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Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been elected to the Jefferson County Board of Health. The board has six members, five physicians and the President of the Jefferson County Commission. One physician is elected each year by the members of the Jefferson County Medical Society for a five year term. Dr. Walley will serve as the board secretary as the newest member.

Congratulations Dr. Walley!

Our Pediatric Subspecialty Programs recently completed their match for fellows beginning July 2020. Congratulations to all of our incoming fellows! Click on the link for list of incoming fellows.

Adolescent Medicine

Charisse Graham, M.D.                    
Residency: Morehouse

Allergy/Immunology 

Reena Patel, D.O.                            
Residency: Palm Beach Consortium for Graduate Medical Education

Cardiac Critical Care

Veronica Godsey, M.D.                    
UAB Pediatric Critical Care Fellow

Critical Care

Luke Burton, M.D.                           
Residency: Greenville Health System
                                
Ananya Manchikalapati, M.D.          
Residency: Icahn SOM at Mount Sinai

Emergency Medicine

Reid Burks, M.D.                          
Residency: UAB         

Keven Gutermuth, M.D.                  
Residency: UAB

Mickinzie Morgan, MD                 
Residency: Texas Tech Health Sciences Center

Endocrinology

Heath Pelham, M.D.                       
Residency: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Whitney Smith, M.D., Ph.D.              
Residency: University of Mississippi

Gastroenterology

Gabriel Lugo, M.D.                          
Residency: UAB

Ana Coronado Reyna, M.D.              
Residency: State University of New York, Brooklyn

Hematology/Oncology

Elizabeth Gunn, M.D.                      
Residency: Carolinas Medical Center
               
Abbey Rocco, M.D.                          
Residency: St. Louis University

Hospice and Palliative Medicine (Peds)

Laurie Jacobs, M.D.                       
Residency: UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Hospital Medicine

Michelle Duplantier, MD              
Residency: Louisiana State University

Meenu Sharma, D.O.                       
Residency: Memorial Health University Medical Center of Savannah

Infectious Diseases

Ayesha Ahmed, MBBS                   
Residency: UAB

Neonatology

Jacqueline Razzaghy, M.D.               
Residency: Greenville Health System

Lucy Weaver, M.D.                          
Residency: UAB

Zaki Yazdi, M.D.                               
Residency: Medical University of South Carolina

Nephrology

Kyle Deville, M.D.                           
Residency: UAB

Pulmonology

Kyle Bliton, M.D.                             
Residency: UAB

Rheumatology

Daniel Reiff, M.D.                            
Residency: UAB

Sleep Medicine (Peds)

Anthony Staples, M.D.                     
Residency: Cleveland Clinic (Child Neuro)

Congratulations to the following pediatric faculty on being elected to the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) membership. 

• Jennifer Guimbellot, M.D. - Pediatric Pulmonology

• Tom Harris, M.D. - Pediatric Pulmonology

• Emily Johnston, M.D. - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

• Vivek Lal, M.D. - Neonatology

• Donna Murdaugh, Ph.D. - Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

• Gabriela R. Oates, Ph.D. - Pediatric Pulmonology

The mission of the Society for Pediatric Research is to create a network of multidisciplinary researchers to improve child health. 

The Pediatric Emergency Department presented Augustin Cardenas, M.D., Radiology, with the Friend of the ED Award. Dr. Cardenas was selected for this award for his commitment to the care of children in the Children's of Alabama Emergency Department. The Friend of the ED Award is given annually to an individual who goes above and beyond for patients in the pediatric emergency department.

Congratulations Dr. Cardenas!

Jennifer Guimbellot, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonology, and Emily Johnston, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, have been selected for the inaugural class of the Children's of Alabama (COA) Scholars Program. The COA Scholars Program was created to acknowledge and support the academic efforts of junior faculty in the Department of Pediatrics. This program is provides funding to support academic and scholarly enrichment activities of the faculty selected for the program. 

Congratulations Drs. Guimbellot and Johnston!

Anna Hoppmann, M.D., Second Year Fellow-Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been selected as the T32 post-doctoral trainee candidate for the Cancer Control and Prevention Training Program (CPCTP) at UAB. The goal of the UAB CPCTP is to train future cancer prevention and control researchers in cancer prevention (including epidemiology, chemoprevention and behavioral science), cancer early detection and cancer outcomes, survivorship and palliative care. Trainees participate in a specialized curriculum based on their disciplinary and research interests. 

Dr. Hoppmann plans to research outcomes in underserved populations. "Many children in Alabama live in medically underserved areas that lack access to primary care and are physically distant from pediatric subspecialty care," said Dr. Hoppmann. Through the T32 Training Program, I will investigate how living in an underserved area impacts outcomes for pediatric patients with cancer. My greatest hope is that this research will lead to interventions to improve outcomes for our oncology patients statewide." She will begin her training in January 2020. 

Congratulations Dr. Hoppmann!

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of November.

