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Each year the MS3 and MS4 medical students rotating in pediatrics vote on this award to honor the pediatric residents who provide the best educational experience for the. Pediatrics has many amazing residents who work hard to provide meaningful educational opportunities and teaching moments with the students. The students, as well as the Pediatric Clerkship and 4th Year Acting Internship directors are extremely appreciative of everyone’s dedication to the education of these future doctors.

L to R: Drs. Adolfo Molina, Isabella Masler, Meghan Harrison, Adria Luk and Erinn SchmittCongratulations to Meghan Harrison, M.D., Pediatric Resident PGY-3, Adria Luk, M.D., Pediatric Resident PGY-3, Kathryn Cyrus, M.D., Pediatric Resident PGY-2 and Isabell Masler, M.D., Pediatric Resident PGY-1 on receiving the 2021 Quality Improvement Project Award.

Ariel Salas, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, is among three recipients of the 2021 Travel Award grant for Early Career Investigators from the International Pediatric Research Foundation (IPRF) and the journal, Pediatric Research.

Stephen Russell, M.D., professor in the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, has been named to the 2021-2022 class of the Harvard Macy Institute Art Museum-based Health Professions Education Fellowship.

Ginny Karle, M.D., professor in the Division of Neonatology, has retired after 28 years serving the UAB Department of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama and the greater Birmingham community.

Drs. Margaret Marks and Jessica SchmittSeveral faculty and trainees from the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes presented at the Pediatric Endocrinology Society (PES) meeting held virtually April 30 through May 3, 2021.

Two posters presented by members of the division received Presidential Poster Awards and were highlighted in the Presidential Poster Session on April 30.

Orthodox Easter, also called Greek Easter, is celebrated this Sunday, May 2. It is the most important religious holiday for the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians. In addition to the religious events, food and family is also a big part of the observance. 

Happy Easter to those who are celebrating this week.

Mitch

Traci Jester, M.D., associate professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has been selected to serve as chair of the Pediatric Affairs Committee of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. The Pediatric Affairs Committee is a subcommittee of the National Scientific Advisory Committee for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. The committee is responsible for identifying and creating resources to assist with the educational needs of children and adolescents living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Rylie Hightower, BSN, was named one of 10 recipients of the 2021 UAB Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies. This award, named for Dr. Samuel Booth Barker the first graduate dean at UAB, is given each spring to graduate students who represent the highest level of student achievement in the UAB graduate program.

National Volunteer Month is held each April to promote and celebrate volunteerism. In addition this year, April 18-24, 2021 was National Volunteer Week which gave us an opportunity to recognize and appreciate those who serve our community. The Department of Pediatrics at UAB and Children’s’ of Alabama are committed to community engagement and the further expansion of our community engagement efforts.

April has been an important and busy month for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community for over 50 years, with the initial emphasis on promoting awareness of autism by the Autism Society of America in the 1970s. In recent years, as a reflection of the neurodiversity movement and increased inclusion of self-advocates and family members in the development of these initiatives, the emphasis of April has shifted to acceptance of autism. However, this perspective has been voiced for much longer than it has been embraced and implemented. Although this may seem a subtle distinction, the terminology and semantics are extremely important as we strive to support individuals with ASD and their families using a person-centered approach. 

Amy CaJacob, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, has been named the clinical director for the division.

Marjorie Lee White, M.D., professor in the Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, has been elected chair elect for the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Simulation and Innovative Learning Methods (SILM).

Aubrey Coleman, M.D., PGY-3 resident, and several other pediatricians from Alabama, recently attended the 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Advocacy Conference. The conference, held from April 11 to April 13, is typically in Washington, D.C., but was virtual this year for the first time. There were more than 750 pediatricians from across the country in attendance. 

L to R: Snehashis Hazra and Vivek ShuklaSnehashis Hazra, M.D., Third Year Fellow, and Vivek Shukla, M.D., Second Year Fellow, Neonatology, received fellow research awards from the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR) as part of the Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) meeting. These awards are given by the Society for Pediatric Research to honor fellows who are engaged in clinical and basic research and to encourage trainees to pursue careers in academic pediatrics.

Aman Wadhwa, M.D., instructor in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been accepted into the Transdisciplinary Research on Energetics and Cancer (TREC) Training Workshop 2021 fellowship cohort. The TREC 2021 fellowship cohort consists of an array of researchers from a variety of backgrounds including basic, clinical and population cancer research.

Deaf History Month is celebrated each year from March 13 to April 15 to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The month is celebrated over these dates in recognition of three key events in the history of the deaf community in America.

For practicing Muslims, the evening of Monday, April 12, marks the beginning of Ramadan which continues through May 12. The pillars of Islam include: Declaring belief in one God (Allah), Prayers (Salah); Fasting (Saum); Charity (Zakah) and Pilgrimage (Hajj). Ramadan is the holiest month of the year for Muslims and those who observe, fast from dawn until sunset. Fasting is both physical and spiritual. Charity is also very important in Islam, and even more so during Ramadan. Extra prayers are recited and Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran during Ramadan. 

To all who are celebrating, may you have a peaceful Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak.  

Mitch

Please join us in welcoming our Pediatrics Intern Class of 2024, our Med-Peds Intern Class of 2025, our Pediatrics-Genetics Intern of 2025, and our Child Neurology Intern Class of 2026! We are so proud to have these incredibly strong, academically talented interns joining our residency programs in June.

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This observance occurs during Holy Week on the Friday before Easter Sunday. In the Christian religion, Holy Week consists of five days of special significance that commemorate the events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The week begins with Palm Sunday and is celebrated with a blessing and procession of palms. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, and many churches host special services in observance of this day. Observances of this day may also include a foot washing ceremony in remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of his 12 disciples at the Last Supper. Good Friday is observed with a service that is often solemn. Holy Saturday, or Easter Vigil, commemorates the time between the death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection and is usually observed with a service held after sundown. Holy Week concludes with Easter Sunday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  It is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar and is the culmination of the religious period of Lent – a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and sacrifice. Holy Week and Easter symbolize forgiveness, rebirth, and God’s saving power.  

To all people, may this be a time for renewal, repair, and reflection. Happy Easter.

Mitch