Inside Pediatrics Winter 2019

P E D I A T R I C S

Winter 2019

PIONEERING NEONATE DIALYSIS Novel approach saves the tiniest lives

I t’s hard to believe another decade is almost in the books. The 2010s have been a time of tremendous growth for Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. In 2011, Children’s celebrated 100 years of providing specialized medical care for ill and injured children. What followed was our most significant expansion to date — the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children — opening its doors in 2012. The expansion brought our capacity to 332 patient beds plus 48 neonatal intensive care unit bassinets and made possible the addition of two services — pediatric transplant and pediatric cardiovascular services. The extra space benefits not only our 5,000-plus member staff, but also our increasing inpatient and outpatient population. In 2018, Children’s provided care for youngsters from every county in Alabama, 42 other states and seven foreign countries, representing more than 677,000 outpatient visits and more than 15,000 inpatient admissions.

and heathier patients. In this issue, for example, Children’s nephrologist Dr. David Askenazi’s work to repurpose an adult ultrafiltration device for neonatal dialysis has proven to give babies a better chance of survival. Historically, dialysis has been performed sparingly in neonatal intensive care units due to severe complications. Today, Children’s is a pioneer in the treatment, moving the needle toward a commonplace ideal. We’re also moving the needle toward a more inclusive environment for patients with sensory sensitivities. Children’s Sensory Pathway launched as a pilot in our Emergency Department in 2016 and has since expanded to inpatient units. Spearheaded by a committee led by critical care physician Dr. Michele Kong, the pathway has made what was once a stressful patient and parent experience into a calmer one. Last but not least, physicians and staff in our adolescent medicine division in September cut the ribbon for their newly renovated Adolescent Health Center. The center is home to nine specialty clinics dedicated to both the physical and

psychosocial well-being of teenagers and young adults. Among the clinics is the multidisciplinary Leadership Education in Adolescent

Health (LEAH) Clinic, one of seven in the U.S. and the only one of its kind in the Southeast. As a new decade approaches, our commitment to children remains strong. Here’s to 2020 and continuing to uphold our mission of affecting and influencing positive change in children’s health and well-being.

Enjoy,

Every day, new advancements and research help create better outcomes

On the Cover: David Askenazi, M.D., MSPH, director of the Pediatric and Infant Center for Acute Nephrology at Children’s of Alabama, visits patient Kynadee McVey of Weogufka, Alabama. Kynadee receives dialysis treatment via the Aquadex FlexFlow® System. A recent study shows pediatric use of the Aquadex spearheaded at Children’s of Alabama yielded higher survival rates and lower complications than previous studies. Read more on page 10.

Children’s of Alabama 1600 7th Avenue South Birmingham, Alabama 35233

(205) 638-9100 childrensal.org

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Meet Dr. Girish Dhall

ADMINISTRATION Mike Warren, President and CEO Coke Matthews, Executive Vice President Garland Stansell, Chief Communications Officer EDITORIAL Cassandra Mickens, Editor Trent Graves, Design

Changing Bodies, Changing Minds

Pioneering Neonate Dialysis

Amy Dabbs, Digital Content Denise McGill, Photography Patrick Deavours, Photography CONTRIBUTORS

Andre Green Adam Kelley Rhonda Lee Lother

John Tracy Tina Wilson PHYSICIAN MARKETING Tiffany Kaczorowski MEDICAL LEADERSHIP Mitchell Cohen, M.D. Katharine Reynolds Ireland Chair of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham Physician-in-Chief, Children’s of Alabama Mike Chen, M.D. Joseph M. Farley Chair in Pediatric Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Chief of Pediatric Surgery and Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s of Alabama Lee I. Ascherman, M.D., M.P.H. Chief of Service, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Alabama at Birmingham For questions or additional information or to share feedback, please contact us at insidepediatrics@childrensal.org. An online version of the magazine is available at childrensal.org/insidepediatrics.

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A Calming Space

News, Honors and Awards

CONT E N T

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MEET DR. GIRISH DHALL Children’s of Alabama and the UAB Department of Pediatrics welcomes its new Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation division director as research and innovation continue to drive advances in clinical care

