Congratulations Fellowship Class of 2019!
Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2019. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 30th. Please see below where they will be going after completing fellowship training.
Shaundra Blakemore, M.D. - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Heather Choat, M.D. - Pediatric Endocrinology, Private Practice, Dothan, AL
Matt Clark, M.D. - Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Leslie Collins, M.D. - Pediatric Cardiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jacinta Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emory/Children’s Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Courtney Crayne, M.D. - Pediatric Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Kalsang Dolma, M.D. - Neonatology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
Karisa Grizzle, M.D. - Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Neha Gupta, M.D. - Pediatric Critical Care, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
Samantha Hill, M.D., MPH - Adolescent Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Jason Payne, M.D., MSPH - Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Cali Reynolds, M.D. - Allergy and Immunology, Private Practice, Manhattan, NY
Brandon Seay, M.D., MPH - Pediatric Pulmonology/Sleep Medicine, Private Practice, Atlanta, GA
Jennifer Smedley, DO - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Denver, CO
Thanh Summerlin, M.D. - Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Sai Surapa Raju, M.D. - Pediatric Critical Care, Cardiac Critical Care Fellowship, UAB, Birmingham, AL
Saurabh Talathi, M.D., MPH - Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK
Aman Wadhwa, M.D., MSPH - Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lauren Wagner, DO - Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Macon, GA
Hansa Wongprasert, M.D. - Neonatology, Private Practice, Mercy Medical Center, Merced, CA
2019 CHIEF RESIDENTS
John Mark Bouchillon, M.D. - General Pediatrics, Colorado Springs, CO
Robert Sellers, M.D. - General Pediatrics, Birmingham AL
Karlene Walker, M.D. - Fellowship, Behavioral & Development Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Andrea Martin joins Department of Pediatrics as Senior Director of Development
We are excited to welcome Andrea Martin as the Senior Director of Development for Pediatrics. For the last two years, Andrea, in her previous role with the Children’s Foundation, has been partnering with UAB to raise support for the Department of Pediatrics. In her new position, Andrea is now dedicated 100% to our department and pediatric initiatives. Her 15-plus years of development experience with the Children’s Foundation and 11 years at UAB previously, uniquely positions her to take on the task of building philanthropy for our department. This change is a value-add to the great work the Children’s Foundation is already doing for the DOP. You may reach Andrea at amartin@uab.eduor 4-9303 with any development needs.
2019 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program recipients announced
The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the 2019 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program recipients Kristin Deneen and Avery Newcomb.
Kristin Deneen will work on the “Evaluating Care and Outcomes in Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” project in Rheumatology with Emily Smitherman, M.D., Pediatric Rheumatology.
Avery Newcomb will work on the “Cardboard Cot in Neonatal Thermoregulatrion (CCot): A Randomized Crossover Trial” project in Neonatology with Wally Carlo, M.D., Neonatology.
For more information about the Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program, click here.
Announcing 2019 Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) Awards
Children’s of Alabama and the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) are pleased to announce the 2019 awards. The major goal of the KPRI grant program is to allow investigators to obtain data that will advantage applications for additional extramural funding. This will bring new knowledge to the care of children, leverage the investment of the KPRI, and allow projects to be competitive for the very best science on the national stage. A second, but important, goal is to ensure that a dedicated funding source is available to unique segments of the pediatric research, education, and quality improvement enterprise.
This year, two categories of grants were funded: New Investigator Awards, and Established Investigator Awards. All funded applications are directed toward the improvement of child health care. Thank you to all who submitted applications! Congratulations to the following awardees.
New Investigator Awards
Ammar Alishlash, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
Prostacyclin Agonist Therapy for Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Mouse Model
Emily E. Johnston, M.D., MS
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
End-of-Life Care of AL Children with Cancer: Disparities and Parent Priorities
Michael A. Lopez, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Neurology
Smad8 in Dystrophic Muscle Disease & Its Role in MicroRNA Regulation & Disease
Donna L. Murdaugh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
A Longitudinal Pilot Study Examining Neurocognitive Outcomes in Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Before and After a Cognitive Remediation Program
Gabriela R. Oates, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
Technology-Enabled Patient Support System for Self-management of Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis
Swetha G. Pinninti, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Significance of co-infection with CMV and STI’s during pregnancy
Aman Wadhwa, M.D.
