Congratulations to Department of Pediatrics Faculty Achievement Award Recipients
Lifetime Achievement in Pediatric HealthcareSergio Stagno, M.D.
Richard J. Whitley, M.D.
Research Achievement
William Britt, M.D.
Educational Achievement
Nancy Tofil, M.D., MEd
Service Achievement
Carolyn Ashworth, M.D.
Mentoring Achievement
Kathy Monroe, M.D.
Model of Excellence
The Pediatric Pulmonary Center
Brad Troxler, M.D. and Claire Lenker, LICSW, CCM
Community Educator
Mahmood Zaied, M.D.
Drs. Beierle and Feig Named Endowed Chairs
Margaret M. Porter and Charles D. McCrary, two long-time members of the Children's of Alabama Board of Trustees, have been honored for their service to Children's of Alabama with the establishment of endowed chairs in their names. Porter began her volunteer leadership service to Children's in 1995. She served as board chairman in 2002 and 2003. McCrary began his volunteer leadership service to Children's in 1995 and served as board chairman in 2006 and 2007.
Daniel I. Feig, M.D., is the first holder of the Margaret M. Porter Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nephology. Dr. Feig serves as the division director of pediatric nephrology and is the medical director of the Pediatric Renal Transplant Program and co-director of the Renal Fellowship Program. Feig’s research interest focuses on the physiology of early onset essential hypertension as well as the prevention of hypertensive target organ damage.
Elizabeth Beierle, M.D., is the first holder of the Charles D. McCrary Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery. Dr. Beierle is a professor of surgery, and her research interest lies in the study of pediatric solid tumors, specifically the signal transduction pathways involved in neuroblastoma. Her patient care emphasis includes surgical oncology, neonatal surgery and burn and trauma care. Beierle also serves as surgical director of the Hepatobiliary Clinic. The multidisciplinary clinic provides specialized care for children with liver, gallbladder and bile duct disorders. Children's is only the second hospital in the southeastern United States to have a pediatric Hepatobiliary Clinic.
Click here to view the Children's press release.
Autism Support Group for Spanish Speaking Families
On Saturday, Oct.15, Children's Harbor was the site of the first ever Alabama Support Group for Spanish Speaking Parents of Children on the Autism Spectrum. Drs. Justin Schwartz, Morissa Ladinsky, Marcella Frazier and Myriam Peralta united the Alabama Autism Society and over 30 families to create a community of support for these caregivers. An army of volunteer housestaff, clinical staff, Sparks Trainees, Interpreter Services leaders including Amado Santos, and Ben Tuanama were unflappable in their care of these challenging kids giving their parents intangible time to receive guidance and connect with others living the demanding and frightening path raising an autistic child in a place with little support or trust. We applaud the generosity of Audrey Lampkin and Children's Harbor for hosting and the UAB Benevolent Society who gave this team a large grant to continue this invaluable effort.
Dr. Walley Awarded Renewal Grant from ADPH
Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, received a grant renewal from the Alabama Department of Public Health Youth Tobacco Prevention Program. The objectives of this program are to decrease tobacco use and initiation among middle and high school students in Birmingham, particularly related to emerging products such as electronic cigarettes, and promote policies that protect youth in Birmingham from nicotine initiation and exposure to secondhand smoke. The grant is from October 2016 to September 2017 in the amount of $48,00
Two Alabama Pediatricians Honored with Distinguished Statewide Awards
Michelle Freeman, MD, FAAP, (pictured right) a community pediatrician at Dothan Pediatric Clinic (DPC) in Dothan, Ala., and Marsha Raulerson, MD, FAAP, (pictured left) a long-time pediatrician from Lower Alabama Pediatrics in Brewton, were honored with the Children’s of Alabama Master Pediatrician Award and the Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Pediatrics, respectively, at the Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics (AL-AAP) Annual Meeting and Fall Pediatric Update, held recently in Birmingham. The Wallace Clyde award was initiated in 1984 by the UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children’s to recognize outstanding physicians who have devoted a lifetime of service to children and their families; recipients are chosen by a select committee of leaders in the field of pediatrics. Click here to read more. Clickhere to see photos from the annual AAP Meeting.