I n January 2019, Girish Dhall, M.D., was named division director of the Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation program at Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Dhall, formerly associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Neuro-oncology Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, relocated to Birmingham with his family this past summer. Inside Pediatrics talked to Dr. Dhall about his plans for the division and his transition to the Yellowhammer State. Q :What brought you to Children’s of Alabama/UAB? A :What brought me here was the quality of the program at Children’s of Alabama and UAB, and the people here. I was looking for a new challenge, and this program was looking for a leader who could help build and elevate the program. When I came here, I was really impressed by the high caliber of the people here, not just in the clinic, but also in the research arena as well as the existing infrastructure at Children’s of Alabama and UAB, which made my decision quite easy. Q :What do you mean by infrastructure? A :The ability to conduct clinical trials and research is very solid on the UAB side and the clinical care is very strong on the Children’s of Alabama side. Plus, there are so many subspecialists you don’t have to send patients out of the hospital, which makes treating patients with chronic conditions like cancer much easier. Q :What’s your top priority for the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology as its new leader? A :My biggest priority is to build a well-rounded program — a program that is not only strong in its clinical mission, which is to provide the best treatment possible for children with cancer and blood disorders, but one that also has a strong research base, which includes clinical, basic and translational research. We already have a strong clinical program with top-notch faculty providing outstanding care to our patients, as well as strong clinical and translational research programs in the area of brain tumors, sickle cell disease and survivorship. I hope to build on the existing strengths of the program and add clinical and translational research programs in leukemia and sarcomas. Eventually, my hope is that these efforts will lead to providing more cutting-edge therapies for children with cancer and blood disorders in the state of Alabama and the surrounding area for decades to come.

Q :What advancements and strategies are underway at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama? A :We have tremendous efforts under way at our center to advance the care of children and young adults with cancer and blood disorders. Our Leukemia, Lymphoma and Histiocytosis Program is actively developing immunotherapy treatments, as well as targeted and risk- based treatments. This will provide the optimal balance of improving cure rates while minimizing treatment side effects. Our Neuro-Oncology Program offers innovative clinical trials, initiated and conducted by our faculty, that are available for difficult-to-treat populations. Such trials are available for patients with relapsed/refractory disease (oncolytic immunovirotherapy trial), infants and young children (Head Start trial), and children with neurofibromatosis. We have an active Clinical/Translational Sarcoma Program focused on utilizing genomic and kinomic data to generate personalized therapeutic strategies for each patient. In coordination with the Medical Oncology Program at UAB, we are developing a program centered around adolescents and young adults with cancer, which has been deemed a clinical and research priority by the National Cancer Institute. Additionally, we are attempting to enhance the treatment of sickle cell pain. We have created a Sickle Cell Clinical

Raven Myrick, CRNP, right, places a virtual reality headset on patient Olivia Parker in Children’s of Alabama’s Sickle Cell Pain Clinic.

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COMMITTED TO A CURE

Program that provides traditional pain medication and other therapies, including virtual reality based on relaxation techniques. We have developed a new thrombosis clinic to manage the over 100 cases of blood clots treated in children each year. We are leading the advancement in hemophilia care by introducing a novel therapy that reduces the daily need for IV medications for children with bleeding disorders. Q :Where do you see the fight against cancer in 10 years? A :Over the last five decades, we have made significant strides in our fight against cancer. We are now able to cure approximately 80% of all childhood cancer patients compared to 10% in the 1960s. However, the therapies we use, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, sometimes have lasting side effects on our patients, especially young children. In the last decade or so, there has been an explosion of scientific techniques that have helped us understand the biology of these cancers and what makes them grow. In the next 10 years, I hope that we will have a shift in designing treatments that are directed specifically at the cancer cells and genetic derangements within them and spare normal organs and tissues, i.e., provide therapies that are more effective and less toxic. Q :You chair the Young Investigator’s Committee for Children’s Oncology Group. What advice do you have for young researchers? A :Research can be extremely, extremely frustrating in the sense that it takes a long time to complete, and obtaining funding is a huge challenge because it’s extremely competitive. So my advice is don’t give up. Q :What are you most excited about living in Birmingham? A :We’re having a great time. We go on a walk with our dog in the evening, and we do less walking and more talking with our neighbors. We love the people their Southern hospitality, the barbecue, the blue skies and less traffic.

1,500 The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders is committed to finding a cure for more than children each year who come to us for care.

300 At our Center, more than dedicated pediatric healthcare professionals provide exceptional patient care, education and research.

84% of children

diagnosed with cancer in 2019 will be cured. 90% State-of-the-art

screenings have reduced the rate of stroke in sickle cell patients by

Our team is 1 of ONLY 21 SITES nationwide to participate in the CHILDREN’S ONCOLOGY GROUP PEDIATRIC EARLY PHASE CLINICAL TRIALS NETWORK (PEP CTN) which allows our families to have access to the newest drugs and most promising clinical trials.

We are conducting the 1ST EVER PEDIATRIC IMMUNOTHERAPY CLINICAL TRIAL using the genetically altered herpes virus G207. Our team has treated more than 10 patients from across the U.S. and North America.

For more information about pediatric hematology and oncology at Children’s of Alabama, visit childrensal.org/cancer .

