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Michele Holloway Nichols, M.D.
Program Director
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Director Focus Area
Medical Education
Outreach and Advocacy
Career Development for SubspecialtyHometown
Mobile, AL
Medical School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency
Pediatrics - Cincinnati’s Children Medical Center
Fellowship
Pediatric Emergency Medicine - Cincinnati’s Children Medical Center
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Gianmarco’s, Tre Luna, Uptown area, Blueprint on 3rd, Automatic Seafood, Soho Social, Pizzeria GM, Urban Cookhouse, and Five Points Oyster House
Birmingham Must-See
Regions Park, The Vulcan, Birmingham Zoo, Railroad Park, Moss Rock, McWane Center, Top Golf, Robert Trent Jones Golf Course, Oak Mountain State Park. Shopping at the Summit, Homewood, Crestline Village, Mountain Brook Village
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Nancy Tofil, M.D., M.Ed.
Senior Associate Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area
Simulation
Medical Education
Policies and PromotionHometown
Niskayuna, NY
Medical School
The Ohio State University
Residency
Med-Peds - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Birmingham District Brewing Company’s West Coast IPA
Birmingham Must-See
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Candice Dye, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Academic General Pediatrics
Director Focus Area
Primary Care Clinic
Career Development for General PediatricsHometown
West Memphis, AR
Medical School
University of Arkansas
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Arkansas
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Birmingham Must-See
So many things….The outdoors! From Oak Mountain State Park to Ruffner Mountain to the view from The Vulcan.
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Lauren Nassetta, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Director Focus Area
Resident Wellness
Resident/ Faculty MentoringHometown
I grew up in Marietta, GA, but Birmingham is home now.
Medical School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Alabama at Birmingham (Will and I were in the same class!)
Chief Resident
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
So many! Ovenbird (go with a group and let the chef choose!), Highlands, LaPaz, Gianmarco’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria, SoHo Social, Carrigans
Birmingham Must-See
Legion Soccer!! While you wait for kickoff, visit the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute or any of our amazing parks.
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Will Sasser, M.D.
Assistant Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area
Resident and Faculty Evaluations
PRIME - Pediatric Residents Interested in Medical EducationHometown
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Medical School
Medical University of South Carolina
Residency
Pediatrics - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Saw’s Sweet Tea Fried Chicken, runner up: Brick and Tin Brisket Panini
Birmingham Must-See
Oak Mountain State Park – amazing hiking/running/biking trails, Botanical Gardens – beautiful (and free!), any of the many city overlooks (Vulcan Park)
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Chrystal Rutledge, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Pediatric Critical Care
Director Focus Area
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Initiatives
Health Equity Scholars ProgramHometown
Bessemer, AL
Medical School
UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Residency
Pediatrics - University of North Carolina
Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care - UAB
Birmingham’s Best Food and/or Drink
Yo Mama’s Chicken and Waffles, Runner up: Beef Barbacoa Quesadilla from El Barrio
Birmingham Must-See
Educational - Birmingham Civil Rights Institute – great understanding of the contributions Birmingham had to the Civil Rights Movement. Best View of the City – Vulcan Park.
Mitch Cohen, M.D.
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
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Letter from the Chair
Letter from the Chair
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). We are looking for more great people. Our greatest strength is our people - our residents, our faculty, our nursing and support staff and our colleagues in the other Departments throughout UAB and Children’s of Alabama. The Department of Pediatrics provides a complete spectrum of care and education from primary care to subspecialty services. Our vision is to dramatically improve the health of the children of Alabama, the region and beyond.
The Children’s of Alabama campus is among the largest children’s hospitals in the United States. It serves as the largest provider of children’s health services in Alabama and in the immediate region, and is a world class, family friendly, state of the art facility. The Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama leadership are working closely together to advance their shared strategic vision and common missions. We are growing and we are building.
We believe in safety, integrity, equality, diversity, and respect for each and every child and for each other. Our UAB and Children’s of Alabama family is committed to our fourfold mission of Clinical Care, Research, Education, and Advocacy. We seek to: improve the health of children of Alabama, and the region in collaboration with community health care providers, other community partners and advocacy efforts; discover and apply important new knowledge to improve the outcomes for pediatric disorders; educate patients, families, and health care providers and train the next generation of pediatric providers and leaders in medicine; and improve the health delivery system so that it provides the best outcome at the lowest possible cost. We are proud of what we have accomplished in all of these areas but we are striving to be the best at getting better.
