Food Truck Festival Benefiting UAB Benevolent Fund
Have you marked your calendar? The Spring Benevolent Fund Food Truck Festival is next Friday, April 8 outside of WIC in Limbaugh Park from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. See you there!
The 2016 Benevolent Fund Campaign runs April 1 - 30.
Make your continuous or one-time pledge online today to support fellowemployees with emergency needs andoutreach in the community.
The 2016 Benevolent Fund Campaign runs April 1 - 30.
Make your continuous or one-time pledge online today to support fellowemployees with emergency needs andoutreach in the community.
First Annual Pediatric Science Day
The first annual Pediatric Science Day was held on March 17, 2016 in the Bradley Conference Center. The organizers are pleased to announce the day was a huge success! Twenty pediatric presentations were showcased including presentations by 12 pediatric fellows, six pediatric residents, one post doc in psychology and one medical student. Additionally, eight posters were presented, five by pediatric fellows, one by a chief resident, one by a nutrition graduate student and one by a research associate. We were thrilled that Dr. Paul Spearman, Vice Chair of Research from Emory University was able to join us as the featured Grand Rounds speaker. He was an integral active participant during both the platform and poster sessions, and gave a very informative grand rounds presentation. Three fellows were highlighted with best abstracts in their section: Dr. Eric Ring and Dr. Jenny McDaniel, first and second year fellows from Hematology/Oncology, and Dr. Johanna Hall, third year fellow from Emergency Medicine. The day was even more complete as close to 70 faculty members took time to enjoy the presentations during the day. Special thanks to the six faculty who took time to review the abstracts: Drs. Tofil, Wu, Walley, Lebensburger, Whitley and McCormick.
Community Physicians Promoted to Clinical Associate Professor
Weily Soong, M.D., and Joe LaRussa, M.D., both longstanding members of the Allergy and Immunology teaching faculty in the Allergy and Immunology fellowship program, have been promoted to Clinical Associate Professor. Drs. Soong and LaRussa provide teaching for fellows as well as medicine and pediatric residents and medical students at their private practices in Birmingham.
Drs. Carlo and Biasini Co-Author Study Which Find that Children of Lower-Income Families Can Improve Cognitive Delays with Early Intervention
More than 200 million children age 5 and under do not reach their developmental potential due to poverty, malnutrition, poor health and un-stimulating home environments, according to Fred Biasini, Ph.D., associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Psychology. The majority of these children live in South Asia or sub-Saharan Africa.
Biasini and Wally Carlo, M.D., division director of UAB Neonatology, are co-authors of a multicountry study that shows home-based interventions that teach parents to engage children in interactive, developmentally appropriate learning activities during the first three years help erase this gap. Biasini led the team of developmental assessors, while Carlo was the principal investigator.
To continue reading the press release, click here.
Biasini and Wally Carlo, M.D., division director of UAB Neonatology, are co-authors of a multicountry study that shows home-based interventions that teach parents to engage children in interactive, developmentally appropriate learning activities during the first three years help erase this gap. Biasini led the team of developmental assessors, while Carlo was the principal investigator.
To continue reading the press release, click here.
Sign up for the MDA Muscle Walk of Birmingham
Matthew S. Alexander, PhD, Pediatric Neurology, has organized a Children's team for the upcoming Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Muscle Walk of Birmingham. The walk is Saturday, April 23 at Tannehill State Park at 10 a.m. If attending, be sure to wear either Children's, UAB or MDA gear! This is a great way to interact with patients and their families.
Click here to donate or join Dr. Alexander's team.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, email Dr. Alexander.
Click here to donate or join Dr. Alexander's team.
If you have any questions or want to get involved, email Dr. Alexander.
Smoke and Mirrors: Electronic Cigarettes and Child Health
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) will broadcast “Smoke and Mirrors: Electronic Cigarettes and Child Health” on Thursday, April 28 at noon - 2 p.m. Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, will be the lead speaker. The second speaker is Ann Slattery, managing director for the Regional Poison Control Center at Children's.
Register on the ADPH website and test their computer for compatibility.
Register on the ADPH website and test their computer for compatibility.
Grant to Prevent Youth Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Use in Alabama
Children’s of Alabama and the UAB Department of Pediatrics recently received a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) with the goal of protecting Alabama youth from secondhand smoke exposure, tobacco use and initiation, with a particular focus on electronic cigarettes.
Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, received the $80,000 grant from the ADPH’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Department and it will be utilized to collect data on youth tobacco use in the Birmingham metro area. Data will be used to promote policies that protect youth from tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure. The grant will also provide education to middle and high school students in the Birmingham City Schools and other area schools on the health risks of tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure. View the Children's press release. View the UAB News press release.
Susan Walley, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, received the $80,000 grant from the ADPH’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Department and it will be utilized to collect data on youth tobacco use in the Birmingham metro area. Data will be used to promote policies that protect youth from tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure. The grant will also provide education to middle and high school students in the Birmingham City Schools and other area schools on the health risks of tobacco use and tobacco smoke exposure. View the Children's press release. View the UAB News press release.
Children's of Alabama Receives National Award for PICU Improvements
Children’s of Alabama was recognized by the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) with a Pediatric Quality Award for waste reduction and improved efficiency.
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and orthopedic group at Children’s worked together to standardize care for adolescent spinal fusion patients. The new processes give families an opportunity to participate in care and understand expectations prior to PICU admission. The results were shorter hospital stays for these patients and their families, as well as a cost savings of more than $800,000.
For more information, view the press release.
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and orthopedic group at Children’s worked together to standardize care for adolescent spinal fusion patients. The new processes give families an opportunity to participate in care and understand expectations prior to PICU admission. The results were shorter hospital stays for these patients and their families, as well as a cost savings of more than $800,000.
For more information, view the press release.
Underrepresented in Medicine Senior Scholarship Program
The Pediatric Clerkship Directors and Pediatric Residency Program Directors are excited to announce that applications for the Underrepresented in Medicine Senior Scholarship Program for Pediatrics at the University of Alabama School of Medicine are now being accepted. The Scholarship provides funding for visiting fourth year medical students to participate in four-week clinical rotations in the Department of Pediatrics. Our goal is to attract highly talented students from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds interested in the field of pediatrics to UAB, providing exposure to our excellent training program. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine, including African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American, in addition to students whose backgrounds may bring a unique dimension to our training program, are encouraged to apply. Scholarship recipients will have an opportunity to network with faculty members within the Department of Pediatrics as well as UAB’s Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. For more information, please contact Will Sasser, M.D.
Mercedes-Benz Gift to Children's of Alabama
Mercedes-Benz United States International, Inc. has made a gift of $25,000 to Children’s of Alabama to support Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center. The gift will be used to support the family needs after discharge home from the Children's NICU or Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Specifically, the majority of the funds will be used to further develop the “Hearts at Home” monitoring program developed for high risk patients sent home after complex congenital heart surgery.
View the Children's press release.
To learn more about how this grant will help the "Hearts at Home" program, click here.
View the Children's press release.
To learn more about how this grant will help the "Hearts at Home" program, click here.
Dr. Sims Receives $50K Award from the UAB CFAR Development Core
Brian Sims, M.D., PhD, Neonatology, received a $50,000 award from the UAB Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Development Core for his collaboration with Qiana Matthews, PhD, Infectious Disease. The award will be for one year in length to begin on March 15, 2016. The project is titled, "Cell Specific Exosomes Have Preferential Binding to HIV-1 and Facilitate HIV-1 Infection in the CNS."
UAB School of Medicine Match Day
The UAB School of Medicine will celebrate Match Day 2016 today, March 18 at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. The first match will be announced at 11 a.m., following a short program that begins at 10:30 a.m. Watch the event live at www.uab.edu/matchday.
2016 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Scholars Selected
This year's recipients are Lydia McCormick and Claire Cordes. The recipients will work for eight weeks this summer with their mentors.
Lydia will research “The Effect of Maternal Smoking on Neonatal Acquired CFTR Dysfunction” with mentor Steven Rowe, M.D. Claire will research “Utility of Laboratory Testing in Pediatric Demyelinating Disorders” with mentor Jayne Ness, M.D.
A special thanks to this year's selection committee: Drs. Carolyn Ashworth, Lauren Nassetta, Will Sasser, and Terry Wall.
This program was established by Sergio Stagno, M.D., former chair of the Department of Pediatrics, to honor the memory of Dr. Russell Cunningham, a long time member of the Department of Pediatrics and strong advocate for medical student education. The program is designed to introduce students to pediatrics and pediatric research.
