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Below is what our graduates will be doing after residency:

Baani Bawa, M.D.- Hospital Medicine, Nashville, TN
Megan E. Boothe, M.D. - Genetics Fellowship, UAB, 
John Mark Bouchillon, M.D. - 2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB, 
Stephen T. Clark, M.D. - Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, UAB, 
Adam W. Cohen, M.D.- Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship, UAB, 
Orlando Esparza, M.D.-  Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, University of Colorado
Anna L. Hoppmann, M.D.- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship, UAB
Claire S. Keith, M.D.-  Gastroenterology Instructor followed by Pediatric GI Fellowship, UAB 
Angela J. King, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Clinical Instructor, UAB, Birmingham, AL
Tiffany D. Moore, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Acton Road, Birmingham, AL
Anastasia T. Nelson, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Tots n Teens, Trussville, AL
Jamie L. Powell, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Mayfair Medical Group, Homewood, AL
Robert D. Sellers, IV, M.D.-2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB
Mary E. Silverberg, M.D.-Research at UAB, Pursuing NICU Fellowship
Karlene D. Walker, M.D.-2018-2019 Chief Resident, UAB, Birmingham, AL        
Carter D. Wallace, M.D.-Gastroenterology Instructor followed by Pediatric GI Fellowship, UAB
Timothy A. Wang, M.D. -Neonatology Fellowship, Cincinnati Children's
Anna P. White, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Health Department, Birmingham, AL
Sara E. Williams, M.D.-Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship, University of Colorado
Andrea M. Wolf, M.D.- General Pediatrics, Dallas, TX
Taylor A. Woodfin, M.D.-Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship, UAB
Sarah E. Bagwell, M.D.-General Medicine/Pediatrics, UAB, Gardendale, AL
K. Shannon Booker, M.D.- Medicine/Pediatrics Hospitalist, Minneapolis, MN
Sarah E. Bragg, M.D.- General Medicine/Pediatrics, UAB, Leeds, AL
Teresa B. Cornelius, M.D.-Medicine/Pediatrics, Hospitalist, UAB
Sarah Joy Dean, M.D.-Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship, UAB                                                            

2017-2018 CHIEF RESIDENTS
Bryauna S. Lewis, M.D.-General Pediatrics, Christ Health Center, Birmingham, AL
T. Spencer Poore, M.D.- Pediatric Pulmonary Fellowship, University of Colorado
Michelle Udine, M.D.- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Children’s National

Congratulations to Smita Bhatia, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, on being named a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology! As mentioned on the ASCO website, "the Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO) distinction recognizes ASCO members for their extraordinary volunteer service, dedication, and commitment to ASCO. Their efforts benefit ASCO, the specialty of oncology, and, most importantly, the patients at risk for or with cancer.”

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Congratulations to our UAB Pediatric Fellowship Class of 2018. Thank you to all who helped us celebrate the graduates at a reception in their honor on May 31st. Below is a list of where the fellows will be going after completing fellowship training.

2018 Pediatric Fellow Graduate Plans

• Erin Boyd, MD, MSPH - Adolescent and Young Adult Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 

• Miranda Curtis, MD, PhD – Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, UAB

• Njeri Maina, MD, PhD -  Alabama Asthma and Allergy Clinic, Birmingham, AL
   
• Cara Lasley, DO – Al DuPont Children’s Hospital-Nemours Cardiac Center, Wilmington, DE  

• Rune Toms, MD – Neonatology, focus on neonates with congenital heart disease,  UAB 

• Steven Nye, MD – Pediatric Critical Care at Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK 

• Nicki Sims, MD -  Pediatric Intensivist of Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital, Baton Rouge, LA 

• Todd Fleenor, MD - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, AL  

• Joshua Haupt, MD - Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, GA 

• Kathleen Richard, MD – Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Huntsville, AL 

• Shelly Mercer, MD – Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK.

