The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Jessica Robinson, M.D., PGY-2 resident in the Department of Pediatrics, has been recognized at the Rutherford Polhill Memorial Grand Rounds with the Rud Polhill Award for Outstanding Resident in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

Ten Heersink School of Medicine staff have been honored with the 2025 Dean’s Excellence Awards. Now in its third year, the Dean’s Excellence Awards for Staff recognize individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the school’s mission through their work in education, service, and research.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Chibuzo Ilonze, M.D., MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been selected to serve as an ambassador for the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

UAB Heersink School of Medicine students can enjoy a week-long celebration of Primary Care Week from October 6-10, 2025. This event-packed week aims to educate physicians-in-training and students across the health spectrum on the pivotal role of primary care in the health care system. 

Suresh Boppana, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, will assume the role of interim co-director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, effective Oct. 1, 2025.

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

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Sandeep Gupta, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, has been reappointed editor in chief of the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN) and JPGN Reports, two leading journals in the field.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to announce that Daniel Feig, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, received the 2025 Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

C. Vivek Lal, M.D., tenured professor (Oct ‘25) in the Department of Pediatrics, has been named executive in residence of the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE). Lal’s appointment marks the beginning of a partnership between HIIE and the Heersink School of Medicine that will allow both entities an avenue to better serve patients.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics is proud to introduce Kimberly Jerkins, a committed staff member of the Pediatric Administration team! 

Three psychologists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama were honored for their contributions to psychology at the Alabama Psychological Association Annual Conference.

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!