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. 

This award was created to honor Walt Johnson, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, for his excellence in teaching and inspiration to all learners from medical students to residents to fellows. The division created this award 

"We as a division love to teach and are always looking for new ways to educate residents, particularly if we can make it fun," explained Camden Hebson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, and the main organizer behind the award's creation. "Every pediatric resident is not able to rotate through cardiology, so this is an effort to reach out to those residents in particular who are not able to teach directly on our rotation. We want our residents to feel as good as possible about pediatric cardiology issues after graduating and think this new contest will help to expand their cardiology education during their training."

The winner will get to wear the Walt “The Rock” Johnson Award for Worthiness in Pediatric Cardiology Belt (pictured above) to show off their achievement to their fellow residents. The first award will be given out in June 2021.