Explore UAB

Congratulations to Jegen Kandasamy, M.D., Neonatology, on being selected for an award under the Perinatal Research Society Young Investigator program to attend the upcoming Perinatal Research Society Annual Meeting and the NIH - Abbott Nutrition Pre-meeting Workshop September 5-9, 2018 in Englewood, Colorado. Selection into this program is highly competitive. This is the third year in a row that one of our neonatal junior faculty have been selected to attend the pre-meeting workshop. 

The Department is pleased to announce that Gregory Friedman, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been appointed the new Phase 1 PI at Children's of Alabama and approved by the DVL Executive Committee of the Children’s Oncology Group effective June 18. In addition, Dr. Friedman will lead Developmental Therapeutics in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and the Department of Pediatrics.
 
Clinical trials follow a typical series from early, small-scale, Phase 1 studies, which may be the first in human trials to assess safety, to late-stage, large scale, Phase 3 studies. Phase 1 studies are the first step in clinical drug development after pre-clinical studies are complete. Patients referred to the Developmental Therapeutics Program typically have recurrent or refractory cancers that have failed standard therapies. Other patients may be diagnosed with rare tumors for which no effective therapies have been established. As one of only 21 premier pediatric oncology programs in the country that are selected through peer review by the Children’s Oncology Group Phase 1 and Pilot Consortium, we are able to provide patients access to innovative therapies not widely available. 
 
Dr. Friedman’s research focuses on improving outcomes for children with malignant brain tumors. His goal is to develop and improve targeted immunotherapeutics such as oncolytic engineered herpes simplex virotherapy and then translate these therapies to clinical trials, benefiting children with brain tumors and other solid tumors. Dr. Friedman has received funding from the FDA and St. Baldrick’s Foundation for these Phase 1 studies.
 
Dr. Friedman is a nationally known scholar who has demonstrated clinical, teaching and research success at UAB and Children’s of Alabama. In addition to providing specific leadership for this program, he will also participate as part of the leadership team for a growing division of Hematology-Oncology. The Division has added 7 new faculty in the last three years and four more will join this summer. 

The Pediatric Residency Program is excited to announce that Will Sasser, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, will be joining the program as an Assistant Program Director as of July 1, 2018.

When asked about his new role, Dr. Sasser said "I'm thrilled about the opportunity to work more closely with our residents alongside faculty and staff that have meant so much to me as a trainee and junior faculty member."

Dr. Sasser joins Michele Nichols, M.D., Program Director, Nancy Tofil, M.D., Senior Associate Program Director, Candice Dye, M.D., Associate Program Director, and Lauren Nassetta, M.D., Associate Program Director as leadership of the program. 

Prior to this role with the Residency Program, Dr. Sasser served as the Director of the Acting Internship and Elective Program with the Pediatric Clerkship. He attended the Medical University of South Carolina for medical school and completed both his pediatric residency and pediatric critical care fellowship at UAB. 

Congratulations to Ariel Salas, M.D., Neonatology, on being awarded the Samuel J. Fomon Young Physician Award endowed by the Nestlé Nutrition Institute. This award is one of the National Scientific Achievement Awards given out by the American Society of Nutrition Foundation. These awards are given in honor of scientists, clinicians and scholars for significant achievements in nutrition research and practice. 

Read more

Congratulations to Pallavi Iyer, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, who has been elected by the faculty to serve a three year term on the Pediatric Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee (APTC).

Gregory Friedman, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, have been selected to fill the two vacancies for appointed faculty on the APTC.  

Thank you for agreeing to represent your pediatric faculty peers on this important committee for the next three years!

Below is what our graduates will be doing after residency:

