Department of Pediatrics
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.
For many, the story of cancer in recent decades has been one of progress. Survival rates have improved dramatically, new therapies hold incredible promise, and once-deadly diagnoses now come with hope. Yet, as Smita Bhatia, M.D., MPH, director of the UAB Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, and distinguished professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, reminds us, survival is only part of the story. The long-term health and quality of life of survivors require just as much attention—and that’s where the power of lifelong, risk-based care comes in.
When David Kimberlin, M.D., arrived at UAB in 1994, he joined a legacy decades in the making. Drawn by UAB’s expertise in virology, Kimberlin became part of a multi-institutional effort—first called the Collaborative Antiviral Study Group (CASG) and now known as the Congenital and Perinatal Infections Consortium (CPIC)—dedicated to understanding and treating rare viral infections in newborns.
On Friday, November 14, 2025, students from the UAB Heersink School of Medicine gathered to celebrate faculty excellence during the annual Argus Awards Ceremony. Established to recognize outstanding contributions in medical education, the Argus Awards are determined entirely by student nominations and votes, honoring faculty, courses, and course directors who have made a lasting impact throughout the year.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to recognize Jaime McKinney, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Academic General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, for being honored by the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AL-AAP) for her leadership in the Pages Over Pixels campaign.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Anderson Marshall, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, will be joining the Med-Peds Residency Program as an assistant program director as of Nov. 1, 2025.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated seven distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL) program at a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 21. The program, facilitated by Celeste Morgan, Ph.D., CDMS, senior leadership development specialist, is designed to help early-career faculty strengthen their leadership skills, refine their academic identities, and chart clear, sustainable paths toward long-term success.
UAB Medicine’s Leadership Development Office (LDO) celebrated ten distinguished faculty members from the seventh cohort of the LEading, Advancing, Developing (LEAD) at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23. Facilitated by Kellie Carter, Ph.D., senior leadership development specialist, this cohort demonstrated a culture of growing leadership skills and advancing academic impact in the UAB community.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Christy Foster, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, has been elected to membership in the Society for Pediatric Research.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to highlight the Read to Lead Initiative, a community engagement program overseen by Hope Pritchett Wilson, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology.
On Sept. 12, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Pediatric Hospital Medicine hosted the second annual PHM Incubator in the Bradley Lecture Center at Children’s of Alabama.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to highlight Tanner Teat, program coordinator II for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine.
Through hands-on activities, panel discussions, and the inaugural Research Day poster and lightning round competition, UAB Primary Care Week introduced students to the full scope of primary care careers.
Congratulations to the 19 faculty promoted effective October 1, 2025!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Eileen Rife, M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been selected to receive the Emerging Investigator Excellence Award from the American College of Rheumatology.
For the 16th 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 Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Jessica Robinson, M.D., PGY-2 resident in the Department of Pediatrics, has been recognized at the Rutherford Polhill Memorial Grand Rounds with the Rud Polhill Award for Outstanding Resident in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
Ten Heersink School of Medicine staff have been honored with the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the school’s mission through their work in education, service, and research.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Chibuzo Ilonze, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been selected to serve as an ambassador for the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
UAB Heersink School of Medicine students can enjoy a week-long celebration of Primary Care Week from October 6-10, 2025. This event-packed week aims to educate physicians-in-training and students across the health spectrum on the pivotal role of primary care in the health care system.
Suresh Boppana, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, will assume the role of interim co-director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, effective Oct. 1, 2025.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed six new faculty members in the month of September. Please join us in making them feel at home!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Sandeep Gupta, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, has been reappointed editor in chief of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN) and JPGN Reports, two leading journals in the field.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Daniel Feig, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, received the 2025 Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.