On Sept. 12, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Pediatric Hospital Medicine hosted the second annual PHM Incubator in the Bradley Lecture Center at Children’s of Alabama.
Originally created as a scholarship fair to connect learners with research opportunities in pediatric hospital medicine, this year’s event expanded its focus to address a pressing national concern: declining interest in pediatrics.
By partnering with the Nuts About Pediatrics, a student interest group at the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, organizers tailored the event to medical students (MS1s and MS2s) and highlighted pediatric research as a pathway to increasing engagement in the field.
The response was enthusiastic, with more than 50 learners attending and engaging with the Department of Pediatrics faculty across multiple subspecialties including hospital medicine, emergency medicine, neonatology, endocrinology, hematology/oncology and infectious diseases. Students were able to demonstrate interest in specific research projects through a REDCap survey, which facilitated 94 new connections between students and potential faculty research mentors.
Reflecting on the event, JE Kuykendall, UAB Heersink School of Medicine MS2 class vice president, said, “I thought it was incredible that so many busy physicians took time to talk to medical students about their research and even try and get them involved. Projects had such variety that anyone who came was able to find something they were interested in.”
“I also heard so many of my fellow students say that this was something that really made them consider exploring a career in pediatrics. It was a great opportunity to meet amazing faculty, learn more about pediatrics and pediatric research and work on projects that benefit patients and also our future careers” said Kuykendall.
Stephanie Berger, M.D., lead mentor for the UAB Heersink School of Medicine Hirschowitz Learning Community, participated as a faculty research mentor and welcomed the chance to connect with early medical students. “The secret to changing the downtrend in pediatrics? Early exposure to the best subspecialty,” said Berger.
Looking ahead, organizers hope to broaden participation to include the entire Department of Pediatrics for the 2026 event.