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Learn how you can help at ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure

CHANGING BODIES, CHANGING MINDS

Expert adolescent medicine physicians at Children’s of Alabama take holistic approach to treating tweens, teens and young adults

P hysicians and staff of the William A. Daniel Jr. Adolescent Health Center at Children’s of Alabama recently hosted an open house for their newly renovated clinic space. The renovation, the result of meeting increased demand for specialized adolescent medicine, doubled the number of patient rooms, improved patient access and expanded services. The clinic now houses 11 exam rooms, each outfitted with a computer, as well as a conference room, physician and nurse work rooms. The renovation comes on the heels of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics introducing its new Division of Adolescent Medicine, formerly part of the Division of General Pediatrics. The Adolescent Health Center is home to one of seven premier programs in the U.S., federally funded through the Maternal Child Health Bureau as a Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Training Program. The center’s LEAH Clinic is the only one of its kind in the Southeast.

“This funding allows us to train our multidisciplinary adolescent providers to be leaders in clinical care, research, public health policy and advocacy. It also allows us to provide comprehensive adolescent health care considering one’s physical and psychosocial well-being,” said Division Director and Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, FAAP, FSHAM. Coyne- Beasley is also the Derroll M. Dawkins, M.D. Endowed Chair in Adolescent Medicine and Vice Chair of Pediatrics for Community Engagement at UAB. At the Adolescent Health Center, more than 5,000 adolescents and young adults are seen each year by a team of physicians, nurses, nutritionists, psychologists and social workers specially trained in adolescent health. Clinic programs specialize in both primary and subspecialty consultations for patients ages 11 to 21. Services at the center’s Adolescent Well Clinic include comprehensive health assessments, immunizations, contraception,

Samantha Hill, M.D., MPH, instructor in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama, examines a patient at the William A. Daniel Jr. Adolescent Health Center at Children’s of Alabama. The center recently underwent renovations to meet increased demand for specialized adolescent medicine.

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prevention and management of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, acne management, evaluations of menstrual disorders, sports physicals and transition to adult-oriented health care. Specialty clinics focus on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, nutrition, eating disorders, weight management, female adolescent bleeding and menstrual disorders, complex care (LEAH Clinic) and substance abuse. Nefertiti Harmon Durant, M.D., MPH, associate professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Adolescent Health Center, says today’s adolescents face far more stressors than previous generations, chief among them being exposure to the Internet, social media and cyberbullying. There is also stress due to the pressures of academic performance, athletic performance, body image and perceptions of social standing. Durant and Coyne-Beasley strongly believe adolescent medicine is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on rising generations. “When I was in medical school, I saw a lot of adolescents who were struggling and who didn’t have the needed support in their lives from teachers, doctors, nurses and other professionals,” Durant said. “If I can be a mentor to the young patients I’m seeing, if I can support them through this period in their lives, they can overcome barriers and attain long-term success.” For more information, visit childrensal.org/adolescentmedicineclinics . Below: Nefertiti Durant, M.D., MPH, associate professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Adolescent Health Center, says today’s adolescents face far more stressors than previous generations. At right: Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., MPH, FAAP, FSHAM, professor and director of the Division of Adolescent Medicine, says patient care encompasses both physical and psychosocial well-being.

ADOLESCENT SPECIALTY CLINICS The William A. Daniel Jr. Adolescent Health Center at Children’s of Alabama sees more than 5,000 teenagers and young adults each year, and is home to an Adolescent Well Clinic and eight other specialty clinics. The center is accepting new primary and specialty care appointments. ADHD Clinic: This clinic is dedicated to the evaluation and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD), as well as school/learning problems. Adolescent Nutrition Clinic: Adolescents and young adults are seen for a variety of nutritional concerns, including sports nutrition, weight management (loss or gain), healthy eating, anemia and elevated blood lipid levels. Eating Disorder Clinic: This clinic specializes in the medical, psychological and nutritional care of adolescents and young adults with eating disorders and disordered eating. FAB Clinic: The Female Adolescent Bleeding (FAB) Clinic specializes in the medical care of adolescents and young adults with menstrual disorders, including those due to bleeding disorders. In partnership with Children’s/UAB Pediatric Hematology, FAB is a Women and Girls Bleeding Disorder Clinic of Excellence. LARC Clinic: The Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Clinic provides contraception options for adolescents and young women who want long-term contraception. LEAH Clinic: The Leadership in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Clinic offers services to help adolescents and young adults with various concerns, including management of chronic medical conditions, mental health concerns, healthy and active lifestyles, school problems or educational needs, reducing health risks and building resiliency. SHINE Clinic: The Support Help and Instruction for Nutrition and Exercise (SHINE) Clinic specializes in weight management for children and adolescents. The clinic is located at Children’s South Pediatric Outpatient Center. Substance Use Assessment Clinic: This clinic sees adolescents and young adults who have concerns regarding drug or alcohol use. Psychologists assist with assessments and management plans.

Tune in to the Inside Pediatrics Podcast to hear more about adolescent medicine at Children’s of Alabama. To listen, visit childrensal.org/podcast or listen via Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play or Spotify.

