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Department of Pediatrics Heersink School of Medicine

Research and QI

Resident Research

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

    Journal of Pediatric Surgery Case Reports. 2023 May;92:102602. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis presenting with tracheopleural fistula in a pediatric patient with a history of rhabdomyosarcoma. Khatun M, Julson J, Taylor DW, et al. 

    The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 365.  (2023). A paralysis poser: A growing Covid Concern. Obremskey, N., Carpenter, A., & Wu, C. 

    American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 365 Supplement 1: S26, 2023. It's not the shunt: an atypical cause of fever in an infanct with hydrocephalus. Strange, K., Cooley, A.; Monroe, K; Shaughnessy, E.; Wu, C.L. (2023). 

    The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 365. (2023). Altered mental status in the setting of pansinusitis and bilateral subdural empyemas. Thetford, K., Riegle, A., & May, B. 

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!

  • 2023-2024 Founders' Fund Projects
    Baby Safety Shower for Young Mothers

    Kaitlyn Barr, M.D. PGY2 (PI)
    Terri Coco, M.D.
    Kathy Monroe, M.D.

    Improving Firearm Safety Counseling in Primary Clinic

    Morissa Ladinskey, M.D. (PI)
    Andrew Donahue, M.D.
    Josh Bell, M.D.
    Alex Kinzer, M.D.
    Yas Seay, M.D.
    Mandy Nelson, M.D.
    Keehn Strange, M.D.

    Simulated Foresnics Evidence Collection Training for Acute Secual Assaults for Pediatric Residents

    Mackenzie Valentin, M.D. (PI)
    Kara Graves Huls, M.D.
    Michele Morris, RN
    Elizabeth Shlappi, RN
    Nancy Tofil, M.D., MEd

    Well Child Check that is Anything But Well: Use of Simulated Standardized Patients to Practice Empatheic Care of Suicidal Teenager

    Candyce Dye, M.D. (PI)

    Improving Car Seat Screening and Safety in Primary Care Clinic (PCC)

    Katie Fogle, M.D. (PI)
    KirbyAnne Plessala, M.D. (PI)
    Adria Luk, M.D.

    PREP for Fellowship

    Jordan W. Newman, M.D. (PI)
    Michele Nichols, M.D. (PI)
    Joshua Bell, M.D.
    Kelsey Thetford, M.D.
    Emily Youngblood, M.D.
    Nicholas Rockwell, M.D.
    Will Sasser, M.D.
    Jeff Lebensburger, M.D.
    Priya Prabhakaran, M.D.
    Ann Klasner, M.D.
    Jane Marie Freeman, M.D.

    Pediatric RAP

    David Taylor, M.D., MPH (PI)
    Michele Nichols, M.D.
    Brad Troxler, M.D.
    Chang Wu, M.D.
    Spencer Poore, M.D.
    Lece Webb, M.D.

    PRIME - Establishment of a Book Club and Development of Feedback tool

    William Sasser, M.D. (PI)
    Susmita Murthy, M.D. (PI)
    Shannon Snellgrove, M.D. (PI)
    Alex Davis, M.D.
    Alex Kinzer, M.D.
    Elizabeth Nichols, M.D.
    David Taylor, M.D.
    Madeline Davis, M.D.
    Emily Youngblood, M.D.
    Joshua Bell, M.D.
    Kelsey Thetford, M.D.
    Meaghan Smith, M.D.
    Michele Nichols, M.D.

    RENDER - Resident Education on Naloxone Dispensing in the Emergency Room

    Hannah Stone, M.D. (PI)
    Mackenzie Valentin, M.D.
    Jaycelyn Holland, M.D.
    Rebekah Savage, M.D.

    Upstander Training for Residents

    Justin Bailey, M.D. (PI)
    Chrystal Rutledge, M.D. (PI)
    Alana Nichols, JD, M.D.
    Madhura Hallman, M.D., MPH

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

    Increasing the Proportion of Postpartum Mothers with Opiate Use Disorder Receiving Naloxone by Discharge (2024)
    Dr. Hannah Stone

    Timely Identification of Technology Dependent BPD (2023)
    Dr. Charli Cohen

    High Risk Febrile Neonates (2022)
    Drs. James Dunville, Jakob Evans

    Inpatient Interventions for Improved Infant Safe Sleep (2021)
    Drs. Meghan Harrison, Adria Luk, Isabella Masler, Kathryn Cyru

  

Pediatric Research Academic Program (Pediatric RAP)

resident research 6

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).