• Osman Ahmad, MD -  Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Florida- Shands Children Hospital, Gainesville, FL
   
• Jamie Aye, MD – Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, UAB 

• Corey Falcon, MD –    Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 

• Susan Buckingham, MD – Hospice and Palliative Medicine, UAB with a secondary appointment at Children's of Alabama.  

• Kate McKillip, MD – Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Creighton University, Omaha, NE.  

• Adolfo Molina, MD – Pediatric Hospital Medicine, UAB 

• Erinn Schmit, MD – Pediatric Hospital Medicine, UAB 

• Claudette Poole, MD – Pediatric Infectious Diseases, UAB 

• Sam Gentle, MD –  Neonatology, UAB 

• Christine Stoops, DO, MPH –  Community Neonatology Group, UAB 

• Rachael Tindell, MD – Marietta Neonatology Group,  Marietta, GA   

• Lydia Marcus, MD – Pediatric Neurology and completing a MS fellowship, UAB

The 2018 graduating class presented the following awards at their Graduation Banquet on Friday, June 1. 

Michele St. Romain Award

Robert D. Sellers IV, M.D.

This award recognizes a graduating resident with the finest qualities of a pediatrician: enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication to the care of children. 

 Ralph E. Tiller, M.D. Distinguished Faculty Award

 Morissa Ladinsky, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics and Christiana Cochran, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine

This award recognizes a faculty member who has contributed the most to overall education and training. 

Sergio Stagno, M.D. Friend of the Housestaff Award

Morissa Ladinsky, M.D. 

This award recognizes an individual demonstrating a strong commitment to resident education and quality of life. 

Quarterback Subspecialty Education Award

Lydia Marcus, M.D.-Child Neurology Fellow

This award recognizes a selected fellow’s contributions to resident education. 

Best Teaching Rotation Award

Nephrology

This award recognizes the rotation that is viewed to be the best teaching rotation by the graduating class. 

Congratulations to Rachel Calhoun, M.D. and Brooke Goar, M.D. for winning the Joe LaRussa Intern of the Year Award!

Congratulations to Ariel Salas, M.D., Neonatology, on receiving a pilot research award from the Obesity Health Disparities Research Center! He was awarded $50,000 for his project "Serial Assessments of Body Fat Accrual in Very Preterm Infants." 

Monday, June 18 | 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. | Bradley Lecture Center

Please join us for a reception honoring Alyssa Reddy, M.D., Pediatric Neurology and Hematology/Oncology, for her outstanding service!

Reception invitation

Since 1988, the Dixon Foundation has endowed a fellowship training program in Pediatrics expressly aimed at supporting postdoctoral training and research in Pediatric subspecialties. As part of this prestigious award, recipients benefit from salary support and an additional $5,000 per year discretionary fund to support research and continuing education activities. The selection committee for the Dixon Fellowship recently met and selected five fellows. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis.

Please join us in congratulating the Dixon Fellow recipients for the 2018-2019 academic year: 
 
Abdulsalam Alsulami, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Diseases, will research the "Impact of Different Human Coronaviruses (HCoVs) on Pediatric Patients at a Tertiary Pediatric Hospital – Retrospective Study and Assessment of Interventions."

Neha Gupta, M.D., FAAP,  Pediatric Critical Care, will work to develop a Children’s of Alabama Delirium Scale (COADS).
 
Samantha Hill, M.D., MPH, Adolescent Medicine, will research "Identification of Strategies that Increase PrEP Uptake for Adolescents and Young Adults in the Deep South."

Nazia Kabani, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease and Neonatology, will research "Defining the full spectrum of neuroimaging findings and determining their impact on outcome in infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infection."

Cali Reynolds, M.D., Allergy/ Immunology, will research "Addressing Penicillin Allergies in the Inpatient Pediatric Population."

Graduating Dixon Fellows are:

Claudette Poole,M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, who will be joining UAB Pediatric Infectious Diseases as an Assistant Professor.
Jamie Aye, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, who will be joining UAB Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as an Assistant Professor.  
Corey Falcon, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, who will be joining Tulane Medical School as an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology 
Miranda Curtiss, M.D., Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, who will be joining the Department of Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care as an Instructor.

