Early childhood literacy is a vital building block for healthy development and long-term success. Research shows that reading and language deficits can become fixed as early as age two, underscoring the importance of early intervention, especially for premature and sick newborns who face higher risks of neurodevelopmental delays.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to introduce Dayna Cook-Heard, MAEd, a valued staff member of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease UAB Family Clinic! Cook-Heard has been a part of the Department of Pediatrics for 19 years. As Program Manager II, she supports quality management initiatives funded by Ryan White Part B and Part D federal grants while helping to strengthen program accountability and improve patient outcomes.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed seven new faculty members in the month of August. Please join us in making them feel at home!

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics resident-led groups, Coat of Arms and the Resident Access and Engagement Council, recently partnered to make a difference in Selma, Alabama. Through the third annual Selma School Supplies Drive, they delivered 600 backpacks filled with school essentials to elementary school students in the Selma City School District.

The UAB Department of Pediatrics Staff Wellness and Recognition Council has added Christina Croney, Karimu Morgan, Jalisa Lankford and Ebony Williams as new members in 2025.

The Pediatric Simulation Center at Children’s of Alabama celebrated the training of its 100,000th learner since its founding in 2008, transforming how pediatric providers prepare for emergencies and patient care. This milestone marks a major achievement in the center’s mission to improve outcomes through immersive, hands-on education.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Sarah Novara, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology and David Galloway, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, have been elected as voting members of the Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC).

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Aye, M.D. associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood & Marrow Transplantation, as director of the Developmental Therapeutics (DVL) Program within the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation (BMT) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics welcomed five new faculty members in the month of July. Please join us in making them feel at home!

UAB’s Civitan International Research Center (CIRC) is a world leader in research and treatment of intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than 100 scientists, clinicians, and research staff from around the globe, the center is united by a single mission: improving the well-being and quality of life of individuals and families affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. 

The Department of Pediatrics is proud to introduce Zach Garmon, a valued staff member of the Pediatric Administration team! 

In the face of a bacterium that easily resists common antibiotics, members of UAB established testing to identify it in human disease. Mycoplasma, that is. Mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living organisms. They can cause drug-resistant bacterial infections that target various parts of the body, including respiratory and urinary systems and genitalia. Mycoplasmas commonly cause lung infections and often require a special antibiotic to treat the bacterium. Most antibiotics weaken bacteria by penetrating their cell walls. Mycoplasmas, however, don’t have cell walls to weaken.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to welcome the new class of Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical Education Scholars Program (PRIME) Scholars!

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the Pediatric Underserved and Global Health (PUGH) Scholars program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The PUGH Scholars Program is a longitudinal opportunity for UAB pediatric residents to receive focused education and hands-on experience in global and undeserved health during three-years of residency training.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics has announced the appointment of three faculty members to serve on the Pediatrics Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee (APTC).

  The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics David Askenazi, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, was recently recognized with the Nephrology Kidney Collaborative (NKC) Founder’s award at this year’s Pediatric Academic Society Membership dinner.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is proud to announce its spring 2025 cohort of REINVENT Grant awardees.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Founders’ Fund recipients.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics congratulates Melinda Chance, M.D. on receiving the 2024-2025 Spring Research Roundtable & Fellow Core Conference Attendance Award!

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce that Drs. Amelia Hartje, Michael Padgett, Suzannah Patterson, Maddie Southall, Jemma Thompson and Danielle Windom are our 2025-2026 McDonald Scholars!