2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

UAB has partnered with the Rural Health Medical Program, Inc. (RHMP), the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), and the Consortium for Rural Alabama Water and Wastewater Management (CFRAWAWM) and the CDC to improve the failing sanitation systems, educate the public on poor sanitation risks, and connect rural healthcare providers with patients to screen for home conditions.

with Whitfield Regional Hospital, Selma Pediatrics, and other regional health providers, together with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the Alabama Medicaid Alabama Coordinated Health Network (ACHN), the Alabama Asthma Coalition, and the Community Action Agency, Drs. Poole, Magruder and Virella-Lowell will work to leverage existing resources and community partners to improve access to quality care and preventative services to improve asthma in children in the region.

Isabel Virella-Lowell, M.D.

“ “The Alabama Black Belt is a region of our state that is rural, has suffered decades of outmigration and economic decline and as a result is chronically under-resourced.”

– Claudette Poole, M.D.

Teri Magruder, M.D.

“This program began as a disease surveillance project, to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic disease in children in the Alabama Black Belt,” explained Poole. “Although, our investigations did not identify any cases of intestinal parasitic infection, we have identified children in certain communities that are rural and predominantly African American and that do not have access to safe water and effective sanitation.” The program has evolved into a coalition of academic, non-profit organizations, community based groups, community leaders, and local and state government agencies working towards sustainable solutions to ensure equitable access to safe water and effective sanitation to all communities. With funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Dr. Poole is working with Teri Magruder, M.D., associate professor, and Isabel Virella-Lowell, M.D., professor in the Division of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, on the HRSA Rural Care Coordination project to improve outcomes for children with Asthma in the Black Belt. In collaboration

“The Alabama Black Belt is a region of our state that is rural, has suffered decades of outmigration and economic decline and as a result is chronically under resourced,” said Poole. “Despite these conditions, there are vibrant, close-knit communities that are finding innovative ways to support households, children and families to thrive. It has been immensely inspiring meeting and working alongside many remarkable individuals and community organizations teaching us how to do this work well.” “The metrics to document outcomes has highlighted stark disparities in many domains, however these measures often overlook the many assets that protect and nurture these incredibly resilient communities despite the challenges.” “We are humbled and privileged to be welcomed by these communities as we look to see how our UAB resources may amplify their work and strengthen ongoing partnerships” ■

2023 Academic Annual Report

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