Lydia will research “The Effect of Maternal Smoking on Neonatal Acquired CFTR Dysfunction” with mentor Steven Rowe, M.D. Claire will research “Utility of Laboratory Testing in Pediatric Demyelinating Disorders” with mentor Jayne Ness, M.D.
A special thanks to this year's selection committee: Drs. Carolyn Ashworth, Lauren Nassetta, Will Sasser, and Terry Wall.
This program was established by Sergio Stagno, M.D., former chair of the Department of Pediatrics, to honor the memory of Dr. Russell Cunningham, a long time member of the Department of Pediatrics and strong advocate for medical student education. The program is designed to introduce students to pediatrics and pediatric research.
Dr. Salas selected for the 2016 SPR Young Investigator Coaching Program
Congratulations to Ariel Salas, M.D., Neonatology, for being selected as a Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) Young Investigator Coaching Program recipient. The SPR Young Investigator Coaching Program (YICP) provides the opportunity for early-career investigators conducting child health research to receive mentoring from established national leaders in related research fields.
Don't Forget to Nominate Colleagues for the 2016 Dean's Excellence Awards
Nominations remain open for the 2016 Dean’s Excellence Awards, an annual honor established to recognize the outstanding contributions made by faculty across the School of Medicine. Any full time-faculty member may nominate a faculty colleague for any of the awards; self-nominations are also accepted.
Click here for more information.
Click here for more information.
Children's of Alabama Presents 2015 Digital Annual Report
View the Children's of Alabama Annual Report for 2015 for a glimpse at some of the many accomplishments at Children's and the UAB Department of Pediatrics. Click here for for the full digital annual report, which includes the year in review, community, medicine and research efforts. Click here for the PDF printed supplement, which contains a few of the items from the full digital version. Please feel free to share the link and/or the PDF with your colleagues, family and friends.
UAB Pediatric Pulmonary Asthma Program Selected as an ACRC
The UAB Pediatric Pulmonary Asthma Program, in collaboration with UAB Lung Health Center, was recently selected as an Airways Clinical Research Center (ACRC) by the American Lung Association. The ACRC is the nation’s largest not-for-profit network of clinical researchers dedicated to asthma and COPD research. The network consists of 15-20 clinical sites and a data coordinating center. The ACRC conducts large multi center clinical trials that directly impact the care of these patients. The Pediatric Asthma Research Program is led by Drs. Isabel Virella-Lowell and Terri Magruder. This is a great step forward for our program, allowing us to expand our research activities and further improve the care of patients at Children's of Alabama and across the U.S.
Dr. Cron Selected as a 2016 APS International Travel Grant Program (ITGP) Recipient
Randy Q. Cron, M.D., PhD, Pediatric Rheumatology, is a 2016 American Pediatric Society (APS) International Travel Grant Program (ITGP) application recipient. This will enable him to attend the 6th Congress of the European Academy of Pediatric Societies (EAPS 2016), Oct. 21-25, 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. The goal of the APS ITGP is to foster international collaboration in the advancement of child health through participation and presentation of research and scholarly work by APS members at EAPS 2016. Congratulations to Dr. Cron.
Join us April 16, 2016 for the 10th Annual Spring Scramble
This year’s race will begin at the Levite Jewish Community Center and occur on Montclair Road. This year's race benefits the Children's of Alabama Healthy Active Living Initiative & Reach Out and Read. The Spring Scramble 5K is one of several community outreach programs organized by the UAB Pediatrics Residency Program through our Community, Outreach and Advocacy Program. Join us April 16, 2016 for the 10th Annual Spring Scramble 5K & 1Mile Fun Run Live Music & Food Trucks! For more information, visit SpringScramble.org
Three Women in Pediatrics Receive 2016 Outstanding Women Awards
The UAB Commission on the Status of Women recently selected the 2016 Outstanding Women Awards. Out of a total of eight women awarded, three were from the Department of Pediatrics. The commission will present awards to those honored as Outstanding Women for 2016 at a reception March 17, 2016 at the Alumni House.
- Rebecca Cantu, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow, received Outstanding Woman UAB Postdoctoral Fellow Award.
- Penny Jester, BSN, MPH, CCRC, Pediatric Infectious Disease, received Susan D. Marchase Outstanding Woman UAB Administrator Award.
- Michele Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care, received Outstanding Woman in the Community Award.