Alabama Parents Drive Distracted with Children in the Car
Researchers in the UAB Department of Pediatrics found that Alabama parents living in suburban areas use cellphones in the speaker mode, read and send text messages, and surf the web slightly more often than parents in rural areas. Cellphone use among parents who are transporting children is part of a dangerous distracted driving epidemic all too common in Alabama.“Cellphone use is one of the most common driving distractions among young and adult drivers,” said Kimberly Massey, M.D., principal investigator of the study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and former fellow in the UAB Department of Pediatrics. “This study proves that further research on how to best implement injury-prevention interventions should be done to target high-risk areas with distracted driving behaviors, like Alabama suburbs.”
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Pediatric Faculty Awards Reception - Monday, Oct. 5
Awards will be given in the following categories:
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Research Achievement Award
- Educational Achievement Award
- Service Achievement Award
- Mentoring Achievement Award
- Model of Excellence Award
- Community Pediatric Educator Award
Award Descriptions:
DOP Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Healthcare
This award recognizes truly outstanding individuals whose career achievements represent exceptional contributions to pediatric healthcare through clinical services, education or research. Nominees must have been affiliated with the UAB DOP within the last 10 years. There will be a two-stage selection process. Nominations submitted to the selection committee will be reviewed and a list of potential awardees given to the Chair of the Department, who will make the final selection.
Research Achievement Award
The Research Achievement Award will be awarded based on research merit and impact on the appropriate field of research. Criteria will include attainment of national and international recognition for superior scholarship as indicated through publications, continued productivity over a sustained period of time, extramural funding, professional activities, academic awards and the impact or potential impact on improving child health.
Educational Achievement Award
The Educational Achievement Award will be awarded based on outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the university. Criteria will include commitment to teaching, development of innovative and high-impact educational programs, demonstrated creative approaches to teaching, high standards of performance and outstanding teaching evaluations.
Service Achievement Award
The Service Award recognizes individuals who have exhibited sustained, significant and impactful clinical service or service through leadership, advocacy, or diversity enhancement to the department, university or community. Criteria will include significant sustained commitment to providing service to the institution and/or community.
Mentoring Achievement Award
The Mentoring Achievement Award recognizes faculty who are outstanding mentors to junior faculty, fellows and other trainees within the university. Criteria will include a strong commitment to the career development of trainees and junior faculty, excellent mentoring in clinical work, education and clinical/translational/basic research, and evidence of mentees’ success in these fields.
Team Excellence Award
The Team Excellence Award recognizes a team or group who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and clinical or research accomplishments at the national/international level. Criteria include demonstration that these accomplishments are due to both the team effort and the unique contributions of individual team members. Clinical teams are defined broadly and include those that focus on clinical care as well as quality improvement, safety, etc. Research is defined broadly and encompasses the full spectrum of research activities for the DOP.
DOP Community Pediatric Educator Award
This award recognizes an outstanding community pediatrician partner and his/her exemplary commitment to the UAB DOP as a co-educator of medical students, residents and fellows.
Dr. Cron Receives Center for Genomic Medicine Pilot Grant
The UAB-HudsonAlpha Center for Genomic Medicine has awarded the second round of pilot grants. The three pilot grants have been given to collaborative teams comprised of one researcher from UAB and one from HudsonAlpha to pursue novel investigations. The pilot grant funding is $100,000 per year for up to two years. Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Rheumatology, received one of the three grants with Devin Absher, Ph.D., HudsonAlpha. Click here for more information.
Dr. Abdul-Latif Receives Argus Awards
Students from the UAB School of Medicine named 20 faculty and six clinical departments winners of the 2016 Argus Awards. Hussein Abdul-Latif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, received the Argus Award for Birmingham Clinical Educator.Created in 1996, the Argus Awards give medical students the chance to honor their mentors, professors, courses and course directors for outstanding service to medical education. Faculty members are nominated by course evaluations, and students vote to select award winners in each category.
Argus Award recipients and nominees were honored at a reception on Friday, Oct. 7 at Children’s Harbor. Click here to view Department of Pediatrics Nominees or here to view the all winners. Click here for photos from the event.