Instructor (7/1/2019)
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Body Composition and Adverse Outcomes in Childhood Cancer
Established Investigator Award
Shannon A. Ross, M.D., MSPH
Associate Professor
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Neuroimaging Findings and Hearing Outcome in Asymptomatic Congenital CMV Infection
Dr. Coyne-Beasley nominated to consensus study committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, was nominated and appointed to a consensus study committee on Applying Lessons of Optimal Adolescent Health to Improve Behavioral Outcomes for Youth with the Board on Children, Youth and Families at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). The NASEM received and considered over 180 nominations for this consensus comittee. Congratulations Dr. Coyne-Beasley!
Mary Lynch to receive College of Arts and Sciences' 2019 Dean's Award
Mary Lynch, M.A., Ph.D. student and member of the REACH Lab, was named one of three College of Arts and Sciences' 2019 Dean's Award Graduate recipients. Recipients of this highly competitive award represent the very best that UAB can achieve. This award honors the work and research the students have produced with so much passion, dedication and hard work and recognizes their unique and outstanding academic accomplishments. The outstanding students and Dean’s Award recipients will be honored and recognized at Honors Convocation on Tuesday, April 16 at 4 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Congratulations Mary!
Practical Day of Pediatrics 2019 is a Huge Success
Last Saturday, February 2, the Practical Day of Pediatrics conference returned to the Bradley Lecture Center for the first time in over a decade. More than 70 primary care pediatricians and nurse practitioners from around the state learned about topics relevant to everyday situations seen in their practices. Local pediatricians were surveyed last year to gauge their main areas of interest. The topics included: Red Book Update and Vaccines with David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease; Preventing and Managing Food Allergies with Amy CaJacob, M.D., Pediatric Allergy and Immumology; Endocrine roundtable discussions with Pallavi Iyer, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Puberty – Normal, Early and Delayed), Ambika Ashraf, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Dyslipidemia in Children With and Without Diabetes) and Mary Lauren Scott, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome); Pain Control and Opioid Use Disorder with Garrett Hurst, M.D., UAB Palliative Care; and Functional Neurological Disorders and Functional Pain with Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., UAB Psychology.
Practical Day of Pediatrics is a collaboration of the UAB Department of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama and the Jefferson County Pediatric Society. Members of the organizing committee (pictured) are: Christina Cochran, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine (not pictured), Liesel French, M.D., Community Physician, Brian Dudgeon, M.D., Community Physician, Erinn Schmit, M.D.,Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Adolfo Molina, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Tiffany Kaczorowski, COA Corporate Communications and Bob Pass, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine.
Dr. Ambalavanan receives Endowed Chair in Neonatology
Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., Neonatology, has been named the first recipient of the Virginia Walker Jones Endowed Chair in Neonatology. The chair honors the outstanding contribution of Dr. "Ambal", both locally and nationally, as well as the long-standing service of Virginia Walker Jones to the Children's of Alabama Board of Trustees. Congratulations to Ambal and Walker!
Dr. Landier selected as 2019 Distinguished Alumni of UCLA School of Nursing
Wendy Landier, Ph.D., RN, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2019 UCLA School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Research, Platinum Bruin. Dr. Landier was selected for conducting an outstanding and renowned program of research, and advancing the practice of nursing health and healthcare through scholarly research. Honorees in this category exemplify the highest caliber associated with a UCLA School of Nursing degree and excellence and dedication in the profession. An acceptance ceremony will be held on April 27 in Los Angeles, California at the UCLA Luskin Center.
Dr. Alexander named a Pittman Scholar
Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., Pediatric Neurology, has been selected as Pittman Scholar in the UAB School of Medicine. This esteemed group was created to honor the legacy of Dr. James A. Pittman, Jr., the longest-serving dean in our School’s history. Dr. Pittman was an outstanding physician and scientist, and is also remembered as a lively and energetic teacher and mentor of students and faculty. As a Pittman Scholar, Dr. Alexander will receive funding to support his research or scholarly enrichment. Click here for the other Pittman Scholars.
Congratulations Dr. Alexander!
Dixon Fellowship-Call for Application
The Department of Pediatrics is now seeking applications for the Dixon Fellowship Training Program for the 2019 academic year. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and upon a Review Committee’s analysis of the written application. As part of this prestigious award, recipients benefit from salary support and an additional $5,000 per year discretionary funds to support research and continuing education activities. For the academic year starting in July 2019, we will select up to three candidates who will be starting their second or third year of training. The initial award is for a period of one year with continued support contingent upon annual review of the fellow’s progress.
