Dr. Ashraf appointed to American Board of Pediatrics Subboard of Pediatric Endocrinology
Ambika Ashraf, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, has been invited to join the American Board of Pediarics Subboard of Pediatric Endocrinology for a six-year term beginning January 1, 2019. The subboard is responsible for developing the initial certifying, MOC, MOCA-Peds and SITE examinations, ensuring each exam is comprehensive, fair, reliable and valid.
October New Faculty
PEDIATRICS WELCOMES TWO NEW FACULTY MEMBERS IN OCTOBER 2018
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes two new faculty members during the month of October. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Katie Grisanti, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Kimberlly Stringer, M.D., MPH, Associate Professor in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Katie Grisanti, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, earned her medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Grisanti completed her combined internal medicine/pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and allergy and immunology fellowship at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Kimberlly Stringer, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Professor in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Stringer completed her pediatric residency at Texas Tech Health Science Center in Lubbock, Texas and developmental-behavioral pediatrics fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, she also completed a Master of Public Health at UAB. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Stringer worked at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Her research/clinical interests include improving patient assess to developmental-behavioral pediatric services including telehealth services, implementation of developmental screening in childcare centers, using practice transformation to improve developmental and behavioral screenings in primary care practices and studying developmental outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.
Children's of Alabama celebrates creation of new endowed chairs and new chair holders
New Endowed Chairs
Ralph Froshin, Jr. Chair
Susan Nabers Haskell Chair
Virginia Walker Jones Chair
Philippe W. Lathrop Chair
L. Gwaltney McCollum, Jr. Chair
Benjamin Russell Chair
New Chair Holders
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D.- Derrol Dawkins, M.D., Chair in Adolescent Medicine
Jennifer Dollar, M.D.- Susan Nabers Haskell Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology
Skip Gilbert, M.D.- L. Gwaltney McCollum, Jr. Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Laura McGuinn, M.D.- Thomas H. Lowder Chair in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Nancy Tofil, M.D.- Ann Dial McMillan Chair in Pediatric Critical Care
Terry Wall, M.D.- John W. Benton Chair in General Pediatrics 
Children’s of Alabama (COA) provides generous and meaningful support to the pediatric enterprise in many ways. In particular, with the creation of six new chairs this year, COA now supports 26 endowed chairs for the pediatric enterprise. These chairs honor long serving members of the Board of Trustees (23) or physicians (3) who have served the pediatric enterprise. They are a wonderful way to honor the legacies of these important people. In addition, they provide support for faculty and are key differentiators in recruiting and retaining faculty in the Department of Pediatrics and other departments at COA. Congratulations to the longstanding board members and the new chair holders!
September New Faculty
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Terry Bierd, M.D., Associate Professor in Neonatology, earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Beird completed her internship and pediatric residency at the University of South Alabama Medical Center and a neonatology fellowship at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. After completing her training, Dr. Beird worked as a neonatologist at Brookwood Medical Center and served as the medical director of the NICU at St. Vincent's Hospital before working with Newborn Care, P.C. in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Dean Bruce, M.D., Associate Professor in Neonatology, earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio. Dr. Bruce completed his internship and pediatric residency at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky and completed his neonatology fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. After completing his training, he served as the director of Neonatal Followup and Neonatal Intensive Care at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia. He then joined Newborn Care, P.C. as a neonatologist before becoming the medical director of the NICU at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Professor in Adolescent Medicine, earned her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Coyne-Beasley completed her internal medicine/pediatric residency at Duke University Medical Center and her clinical scholars fellowship at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition, she received a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Coyne-Beasley was previously a Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Director of the North Carolina Child Health Research Network, and Director of Adolescent Medicine Education in the Department of Pediatrics in the UNC School of Medicine. Dr. Coyne-Beasley joins UAB Pediatrics as the division director of Adolescent Medicine and vice-chair of Community Engagement. Her research/clinical interests include: sexual and reproductive health and injury prevention.
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Stewart Hill, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hospital Medicine and Academic General Pediatrics, earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Dr. Hill completed his pediatric residency at Louisiana State University/Children's Hospital of New Orleans. From 2013-2017 he was a general pediatrician with Children's of Alabama in Pell City. This past academic year, he was an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hospital Medicine with the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
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Lydia Marcus, M.D., Instructor in Pediatric Neurology, earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Marcus completed her child neurology residency at UAB and is currently training in a neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis fellowship at UAB. Her research/clinical interests include neuroimmunology, pediatric multiple sclerosis and autoimmune encephalitis.