Children's of Alabama Celebrates our Superheroes
October typically ushers in autumn outings and all things pumpkin, but at Children’s of Alabama, it’s all about superheroes. Children’s will again partner with Books-A-Million to kick off its Superhero Month festivities and its “The Power of Children’s” campaign, recognizing patients and staff as real-life superheroes while raising awareness of Children’s impact statewide. The month-long celebration began Sept. 30 with a private superhero meet and greet at the hospital. Patients received capes and masks, and participated in arts and crafts activities. In addition, the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children will be illuminated in blue every night in October in honor of patients and staff. A variety of superhero-themed events – from art activities to a special visit from not-so-average window washers – are scheduled throughout the month. To view the Children's press release, click here.
Pediatric Residency Reunion was a Hit!
Additional thank you to everyone who helped put it on. We had over 200 attendees and 40 classes represented.Thank you to all who attended our FIRST Pediatric Residency Reunion! It was truly unforgettable! Click here to view photos from the reunion.
September New Faculty - Welcome Dr. Cochran!
Christina Cochran, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, joined the UAB Department of Pediatrics on Sept. 1. Dr. Cochran completed her pediatric residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She completed her pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. Dr. Cochran's academic interests include resident education, simulation, and anaphylaxis. Her personal interests include traveling and being outdoors.
Dr. Beierle Selected Among 2016 Women Who Shape the State
Congratulations to Liz Beierle, M.D., Pediatric Surgery, who was selected as one of 2016 Women Who Shape the State by Al.com. More than 100 women were nominated and 29 women were selected for the second annual presentation of this award, which seeks to honor women throughout Alabama. From the UAB School of Medicine, Mona Fouad, M.D., was also honored. Click here to see all awardees.
Dr. Sasser Receives RIME Faculty Development Award
Will Sasser, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, received a 2016 Research and Innovations in Medical Education (RIME) Faculty Development UASOM Award; a program funded by an HSF-GEF grant. The RIME program will provide up to $7,500 funds for one year towards a successful enrollment in the Harvard Macy Institute for Educators in Health Professions program. The project titled, “Preparation for Residency” will enhance the curriculum experience for UASOM students.
Drs. Swinger and Simpson Receive RIME Poster Awards
Research and Innovations in Medical Education (RIME) Week promotes teaching skills, fosters curriculum innovation and showcases scholarship and research findings in medical education for the 21st century. Nathaniel Swinger, M.D., Pediatrics Fellow, and Tina Simpson, M.D., MPH, General Pediatrics, received awards in the category of Medical Education, Research & Innovation. Dr. Swinger's poster presentation was titled "Variable Interval Training for Active Learning." Dr. Simpson's poster was titled, "Cultural Competence: LGBTQ Youth Module."
Dr. Kong Honored by the Women's Fund
Michelle Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, will be recognized by the Women's Fund at an event at Iron City on Oct. 13. Event information here. Dr. Kong will be celebrated among 10 of Birmingham's Smartest Women. Her bio, which highlights her work at Children's, UAB and her nonprofit, KultureCity, can be found here.
Dr. Barnes Appointed as Associate Scientist in the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine
Margaux Barnes, Ph.D., Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, was recently appointed as an Associate Scientist in the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine. The appointment, effective Sept. 1, will work toward advancing exercise science and medicine through innovative and impactful research and training.
Dr. Seifert Receives Angus Cooper Award
Michael Seifert, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology, received an Angus Cooper Award from The Comprehensive Transplant Institute at UAB. His project titled “The injury-repair response in renal allografts with subclinical inflammation” was awarded for one year at an amount of $50,000. Click here for more information.
UAB Center for Teaching and Learning Recognizes Dr. Nicola
Teodora (Thea) Nicola M.D., Ph.D., MBA, Research Scientist in Neonatology, earned at least 100,000 points in the UAB Center for Teaching & Learning certification program. On Thursday, Sept. 22, she was presented with a CTL Teaching Certificate in recognition of her active participation in the program.
Primary Care Practices Improve HPV Vaccination Rates
While fewer than half of Alabama's teens have completed their HPV vaccine series, practices participating in ACHIA's 2016 learning collaborative "Prevent HPV Cancers Today!" delivered dose 1 to 79% of patients and dose 2 or 3 to 94%. The collaborative wrapped up with 13 practices exceeding their goal to increase HPV vaccine delivery by 10% over 3 months. Doctors received Part IV MOC while improving their strong provider message, reliably identifying patients at acute and well child visits, and strengthening reminder/recall systems. Click here for more about ACHIA.