June 30, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Huntsville Family Medicine Residency Program was selected as a recipient of a 2010 American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (AAFP) Pfizer Immunization Award, in the category of best practices.

These awards recognize family medicine residency programs that have achieved high or improved immunization rates, or are implementing a system to increase childhood immunizations in medically underserved children ages 19-35 months. 

The program received a $10,000 monetary award and a $1,000 scholarship to send a resident to the 2010 AAFP National Conference for Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students, July 29-31, in Kansas City.

The Huntsville family medicine program also received a $10,000 grant last year from AAFP to implement the program. The Family Medicine Center created education packets for parents of patients up to 18 months old, consisting of colorful booklets listing benefits of immunization along with risks, precautions and side effects.

All physicians, as well as patient-care and teaching areas, received child and adult immunization schedules, and medical staff also received regular updates and education.

The center also sent postcards to parents of children with missing immunizations and held an immunization clinic to encourage visits.

About the UAB Huntsville Family Medicine Residency Program

More than 25 percent of the family physicians who have trained in Alabama are graduates of the Huntsville residency program, the state's first family practice residency. Since admitting its first resident in November 1973, the program has prepared selected young physicians for careers of medical services to their communities. This family practice residency is the only residency program of any kind in the entire North Alabama area.