Baani Bawa, M.D.- Hospital Medicine, Nashville, TN
Megan E. Boothe, M.D. - Genetics Fellowship, UAB, 
John Mark Bouchillon, M.D. - 2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB, 
Stephen T. Clark, M.D. - Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, UAB, 
Adam W. Cohen, M.D.- Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship, UAB, 
Orlando Esparza, M.D.-  Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, University of Colorado
Anna L. Hoppmann, M.D.- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, UAB
Claire S. Keith, M.D.-  Gastroenterology Instructor followed by Pediatric GI Fellowship, UAB 
Angela J. King, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Clinical Instructor, UAB, Birmingham, AL
Tiffany D. Moore, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Acton Road, Birmingham, AL
Anastasia T. Nelson, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Tots n Teens, Trussville, AL
Jamie L. Powell, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Mayfair Medical Group, Homewood, AL
Robert D. Sellers, IV, M.D.-2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB
Mary E. Silverberg, M.D.-Research at UAB, Pursuing NICU Fellowship
Karlene D. Walker, M.D.-2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB, Birmingham, AL        
Carter D. Wallace, M.D.-Gastroenterology Instructor followed by Pediatric GI Fellowship, UAB
Timothy A. Wang, M.D. -Neonatology Fellowship, Cincinnati Children's
Anna P. White, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Health Department, Birmingham, AL
Sara E. Williams, M.D.-Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship, University of Colorado
Andrea M. Wolf, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Dallas, TX
Taylor A. Woodfin, M.D.-Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship, UAB
Sarah E. Bagwell, M.D.-General Medicine/Pediatrics, UAB, Gardendale, AL
K. Shannon Booker, M.D.- Medicine/Pediatrics Hospitalist, Minneapolis, MN
Sarah E. Bragg, M.D.- General Medicine/Pediatrics, UAB, Leeds, AL
Teresa B. Cornelius, M.D.-Medicine/Pediatrics, Hospitalist, UAB
Sarah Joy Dean, M.D.-Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship, UAB                                                            

2017-2018 CHIEF RESIDENTS
Bryauna S. Lewis, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Christ Health Center, Birmingham, AL
T. Spencer Poore, M.D.- Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship, University of Colorado
Michelle Udine, M.D.- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Children’s National

Congratulations to Smita Bhatia, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, on being named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology! As mentioned on the ASCO website, "the Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction recognizes ASCO members for their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO. Their efforts benefit ASCO, the specialty of oncology, and, most importantly, the patients at risk for or with cancer.”

Read more

Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2018. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 31st. Below is a list of where the fellows will be going after completing fellowship training.

2018 Pediatric Fellow Graduate Plans

• Erin Boyd, MD, MSPH - Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 

• Miranda Curtis, MD, PhD – Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, UAB

• Njeri Maina, MD, PhD -  Alabama Asthma and Allergy Clinic, Birmingham, AL
   
• Cara Lasley, DO – Al DuPont Children’s Hospital-Nemours Cardiac Center, Wilmington, DE  

• Rune Toms, MD – Neonatology, focus on neonates with congenital heart disease,  UAB 

• Steven Nye, MD – Pediatric Critical Care at Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 

• Nicki Sims, MD -  Pediatric Intensivist of Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital, Baton Rouge, LA 

• Todd Fleenor, MD - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, AL  

• Joshua Haupt, MD - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, GA 

• Kathleen Richard, MD – Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Huntsville, AL 

• Shelly Mercer, MD – Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK.

• Osman Ahmad, MD -  Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Florida- Shands Children Hospital, Gainesville, FL
   
• Jamie Aye, MD – Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, UAB 

• Corey Falcon, MD –    Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 

• Susan Buckingham, MD – Hospice and Palliative Medicine, UAB with a secondary appointment at Children's of Alabama.  

• Kate McKillip, MD – Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE.  

• Adolfo Molina, MD – Pediatric Hospital Medicine, UAB 

• Erinn Schmit, MD – Pediatric Hospital Medicine, UAB 

• Claudette Poole, MD – Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UAB 

• Sam Gentle, MD –  Neonatology, UAB 

• Christine Stoops, DO, MPH –  Community Neonatology Group, UAB 

• Rachael Tindell, MD – Marietta Neonatology Group,  Marietta, GA   

• Lydia Marcus, MD – Pediatric Neurology and completing a MS fellowship, UAB

The 2018 graduating class presented the following awards at their Graduation Banquet on Friday, June 1. 

Michele St. Romain Award

Robert D. Sellers IV, M.D.

This award recognizes a graduating resident with the finest qualities of a pediatrician: enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication to the care of children. 

 Ralph E. Tiller, M.D. Distinguished Faculty Award

 Morissa Ladinsky, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics and Christiana Cochran, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine

This award recognizes a faculty member who has contributed the most to overall education and training. 

Sergio Stagno, M.D. Friend of the Housestaff Award

Morissa Ladinsky, M.D. 

This award recognizes an individual demonstrating a strong commitment to resident education and quality of life. 

Quarterback Subspecialty Education Award

Lydia Marcus, M.D.-Child Neurology Fellow

This award recognizes a selected fellow’s contributions to resident education. 

Best Teaching Rotation Award

Nephrology

This award recognizes the rotation that is viewed to be the best teaching rotation by the graduating class. 

Congratulations to Rachel Calhoun, M.D. and Brooke Goar, M.D. for winning the Joe LaRussa Intern of the Year Award!

Congratulations to Ariel Salas, M.D., Neonatology, on receiving a pilot research award from the Obesity Health Disparities Research Center! He was awarded $50,000 for his project "Serial Assessments of Body Fat Accrual in Very Preterm Infants." 

