2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

PEDIATRIC OBESITY WEIGHT EVALUATION REGISTRY (POWER) Stephanie Wallace, M.D., MSPH, FSAHM, FAAP, is the site-PI for this project. Pediatric Obesity Weight Evaluation Registry (POWER) is a prospective pilot project of children and adolescents presenting for weight management. The mission of POWER is to better understand and improve the health outcomes of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity who are participating in multicomponent weight management programs. Multicomponent programs offer treatments that address nutrition, physical activity and behavioral strategies. BRIGHT BODIES Dr. Austin serves as the site PI for this project. Aida Miles, Ph.D., MPH, and Dr. Wallace serve as co-investigators. Bright Bodies is an evidenced-based, comprehensive, high-intensity, family-based lifestyle behavior intervention for childhood obesity within the Birmingham community. The project currently serves children aged 8 to 12 who have a BMI at or above the 95th percentile. Evidence supports Bright Bodies for children aged 8 to 16 with a BMI at or above the 85th percentile. This project is delivered by an exercise specialist from the community, recent graduate dietitians and UAB Psychology doctoral students for the behavioral health component. The vision is for Bright Bodies to become a sustainable clinical service available in conjunction to SHINE Weight Management Clinic. IMPROVING PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PREP) UPTAKE AND USE AMONG BLACK ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN ALABAMA Dr. Hill served as the PI on this project, which is funded by a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) K23 early career development award. This project focuses on using qualitative and quantitative methods, including human-centered design, to adapt the HealthMpowerment app for dyadic communication between Black adolescents in Alabama and an adult support person. Dr. Coyne Beasley is a research mentor on this study. ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC Dr. Hill served as the co-investigator for this study, which is funded by Administrative Supplement Opportunities. This is a qualitative study evaluating provider and youth perspectives and experiences with PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) access in urban, suburban and rural Alabama. This project is sponsored by the NIH Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)/AIDS Research Centers (ARC). EDUCATING COMMUNITY PROVIDERS ABOUT HIV AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS Dr. Hill is the PI on this project. She is serving as a faculty member at the Southeast STD/HIV Prevention Training Center. This five year grant focuses on providing education to community providers throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida about HIV and sexually transmitted infections in addition to leveraging the sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic infrastructure within these states to expand PrEP access. It will analyze the success of these interventions. TRANSITION READINESS (TRAQ) PROGRAM Dr. Coyne-Beasley is the PI for this program. The goals of this program are to assess adolescent transition readiness and facilitate skills development for patients to take charge of their health based on the core elements of healthcare transition. This study also includes an assessment and addresses the social determinants of health that impede transition. MINI MEDICAL SCHOOL Dr. Coyne-Beasley is the administrator for this program. The UAB Department of Pediatrics established the Mini Medical School to provide a longitudinal series of virtual and in-person experiences to increase middle school students’ awareness of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers, with a particular focus on healthcare. The program also hopes to increase the pipeline for those who have traditionally been under-represented in medicine (URiM). The Mini Medical School selects a cohort of students from schools in the Birmingham and surrounding area to participate in the program during the school year. This cohort meets twice monthly to hear from a variety of healthcare and science professionals about their careers and participate in hands-on STEM activities. Drs. Shaundra Blakemore and Brian Sims serve as the co-directors of this program. UAB CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, COMMUNITY HEALTH SCHOLARS GRANT Dr. Austin is the PI on this study. This study focuses on community-based participatory research (CBPR) to address issues connected to health in the community, especially social determinants of health. UAB CENTER FOR ENGAGEMENT IN DISABILITY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION SCIENCE Dr. Austin is the Co-PI on this study. This study focuses on evaluating biopsychosocial outcomes of mindfulness-based instruction in school-aged children with specific learning disabilities. PROJECT LEAP (LINKAGE, EDUCATION AND PREVENTION) Rebekah Savage, M.D., MPH, is the PI on this Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA)-funded project to improve HIV prevention education for adolescents using drugs or alcohol in the Birmingham area. 2023 PUBLICATIONS HIGH-IMPACT PUBLICATIONS J Appl Behav Anal. 2023 Feb 9. Using an intensive interdisciplinary telehealth model to treat pediatric feeding disorders. Meeta R Patel, Kerri Rosenlund, Stephanie E Miller, Ashley S Andersen, Aida Miles. J Adolesc Health. 2023 Feb 11;S1054-139X(23)00012-5. “Sex. Maybe We Should Do Things to be Healthy About It.” Adolescent Caregiver Discussions About Sex. Samantha V Hill, Maira Sohail, Delima Bhagat, Amy Ball, Theolishia V Smith, Tamera Coyne Beasley, Tina Y Simpson, Latesha Elopre, Lynn T Matthews.

2023 Academic Annual Report

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