Department of Pediatrics
A stroke is often thought of as a condition of adulthood, yet it remains a significant and underrecognized cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Despite being cited among the leading causes of death in children, pediatric stroke is frequently missed or diagnosed late, in part due to its relative rarity, diverse clinical presentations and the unique risk factors that distinguish it from adult stroke. As a result, many children with stroke present outside the narrow window during which acute interventions may be considered, limiting opportunities for therapies that can meaningfully alter neurologic outcomes. In pediatric stroke, as in adult stroke, the principle remains the same: Time is brain.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce leadership changes within the Division of Pediatric Critical Care effective May 1, 2026.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics announces with great pleasure the appointment of Chrystal Rutledge, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, as associate division director, effective May 1, 2026.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Randy Q. Cron, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Section on Rheumatology (SORh) within the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Ariel Salas, M.D., MSPH, associate professor in the Division of Neonatology, along with his research team, has secured a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute R34 award totaling $654,330 over three years.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Hope P. Wilson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and founding director of the Pediatric Thrombosis Program, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health K23 Career Development Award totaling approximately $944,000 over five years.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that David Taylor, M.D., first-year fellow in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been selected as the inaugural Children’s of Alabama Global Health Fellow Scholar, beginning in July 2026.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics announces with great pleasure the appointment of Kathryn Lalor, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, as division director, effective May 4, 2026.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize Melinda D. Chance, M.D., third-year pediatric fellow in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, for being selected as a recipient of the American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award at the ASH Annual Meeting in December 2025.
Shea Duerring, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been appointed by the Secretary of Transportation to serve on the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).
For more than a decade, Geeta Chhabra has supported research efforts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. As a Research Grants Manager, Chhabra works closely with faculty and staff to ensure grant submissions are accurate, timely and compliant.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics welcomes a new faculty member in the month of April. Please join us in making them feel at home!
William Harris, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine.
When Babajide Ojo, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, was completing his doctoral degree at Oklahoma State University, one of his peers had a child with Crohn’s disease. Ojo was so struck by the burden of the condition and its treatment on the child and his classmate, who eventually had to drop out of the program, that he decided his research must focus on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.
What began as a way to bring pediatric residents together outside the hospital has grown into one of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics’ longest-running traditions. Now celebrating its 20th year, the Spring Scramble 5K continues to bring together residents, faculty and community members in support of children and families across Birmingham and beyond.
In 2025, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, in collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, expanded care, training and research for children with developmental and behavioral challenges.
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama has been named the 2026 recipient of the Patient Safety First Award from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, recognizing its work to reduce unplanned extubations and advance patient safety.
Scott James, M.D., associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been appointed Treasurer of the Council of Pediatric Subspecialties Executive Committee (CoPS).
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics would like to introduce the 2025 Department of Pediatrics Staff Recognition Awards. These awards were created to honor staff members throughout the department for their contribution and commitment to the department's mission. Our staff are essential to making our department run, and this is an opportunity to show our appreciation.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that James Odum, M.D., MEd, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, has received the 7th Steven R. Alexander Best Pediatric Abstract Award at the national Acute Kidney Injury & Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (AKI & CRRT) conference in San Diego, California.
UAB Medicine's Leadership Development Office (LDO) recently celebrated the graduation of a group of clinical and operational leaders who successfully completed the High Performing Care Collaborative (HPCC) program. This initiative brings together functional leadership teams from across the institution to strengthen collaboration, enhance performance, and drive meaningful improvements in patient care and operations.
As part of UAB Giving Days, Mini Medical School is one of four featured projects highlighting how UAB is investing in the future. Led by two Birmingham City Schools alumni, this hands-on program introduces middle school students to healthcare careers—and shows how Giving Days support can help inspire the next generation of healers.
In an effort to strengthen clinical operations leadership and develop system-level capacity for continuous improvement, Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics introduced the Excellence Through Partnership program, a strategic leadership model designed to align medical and nursing leadership. The program formally launched in July 2024 and now enters it’s second full year.
The Glenn family has turned their personal experience into purpose through Stryker Strong, a family-led foundation dedicated to raising awareness for rare genetic conditions and supporting children with complex medical needs.
For more than nine years, Elizabeth Alfano has helped support the daily operations of the Division of Academic General Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. As an Administrative Office Specialist IV, Alfano plays a key role in coordinating schedules, maintaining important clinic resources and supporting the teams who care for patients and families.
Cancer treatment, while lifesaving, often comes with a wide range of physical, emotional and social challenges for young patients. Pediatric cancer survivors may face long-term effects from their treatments, impacting everything from mobility and strength to cognitive function and emotional well-being. To address these challenges, Kelli Chaviano, D.O., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, developed the Integrative Cancer Rehabilitation service line (I CAN Rehab) to provide comprehensive rehabilitation support throughout the cancer care continuum.