Applications should be emailed or delivered to Clare Mallette in 5 Dearth Tower, Suite 5606, no later than Friday, April 12, 2018. Scholarship recipients will be announced by the end of May.
Questions? Contact Michele Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care or Clare Mallette.
Deadline: Friday, April 12 | More information
Chu Education Scholarship-Call for Applications
The Pediatric Fellowship office is seeking applications for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship for Fall 2019. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and upon a Review Committee’s analysis of the written application. For the academic year starting in July 2019, one to two candidates will be selected to receive a $5000 scholarship for their chosen educational endeavor.
Applications should be emailed or delivered to Ronda Chandler in the Sergio Stagno Center, 4th Floor Dearth Tower, no later than Friday, April 12, 2019. Scholarship recipients will be announced late May or early June.
Questions? Contact Ann Klasner, M.D. or Ronda Chandler.
Deadline: Friday, April 12 | More information
KPRI Quality and Safety Grants-Call for Application
The major goal of the KPRI quality and safety grant program is to allow teams to identify and address specific quality and safety issues that cannot easily be addressed using existing operational resources or structures. The significance of all efforts must be readily apparent. Priority will be given to applications that align with the priorities established annually by the Quality Improvement Council (QIC). In addition, special consideration will be given to collaborative projects that involve multidisciplinary teams. Up to $50,000 will be committed annually. In general, the first year of funding for each proposal will be for $25,000 or less, but exceptions will be considered based if appropriately justified. Click here for more information about the grant and award process.
Applications for awards must be submitted electronically to mary.aiken@childrensal.org by 4:30 p.m. on April 15. Late applications will not be considered. Applications must comply with a standardized format for the application to be reviewed.
All applications will be reviewed by a Quality Safety Proposal Review committee (QSPR). Awards will be announced after the KPRI meeting on July 1.
Deadline: Monday, April 15 | More information | Application
2019 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program-Call for Applications
Faculty who are interested in mentoring a student on a research project for eight weeks during the summer of 2019, please read on!
First-year UASOM Medical Students with an interest in Pediatrics are encouraged to apply for the 2019 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program, an eight-week summer internship and research program. Based on these applications, two students will be selected and will work with faculty mentors from the Department of Pediatrics.
Faculty mentor responsibilities include:
1) helping the student design a summer research project
2) providing the student with clinical experience.
This may include observation or participation in clinical activities (clinics or hospital rounds) or attendance at educational conferences. Each student will receive $4000; an additional $1000 is available to cover costs of travel to present the research.
Faculty who are interested in mentoring a student for the summer of 2019 should forward the information and application document to the student. Applications must be submitted no later than February 18, 2019. For questions, please contact Clare Mallette, cmallette@peds.uab.edu.
Deadline: February 18, 2019 | Application and Information
January New Faculty
PEDIATRICS WELCOMES TWO NEW FACULTY MEMBERS IN JANUARY 2019
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of January. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Laura McGuinn, M.D., Professor in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Rebekah Savage, M.D., Assistant Professor in Adolescent Medicine
Laura McGuinn, M.D., Professor and director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Dr. McGuinn completed her pediatric residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she was also Ambulatory Chief Resident. She completed her developmental and behavioral pediatrics fellowship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to joining UAB, Dr. McGuinn was an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dr. McGuinn holds the Thomas Lowder Chair in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Her clinical interests include diagnostic evaluation for children with developmental and behavioral concerns such as autism and related neurodevelopmental concerns, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, language and learning disorders, sleep, eating, and elimination issues, parent-child interaction concerns, among others. Her advocacy interests include healthcare systems improvement, bridges out of child and family poverty, and health equity. At UAB, she will be working collaboratively to enhance care processes for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities, as well as creating a medico-legal partnership to support families and children.
Rebekah Savage, M.D., Assistant Professor in Adolescent Medicine, earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Savage completed her pediatric residency at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and an adolescent medicine fellowship at UAB. In addition, Dr. Savage completed a Master’s of Public Health at UAB in Maternal and Child Health. Her research/clinical interests include the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders in adolescents as well as the medical management of eating disorders.
Join us for the Practical Day of Pediatrics!
Saturday, February 2 | 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Bradley Lecture Center
Please join us for the Practical Day of Pediatrics on Saturday, February 2!