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Laura "Katie" Metrock, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Metrock completed her pediatric residency, pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship and pediatric neuro-oncology fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She additionally completed a certificate program in translational research at Emory University. Dr. Metrock was previously a pediatric hematology/oncology junior faculty member at Emory Univeristy.
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Susan Powell, M.D., Assistant Professor in Academic General Pediatrics, earned her medical degree and completed her pediatric residency from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Upon completing her residency, Dr. Powell has practiced general pediatrics in various private practices in Houston, Texas and San Francisco, California. She worked in the urgent care clinic of the emergency room at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas for 12 years, ultimately serving as the assistant director of the clinic. Dr. Powell was a founding physician of MacArthur Pediatrics in Irving, Texas.
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Hope Pritchett Wilson, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. Wilson completed her pediatric residency and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship trainings at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center/Children’s Hospital of New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her research/clinical interests include: disorders of hemostasis and thrombosis.Department and faculty win Argus Awards
Congratulations to the Department of Pediatrics and Hussein Abdullatif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, on their Argus Awards! Dr. Abdullatif was the winner of the Caduceus Club Award for Excellence in Clinical Education on the Birmingham Campus. The Department of Pediatrics won the Caduceus Club Award for Best Clinical Department on the Birmingham Campus. Pediatrics also won for Best Clinical Department: Tuscaloosa Campus. The winners were announced at a reception honoring recipients and nominees on Friday, September 7 at the UAB Alumni House.
The Argus Awards were created in 1996 to give medical students a chance to honor their mentors, professors, courses and course directors for outstanding service to medical education. Faculty member are nominated by course evaluations and winners are voted on by students.
Click here for full list of winners
Four faculty members accepted into UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy
Congratulations to Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., Neonatology, Tina Simpson, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, Michael Stalvey, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology and Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, on being accepted into the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA). The HLA is a collaboration between the Collat School of Business and the School of Medicine. The program offers training opportunities and develops leadership skills essential to academic healthcare. 24 members were accepted into the academy for the 2018-2019 class and represent a well-balanced and diverse group. The program will begin in October 2018 and conclude in May 2019.
Pediatric Faculty Promotions 2018
Congratulations to our faculty being promoted effective October 1, 2018!
Faculty Promotions
Allison Black, M.D., Neonatology - Associate Professor
Santiago Borasino, M.D., Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care - Professor
Drew Davis, M.D., Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine - Professor
Candice Dye, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics - Associate Professor
Ana Xavier, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Associate Professor
Wynton Hoover, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine - Professor
Matthew Kutny, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Associate Professor
Lauren Nassetta, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine - Associate Professor
Christopher Pruitt, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Associate Professor
Mary Lauren Scott, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology - Associate Professor
Michael Seifert, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology - Associate Professor
Janaina Nogueria, M.D., Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition - Associate Professor
Isabel Virella-Lowell, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine - Professor
Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine - Professor
Marjorie White, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Professor
Motivational Interviewing Workshop-October 26
Friday, October 26 | 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Birmingham Botanical Gardens Auditorium The Leadership Education in MCH Nutrition presents the Motivational Interviewing Workshop. The goals of the workshop include introducing the basic skills of Motivational Interviewing as well as new concepts for the evidence-based practice. More information can be found here.
Please contact Julia Burke with any question.
August New Faculty Members
The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes eleven new faculty members during the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!
Nitin Arora, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Ahmed Asfari, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care
Jamie Aye, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Teresa Cornelius, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Madhura Hallman, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Critical Care
Angela King, M.D., Instructor in Academic General Pediatrics
Han Phan, M.D., Associate Professor in Pediatric Neurology
Claudette Poole, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Infectious Disease
Emily Smitherman, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Rheumatology
Christine Stoops, D.O., Assistant Professor in Neonatology
Scott Turner, DNP, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology
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Nitin Arora, M.D., Assistant Professor in Neonatology, earned his medical degree from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College in Bangalore, India. Dr. Arora completed his pediatric residency at West Virignia University Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia and neonatal/perinatal fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In addition, he received a Master of Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2008.
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Ahmed Asfari, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, earned his medical degree from University of Aleppo Faculty of Medicine in Aleppo, Syria. Dr. Asfari completed his pediatric residency at University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita, Kansas where he was also a chief resident. He completed his pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science in Little Rock, Arkansas and an advanced cardiovascular critical care fellowship at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. His research/clinical interests include: mechanical circulatory support/ clinical and translational research.
