The Department of Pediatrics would like to introduce the 2025 Department of Pediatrics Staff Recognition Awards. These awards were created to honor staff members throughout the department for their contribution and commitment to the department's mission. Our staff are essential to making our department run, and this is an opportunity to show our appreciation.

The spring meeting of the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was held this past weekend in Gulf Shores, AL.

The Department of Pediatrics is pleased to announce Anisha Haldar and Lindsey Hitchcock as the awardees of the 2025 Russell Cunningham Memorial Research Program.

Emily Johnston M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was recently named as director of Pediatric Palliative Care Research and Education within the Center for Palliative and Supportive care.

We are honored to announce Claire Doss, M.D., Meredith Goldenberg, M.D., and Sam McCartney, M.D., as our pediatric co-chief residents for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The UAB Heersink School of Medicine is proud to announce the 19 winners of the 2025 Dean's Excellence Awards for Faculty.

The UAB Medicine Leadership Development Office recently recognized eight individuals in its sixth cohort of Sharing Authentically to Inspire and Lead (SAIL). The spring 2025 graduates were honored at a ceremony on April 8.

Chibuzo Ilonze, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was selected to serve on the Subboard of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).

David Kimberlin, M.D., distinguished professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been elected to the Association of American Physicians (AAP) Council. He will serve a term for five years beginning May 1, 2025 through April 30, 2030.

Three new faculty members have joined the leadership team at the Children's of Alabama Pediatric Simulation Center. Sarah Bingham, M.D. Jaycelyn Holland, M.D. and Lauren Robinson, M.D., all serve as assistant professors in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine.

PPN Updates: Youth boards tackle substance use, mental health & autism awareness.

Cynthia Wozow, D.O., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, recently attended the invitation-only ACGME Summit on Fostering Disability-Inclusive Health Care in Resident Education.

Mark Law, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, has been named the second holder of the Lionel M. Bargeron Jr., M.D., Endowed Chair in the Division of Cardiology.

After more than three decades of dedicated service, Susan Branscum is retiring from her role in the Department of Pediatrics (DOP) at UAB, leaving a significant legacy in research and education.

Avi Madan-Swain, Ph.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been honored with the Wright Ross Salk Award for Distinguished Service in Pediatric Psychology by the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP), a division of the American Psychological Association.

Matthew Kutny, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been elected to the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Voting Body Steering Committee.

​Livie Timmerman, Clinical Research Coordinator II for the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, has been elected to serve a three-year term as Chair of the Research Coordinator Network for the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA).

After a national search, Yung Lau, M.D., has been named chair of the UAB Department of Pediatrics and physician in chief of Children's of Alabama, effective March 24, 2025.

Charitharth Vivek Lal, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Neonatology at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, has been named the latest recipient of the school's Featured Discovery award.

Louis Muglia, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund and medical geneticist and pediatrician known for his groundbreaking research on preterm birth and prenatal testing, delivered "The Time to Be Born" at the Heersink Grand Rounds on Jan. 30.. His talk explored the complex mechanisms that determine birth timing and the genetic factors involved.