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Daryl Ingram, BSN, RN; Alecia Spurlock, BSN, RN; Louise Turlington, BSN, RN; Kara Short, MSN, CRNP and David Askenazi, M.D., with patient Kynadee McVey in Children’s of Alabama’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Kynadee receives dialysis treatment via the Aquadex FlexFlow® System, pictured in foreground.

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PIONEERING NEONATE DIALYSIS

Using a novel approach and a machine designed to remove fluid from adults with heart failure, Children’s of Alabama gives its tiniest patients a chance at survival

“A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it.” T his Albert Einstein quote is a favorite of pediatric nephrologist David Askenazi, M.D., MSPH, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professor and director of the Pediatric and Infant Center for Acute Nephrology at Children’s of Alabama. The problem? High rates of patient complications and technical challenges to support neonates with kidney failure and excess fluid accumulation. Traditional continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) machines in neonates require at least 100 milliliters of blood to live outside the body. This can be half or even more of the baby’s entire blood volume. “Until 2013, the biggest problem in taking care of babies undergoing CRRT was that their blood pressure would come crashing down,” Askenazi said. “We devised different ways to prepare for this challenge. Two attendings would be ready at the bedside with code medications drawn up. We would discuss what would be the first, second and third intervention we would use prior to starting the therapy. We realized that there had to be better way, so we hypothesized that if we could use a smaller circuit, we could avoid all these problems.” And so that’s what they did. In 2013, Askenazi realized that an ultrafiltration device designed for fluid removal in adults with diuretic heart failure could be repurposed for neonate dialysis. “If we could adapt a machine that requires one- third of the blood of the traditional machine volume to do what we needed, we knew we could improve our ability to support these babies.” Pediatric use of the Aquadex FlexFlow® System yielded higher survival rates and lower complications than previous studies, according to a study published in the October 2019 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The study evaluated the 119 patients and more than 800 circuits at three institutions — Children’s of Alabama, Cincinnati Children’s and Seattle Children’s — and suggested that the Aquadex can successfully be adjusted for use on babies who weigh as little as 2 pounds and are critically ill.

“This machine allows us to do the job of the kidneys for the baby without the risk associated with using so much blood to prime the machine,” said Askenazi, also the study’s senior author. “Now we have complete control over their fluids, electrolytes and waste products.” In 2018, babies in Children’s of Alabama’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) spent 1,100 days on dialysis compared to just 30 days in 2013. Today, Children’s of Alabama has five Aquadex machines with two to three babies receiving dialysis at any one time. Aquadex’s manufacturer is now pursuing a pediatric indication for the machine.

It’s been a game changer to our program.

David Askenazi, M.D., MSPH

“Our neonatologists and cardiac intensivists are no longer afraid of doing this therapy, even in really tiny, really sick infants. Our nurses have become proficient at it, and our babies hardly know that they’re on the therapy,” Askenazi said. “It’s been a game changer to our program. Without this machine, many of our babies wouldn’t have had a chance to live.” Kara Short, MSN, CRNP, an acute dialysis nurse practitioner at Children’s of Alabama, agrees, saying that the Aquadex has given pediatric healthcare practitioners the ability to safely dialyze babies from birth. “For our babies born with diseased or absent kidneys, Aquadex has given them a chance at life, because in the past, the machines to treat these patients came with too many complications,” Short said.

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As for what the future holds, Askenazi said he expects neonate dialysis to expand beyond the current three sites. Sooner than later, top pediatric nephrology programs across the world will use a neonatal circuit to treat babies in need of dialysis. “We have shown we can now support these babies safely,” Askenazi said. “The impetus is now on us to make sure the patients who can benefit from this therapy make it to Children’s of Alabama so we can give them a chance for life.” Aquadex Successes: Meet Landon and Charlie Belle One-year-old Landon Wilson of Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, was diagnosed in utero with a bladder outlet obstruction, damaging his kidneys and landing him in Children’s of Alabama’s NICU. First, doctors worked to stabilize Landon’s breathing, as his oxygen levels fluctuated from 20 to 80%. Landon was then placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support his heart and lungs, and the Aquadex to support his kidney function. “Given Landon’s tenuous status and need for multiple support devices at birth to keep him alive, we were not sure if he would survive. He continued requiring maximal respiratory and cardiac support as well as dialysis in those first few weeks,” Short said. “He not only survived, but has Landon Wilson of Jackson’s Gap, Alabama, diagnosed in utero with a bladder outlet obstruction, was placed on the Aquadex to support his kidney function. Today, he requires no dialysis and recently celebrated his first birthday with a Superman photo shoot, inset.