Andrea Kane, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Austin Kane, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology

Andrea Kane, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology, earned her medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Kane completed her pediatric residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL and completed her neonatology fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Prior to joining UAB, she was a neonatology attending at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, WA.  

Austin Kane, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology, earned his medical degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. Dr. Kane completed his pediatric residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. He completed a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA and an additional fellowship in pediatric and congenital electrophysiology. Prior to joining UAB, he a pediatric and congenital electrophysiology attending at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Spokane, WA.

Pictured (L-R): Drs. Shannon Ross, Ricardo Franco and Sonya HeathShannon Ross, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, along with members of the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases, participated in The Big Idea Infectious Diseases/HIV Education and Advocacy Day in Washington, DC in Oct. 2019. This advocacy day, in conjunction with IDWeek 2019, provided ID and HIV physicians and other health care providers the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to educate them on federal programs critical to preventing and treating infectious diseases and HIV and improving public health in the U.S. and globally. 

Tina Simpson, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, has accepted the position of vice-chair for Faculty Development in the Department of Pediatrics (DOP). Dr. Simpson currently serves as the director of the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) in the DOP and will continue in this role. Through her work in the OFD, Dr. Simpson has helped clinicians, educators and research faculty and also addressed the broad issues of engagement and advancement for all faculty in a meaningful way. As a recognition of her efforts and the fact that she is already relied on for critical advice on a wide range of issues, Dr. Mitch Cohen, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, asked her to become a vice-chair. "Faculty development is important and deserves a voice and a seat at the table and I can think of no one better than Tina to have that seat and that voice," said Dr. Cohen. "I am thrilled she will be taking on this new role."

Congratulations Dr. Simpson!

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to honor these faculty members. They have attained a level of excellence recognized by their peers due to their exceptional contributions for the development of the department and in turn, the achievers of tomorrow - our children.

Please join us in congratulating the winners in each category.

2019 DOP Faculty Achievement Awards

Community Educator Award

Vera Egorshin, M.D.
Jefferson County Department Of Health

Research Achievement Award

Senior
Randy Cron, M.D.
Pediatric Rheumatology

Junior
Vivek Lal, M.D.
Neonatology

Diversity And Inclusion Award

Brian Sims, M.D.
Neonatology

Educational Achievement Award

Senior
Ann Klasner, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Junior
Sarah Novara, M.D.
Pediatric Neurology

Service Achievement Award

Senior
Joe Chewning, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Junior
Erin Swanson, M.D.
Pediatric Rehab Medicine

Mentoring Achievement Award

David Bernard, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Model of Team Excellence Award

Division Of Pediatric Nephrology- Drs. David Askenazi, Erica Bjornstad, Sahar Fathallah-Shaykh, Daniel Feig, Michael Seifert, and Tennille Webb.

Lifetime Achievement Award in Pediatric Healthcare

Carden Johnston, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Tom Howard, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Members of the TECaN executive council with Dr. Lilly Lou, chair-elect, SoNPM on the far right front row and Dr. John Zupancic, past chair, on the back rowAnisha Bhatia Attawala, M.D., Third Year Fellow, Neonatology, had a very successful experience at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Convention and Exhibition (NCE). As part of her role as membership chair and District 10 representative for Trainees and Early Career Neonatologists (TECaN), a subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, she took part in an exciting meeting at where TECaN received recognition from leaders from the Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SoNPM) for the productivity of the group from their recent #NavigatingNAS campaign, a year-long educational campaign focused on neonatal abstinence syndrome. Dr. Attawala helped develop a section of the program and created the informational video. The attached photos show. 

Dr. Attawala also organized a travel grant competition for this meeting generously sponsored through Abbott nutrition for TECaN members attending NCE. We were able to support 10 recipients. She also presented a poster at NCE for my project entitled "Donor Breast Milk Improves Feeding Tolerance in Infants with Critical Congenital Heart Disease."

Vivek Lal, M.D., Neonatology, recently completed the Young Physician​s Leadership Alliance (YPLA). The YPLA is a three-year training program presented by the Section on Early Career Physicians of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is designed to develop leadership skills and establish a network of ambitious early career pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists. The program uses interactive forums and small group coaching with expert faculty to guide participants through an exploration of their own leadership capacity, learning about leadership principles, behaviors, and tools that can help them achieve their personal and professional goals.

Congratulations Dr. Lal!

Teresa Magruder, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonology, and Peter Weiser, M.D., Pediatric Rheumatology, have been named among Birmingham Parent's Favorite Kids' Docs 2019. Doctors were nominated by Birmingham Parent readers for providing the best care for their children. They will be recognized along with other honorees in the December issue of Birmingham Parent.

Below is a list of the other pediatricians from Children's of Alabama practices that were also honored. 