Monday, June 18 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Bradley Lecture Center

Please join us for a reception honoring Alyssa Reddy, M.D., Pediatric Neurology and Hematology/Oncology, for her outstanding service!

Reception invitation

Since 1988, the Dixon Foundation has endowed a fellowship training program in Pediatrics expressly aimed at supporting postdoctoral training and research in Pediatric subspecialties. As part of this prestigious award, recipients benefit from salary support and an additional $5,000 per year discretionary fund to support research and continuing education activities. The selection committee for the Dixon Fellowship recently met and selected five fellows. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis.

Please join us in congratulating the Dixon Fellow recipients for the 2018-2019 academic year: 
 
Abdulsalam Alsulami, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, will research the "Impact of Different Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs) on Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital – Retrospective Study and Assessment of Interventions."

Neha Gupta, M.D., FAAP,  Pediatric Critical Care, will work to develop a Children’s of Alabama Delirium Scale (COADS).
 
Samantha Hill, M.D., MPH, Adolescent Medicine, will research "Identification of Strategies that Increase PrEP Uptake for Adolescents and Young Adults in the Deep South."

Nazia Kabani, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease and Neonatology, will research "Defining the full spectrum of neuroimaging findings and determining their impact on outcome in infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection."

Cali Reynolds, M.D., Allergy/ Immunology, will research "Addressing Penicillin Allergies in the Inpatient Pediatric Population."

Graduating Dixon Fellows are:

Claudette Poole,M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, who will be joining UAB Pediatric Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor.
Jamie Aye, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, who will be joining UAB Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as an Assistant Professor.  
Corey Falcon, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, who will be joining Tulane Medical School as an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 
Miranda Curtiss, M.D., Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, who will be joining the Department of Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care as an Instructor.

Four outstanding Department of Pediatrics faculty members were named recipients of the 2018 Dean's Excellence Awards, an honor recognizing exceptional contributions made by the School of Medicine faculty in service, teaching, research, diversity enhancement and mentorship. 

Steven Rowe, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonology, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Research, Senior Faculty. 
Stephanie Berger, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Teaching, Junior Faculty.
Michael Barnett, M.D., Palliative Care, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Teaching, Junior Faculty.
Jaime McKinney, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Diversity Enhancement, Junior Faculty.
Click here to read about each of the 2018 winners and their accomplishments. 

A reception to honor the award recipients will be held on Tuesday, June 19 at 5 p.m. at the Barbara and Edward Partridge Atrium at the Wallace Tumor Institute. All Department of Pediatrics faculty and staff are invited to attend in support and celebration of their colleagues. Congratulations to Drs. Rowe, Berger, Barnett and McKinney and all other Department of Pediatrics nominees. Click here to view the reception invitation.

Congratulations to Michael Stalvey, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, on being elected to the UAB Faculty Senate as a representative for the School of Medicine. Dr. Stalvey will serve as a Senator from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020. Thank you for representing the Department and the School of Medicine in the Senate!

Children's of Alabama and the Department of Pediatrics has been given a generous donation from the Chu Family to support educational initiatives. From this donation, a portion has been set aside for Pediatric Fellows. The selection committee for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship recently met and selected two fellows to receive this educational scholarship. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis. These awards will provide funds for tuition, books and fees related to their educational endeavors.

Please join us in congratulating the recipients for the 2018-2019 academic year:

Aman Wadhwa, M.D. – Rising 3rd year Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellow
Awarded $5,000. Dr. Wadhwa will use funds towards completing a MSPH degree in Outcomes Research at UAB.

Jeremy Loberger, M.D. – Rising 2nd year Pediatric Critical Care fellow
Awarded $5,000. Dr. Loberger will use funds towards completing a UAB Quality Academy Certificate Course.

Congratulations to Jaime McKinney, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, on being appointed to the Admissions Selection Committee for the UAB School of Medicine. The Admissions Selection Committee reviews candidates and determines who will be accepted to join the School of Medicine. Thank you Dr. McKinney for your service!

Congratulations to Morissa Ladinsky, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, on being awarded the Inclusive Research & Initiative Award at the Lavender Celebration on April 11. The Lavender Celebration is an annual event in the spring of each academic year wherein LGBTQ undergraduate, graduate and professional students receive recognition for both their contribution to campus and their success in graduating. During the celebration, awards are given out to students, faculty and staff. 

Dr. Ladinsky was honored for her work on a project to make UAB medicine and our trained physicians and healthcare providers better at serving transgender patients. 

Read more about Dr. Ladinsky's project