The Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at UAB was formally established in 1964 with the arrival of Dr. Russell Cunningham, the first trained pediatric endocrinologist in Alabama. A native of Bayou La Batre, Dr. Cunningham returned to the state following his fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and laid the foundation for specialized care in pediatric endocrinology. For over two decades, he served as a one-person division, delivering expert care to children with diabetes and other endocrine disorders. He pioneered a model of comprehensive, family-centered endocrine care long before it became standard. In 1990, Drs. Katrina Parker and Joycelyn Atchison joined the division, bringing a collaborative dimension to endocrine care. Following his passing in 2006, the Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Scholarship was established to support medical students with an interest in academic pediatrics.
In mid-2000s, Dr. Kenneth McCormick was appointed as the division director of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology. While in Wisconsin, he had been director of the core laboratory for a seven year, state-wide, NIH-funded, non-interventional, longitudinal study of Type 1 diabetes sequelae. Approximately seven months thereafter, with the addition of Dr. Gail Mick, the division had expanded to five members, some of which were part-time. Dr. Ambika Ashraf (2019–present) currently serves as the Division Director and the Ralph Frohsin Endowed Chair in Pediatric Endocrinology.
Today, the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes is recognized as a regional and national leader in comprehensive care, cutting-edge research, and trainee development. With 11 pediatric endocrinologists, 11 nurse practitioners, and over 15 diabetes educators, the division delivers care across a wide spectrum of endocrine disorders.
With robust clinical volume, growing research collaborations, and a thriving fellowship program, the Division continues to build on its legacy while innovating for the future. The support of the Ralph Frohsin Endowment and Bruno fellows have been instrumental in propelling initiatives that improve care, expand knowledge, and train the next generation of pediatric endocrinologists.