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Jamie Aye, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology Oncology, earned her medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine. Dr. Aye completed her pediatric residency at the University of South Carolina/Palmetto Health Richland and her pediatric hematology oncology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research/clinical interests focus on improving the outcomes of patients with solid tumors.
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Teresa Cornelius, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hospital Medicine, earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Cornelius completed her combined medicine/pediatric residency at UAB. In addition, she received a Master of Public Health from UAB.
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Madhura Hallman, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Critical Care, earned her medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Hallman completed her pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and her pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tennessee. Her research/clinical interests include: long-term functional and neuropsychological outcomes in PICU survivors, ICU follow-up models, mentorship of residents and fellows, and health disparities in critical care.
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Angela King, M.D., Instructor in Academic General Pediatrics, earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama. Dr. King completed her pediatric residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research/clinical interests include: asthma, childhood obesity and nutrition.
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Han Phan, M.D., Associate Professor in Pediatric Neurology, earned her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Phan completed her intern year at Tulane University and her child neurology residency and sleep medicine fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Phan previously served as an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology at UAB and an Assistant Professor at Emory University in Neurology. Her research/clinical interests include: neuromuscular and sleep disorders.
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Claudette Poole, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Infectious Disease, earned her medical degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Dr. Poole completed pediatric residency at Schneider Children’s Hospital in Manhasset, New York and completed a pediatric infectious disease fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has worked as a general pediatrician in the community as well as a hospitalist. Prior to fellowship training at UAB, she held an academic position as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Hofstra School of Medicine in New York with her clinical position as an academic hospitalist at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York. Her research/clinical interests include: respiratory viral infections in vulnerable patient populations, the role of molecular diagnostics and antivirals. In addition to her clinical role in the division of infectious diseases she will participate in infection prevention both at Childrens' as well as in the RNICU of the Women and Infant's Hospital of UAB.
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Emily Smitherman, M.D.
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Christine Stoops, D.O., M.P.H., Assistant Professor in Neonatology, earned her medical degree from University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Stoops completed her pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her research/clinical interests include: acute kidney injury risk factors & sequalae in the neonatal population.
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Scott Turner, DNP, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology, earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Turner completed his Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Colorado in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Turner previously served as an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology at the University of Colorado in Aurora, Colorado. His research/clinical interests include: pediatric headache, Tourette syndrome, population health, and quality improvement.Second Pediatric Residency Reunion
The second Pediatric Residency Reunion was a great success! Over 185 guests attended the reunion with 34 classes being represented. Thank you to all who attended and to everyone who worked hard to make the reunion such a great event!
Click here for photos from the reunion
This Week in Pictures-August 24
Lynn Zinkan, Chrystal Rutledge, Amber Cole, Nancy Tofil, Carrie Norwood and Brittany Cameron attend Boiling n' Bragging On August 18. This event, hosted by the Rotary Club, benefits Critical Care Transport at Children's of Alabama.
Photo credit: COA Photographers
Drs. Robert Russell, Santiago Borasino, Daniel Young, Yung Lau and Tony Fargason at the retirement party for Dr. Young on August 16.
Photo credit: COA Photographers
Hannah Gardner, Meghan Hofto and Vinetra King at the Ice Cream Social for faculty on August 23.
Argus Award Nominees Announced
The Department of Pediatrics and four Pediatrics faculty have been nominated for multiple 2018 Argus Awards. Created in 1996, the Argus Awards give medical students the chance to honor their mentors, professors, courses and course directors for outstanding service to medical education. Faculty members are nominated by course evaluations, and students vote to select award winners in each category.
Winners will be announced at the Argus Awards Ceremony on Friday, September 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the Alumni House.
Congratulations to all nominees!
Pre-Clinical Awards
Best MS2 Organ Module-Endocrine Systems: Hussein Adbullatif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology
Best Educator-Cardiovascular: Robb Romp, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology
Best Educator-Pulmonary: William Sasser, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care
Best Educator-Endocrine Systems: Hussein Abdullatif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology
Clinical Awards
Caduceus Club Award for Best Clinical Department on the Birmingham Campus:Pediatrics
Caduceus Club Award for Excellence in Clinical Education on the Birmingham Campus: Hussein Abdullatif, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology and Jason Hartig, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics
Dr. Schwartz to join the Innovation Academy's "Train the Trainer" Program
Justin Schwartz, M.D., Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, will join the Innovation's Academy's "Train the Trainer" program. This program is a unique, inter-professional approach to analyze and develop solutions for current challenges in healthcare delivery. The program hopes that participants will return to their respective units armed with new knowledge and a thorough understanding of the process of innovating at UAB Medicine. A key goal of this Academy is the creation of a cohort of innovation coaches dispersed throughout our organization.