For families of children with disabilities, accessing health care often means navigating complex systems while managing significant caregiving demands. As more children with complex medical needs require coordinated, long-term care, reducing barriers and wait times has become increasingly important. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, two pediatric faculty members are working to address these challenges by combining clinical care with advocacy, education and system-level change.
Elizabeth Proezna, M.D., PGY-3, and Rafaella Navarro Hoyos, M.D., PGY-2, in the UAB Department of Pediatrics, spent two weeks in Peru and realized a medical truth widely sought after in the UAB community. They learned that sometimes the most powerful medicine isn't just in the treatment, it's in a spirit of collaboration that can cross distance and borders.
After more than 25 years at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and nearly a decade with the UAB Department of Pediatrics, Cathy Turner, MSHA, CPA, CGMA, is retiring as executive administrator, concluding a career defined by steady leadership, operational strength and an unwavering commitment to the people who power pediatrics.
A national study led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is helping explain why some childhood cancer survivors develop new cancers years after their original treatment. The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that inherited genetic changes can greatly increase the chance of developing a second cancer later in life.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can happen unexpectedly, affecting children, teens and adults who may seem healthy just moments before collapsing. Through patient care, education and statewide partnerships, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama are working to improve awareness and preparedness across Alabama.
After nearly three decades of leadership, Carl Coghill, M.D., professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, will step down as medical director of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s of Alabama as he prepares for retirement in May 2026. Stepping into the role is Allison Black, M.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, who previously served as associate medical director.
For the past three years, Jalisa Lankford has been a steady and motivating presence within the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, serving as an administrative supervisor who balances leadership, efficiency and compassion in a fast-paced clinical environment.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been awarded a $149,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research focused on a rare neuromuscular disease.
For more than five decades, Richard Whitley, M.D., distinguished professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has helped shape not only the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics, but the field of pediatric infectious diseases on a global scale.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office would like to welcome 19 individuals in its 12th cohort of the Institute for Leadership in the spring of 2026. The goal of the UAB Medicine Institute for Leadership is to enhance existing personal, leadership, and management competencies while leveraging current leadership strategies and trends. The 6-month program features guest speakers from executive-level leadership positions at UAB, including former graduates of the Institute for Leadership.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Daniel Cooper, M.D., resident in the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program, has been selected as the 2026-2027 Med-Peds Chief Resident.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Samantha Weaver, DNP, CRNP, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been appointed co-director of Children’s of Alabama’s Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinic.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Elizabeth Sullivan-Ingram, D.O., fellow in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, has received the Pediatric Fellow Attendance Award.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize Scott Turner, DNP, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, on his election as a Fellow of the American Headache Society (AHS).
For many families, an autism diagnosis is the gateway to critical early support such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and applied behavior analysis. That diagnosis is guided by criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), the nationally recognized framework clinicians use to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2025 Pediatric Health Services Foundation (HSF) Clinical Program Development Grant. These grants support innovative, multidisciplinary initiatives designed to enhance pediatric care, strengthen clinical programs and improve outcomes for children and families.
2025 marks 80 years of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a milestone that reflects decades of advancement in clinical care, research and education. What began in 1945 as a small academic unit with a local focus has grown into a statewide leader shaped by a longstanding partnership with Children’s of Alabama. Across eight decades, faculty, staff and trainees have contributed to this growth and helped define the department’s mission.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to highlight Ginger Glover, Pediatrics Third Party Follow-Up Representative with the Department of Pediatrics Billing team.
Our Pediatric Subspecialty Programs recently completed their match for fellows beginning July 2026. Congratulations to all of our incoming fellows!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize Olawale Oduru, M.D., fellow in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, for earning one of the most competitive honors in his field. Oduru has been awarded the 2026–2027 Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship Grant from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), the leading organization dedicated to improving digestive health in infants, children and adolescents through clinical care, research and education. The grant is awarded to one individual each year after a rigorous national review process.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize Saskia D’Sa, M.B.B.S., fellow in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, for receiving the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition’s ASPEN26 Travel Award for Pediatric GI Fellows.
On Thursday, Nov. 20., the Heersink School of Medicine honored 20 faculty members at the Fall 2025 Endowed Chairs and Professorships Reception. This event recognizes Heersink faculty who have made major contributions to research, education, and clinical care.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) honored 33 graduates of the Emerging Leaders Series (ELS) fall 2025 Cohort 4 during a ceremony held on Thursday, Nov. 12. The cohort completed a multi-session program designed to strengthen leadership capability for emerging leaders across the enterprise.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to highlight Rhiannon Jennings, registered nurse with the Department of Pediatrics Primary Care Clinic.