continued to amaze us with his healing, growth and development. Today, he requires no oxygen and no dialysis.” Landon spent the first six months of his life at Children’s of Alabama before he was discharged home. Said his mother, Lasheka Pulliam, “He improved enough to where the Children’s of Alabama staff started training me on how to take care of him so I could bring him home. It was overwhelming at first, but I quickly became accustomed to everyday life with a renal baby.” Today, Landon is well and visits Children’s of Alabama periodically for checkups. Eventually, he will need a kidney transplant. One-year-old Charlotte “Charlie Belle” Jacks, of Prattville, Alabama, was just 12 weeks in utero when doctors discovered via an ultrasound that her bladder wasn’t emptying as it should. Also, because she didn’t have enough amniotic fluid in the womb, her lungs were underdeveloped. Charlie Belle was transferred to Children’s of Alabama and placed on ECMO. Meanwhile, her parents, Ryan and Megg

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Jacks, learned that Charlie Belle’s kidneys would never function, and she would need dialysis to stay alive. She underwent multiple surgeries for bowel perforation and catheter placement. Through the ups and downs, Charlie Belle’s care team never gave up. “We had to do dialysis 24 hours a day for months for her to get adequate nutrition to heal her surgeries and grow her lungs,” Askenazi said. “As she grew, we were able to reduce the number of hours of dialysis, allowing her to receive dialysis treatment at night and get occupational and physical therapy during the day.” The Aquadex played a key role in Charlie Belle’s treatment.

After seven months in the hospital, Charlie Belle was discharged home on four days a week for hemodialysis at Children’s of Alabama. She recently transitioned to home dialysis with visits to the hospital at least once a month. Charlie Belle, too, will eventually need a kidney transplant, but in the meantime, the Jacks are simply grateful to those who saved their daughter’s life. “Without them, she wouldn’t be here,” Megg Jacks said. For more information about pediatric nephrology at Children’s of Alabama, visit childrensal.org/nephrology .

Born with failing kidneys, Charlotte “Charlie Belle” Jacks of Prattville, Alabama, recently transitioned to home dialysis with visits to Children’s of Alabama at least once a month. Below: Charlie was placed on the Aquadex 24 hours a day for months while she healed from her surgeries.

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A CALMING SPACE

Children’s of Alabama pathway designed for patients with sensory sensitivities has been equally impactful on families, providers

W hen Sladen Fisher got a bad cut on his earlobe at school, his mother, Jennifer Fisher, worried the sights and sounds of Children’s of Alabama’s Emergency Department would be too stressful for her son. That’s because Sladen has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory processing disorder. At the time of the Sladen’s visit, Children’s of Alabama had just launched its Sensory Pathway, designed for patients with conditions such as ADHD, autism and Down syndrome. In 2016, the pathway began as a pilot project in the Emergency Department; however, it has since expanded to One Day Surgery and several inpatient units at Children’s of Alabama, including the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pulmonary Care Unit and Special Care Unit. Future plans include expansion to ancillary and outpatient services. The pathway made a lasting impact on Sladen. Back at school a few weeks later, he presented a report about someone he considers a hero. He chose Children’s of Alabama Child Life Specialist Shelby Smith, who stayed by his side during his visit, explained his treatment in terms he understood and provided him with an iPad and fidget toys for distraction and comfort. “In his mind, she was a hero, someone who went above and beyond to help him,” Jennifer said. She made what

developing an online training module. The task force is also working with information technology specialists to flag patients with sensory sensitivities from the point of admission. “We tailor education and training to suit each unit’s needs because each unit’s workflow and culture is different,” Kong said. “The success of the pathway is a direct reflection of our providers’ passion to learn. There’s buy-in from our providers because they know it’s good for their patients.” As a parent, Kong, too, knows how jarring a hospital visit can be for a child with sensory sensitivities. Her oldest son, Abram, was diagnosed with autism at age 4. The diagnosis inspired Kong and her husband, Julian Maha, M.D., to found KultureCity®, a nonprofit that works to “create acceptance and inclusion for all individuals with unique abilities,” according to its mission statement. This year, KultureCity was ranked fourth on Fast Company magazine’s list of the most innovative companies in the world. KultureCity not only partners with local organizations in Birmingham, but also with national organizations such as the NBA and NFL. “We never imagined it would reach this scale,” Kong said. “It impressed on us that there’s a lot of power when a collective group of people have the same belief and passion for change.”

could have been an incredibly difficult situation so amazing. She really was our hero.” The pathway has been equally impactful on Children’s of Alabama, said Michele Kong, M.D. associate professor in pediatric critical care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pediatrics. “The pathway has been so empowering for our providers,” said Kong, who serves on the Sensory Pathway Task Force, also comprised of nurses, informatics specialists and child life specialists. Unit by unit, the task force provides education and training and is

Members of the Children’s of Alabama Sensory Pathway Task Force hold items, including sunglasses, noise-cancelling headphones and fidget toys, used to distract and comfort patients. From left: Jennifer Casey, Information Technology; Jennifer Deneke, Family Services; Michele Kong, M.D.; Jennifer Thomas, Nurse Educator and Chelsea Brown, Child Life.

