Department of Pediatrics
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics welcomed Patel in the month of November. Please join us in making her feel at home!
Babajide Ojo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, received the Richard J. Grand and John B. Watkins Prize from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) for research exploring how patient-derived “mini-guts” could help predict treatment responses in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Faculty and providers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Neurology and Children’s of Alabama (COA) shared their expertise at the 55th Child Neurology Society Annual Meeting, held Oct. 14–17 in Montréal, Québec, Canada, with preconference sessions on Oct. 13. Their presentations addressed genetic testing, advocacy, neonatal care and advances in diagnosing and treating neurological conditions.
Marjorie Lee White, M.D., M.P.P.M., M.A., and David W. Kimberlin, M.D., in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, have received national awards from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for their contributions to health care simulation and pediatric publishing.
For more than 27 years, Jill Griffin, RN, MSN, has found purpose at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) through work that helps improve health care worldwide. As a research nurse manager in the UAB Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, she guides clinical research studies from development through completion while supporting the teams conducting them.
Samantha Hanna, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, became director of the Alabama Child Health Improvement Alliance (ACHIA) on Sept. 1, 2026, following the retirement of Cason Benton, M.D.
For children living with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, specialized care once meant a long trip to Birmingham. Through a partnership between Children’s of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of South Alabama, families can access follow-up care closer to home with support from a community committed to keeping that care within reach.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics welcomed Murray in the month of October. Please join us in making her feel at home!
Flashing lights, unfamiliar costumes and unexpected sounds can make Halloween overwhelming for children with sensory sensitivities. Preparation and flexibility can help families create a comfortable, enjoyable celebration.
For critically ill newborns, seizures can be difficult to recognize and because effective treatments can reduce brain injury and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, it is important to identify them early. Vivek V. Shukla, M.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, has received national recognition with an R21 award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award funds the study 'Prediction of Risk of Infant Seizures using Machine Learning (PRISM)", which will examine whether artificial intelligence can help identify newborns at risk for seizures before they occur.
Brittany Huynh, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics’ Divisions of Pediatric Rheumatology and Adolescent Medicine, has received a $366,000 mentored career development award from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA)-Arthritis Foundation Grant Program. The three-year award will support her project, “Teratogen-exposed pregnancy and contraceptive use patterns among adolescents and young adults with rheumatic disease.”
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Alyssa Goldman, D.O., PGY-2 resident in the Department of Pediatrics, has been recognized with the Rud Polhill Award for Outstanding Resident in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
Congratulations to the 27 faculty promoted effective October 1, 2026!
Kennon Ulicny, D.O., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics’ Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been named associate program director of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship.
UAB’s new Clinical Trialist Development Program (CTDP) has selected 24 Heersink applicants for its 2026-2027 cohort. The program will provide these candidates with training, mentorship, and salary support to lead industry-sponsored clinical trials. It will also supply them with a 20% protected time allowance, allowing them to dedicate more time to research.
Randy Cron, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been named 2027-28 chair of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Rheumatology Subboard.
Ambika Ashraf, M.D., professor, will be stepping down from her role as Division Director of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, effective September 28, 2026. This decision will allow her to spend more time with family.
Twenty-three Heersink School of Medicine faculty were recognized Sept. 22 for their appointment to endowed chairs and professorships during a special reception.
For the 17th consecutive year, Children’s of Alabama has been ranked among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics welcomed three new faculty members in the month of September. Please join us in making them feel at home!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Children’s of Alabama have been named a Team Telomere Center of Excellence for Telomere Biology Disorders (TBDs). The designation recognizes the institutions’ commitment to providing comprehensive, coordinated care while advancing research, education, collaboration and advocacy for patients and families affected by these rare conditions.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., has been named Executive Vice Chair for Research.
The UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office (LDO) recently recognized 14 individuals in its ninth cohort of Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL). The fall 2026 graduates received their certificates on Sept. 1.
For high school students interested in leadership, health care and making a difference in their communities, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Adolescent Youth Advisory Board (YAB) offers an opportunity to do all three. The program brings together students from Jefferson and Wilcox counties for a unique experience that builds leadership skills, introduces them to careers in health care and empowers them to help shape programs that impact adolescents across Alabama.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Kent Willis, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R03 Small Research Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to study how immune responses early in life may contribute to chronic lung disease later in adulthood. The award provides $222,750 in funding through May 2028.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed twelve new faculty members in the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Between grant applications, manuscript revisions, and managing a research team, working as a scientist can be demanding. On top of these commitments, many researchers are also caring for young children, aging parents, partners, or family members with health challenges. These competing demands can jeopardize years of progress, interrupting research during a narrow and consequential period for publishing, generating preliminary data, and competing for independent funding. The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Caregiving Affected Early-Career Research Scientists (CARES) Intramural Funding Program is helping early-career researchers stay on track by providing “extra hands.”