Collaboration, teamwork, innovation, continual improvement and lifelong learning are a way of life at UAB. History is made here. Come join us at UAB and Children’s of Alabama.
Sincerely,
Mitchell B. Cohen, M.D.
Professor and Chair
UAB Department of Pediatrics
Physician-in-Chief, Children's of Alabama
Chief Residents
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Josh Bell, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Cullman, AL
Undergraduate
Auburn University
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Toxicology
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
The program here feels like home. The faculty and staff are so welcoming and make strides to let you know that you are cared for here. The residents are great and have formed a culture of collaboration and support that you can't get anywhere else.
Hobbies/Special Interests
I love all things outdoors, including hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and rock climbing. Soccer is another passion of mine. I also have a special interest in austere medicine, envenomations, and global health.
Fun Fact
I was once hospitalized after a snake bite and had to get care from the very toxicologist whose course I had just taken.
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Kelsey Thetford, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Winfield, AL
Undergraduate
Birmingham-Southern College
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
I chose UAB because of the patients and the people. I wanted to train where I would see a large patient volume with a huge variety of diagnoses. The residents and faculty are extremely supportive and value teaching. UAB and Children's of Alabama is such an integral part of pediatric care in Alabama, and I am so honored to be here!
Hobbies/Special Interests
Running, playing pickleball, live music, trivia, gardening, spending time with my Golden Retriever - Murphy, eating at fabulous Birmingham restaurants
Fun Fact
I was a state ranked bird watcher in college!
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Emily Youngblood, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Resident
Hometown
Jackson, MS
Undergraduate
Mississippi State University
Medical School
University of Mississippi
Career/Clinical Interests
Pediatric Nephrology
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
When I came to my interview day, I could immediately tell that everyone at UAB was very welcoming and supportive. I really enjoyed meeting all the residents, and the program offered me a great fit for all of my clinical interests.
Hobbies/Special Interests
Reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors with my two Springer Spaniels
Fun Fact
I love traveling!
Upcoming Chief Residents
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Justin Bailey, M.D.
2024-2025 Chief Resident
Hometown
Birmingham, AL
Undergraduate
Birmingham-Southern College
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Either critical care or gastroenterology; whichever one child advocacy is a must!
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
I wanted to train and practice in the city that invested so much in me growing up. Also, I learn by seeing and doing so I needed a program that had a large patient population. UAB has a very large net and being the sole children's hospital in the entire state was very attractive.
Hobbies/Special Interests
Outreach, Football, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Magic Tricks, Teen Fiction
Fun Fact
I was once slimed live on Nickelodeon.
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Susmita Murthy, M.D.
2024-2025 Chief Resident
Hometown
Hoover, AL
Undergraduate
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical School
Heersink School of Medicine
Career/Clinical Interests
Academic Med-Peds hospitalist
Why did you choose UAB for your residency?
I knew that UAB, being a large academic center would be a place where I would get exposed to a variety and a large volume of patients and disease processes, both of which were important to me. I also was fortunate enough to work with some of the residents while I was a student here and experienced just how great they were to work with.
What do you love about UAB Med-Peds?
The people and how supportive, thoughtful, and caring they are - can come to them with any problem and they will help you no matter what it is.
Birmingham's Best Food and/or Drink
Saw's BBQ
Birmingham Must-See
Any of the parks/running trails
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David Taylor, M.D.
2024-2025 Chief Resident
Hometown
Dover, TN
Undergraduate
Union University
Medical School
East Tennessee State University
Career/Clinical Interests
Cardiology or critical care, medical education, and global health
Why did you choose UAB for your Pediatric Residency?
At the pre-interview social, I immediately felt a sense of welcome from the residents. In addition, on my interview day, the program directors, coordinators, and faculty I met all seemed so genuine and kind. I knew I wanted a larger program with a high volume so I could see everything and be ready for whatever I decide to do in my career. UAB checked all the boxes and I'm so glad I am here!
Hobbies/Special Interests
Playing golf and intramural sports, watching University of Alabama football and TN professional sports teams (Grizzlies, Titans, and Predators!), traveling, reading, cooking, grilling.
Fun Fact
I can weld!