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News, Honors and Awards

$37.5M GRANT WILL ADDRESS RESEARCH OF HIGH-PRIORITY INFECTIONS The Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center (AD3C) at UAB has been awarded a five-year, $37.5 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Centers of Excellence for Translational Research to study and develop treatment for high-priority infections. Led by Richard Whitley, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases, AD3C’s goals involve developing new small molecule therapeutics for emerging and re-emerging viral infections. Additionally, AD3C provides an infrastructure to accelerate the development of new potential drugs from the lab toward the clinic. “This grant will help us improve and create new treatment options for these four virus families and ultimately impact the global understanding of these viruses at large,” Whitley said. “The viruses of focus within AD3C are of the highest priority to the United States government. We are confident that our future findings will help transform the way we treat patients, unmet medical needs and the safety of millions.” WHITLEY RECEIVES NFID LEADERSHIP AWARD Richard Whitley, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) John P. Utz Leadership Award. This award recognizes Whitley’s leadership in the field of clinical virology and infectious diseases. “Johnathan Utz has been a hero in infectious diseases. All of us who practice this specialty emulate his contributions. This is very much of an honor,” Dr. Whitley said about receiving this award. The John P. Utz Leadership Award was established by the NFID in 2007 as a lasting memorial to the late John P. Utz, M.D., a champion in the fight against infectious diseases. The award is presented to individuals who exemplify leadership in the field of infectious diseases, as selected by the NFID Board of Directors. KIMBERLIN TO CHAIR UAB HUMAN RESEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE David Kimberlin, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases, has been named chair of the newly established Human Research Advisory Committee (HRAC) at UAB. Kimberlin will serve a two-year term as committee chair. The HRAC will provide a forum for increasing transparency and seeking input from stakeholders engaged in human subjects research at UAB in order to identify opportunities for improvement in our human research protection program. RESEARCHERS AWARDED $10M TO STUDY ACUTE FLACCID MYELITIS The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded the UAB Department of Pediatrics a $10 million contract to conduct a multicenter, multinational natural history study of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in pediatric patients. “Since at least 2014, children have been at risk of developing a polio-like syndrome likely due to enteroviruses, and this study will provide the basis for understanding the cause of those children’s paralysis,” said David Kimberlin, M.D. , co-director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UAB and co-principal investigator of the study. “Knowledge gained from this study hopefully will provide the foundation for future treatment studies of antiviral drugs. We hope to better understand why acute flaccid myelitis occurs and which children are most at risk, and to develop the biorepository and associated clinical database to understand what we can do about it in the future.”

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$6.38M GRANT TO STUDY BLOOD CANCERS, BLOOD MARROW TRANSPLANTATION IMPACT

UAB researchers have been awarded a $6.38 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to determine the long-term burden of morbidity borne by blood cancer patients treated with or without blood or marrow transplantation or BMT. In 2018, an estimated 175,000 individuals were diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy — or blood cancer, such as leukemia, myeloma or lymphoma — in the United States. Such cancers are typically managed through high-intensity chemotherapy with or without radiation. Patients with progressive disease or high risk of relapse are treated with even higher-intensity chemotherapy/radiation and BMT. “Survival rates after BMT are improving at the rate of 10%per decade — steady improvements in outcome have resulted in a growing number of BMT survivors, a population uniquely vulnerable to long-term life-threatening chronic morbidity,” said Smita Bhatia, M.D. , Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, principal investigator of the study, director of the Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, and senior scientist in the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. “A better understanding of post-BMT health care needs could result in the deployment of targeted strategies that yield better quality of survival and reduced utilization of health care resources.” The study will construct a cohort of more than 10,000 patients treated with BMT between 1974 and 2014 at three transplant sites — UAB, University of Minnesota and City of Hope — as well as a cohort of 3,000 patients treated with conventional therapy without BMT, which will amount to the largest cohort ever studied. COHEN ELECTED CHAIR OF AAP SOGHN Mitch Cohen, M.D. , Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, was elected to serve as the Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SOGHN). He will serve his term beginning November 1, 2019 through October 31, 2021. BEBIN, KONG NAMED AMONG 2019 YELLOWHAMMER WOMEN OF IMPACT Martina Bebin, M.D. , Neurology, and Michele Kong, M.D. , Pediatric Critical Care were both a 2019 Yellowhammer Woman of Impact by Yellowhammer News. Bebin is a professor and pediatric neurologist at North Alabama Children’s Specialists in Huntsville. Most recently, Bebin collaborated with HudsonAlpha to pinpoint a previously unknown case of a serious seizure disorder most common in babies, potentially opening the door to new diagnostic and treatment options for infants who show signs of epilepsy. Kong, an associate professor, is also co-founder of KultureCity®, an impact-driven nonprofit founded in 2013 in Birmingham with the mission to create a world where all individuals with autism and their families can be accepted and treated equally. KultureCity fundamentally believes that these children are not limited by their diagnosis and deserve a future without limits. The impact of the organization can be seen well beyond Alabama. In 2019, KultureCity was ranked fourth on Fast Company’s list of the most innovative companies in the world. PINNINTI RECEIVES NATIONAL CMV FOUNDATION AWARD Swetha Pinninti, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases, was selected as one of two recipients of the 2019 Early Career Research Awards from the National CMV Foundation. The goal of this award is to encourage early career researchers to pursue research on maternal or congenital CMV infections. The award can fund or be applied to projects in areas including public health, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, basic science or vaccine development. GOWEY SELECTED FOR UAB DIABETES RESEARCH AWARD Marissa Gowey, Ph.D. , Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has received a Pilot and Feasibility Program Award from the UAB Diabetes Research Center and UAB Comprehensive Diabetes Center for her proposal titled “Identifying Cardiometabolic Biomarkers of Executive Dysfunction in Children.” The one-year award totals $50,000.