Four outstanding Department of Pediatrics faculty members were named recipients of the 2018 Dean's Excellence Awards, an honor recognizing exceptional contributions made by the School of Medicine faculty in service, teaching, research, diversity enhancement and mentorship. 

Steven Rowe, M.D., Pediatric Pulmonology, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Research, Senior Faculty. 
Stephanie Berger, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Teaching, Junior Faculty.
Michael Barnett, M.D., Palliative Care, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Teaching, Junior Faculty.
Jaime McKinney, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, has been selected for the 2018 Dean's Excellence Award in Diversity Enhancement, Junior Faculty.
Click here to read about each of the 2018 winners and their accomplishments. 

A reception to honor the award recipients will be held on Tuesday, June 19 at 5 p.m. at the Barbara and Edward Partridge Atrium at the Wallace Tumor Institute. All Department of Pediatrics faculty and staff are invited to attend in support and celebration of their colleagues. Congratulations to Drs. Rowe, Berger, Barnett and McKinney and all other Department of Pediatrics nominees. Click here to view the reception invitation.

Congratulations to Michael Stalvey, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, on being elected to the UAB Faculty Senate as a representative for the School of Medicine. Dr. Stalvey will serve as a Senator from September 1, 2018 to August 31, 2020. Thank you for representing the Department and the School of Medicine in the Senate!

Children's of Alabama and the Department of Pediatrics has been given a generous donation from the Chu Family to support educational initiatives. From this donation, a portion has been set aside for Pediatric Fellows. The selection committee for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship recently met and selected two fellows to receive this educational scholarship. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis. These awards will provide funds for tuition, books and fees related to their educational endeavors.

Please join us in congratulating the recipients for the 2018-2019 academic year:

Aman Wadhwa, M.D. – Rising 3rd year Pediatric Hematology/Oncology fellow
Awarded $5,000. Dr. Wadhwa will use funds towards completing a MSPH degree in Outcomes Research at UAB.

Jeremy Loberger, M.D. – Rising 2nd year Pediatric Critical Care fellow
Awarded $5,000. Dr. Loberger will use funds towards completing a UAB Quality Academy Certificate Course.

Congratulations to Jaime McKinney, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, on being appointed to the Admissions Selection Committee for the UAB School of Medicine. The Admissions Selection Committee reviews candidates and determines who will be accepted to join the School of Medicine. Thank you Dr. McKinney for your service!

Congratulations to Morissa Ladinsky, M.D., Academic General Pediatrics, on being awarded the Inclusive Research & Initiative Award at the Lavender Celebration on April 11. The Lavender Celebration is an annual event in the spring of each academic year wherein LGBTQ undergraduate, graduate and professional students receive recognition for both their contribution to campus and their success in graduating. During the celebration, awards are given out to students, faculty and staff. 

Dr. Ladinsky was honored for her work on a project to make UAB medicine and our trained physicians and healthcare providers better at serving transgender patients. 

Read more about Dr. Ladinsky's project

Congratulations to Chrystal Rutledge, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, on being named the new Medical Director of Critical Care Transport. Dr Rutledge graduated medical school from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed a pediatric residency at the University of North Carolina before returning to UAB for a pediatric critical care fellowship. Upon completion of her fellowship she stayed on as faculty at UAB in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care. 

We would like to thank Dr. Margaret Winkler for her many years of leadership in this role.

Congratulations to Daniel Feig, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology, on being elected to the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Nephrology Executive Council. Dr. Feig will serve on the council beginning November 1, 2018 and the term will extend through October 31, 2021.

Children's of Alabama and the Department of Pediatrics receives a generous donation from the Chu Family to support educational initiatives. From this donation, a portion has been set aside for Pediatric Fellows. The selection committee for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship recently met on Wednesday, May 17, and selected two fellows to receive this educational scholarship. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis. These awards will provide funds for tuition, books and fees related to their educational endeavors.

