Inside Pediatrics Summer 2022

Dr. Kong Named to Jefferson County Board of Health Michele Kong, M.D. , professor in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, has been elected to the Jefferson County Board of Health. The board has six members, five physicians and the president of the Jefferson County Commission. One physician is elected each year by the members of the Jefferson County Medical Society for a five-year term. Dr. Kong will serve as the board secretary as the newest member. The American Pediatric Society Selects Dr. Whitley for the 2022 APS John Howland Award The American Pediatric Society named Richard J. Whitley, M.D. , distinguished professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, as the 2022 APS John Howland Award recipient, the highest honor bestowed by APS. The APS John Howland Award was created in honor of clinician-scientist John Howland, M.D. Since 1952, the annual award has recognized individuals for their distinguished service to pediatrics. Dr. Whitley is a Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Vice Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Co-Division Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He also holds the titles of Loeb Eminent Scholar Chair in Pediatrics; Professor of Microbiology, Medicine and Neurosurgery; Senior Scientist, Department of Gene Therapy; and Co-Founder and Co-Director, Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance. Dr. Whitley is a leader in the field of clinical virology and an expert on how antiviral therapies fight infections in children and adults. Dr. Whitley’s research spans four decades. He is best known for his pioneering work in herpes antivirals and the development of guidelines for the emergency use of influenza antiviral therapy in infants. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Whitley is the Project Director on a National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant that studied the efficacy of remdesivir. He also has had a critical role in evaluating the safety and effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines. Dr. Willis Named 2022 SSPR Young Faculty Award Kent Willis, M.D. , assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, received the SSPR Young Faculty Award at the Southern Society for Pediatric Research (SSPR) Annual Meeting.

Dr. Shukla Receives Early Career Investigator Award Vivek Shukla, M.D. , assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, received the Mead Johnson Nutrition Early Career Speaker Award at the Perinatal Research Society Annual Meeting.

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