Learning objectives include:
1. Reviewing the latest information on prevention and management of important pediatric disorders.
2. Diagnosing and creating a management plan for specific pediatric disorders in a primary care setting.
3. Describing consensus guidelines for specific pediatric diseases.
4. Differentiating when referral to a specialist is necessary for complex pediatric problems.
Registration is $25.
Register here | More information
Dr. Godsey receives the INSPIRE Novice Research Award
Veronica Godsey, M.D., Second Year Fellow-Pediatric Critical Care, was awarded the INSPIRE (International Network for Simulation-based Pediatric Innovation, Research & Education) Novice Research Award. The $10,000 award is given to support investigators with less than 5 years of simulation-based experience. Dr. Godsey’s study is focused on improving nurse-physician communication using communication strategies based on the book Verbal Judo.
Congratulations Dr. Godsey!
Fourth Annual Pediatric Science Day-Call for Abstracts
On Thursday, March 21, 2019, we will celebrate the research efforts of our fellows and residents with our 4th Annual Pediatric Science Day! It is a day to illustrate our research activities and support collaboration between young investigators. All fellows and residents are encouraged to submit an abstract for participation. Topics will focus on research activities and clinical case reports.
We encourage you to utilize the day as an opportunity to present your submission to any upcoming meetings (PAS/SPR, etc.). Additionally, you are welcome to submit an abstract highlighting your work that you may have recently presented at a recent scientific meeting.
Click here for the abstract submission template.
Please send abstract submissions and any questions about the day to Michael Stalvey.
***The deadline for abstract submission is Thursday, January 31, 2019.
More information
Welcome Dr. McGuinn
Welcome to Dr. Laura McGuinn who begins as the director of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics on Monday, January 7. She will also hold the inaugural Thomas H. Lowder Endowed Chair in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and will serve as the new clinical director of the Civitan-Sparks Clinics. Dr. Fred Biasini will continue as the training program director of the Civitan-Sparks Clinics. I want to add my thanks to Dr. Myriam Peralta who has served as the interim division director for the last 18 months.
Dr. McGuinn earned her Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Texas at Austin, and her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, where she completed her residency training as Ambulatory Chief Resident. Dr. McGuinn completed her fellowship in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics as a Subspecialty Fellow in both Neurodevelopmental Disabilities and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She began her academic medical career as a member of the pediatric faculty of the Children’s Hospital of Austin Medical Residency Program, where she served as director of the Developmental Assessment Program and director of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric Clerkship. She joined the staff at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, originally as an assistant professor and then as associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics Section of Developmental – Behavioral Pediatrics.
Dr. McGuinn’s service to developmental and behavioral pediatrics is exemplified by her multiple related roles during her years at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, which included: director of the resident rotation and the ACGME approved and MCHB funded, fellowship program; and leadership roles as director of OK-KIDS Systems Improvement Initiative, co-director of the OK Child Heath Practice Based Research Network, and director of the Sooner SUCCESS Care Coordination Program. Through her leadership roles in medical education, Dr. McGuinn has mentored fellows, residents and students. She has provided service and leadership to Oklahoma Head Start, Oklahoma Children’s Oral Health Coalition and the Oklahoma Autism Workforce Initiative, among many.
Laura’s husband, Bill Wells, M.D., is med-peds trained and will commute between Birmingham and Oklahoma City, where he is a neonatal hospitalist. Her two children will be going to school here in Birmingham. Please join us in giving a very warm welcome to Laura and her family to UAB, COA and Birmingham.
UAB Pediatric Specialists elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Congratulations to the pediatric specialists (listed below) who have been elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society! AOA is a medical professional organization that recognizes and advocates for excellence in scholarship and the highest ideals in the profession of medicine. The official induction ceremony into AOA will be held on March 14th.
Newly Elected Members
Courtney Crayne, M.D., Third Year Fellow- Pediatric Rheumatology
Eunice Dixon, M.D., PGY-3- Pediatric Resident
Michael Barnett, M.D. Palliative Care
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Adolescent Medicine
Shawn Gilbert, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery
Tina Simpson, M.D., Adolescent Medicine
- Dr. Austin invited to participate in the American Psychological Association Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology
- Dr. Monteil wins 2018-2019 Fall Fellow RoundTable/Core Conference Attendance Award
- Dr. Coyne-Beasley featured in new section of Journal of Adolescent Health
- Dr. Casazza awarded Research Voucher and Innovation Award