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Michele Holloway Nichols, M.D.
Program Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Director Focus Area
Medical Education
Outreach and Advocacy
Career Development for SubspecialtyHometown
Mobile, AL
Medical School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency
Pediatrics - Cincinnati’s Children Medical Center
Fellowship
Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Cincinnati’s Children Medical Center
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Gianmarco’s, Tre Luna, Uptown area, Blueprint on 3rd, Automatic Seafood, Soho Social, Pizzeria GM, Urban Cookhouse, and Five Points Oyster House
Birmingham Must-See
Regions Park, The Vulcan, Birmingham Zoo, Railroad Park, Moss Rock, McWane Center, Top Golf, Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Oak Mountain State Park. Shopping at the Summit, Homewood, Crestline Village, Mountain Brook Village
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Nancy Tofil, M.D., M.Ed.
Senior Associate Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area
Simulation
Medical Education
Policies and PromotionHometown
Niskayuna, NY
Medical School
The Ohio State University
Residency
Med-Peds - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Birmingham District Brewing Company’s West Coast IPA
Birmingham Must-See
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Candice Dye, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Academic General Pediatrics
Director Focus Area
Primary Care Clinic
Career Development for General PediatricsHometown
West Memphis, AR
Medical School
University of Arkansas
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Arkansas
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Birmingham Must-See
So many things….The outdoors! From Oak Mountain State Park to Ruffner Mountain to the view from The Vulcan.
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Lauren Nassetta, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Director Focus Area
Resident Wellness
Resident/ Faculty MentoringHometown
I grew up in Marietta, GA, but Birmingham is home now.
Medical School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Alabama at Birmingham (Will and I were in the same class!)
Chief Resident
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
So many! Ovenbird (go with a group and let the chef choose!), Highlands, LaPaz, Gianmarco’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria, SoHo Social, Carrigans
Birmingham Must-See
Legion Soccer!! While you wait for kickoff, visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or any of our amazing parks.
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Will Sasser, M.D.
Assistant Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area
Resident and Faculty Evaluations
PRIME - Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical EducationHometown
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Medical School
Medical University of South Carolina
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Saw’s Sweet Tea Fried Chicken, runner up: Brick and Tin Brisket Panini
Birmingham Must-See
Oak Mountain State Park – amazing hiking/running/biking trails, Botanical Gardens – beautiful (and free!), any of the many city overlooks (Vulcan Park)
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Chrystal Rutledge, M.D.
Chrystal Rutledge, M.D.
Assistant Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area

Mitch Cohen, M.D.
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
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Letter from the Chair
Letter from the Chair
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). We are looking for more great people. Our greatest strength is our people - our residents, our faculty, our nursing and support staff and our colleagues in the other Departments throughout UAB and Children’s of Alabama. The Department of Pediatrics provides a complete spectrum of care and education from primary care to subspecialty services. Our vision is to dramatically improve the health of the children of Alabama, the region and beyond.
The Children’s of Alabama campus is among the largest children’s hospitals in the United States. It serves as the largest provider of children’s health services in Alabama and in the immediate region, and is a world class, family friendly, state of the art facility. The Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama leadership are working closely together to advance their shared strategic vision and common missions. We are growing and we are building.
We believe in safety, integrity, equality, diversity, and respect for each and every child and for each other. Our UAB and Children’s of Alabama family is committed to our fourfold mission of Clinical Care, Research, Education, and Advocacy. We seek to: improve the health of children of Alabama, and the region in collaboration with community health care providers, other community partners and advocacy efforts; discover and apply important new knowledge to improve the outcomes for pediatric disorders; educate patients, families, and health care providers and train the next generation of pediatric providers and leaders in medicine; and improve the health delivery system so that it provides the best outcome at the lowest possible cost. We are proud of what we have accomplished in all of these areas but we are striving to be the best at getting better.
Collaboration, teamwork, innovation, continual improvement and lifelong learning are a way of life at UAB. History is made here. Come join us at UAB and Children’s of Alabama.
Sincerely,
Mitchell B. Cohen, M.D.
Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Pediatrics
Physician-in-Chief, Children's of Alabama
Chief Residents
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Gabriel Daniels, M.D.
2022-2023 Chief Resident
Hometown
Lutz, FL (basically Tampa, FL)
Undergraduate
University of Florida
Medical School
University of Florida
Career/Clinical Interests
Hematology/Oncology & Palliative Care
Why did you choose the UAB Pediatric Residency Program?
The diversity of patients and opportunities, as well as the amazing providers with whom I get to work daily.
Birmingham's Best Food and/or Drink
Good People Brewing Co. & Hattie B's Hot Chicken
Birmingham Must-See
The sunset over downtown Birmingham from atop The Vulcan.
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Vida Laudarji, M.D.
2022-2023 Chief Resident
Hometown
Chicago, IL
Undergraduate
Indiana University Bloomington
Medical School
Meharry Medical College
Career/Clinical Interests
Global health through the lens of Pediatric Emergency Medicine or Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Why did you choose the UAB Pediatric Residency Program?
The learning opportunities are phenomenal! Great volume and excellent teachers who are willing to teach patiently and support resident interests. The people are amazing; I have built friendships that will last way beyond my time in training.
Birmingham's Best Food and/or Drink
Still working on that. However, Bay Leaf (Indian food) is awesome and there are a decent number of good ethnic food options.
Birmingham Must-See
I love the parks! Red Mountain is a free hike, and Oak Mountain is breathtaking and vast. There are many more, and I am still working my way through them. The Civil Rights Museum is phenomenal.
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Kathleen Vincent, M.D.
2022-2023 Chief Resident
Hometown
Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate
University of Arizona
Medical School
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Career/Clinical Interests
I love all the things! Not sure yet
Why did you choose the UAB Pediatric Residency Program?
Working with the most wonderful people who really care for children, diversity of clinical cases.
Birmingham's Best Food and/or Drink
The break-up cookie at Church Street Coffee. And donuts of all shapes and sizes, please.
Birmingham Must-See
Running on the Vulcan Trail
Upcoming Chief Residents
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Josh Bell, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Cullman, AL
Undergraduate
Auburn University
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Toxicology
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
This residency is known for producing phenomenal pediatricians. The faculty and other residents are incredibly welcoming and friendly.
Hobbies/Special Interests
Hiking/camping/backpacking, soccer, going to cheap concerts in small venues to listen to bands I've never heard of.
Fun Fact
Jumped out of the first plane I ever flew in.
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Kelsey Thetford, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Winfield, AL
Undergraduate
Birmingham-Southern College
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Undecided - interested in working with underserved populations
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
I chose UAB because of the patients and the people. I wanted to train where I would see a large patient volume with a huge variety of diagnoses. The residents and faculty are extremely supportive and value teaching. UAB and Children's of Alabama is such an integral part of pediatric care in Alabama, and I am so honored to be here!
Hobbies/Special Interests
Running and working out, live music, gardening, spending time with my Golden Retriever - Murphy, eating at fabulous Birmingham restaurants
Fun Fact
I lived in Tinsley Harrison’s (Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine) old apartment my first year of medical school.
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Emily Youngblood, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Jackson, MS
Undergraduate
Mississippi State University
Medical School
University of Mississippi
Career/Clinical Interests
Undecided! At this point, I am most interested in Hematology/Oncology or NICU.
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
When I came to my interview day, I could immediately tell that everyone at UAB was very welcoming and supportive. I really enjoyed meeting all the residents, and the program offered me a great fit for all of my clinical interests.
Hobbies/Special Interests
Reading, cooking
Fun Fact
I love traveling!