Pediatric Fellowship office is seeking applications for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship for Fall 2021. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and upon a Review Committee’s analysis of the written application. For the academic year starting in July 2021, one to two candidates will be selected to receive a $5000 scholarship for their chosen educational endeavor.

Applications should be emailed or delivered to Ronda Chandler in the Sergio Stagno Center, 3rd Floor West McWane, no later than Friday, April 16. Scholarship recipients will be announced late May or early June.

Questions? Contact Ann Klasner, M.D. or Ronda Chandler.

Deadline for application: Friday, April 16

Application Instructions

The Department of Pediatrics is now seeking applications for the Dixon Fellowship Training Program for the 2023 academic year. The Dixon Foundation endows this Pediatric fellowship training program to prepare, train, and support fellows who intend to pursue an academic career with research emphasis in approved Pediatric subspecialties. Proposals can range from basic and translational science to education or QI-centric research. As part of this prestigious award, recipients benefit from salary support and an additional $5,000 per year discretionary funds to support research and continuing education activities.

Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, professor and division director in the Division of Adolescent Medicine and vice-chair for Community Engagement, has been elected to the American Pediatric Society (APS) Council. Dr. Coyne-Beasley will serve as council member from 2021 to 2026. She joins Wally Carlo, M.D., professor and division director in the Division of Neonatology, who is also on the council and will end his term in 2024.

Traci Jester, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has been invited to serve as a member of the Clinical Committee for ImproveCareNow.

Nefertiti Harmon Durant, M.D., MPH, associate professor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, has been named co-chair of the Education & Advocacy Subcommittee for the Women & Girls Bleeding Disorder Learning Action Network (WGBD LAN) of the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders.

The UAB Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Children’s of Alabama has been accepted into the Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC), a unique clinical trials consortium focusing on personalized therapy approaches for children with malignant brain tumors.

Top row L to R: Drs. Nitin Arora, Randy Cron and Pallavi Iyer. Bottom row L to R: Drs. Andy Marshall, Joe Philips and Ryan SheetsSix members of the Department of Pediatrics were elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society.

Chrystal Rutledge, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, was named one of two recipients of the inaugural Professional Excellence Award. This award was created by the UAB School of Medicine Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) to honor underrepresented in medicine (URiM) faculty who have demonstrated excellence in their careers.

Top left to right: Drs. Bill Britt, Randy Cron, Pallavi Iyer, Viral Jain, Claudette Poole, Brandon Rocque, Emily Smitherman and Kent WillisChildren’s of Alabama and the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) are pleased to announce the 2021 awards. The major goal of the KPRI grant program is to allow investigators to obtain data that will advantage applications for additional extramural funding. This will bring new knowledge to the care of children, leverage the investment of the KPRI, and allow projects to be competitive for the very best science on the national stage. A second, but important, goal is to ensure that a dedicated funding source is available to unique segments of the pediatric research, education, and quality improvement enterprise.

Carlie Stein, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, has recently been named program director for the UAB Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Stein takes over for J.R. Hartig, M.D., associate professor in the Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Academic General Pediatrics, who has served as program director of the residency program for over 15 years.

Ariel Salas, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, has been selected as Pittman Scholar in the UAB School of Medicine. This esteemed group was created to honor the legacy of Dr. James A. Pittman, Jr., the longest-serving dean in our School’s history.

Left to right: Kathy Monroe, M.D., Shaundra Blakemore M.D., Katie Thierer, LMSW, and Beth Clark, BSN, MBAKatie Thierer, LMSW, has received the Friend of the ED Award for exceptional service to the Children's of Alabama Emergency Department patients. Katie has gone above and beyond to provide expert social service care for our patients. 

Wally Carlo, M.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, and David Kimberlin, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, were among those featured in the Top Articles of 2020 curated by the American Pediatric Society (APS). At the conclusion of the year, the APS gathered a list of the most accessed articles from 2020 and sent the list out to members. 

Smita Bhatia, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been invited to serve as a member of the Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee (CTAC) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Walt Johnson, M.D., with the award belt.The Division of Pediatric Cardiology has announced the creation of a new award for UAB pediatric residents. The Walt “The Rock” Johnson Award for Worthiness in Pediatric Cardiology will be awarded every six months to the resident who cumulatively answers the most correct questions from the monthly cardiology quiz sent out by the division. The quiz will contain cardiology board questions, EKGs, and some pediatric cardiology history questions. All pediatric, combined medicine/pediatric, pediatric neurology and pediatric/genetics residents are eligible to participate in the contest. 

Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has joined the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Science Policy and Government Affairs Committee.

Terri Coco, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, and Vivek Lal, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Neonatology, have been selected to participate in the Blaze Leadership Academy.

Congratulations to the following pediatric faculty on being elected to the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) membership!