Dr. Charlotte Prejean
Dr. Phillip Harmon
Dr. Jamie Powell
Dr. Daniel Carter
Dr. Brian Dudgeon
Dr. Nicholas Smith
Dr. Angela Redmond
Dr. Betsy Crum
Dr. Toren Anderson
Dr. John Cortopassi
Dr. Julia Stewart
Dr. Abby Allen
Dr. Audie Woolley
Dr. Elizabeth Irons
Dr. Stacey Gilbert
Dr. Joseph Jolly
Dr. Garland Youngblood
Dr. Richard Stone
Dr. Diane Dietline
Dr. Judy Habeeb
Dr. Julie Dennis

Each year the Pediatric Residency Program organizes the Coat of Arms 5K Spring Scramble to support a cause selected by the residents - such as Reach Out and Read, Healthy Active Living, and Weight Management. Spring Scramble 2019 was held May 12, 2019 at Railroad Park. This year's race beneficiary was Children's Harbor, specifically Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin, which provides children with serious illnesses and their families a place to have fun and relax. Proceeds from the race were used to purchase two water dispensers that were placed on the two sides of the camp for campers to have easy access to fresh water. We are so delighted that this initiative was met with such excitement by the Children’s Harbor!

The UAB Pediatric Primary Care Clinic (PCC) and Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) have joined forces to improve the patient experience. “We are excited about this collaborative effort to improve our patient’s access to medical care outside of normal office hours,” said Candice Dye, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, Medical Director of Pediatric Primary Care Clinic.

This collaboration began with a mutual goal as the PCC and JCDH both strive to achieve Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) certification.

Extended hours are a core component to PCMH certification. Our practices recognize that patients’ care needs are not confined to normal operating hours. Offering appointments outside typical business hours not only gives patients greater access to care, but it also provides a cost-effective option in today’s current health system where we need to use resources more judiciously. In an effort to work together to address this challenge, the PCC and JCDH have entered into a joint venture in an extended hour model starting in November where we will see each other’s patients two evenings a week, from 5:00-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Extended hours are by appointment only and available to established patients by utilizing the usual phone coverage for their own primary care practice and then being directed to the designated site. This new collaboration not only helps us achieve PCMH certification, but more importantly, it offers a much needed resource to our patients and families.

The PCC is also accepting new patients. For appointments, call 205-638-9096. To find out more, please visit our website.

Terry Wall, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, was accepted into the Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Center at Harvard University. The two-week intensive course is hosted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Wall attended the course October 13-25 in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers is designed to serve a wide array of physician leaders and provides the opportunity to study critical leadership and management issues faced by physicians in administrative positions and academic health centers.

Michele Nichols, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine, will receive the 2020 Pediatric Educator Award from the Southern Society for Pediatric Research (SSPR). According to the SSPR nominating committee, this award recognizes an outstanding pediatric educator in pediatric medicine who is widely recognized for their stimulation of pre- and post-doctoral students in the care of children, contributed to the development and administration of programs and curricula for pediatric learners and parents, and recognized as a role model as a pediatric educator. Dr. Nichols will receive this award at the 2020 SSPR Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana February 13, 2020. 

Congratulations Dr. Nichols!

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of October. 

Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Khalisa Syeda, D.O., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology

Shaundra Blakemore, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, earned her medical degree and completed both her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. Her research/clinical interests include management of sickle cell pain crisis in the pediatric emergency department and simulation. 

Khalisa Syeda, D.O., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiology, earned her medical degree at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Syeda completed her pediatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois and her pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas.

This year, Christmas and New Year’s Day occur on Wednesdays and are designated holidays. In addition to Dec. 25, 2019 and Jan. 1, 2020, President Ray Watts and Health System CEO Will Ferniany have decided to observe additional holidays to provide employees additional time to spend with their families and friends. We will also follow this lead in the Department of Pediatrics, however, DOP clinics will be OPEN on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019 to serve our patients. Please see below how this will impact your Workgroup. If you are not sure which Workgroup you are a part of, visit the UAB Workforce Assignment website for more information. 

• Workgroup C: Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 will be designated holidays for staff in Workgroup C. The Kirklin Clinic and other ambulatory clinics, e.g. Children’s of Alabama Clinics, will be open Dec. 23, and staff with clinical and patient care responsibilities will be needed to care for those patients. UAB Department of Pediatrics ambulatory clinics at COA will also be open on Dec. 23.

• Workgroup F (Faculty): Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 will be designated holidays for faculty in Workgroup F. Faculty with clinical responsibilities should consult with their leadership.  Clinics will be open.

• Workgroup A: Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 will be designated holidays for staff in Workgroup A.

Erinn Schmit, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, named the new director of Children's of Alabama/UAB Pediatric Medical Grand Rounds. Dr. Schmit began her new role in October 2019. 

​​​​Dr. Schmit is an assistant professor in the UAB Department of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine and an adjunct faculty for Meharry Medical College. She completed her residency and fellowship training at UAB. She will be completing her Master of Education degree from the University of Cincinnati in December 2019. Dr. Schmit has served in many leadership roles in the Department of Pediatrics including chief resident, assistant program director for the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program and chair of COA’s Safe Sleep Task Force. "We are excited to see the educational opportunities she brings to our grand rounds audience," said Dr. Brad Troxler, chair of CME at Children's of Alabama/UAB.