Dr. Simpson receives Invisible Warrior Award from Bham Black Pride
Bham Black Pride held their inaugural banquet on Friday, August 17, where Tina Simpson,. M.D., Adolescent Medicine, was named the first recipient of the “Dr. Tina Simpson Invisible Warrior Award.” The award, named in her honor, recognizes Dr. Simpson as the longest serving African American physician caring for children, adolescents and young adults with HIV in the Birmingham area. In the future, this award will recognize those who have made contributions to advance equality and create strong connections in the lives of LGBTQ Alabamians.
Congratulations Dr. Simpson!
Pediatric Residency Wellness Committee awarded GME Works for Well-Being Grant
The Pediatric Resident Wellness Committee was awarded a GME Works for Well-being Grant for their proposal "Wellness Through Fitness: A Fitness and Nutritional Program for Residents and Fellows.”
The grant will be used to fund weekly fitness classes available to all pediatric residents (and fellows if availability is not an issue) with a certified trainer and nutritionist and will also provide a volunteer study group with body assessments (BMI, body fat percentage, etc) and assess progress over a 10 week span of exercise. The goal of the program is to empower residents to seek activities for physical fitness and wellness during their education!
In February 2018, the UAB GME Office announced GME Works for Well-Being, a call for proposals to increase efforts within UAB GME to support innovated ideas and programs to improve physician well-being and foster a sense of meaning in work.
Team members for the proposal include Malena Gutierrez, M.D., Pediatrics PGY-3, Alicia Webb, M.D., Pediatrics PGY-3, Spandana Induru, M.D., Pediatrics PGY-3 and faculty mentor Michael Stalvey, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology.
This Week in Pictures-August 17
Residents after their weekly Wellness Workout at Resolute Running Training Center. These workouts are part of the residency wellness program.
Photo credit: Spandana Induru
Veronica Givhan, Morissa Ladinsky, Sandy Thurmond, Stefanie McKerley and Lori Moler at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama (RMCHA) Gala on August 10
Dr. Lauren Nassetta and audience power posing at grand rounds Thursday, August 16
Photo credit: Rachely Cawley
Dr. Barnes accepted into Clinical Investigator Training Program
Margaux Barnes, Ph.D., Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, was accepted into the Clinical Investigator Training Program at UAB. This program is a first of its kind at UAB, a collaborative effort of UAB’s School of Medicine, Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Department of Medicine and supported by funding from the HSF-GEF/CCTS. Fifteen candidates are chosen from across campus. The program is a pragmatic and hands-on program focused on preparing new investigators to plan and implement human subject investigation in a GCP compliant manner.
Dr. Kong chosen as a 2018 Women of Distinction for Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama
Congratulations to Michele Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, on being chosen as a 2018 Woman of Distinction for the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama. The Girl Scouts have been honoring Women of Distinction in Alabama since 1993. The Women of Distinction Award honors women who have made special contributions to their communities through civic, academic, or professional efforts and who are exemplary role models for today’s girls. Dr. Kong will be honored at the One Smart Cookie Celebration on August 30.
Dr. McGuinn named Division Director for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Laura McGuinn, M.D., has accepted our offer to be the Division Director for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (DDBP) beginning January 1, 2019. Dr. McGuinn is currently the fellowship program director at the University of Oklahoma and is nationally recognized for her leadership positions in the American Academy of Pediatrics relating to developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Dr. McGuinn completed medical school and residency at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas and a fellowship in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. McGuinn will work closely with her division, colleagues in the Sparks Clinics and Children’s Behavioral Health, child psychiatry, Tony Fargason, M.D., director of neurodevelopmental initiatives, and Craig Powell, M.D., incoming chair of Neurobiology and The Civitan International Research Center (CIRC). Dr. McGuinn will be a terrific addition to our growing commitment to diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental delay, cognitive/intellectual disabilities, and attention deficit disorders/learning concerns. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. McGuinn to Birmingham and are very excited about what this means for the children of Alabama.
Dr. Stoops awarded P&F Grant for Baby NINJA Project
Christine Stoops, D.O., Neonatology, was recently awarded a P&F Grant to continue the Baby NINJA (Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in-Time Action) project at Children's of Alabama and incorporate other NICUs in the NINJA Collaborative. The award is from the pilot and feasibility program of the O'Brien Center of Excellence in Pediatric Nephrology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.