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WOLFSON NAMED ST. BALDRICK’S FOUNDATION ADVOCATE OF THE MONTH Julie Wolfson, M.D. , Pediatric Hematology Oncology, was named the April Advocate of the Month by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Dr. Wolfson is a St. Baldrick’s Scholar and was recognized for her work on disparities in access to quality cancer care for adolescents and young adults (AYAs). She attended Childhood Cancer Action Day in Washington, D.C., with the foundation and two Children’s of Alabama teen cancer survivors and their families. They spent the day speaking with Alabama senators and representatives. ROSS NAMED MEMBER OF INAUGURAL IDSA INSTITUTE Shannon Ross, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases, is a member of the inaugural Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) Leadership Institute. The IDSA gathered 30 diverse leaders from across the United States (and Malawi) for the launch of the inaugural IDSA Leadership Institute. As the first program of its kind designed exclusively for infectious diseases and HIV specialists, attendees built upon existing leadership skills common to the ID professional and developed new tools to enhance their leadership capacity. BARNES, RICHTER AWARDED UAB FDGP FUNDING Margaux Barnes, Ph.D. , Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and Robert Richter, M.D. , Pediatric Critical Care, have been awarded funding from the UAB Faculty Development Grant Program (FDGP) for their proposed projects. Barnes’ project is titled “Resistance Training Intervention to Promote Lean Mass in Youth with IBD.” Richter’s project is titled “Evaluation of Roneparstat as a Novel Treatment Strategy in Sepsis.” As part of the program, all participants are required to present a poster detailing their project at a poster session hosted by the Provost and Faculty Senate. GUIMBELLOT ELECTED TO AAP SOCPT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Jennifer Guimbellot, M.D., Ph.D. , Pediatric Pulmonology, was recently elected to serve as a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (SOCPT) Executive Committee. Her three-year term will begin on Nov. 1, 2019, and run through 2022. The SOCPT serves to advance the mission and vision of the section and ultimately the health of infants and children. STOLL NAMED TO SPARTAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS Matthew Stoll, M.D. , Pediatric Rheumatology, has been named to the Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network (SPARTAN) Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term beginning May 2019 through May 2022. 11 PEDIATRIC FACULTY MEMBERS APPOINTED TO CWRH Eleven UAB pediatric faculty members have been appointed to the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH). The mission of the CWRH is to conduct research aimed at improving the reproductive health and survival of all women, especially minority and underserved women and offspring and their families, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration between UAB researchers and developing scholars interested in women’s reproductive health. The appointed faculty members are Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D. , Neonatology; Suresh Boppana, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases; William Britt, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Waldemar Carlo, M.D. , Neonatology; Krista Casazza, Ph.D. , Adolescent Medicine; Karen Fowler, Ph.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases; David Kimberlin, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Charitharth Lal, M.D. , Neonatology; Myriam Peralta, M.D. , Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Shannon Ross, M.D. , Pediatric Infectious Diseases; and Brian Sims, M.D. , Neonatology.