Taylor Wallen, M.D., an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Surgery, and Krystal Rivera, a Ph.D. candidate, published “Plasma Regulates Homeostatic Pulmonary Endothelial Signaling to Mitigate Vascular Leak Following Polytrauma and Hemorrhagic Shock” as co-first authors in the journal Shock last month.
On February 6, 2026, at the annual State of School address, I outlined an ambitious vision for advancing our research and discovery, clinical care, and medical education missions. This month, I am pleased to share the first of a three-part series highlighting progress in key goals in research and discovery that were shared during the presentation: recruiting exceptional talent, expanding our research portfolio and clinical trials enterprise, and investing in the infrastructure and technologies that fuel scientific innovation.
For the past nine years, Sandy Pilgrom has been a dedicated member of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. As a Patient Services Coordinator II, Pilgrom brings more than 30 years of medical billing revenue cycle experience to her role, including nearly 20 years with the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation (UAHSF).
A multidisciplinary team consisting of University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) physicians and Children's of Alabama respiratory therapists and nurses in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Children's of Alabama has become a national leader in reducing unplanned extubations, demonstrating how sustained teamwork, education and quality improvement can improve outcomes for critically ill children.
As children head back to daycare this school year, many parents are preparing for an inevitable part of the experience: runny noses, coughs and stomach bugs. While frequent illnesses can be frustrating, they are also a normal part of childhood and help strengthen a child’s developing immune system.
The UAB Department of Pediatrics has announced the residents selected as Pediatric Underserved and Global Health (PUGH) Scholars for the 2026-2027 academic year.
After recently stepping down as division director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Neurology, Leon Dure, M.D., professor of pediatric neurology, is beginning a new chapter in his career, with plans to expand his international work while pursuing new approaches to pediatric neurological care closer to home.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize three residents as recipients of the 2025-2026 Best Resident Educator Awards. Presented by the Pediatrics Clerkship, the annual awards recognize residents who make a meaningful impact on medical students through teaching, mentorship and support during their Pediatric Clerkship Rotations.
The Department of Pediatrics is excited to welcome the newest cohort of Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical Education (PRIME) Scholars, a longitudinal program that equips pediatric, Med-Peds, genetics and child neurology residents with the skills to become excellent clinical teachers and medical education leaders. Over the course of their training, these scholars will engage in monthly group discussions, hands-on teaching practice with feedback and mentored education scholarship. Please join us in congratulating our incoming scholars:
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama is expanding access to a promising investigational therapy for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), offering new hope for families affected by the progressive neuromuscular disease.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce that Adolfo Molina, M.D., MSHQS, associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been named the W. Michael Warren Endowed Chair of Improvement Science.
The Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) continues to strengthen pediatric research by providing investigators with the resources needed to transform innovative ideas into nationally competitive research programs and externally funded studies that improve child health.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed five new faculty members in the month of July. Please join us in making them feel at home!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce that Erinn Schmit, M.D., M.Ed., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been named Assistant Program Director of the Pediatric Residency Program.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that six pediatric residents have been selected as the 2026-2027 McDonald Scholars.
A breakfast stop, a routine doctor’s appointment, and dreams of life with twin boys. Within 24 hours, those dreams were transformed into a months-long journey in the UAB RNICU, where grief, hope, and groundbreaking neonatal care intersected.
UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office celebrated the graduation of 18 healthcare leaders from its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership during a ceremony held June 24 at the Heersink Conference Center Lobby.
June is recognized as Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, and this year, the city of Birmingham helped shine a light on a condition that affects millions but is often misunderstood.
Adolfo Molina, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to serve on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Quality Network (PACCQN) Steering Committee.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 Founders’ Fund recipients.
Maria Rueda-Altez, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been appointed to the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Microbiology and Immunology Test Material Development Committee.
For the past year, Emma Nichols, R.N., has served patients and families in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Primary Care Clinic. As a registered nurse with seven years of nursing experience, Nichols provides compassionate care to children while helping families feel informed and supported throughout their visits.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics has named Steven Marchman director of financial research.