Department of Pediatrics
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.
C. Vivek Lal, M.D., tenured professor (Oct ‘25) in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named executive in residence of the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE). Lal’s appointment marks the beginning of a partnership between HIIE and the Heersink School of Medicine that will allow both entities an avenue to better serve patients.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to introduce Kimberly Jerkins, a committed staff member of the Pediatric Administration team!
Three psychologists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama were honored for their contributions to psychology at the Alabama Psychological Association Annual Conference.
Early childhood literacy is a vital building block for healthy development and long-term success. Research shows that reading and language deficits can become fixed as early as age two, underscoring the importance of early intervention, especially for premature and sick newborns who face higher risks of neurodevelopmental delays.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to introduce Dayna Cook-Heard, MAEd, a valued staff member of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease UAB Family Clinic! Cook-Heard has been a part of the Department of Pediatrics for 19 years. As Program Manager II, she supports quality management initiatives funded by Ryan White Part B and Part D federal grants while helping to strengthen program accountability and improve patient outcomes.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed seven new faculty members in the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics resident-led groups, Coat of Arms and the Resident Access and Engagement Council, recently partnered to make a difference in Selma, Alabama. Through the third annual Selma School Supplies Drive, they delivered 600 backpacks filled with school essentials to elementary school students in the Selma City School District.
The UAB Department of Pediatrics Staff Wellness and Recognition Council has added Christina Croney, Karimu Morgan, Jalisa Lankford and Ebony Williams as new members in 2025.
The Pediatric Simulation Center at Children’s of Alabama celebrated the training of its 100,000th learner since its founding in 2008, transforming how pediatric providers prepare for emergencies and patient care. This milestone marks a major achievement in the center’s mission to improve outcomes through immersive, hands-on education.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Sarah Novara, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology and David Galloway, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, have been elected as voting members of the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC).
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Aye, M.D. associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, as director of the Developmental Therapeutics (DVL) Program within the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation (BMT) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).