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COYNE-BEASLEY NAMED HOFMANN VISITING PROFESSOR IN ADOLESCENT MEDICINE Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D. , Adolescent Medicine, has been selected as the 2020 Adele D. Hofmann Visiting Professor in Adolescent Medicine and Health. The Hofmann Professorship is one of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine’s (SAHM) highest honors. Her selection will be announced at the 2020 Annual Meeting in San Diego, California. Congratulations to Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D. , Adolescent Medicine, and Matthew Kutny, M.D. , Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, on being accepted into the UAB Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA). The HLA is a collaboration between the Collat School of Business and the School of Medicine. The program offers training opportunities and develops leadership skills essential to academic healthcare. Twenty-four members were accepted into the academy for the 2019- 2020 class and represent a well-balanced and diverse group. The program began in October 2019 and will conclude in May 2020. ATKINSON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF USOM Prescott Atkinson, M.D., Ph.D. , Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, was elected as the new president of the United States Organization for Mycoplasmology (USOM) at its fifth biennial meeting in La Jolla, California. The USOM is a local branch of the International Organization for Mycoplasmology dedicated to the study of Mollicutes. USOM members work in industry, government, academia and research institutes. AUSTIN EARNS APA SCHOLARSHIP, APPOINTED TO DEEP POVERTY INITIATIVE Heather Austin, Ph.D. , Adolescent Medicine, is the recipient of the 2019 Dr. Helen L. Coons Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Scholarship awarded by the American Psychological Association. Austin has been invited to serve a three- year term starting in 2020 on the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Health Services-Mental Health Committee. She has also been offered the position of mentee in the UAB Healthcare Educators Academy. Austin and her colleague, Dan Marullo, Ph.D. , Pediatric Psychology, in the Behavioral Health Ireland Center at Children’s of Alabama, have been appointed as liaisons to the American Psychological Association (APA) Deep Poverty Initiative. APA President Rosie Phillips Davis, Ph.D., ABPP, has made examining psychology’s role in ending deep poverty a key initiative of her presidential year. This initiative will establish ongoing collaboration between psychological science and the public and private sectors through advocacy efforts, user-friendly science-based resources and partnerships to effect population-level change. The APA proposes moving beyond understanding causes and consequences of poverty, and toward using psychological science as a catalyst to address and help solve deep poverty. MURDAUGH, PERNELL APPOINTED TO KL2 SCHOLARS COHORT Donna Murdaugh, Ph.D. , Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, and Brandi Pernell, DNP , Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, are part of the latest six-member cohort of Scholars for the Deep South Mentored Career Development (KL2) awarded this summer by the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS). Selected through a rigorous, competitive process, scholars enroll in an educational program, usually the MSPH in Clinical and Translational Science, and also conduct a mentored research apprenticeship with a primary mentor. Designed for junior faculty in a clinical or related discipline, the CCTS KL2 program aims to provide knowledge, experience and perspective to candidates who show promise for becoming independent investigators. A key component of the program is protected time, typically two years, to allow both formal training and conducting hands-on research. COYNE-BEASLEY, KUTNY APPOINTED TO UAB HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

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WEBB, LOPEZ RECEIVE NIH LOAN REPAYMENT AWARDS Tennille Webb, M.D. , Pediatric Nephrology, and Michael Lopez, M.D., Ph.D. , Pediatric Neurology, received Loan Repayment Program (LRP) awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Webb received her award through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Lopez received his award through the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The awards are for a period of two years. According to the LRP website, “The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher- paying private industry or private practice careers. The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research. Since tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs will be made by investigators starting in their research careers today, the LRPs represent an important investment by NIH in the future of health discovery and the well-being of the Nation. Amy CaJacob, M.D. , Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, will serve as the president of the Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology for the 2019-2020 term. In 2020, the Alabama Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology will celebrate its 41st year. Among CaJacob’s responsibilities as president is planning the annual conference. “Our largest event is an annual conference in Sandestin, Florida, with nationwide representation. I am looking forward to planning a successful, diverse meeting focused on food allergy, oral immunotherapy and eosinophilic gastroenteropathies,” CaJacob said. PERCY NAMED BATEH ENDOWED PROFESSOR Alan Percy, M.D. , Pediatric Neurology, has been appointed the first holder of the Sarah Katherine Bateh Endowed Professorship for Rett Syndrome in the UAB School of Medicine. Dr. Percy is a leading expert on this neurodevelopmental disorder and is a national leader in pediatric neurology and genetics. He runs the UAB Rett Syndrome Clinic at Children’s of Alabama, one of the few centers in the United States that specializes in the diagnosis and care of individuals with the disorder, conducts clinical and basic research, and works to educate and promote Rett Syndrome awareness. “We have been investigating Rett syndrome for more than 35 years, particularly since 1992 at UAB,” Percy said. “This honor recognizes both this dedication and our continued progress and provides us with a pathway to promoting exemplary care and exploring effective disease-modifying treatment.” Children’s of Alabama, together with the Suki Foundation, provided the supporting funds. The Suki Foundation was established in 2012 in honor of Sarah Katherine Bateh with the goal of making a difference in the lives of children diagnosed with Rett syndrome through the raising of funds to expand and accelerate research efforts and work toward a better understanding, new treatments and a potential cure. CAJACOB ELECTED PRESIDENT OF ALABAMA SOCIETY OF ALLERGY ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY

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1600 7th Avenue South Birmingham, Alabama 35233

You're Invited to visit our booth #1326 at the annual PAS (Pediatric Academic Societies) Meeting April 29 - May 6, 2020 Philadelphia, PA

For more information, contact Heather Watts, hwatts@peds.uab.edu or visit https://2020.pas-meeting.org/ ed