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Resident Research

IMG 8195RS

UAB and Children's of Alabama are leading research institutions in the country, placing UAB Pediatrics in the top 20 for NIH funding among pediatric departments. There are various opportunities for research available including bench, clinical, quality improvement, and simulation. We encourage resident participation in local and national meetings to present original research, attend poster sessions, or share interesting case presentations. The department offers reimbursement for conference and travel expenses. Below is a sampling of research and publications from residents over the last few years:

  • Notable Publications

    Ingram MA, Pearman JL, Estrada CA, Zinski A, Williams WL. Are We Measuring What Matters? How Student and Clerkship Characteristics Influence Clinical Grading. Acad Med. 2021 Feb 1;96(2):241-248. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003616. PMID: 32701555.

    Gooch C, Robin NH, Hurst ACE. Editorial: Neonatal management of achondroplasia: one hospital's geosocial approach to improve patient outcomes. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2019;31(6):691-693. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000814

    Hoppmann A, Williams AP, Coleman A, et al. Partial response to carboplatin, etoposide phosphate, and atezolizumab in a pediatric patient with high-grade metastatic tumor with rhabdoid and focal neuroendocrine features. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020;67(2):e28048. doi:10.1002/pbc.28048.

    Patil R, Stoll ML, Mroczek-Musulman E, Noel G. Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in an Infant With Polyarteritis Nodosa. J Clin Rheumatol. 2020;10.1097/RHU.0000000000001266. doi:10.1097/RHU.0000000000001266.

    Poore TS, Virella-Lowell I, Guimbellot JS. Potential pathogenicity of Inquilinus limosus in a pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2018;53(7):E21-E23. doi:10.1002/ppul.24043.

    Marshall AS, Dabal RJ, Law MA. A large ventricular fibroma requiring surgical resection in a symptomatic 3-month-old infant. Cardiol Young. 2020;30(1):129-130. doi:10.1017/S1047951119002877.

    Reiff D, Crayne CB, Mannion ML, Cron RQ. Characteristics of coexisting localized scleroderma and inflammatory arthritis. Eur J Rheumatol. 2019;7(Suppl 1):1-5. doi:10.5152/eurjrheum.2019.19147.


Founders' Fund

The Founders' Fund was established by the UAB Department of Pediatrics to honor the exceptional lifetime achievements of our department’s founders: Drs. John W. "Bill" Benton, Ralph E. Tiller, and Paul A. Palmisano. Educational grants of $1,000 from this fund support new, innovative educational research or programs related to the curriculum or quality and outcomes research of the residency program. Pediatric residents are eligible and frequently awarded Founders’ Fund grants. To date, 104 grants have been awarded!

  • 2020-2021 Founders' Fund Projects
    Baby Safety Shower for Young Mothers

    Meghan Harrison (PI)
    Abigail Martin
    Grace Spears
    Kathleen Vincent
    Terri Coco
    Kathy Monroe

    Improving Firearm Safety Counseling in Primary Clinic

    Austin Wheeler (PI)
    Katie Mascia
    Abby Martin
    Christina Hunley
    Jennifer Joseph
    Morissa Ladinsky

    Improving Residency Physician History and Physical in Challenging Situations

    Nicholas Rockwell (PI)
    Nancy Tofil
    Michele Kong
    Chrystal Rutledge

    Kids CAN DO Telehealth

    Stephen Russell (PI)
    Channing Brown
    Ryan Sheets
    Andrew Watson 

    Obesity Prevention Birth-to-Two Years in Primary Care Clinic

    Cason Benton (PI)
    Kelsey Thetford

    Pediatric Neurology at UAB Podcast

    Salman Rashid (PI)
    Khaled Al-Robaidi

    Pediatric RAP

    Kylee Miller (PI)
    Kathy Monroe
    Michele Nichols
    Brad Troxler
    Chang Wu

    Procedural Competence in Pediatric Residents

    Jeremy Ruhlmann (PI)
    Alexis Ricci
    Jordan Ashcraft
    Michele Nichols
    Nancy Tofil
    Erinn Schmit

    STEP-PREP

    Joe Bradsher (PI)
    Neha Teekappanavar
    Andrew Marshall
    Channing Brown
    Kirollos Roman
    Rachel Klein
    Carlie Stein

    Well Child Check that is Anything But Well: Suicidal Teenager

    Candice Dye (PI)
    Nancy Tofil


Quality Improvement

To fulfill the ACGME quality improvement requirement, all residents participate in quality improvement projects during three years of residency. With a mentor’s guidance, residents lead and drive these projects through the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle to obtain hands-on quality improvement experience. The program selects one project each year to receive the Quality Improvement Project Award. This award honors projects that exhibit exceptional quality improvement methods and improve the care of children in Alabama. Recent projects awarded by the program include the following:

  • Quality Improvement Award Winners

    Quality Improvement in Primary Care Clinic (2020)
    Jenn Anderson and Dan Reiff


    The Golden Week Quality Improvement to reduce Severe Intracranial Hemorrhage and Death among Extremely Preterm Infants (2019)
    Colm Travers


    Using Quality Improvement Process to Increase Influenza Vaccination in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients (2018)
    Claire Keith


    Reduction of Viral Respiratory Panels Ordered on Patients Admitted with Bronchiolitis (2017)
    Karisa Grizzle


    Standardizing Care for Patients Discharged with Status Asthmaticus (2016)
    Christina Inman, Sam Strachan, Thanh Summerlin, Natalia Lotz, Rose James, Ryan Boggs, Brian Donahue, Charrelle Coates, and Ashley Dodd

  


Pediatric Research Academic Program (Pediatric RAP)

RAPRS

This scholarly group meets monthly to discuss basic research topics, encourage research during residency, practice oral presentations, and network with each other and faculty. All residents are welcome!


Research Pathways

The UAB Pediatric Residency Program also accepts applicants into the two Research Pathways approved by the American Board of Pediatrics. 

  • Accelerated Research Pathway (ARP)
    • This pathway is open to candidates who are committed to an academic career with a strong research emphasis.  Residents would complete 2 years of General Pediatrics, then complete 4 years of subspecialty training.

    • Candidates MUST be identified no later than 9 months into their PGY I year, but preferably prior to their beginning their PGY I year.

    • This could occur at two different institutions.

    •  For questions regarding the curriculum and further requirements, please refer to the ABP website or request further information from our UAB Pediatric Residency Program. 

  • Integrated Research Pathway (IRP)
    • This pathway is designed to attract young physician scientists who want to sustain their research skills and productivity during Pediatric Residency.

    • This pathway is open to applicants with MD/PhD degrees or equivalent evidence of research experience and/ or commitment.

    • Candidates MUST be identified no later than 9 months into their PGY I year, but preferably prior to their beginning their PGY I year.

    • This pathway must occur at once institution.

    • The pathway duration would be 3 years with two years of general pediatrics (clinical) and up to one year of research. 

    •  For questions regarding the curriculum and further requirements, please refer to the ABP website or request further information from our UAB Pediatric Residency Program. 


Additional Research Opportunity

The UAB Pediatric Residency Program also offers a “Research Gap Year,” which ideally would occur from July to the following June (12 months). If a resident has identified a mentor with whom he/she would like to complete a research project using protected time, the Department of Pediatrics will review the proposal and approve projects that meet requirements necessary for financial support and protected time. The resident would resume his or her pediatric residency responsibilities at the completion of the twelve months or project (or whichever comes first).