Inside Pediatrics Spring/Summer 2026

HONORS Kitchens Named to Nominating Committee of the Societies for Pediatric Urology David Kitchens, M.D., FAAP, associate professor in the Department of Urology, was named to the nominating committee of the Societies for Pediatric Urology (SPU). The SPU is a nonprofit society whose main purpose is to promote pediatric urology, appropriate practice, education, and exchanges among practitioners involved in the treatment of genitourinary disorders in children. Foster Elected to Society for Pediatric Research Christy Foster, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, has been elected to membership in the Society for Pediatric Research. The society is a prestigious academic organization that recognizes physician-scientists and cultivates a diverse network of child health researchers through collaboration, community, mentorship, and advocacy. Election to membership reflects Foster’s commitment to advancing pediatric research and her contributions to improving the health and well-being of children. Turner Named Fellow of the American Headache Society Scott Turner, DNP, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, was elected a Fellow of the American Headache Society (AHS). Fellow status is a peer-recognized honor awarded to individuals who demonstrate a high level of professional and scholarly achievement and who have made significant contributions to the field of headache medicine. The American Headache Society is a professional organization dedicated to improving Tong Accepted into ASE SERF Program Carmen Tong, D.O., associate professor in the Department of Urology, was accepted into the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) 2026–2027 Surgical Educational Research Fellowship (SERF) program. Her capstone project will be curriculum development for robot training. the lives of people impacted by migraine and other headache disorders.

McKinney Honored by Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Jaime McKinney, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Academic General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, was honored by the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AL-AAP) for her leadership in the Pages Over Pixels campaign, which encourages families to choose books and play over digital screen use in young children. The project includes educational materials for providers and families. The initiative was funded through a grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health, allowing the project to expand across the state. Three Psychologists Honored by Alabama Psychological Association Three psychologists from Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics were honored for their contributions to psychology at the Alabama Psychological Association Annual Conference. Heather Austin, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Division of Adolescent Medicine, earned the C.J. Rosecrans Jr., Ph.D., Spirit of APA Award for her leadership, advocacy, and dedication to advancing the profession. Nina Reynolds, Ph.D., pediatric psychology services lead in the Children’s of Alabama Department of Behavioral Health, was recognized with the Outstanding Early Career Psychologist Award for her dedication to pediatric psychology and her growing impact as a leader in the field. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented posthumously to Avi Madan Swain, Ph.D., honoring her remarkable career in teaching, research, and clinical practice, along with her long standing commitment to APA and psychology in Alabama. Joseph Awarded Urology Medal David Joseph, M.D., FACS, FAAP, professor in the Department of Urology, was honored with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Urology Medal, the highest honor given to a pediatric urologist for outstanding contributions to the field. The medal AWARDS

features the Della Robbia symbol, which is the swaddled baby symbol dating back to the Middle Ages and is the AAP’s insignia since the 1940s. Schmitt Receives Kaplowitz Abstract Award Jessica A. Schmitt, M.D., MSHQS, FAAP, assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, was awarded the Paul Kaplowitz, M.D., Abstract Award for her work in advocating for cost-effective and quality care in pediatric endocrinology. Feig Named Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award Winner Daniel Feig, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, director of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, received the 2025 Wallace Alexander Clyde Distinguished Service Award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The Wallace Clyde Award was initiated in 1984 by the UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama to recognize outstanding physicians who have devoted a lifetime of service to children and their families. Rife Receives Emerging Investigator Excellence Award Eileen Rife, M.D., MS, assistant professor in the Division Investigator Excellence Award from the American College of Rheumatology. Rife was recognized for her abstract, “Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) as a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker of Lung Disease in Pediatric Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Preliminary Findings from a Multisite U.S. Cohort.” The Emerging Investigator Excellence Award highlights outstanding abstracts presented by early-career investigators, with only one award granted per abstract category. D’Sa Recognized with ASPEN26 Travel Award Saskia D’Sa, MBBS, fellow in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, received the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition’s ASPEN26 Travel Award for Pediatric GI Fellows. D’Sa was one of four fellows selected nationwide to attend the ASPEN 2026 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference in Long Beach, California. of Pediatric Rheumatology, was selected to receive the Emerging

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