2023 Department of Pediatrics Academic Annual Report

Continuing our commitment to early diagnosis and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), Dr. Mick and Sarah Sparks, CNRP, are completing a three-year, follow-up analysis to determine whether lowering the statewide second screen TSH cutoff will detect previously undiagnosed permanent CH. An additional study in progress addresses the accuracy of neonatal thyroid ultrasounds in predicting later onset permanent CH. Finally, Dr. Mick is participating in the collaborative, Phase III, CAHtalyst pediatric study (Neurocrine BioSciences) as the PI for the UAB investigative site. This study examines the potential efficacy of a novel therapeutic agent to reduce corticosteroid requirements in congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Hussein Abdullatif, M.D, and Nicole Barnes, M.D, are participating in the industry-sponsored study on the use of Setmelanotide in the treatment of children and young adults with hypothalamic obesity. PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL AND REGIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIVES, QUALITY-IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND LEARNING NETWORKS Dr. Foster and Dr. Schmitt continue to work with patients, caregivers and diabetes educators to modify and track effectiveness of our current transition education sessions for youth with T1D and T2D. In 2023, standardization in documentation of adolescent diabetes education was initiated, and adult providers for diabetes were surveyed on their needs. This work was presented at the 2023 Children’s of Alabama Safety and Quality Day. Dr. Scott is the PI for the T1D Exchange. Active projects include the Insulin Pump Equity Project. This has been ongoing for nearly two years. We are one of four sites doing work to improve equity in insulin pump use for type 1 diabetes. Our work will be presented to the larger collaborative and will result in a change packet to help other sites work to improve equity in insulin pump use. We published our clinic’s data on Continuous Glucose Monitoring equity this year and showed success in our patient population. The Quality Improvement Collaborative of the T1D Exchange can be found using this link (T1Dx-QI): https://t1dexchange.org/. The spirit of the T1Dx-QI is to improve care and quality of life for children, adults and families affected by type 1 diabetes and includes 50 adult and pediatric centers in the United States. In addition to working locally to improve care for Alabama’s children with T1D, Dr. Scott has a QI work on use of smart insulin pens in high-risk patients and those admitted with DKA as well as in new onset diabetes patients. 2023 PUBLICATIONS HIGH-IMPACT PUBLICATIONS Pediatrics: 8/2023. Combating Scientific Disinformation on Gender-Affirming Care. Meredithe McNamara, Hussein Abdul-Latif, Susan D Boulware, Rebecca Kamody, Laura E Kuper, Christy L Olezeski, Nathalie Szilagyi, Anne Alstott, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Jan 12;dgad015. Intranasal Carbetocin Reduces Hyperphagia, Anxiousness and Distress in Prader Willi Syndrome: CARE-PWS Phase 3 Trial. Elizabeth Roof, Cheri L Deal, Shawn E McCandless, Ronald L Cowan, Jennifer L Miller, Jill K Hamilton, Elizabeth R Roeder, Shana E McCormack, Tamanna R Roshan Lal, Hussein D Abdul-Latif, Andrea M Haqq, Kathryn S Obrynba, Laura C Torchen, Alaina P Vidmar, David H Viskochil, Jean-Pierre Chanoine, Carol K L Lam, Melinda J Pierce, Laurel L Williams, Lynne M Bird, Merlin G Butler, Diane E Jensen, Susan E Myers, Oliver J Oatman, Charumathi Baskaran, Laura J Chalmers, Cary Fu, Nathalie Alos, Scott D McLean, Ajay Shah, Barbara Y Whitman, Brent A Blumenstein, Sarah F Leonard, Jessica P Ernest, Joseph W Cormier, Sara P Cotter, Davis C Ryman. Biomedicines. 2023 Jul 10;11(7):1948. GABA and Combined GABA with GAD65-Alum Treatment Alters Th1 Cytokine Responses of PBMCs from Children with Recent-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. Katie E Heath, Joseph M Feduska, Jared P Taylor, Julie A Houp, Davide Botta, Frances E Lund, Gail J Mick, Gerald McGwin Jr, Kenneth L McCormick, Hubert M Tse. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2023 Sep;52(3):445-457. Lipid Disorders and Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease. Shima Dowla Anwar, Christy Foster, Ambika Ashraf.

Click here for the full list of publications from the division faculty in 2023.

EXTRAMURAL AWARDS & LEADERSHIP ROLES

Ambika Ashraf, M.D. • Ambika Ashraf, M.D., has been elected to the American Pediatric Society (APS). • Dr. Ashraf serves as the co-chair for PES DEI Committee. • Serves as member of the American Board of Pediatrics Sub-Board of Pediatric Endocrinology.

• Serves on the Sub-board of Pediatric Endocrinology Credentials Committee. • Member of the Expert Consensus Panel for familial chylomicronemia Syndrome • Pediatric Dyslipidemia: A Practical Guide 1st ed. 2023 Edition, by Ambika Ashraf (Editor), Bhuvana Sunil (Editor), Springer International Publishing, ISBN-13: 9783031241130. Giovanna Beauchamp, M.D. • Giovanna Beauchamp, M.D., was appointed to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Review and Education Program (PREP) Editorial Boards for Endocrinology. • Serves on editorial board member of JCEM Case Reports.

2023 Academic Annual Report

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