Please join us in congratulating the Chu Family Educational Scholarship recipients for the 2017-2018 academic year:

Courtney Crayne, M.D. – Upcoming 2nd year Pediatric Rheumatology Fellow.

Dr. Crayne will use funds to obtain a Certificate in Public Health through the UAB School of Public Health.

Erinn Schmit, M.D. – Upcoming 2nd year Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow.

Dr. Schmit will use funds towards completing a Medical Education Certificate Program through the University of Cincinnati.

Since 1988, the Dixon Foundation has endowed a fellowship training program in Pediatrics expressly aimed at supporting postdoctoral training and research in Pediatric subspecialties. The selection committee met on Tuesday, May 16, and selected three fellows for 2017. Candidates were selected on a competitive basis. These awards will provide funds for tuition, and an educational stipend.

Please join us in congratulating the Dixon Fellow recipients for the 2017-2018 academic year: 

Jamie Aye, M.D., Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Project: “Investigation of Focal Adhesion Kinase and the Kinome in Metastatic Wilms Tumor.”
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Beierle

Miranda L. Curtiss, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Allergy & Immunology
Project: “Location Dependent Signals Fine Tune Dendritic Cell Control of TH2 Responses.”
Mentor:Dr. Fran Lund

Corey Falcon, M.D., Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Project: “Generation of novel suicide gene modified anti-CD19 CAR redirected T cells.”
Mentor: Dr. Fred Goldman.

Current Dixon Fellow, Claudette Poole, MD, Infectious Diseases, will continue the second year of her award.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomed four new faculty members during the month of September. Please join us in making them feel at home! 

Amy Myers CaJacob, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Mike Leonis, M.D., Ph.D., Professor in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Erika Mendoza, M.D., Assistant Professor in Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care

Megan Yanik, M.D., MSPH, Assistant Professor in Pediatric Nephrology

Amy Myers CaJacob, M.D., Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, earned her Medical Degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Dr. CaJacob completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Allergy and Immunology Fellowship at UAB and Children’s of Alabama. She has served as a clinical instructor at various institutions including UAB’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care. Dr. CaJacob will serve as the Associate Program Director of the Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Fellowship program. Her research interests include: asthma, food allergy, and eosinophilic gastroenteropathies.

Mike Leonis, M.D., Ph.D., Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition earned his Medical Degree and Doctorate of Philosophy from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. He completed his Pediatric Residency at Primary Children’s Hospital Medical Center at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT and his Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH. Most recently, Dr. Leonis was an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine while also serving as Director of Training and Education and Director of the Gastroenterology Fellowship Training Program in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. His clinical interests include all areas of Pediatric Hepatology and Pediatric Liver Transplantation and he has participated in NIH-sponsored multicenter clinical research projects in pediatric acute liver failure over the last decade. Dr. Leonis joins UAB Pediatrics and Children's as the Bradford Dean Dixon Endowed Professor in Pediatric Hepatology. In addition, Dr. Leonis will serve as the Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Care Center and the Medical Director of Pediatric Liver Transplantation.

Erika Mendoza, M.D., Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, earned her Medical Degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela, Escuela Jose Maria Vargas, Caracas, Venezuela. She completed her Pediatric Residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center/St Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA and Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship at Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ and at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center/Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Torrance, CA. Dr. Mendoza completed her Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Fellowship at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Prior to her fellowship, Dr. Mendoza served as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Yakima, WA.

Megan Yanik, M.D., MSPH, Pediatric Nephrology, earned her Medical Degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH. Dr. Yanik completed her Pediatric Residency and Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship at UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama. She recently finished her master’s degree in Public Health in Clinical and Translational Research with a concentration in biostatistics at UAB. Her clinical and research interests include: immunosuppressant medications and outcomes in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.