Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics

01/18/2026

Reach Out and Read-Alabama, a program of the Chapter, is celebrating 20 years of reading and a lifetime of impact in 2026!

01/17/2026

In 1991 the American Academy of Pediatrics established the Child Health Advocate Award to recognize the significant accomplishments of public officials and private sector advocates who have served as a voice for children in state and local government. The award recognizes these individuals for their contributions to child health and safety and serves as a stimulus for continued action in child advocacy, and this year’s awardee is Carolyn Bern, MPA, Alabama Public Health.

The AAP annually bestows this prestigious award on a state government official for outstanding contributions to children’s health and well-being. Previous recipients include state secretaries of health, governors, state legislators, attorneys general, and many other public servants and advocates for child health.

During Carolyn’s tenure as Director of Governmental Affairs & Community Relations at the Alabama Department of Public Health, she made exemplary contributions to improving children’s health statewide. She championed initiatives focused on immunizations, early childhood development, and access to care, and coordinated Alabama’s Community Health Improvement Plan addressing access to care, nutrition and physical activity, and mental health and substance use. Carolyn also led impactful efforts such as the Birth to Five Initiative, Kids and Kin Initiative, Immunize by Two Campaign, and Healthy Child Care Alabama—and her recent and successful opposition to harmful immunization legislation has safeguarded immunization rates for Alabama’s children at a critical time.

"We genuinely appreciate Carolyn's work to improve the lives of children and families in Alabama," said Linda Lee, outgoing AL-AAP Executive Director. "Once again, we thank her for her career-long advocacy for children, families, and public health."

📸 Scott Harris, MD, MPH, FACP, State Health Officer; Wes Stubblefield, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, District Medical Officer, Northern/Northeastern Districts, Alabama Department of Public Health; Linda Lee, outgoing executive director, AL-AAP; Carolyn Bern, MPA, Alabama Public Health; Karen Landers, MD, FAAP Chief Medical Officer; and Sabra Sutton, executive director AL-AAP.

01/17/2026

2025 Alabama Pediatrician Podcast Playback -- Revisit the moments that defined our year in podcasting!

Visit https://linktr.ee/alchapaap to listen!

01/15/2026

Chapter member, Marsha Raulerson, MD, attended the Children First Annual Legislative Spouses Luncheon yesterday at RSA Plaza in Montgomery.

📸 Children First executive director, Katie Jeter

01/15/2026

The Chapter Executive Board and staff welcome Sabra Sutton as AL-AAP’s new Executive Director, who started on January 5. She and outgoing Executive Director Linda Lee are working together during the onboarding/transition phase. Already, she has hit the ground running on behalf of Alabama’s pediatricians and the children they serve.

Read more at https://www.alaap.org/welcome-sabra-sutton

12/31/2025

12/03/2025

The most recent episode of the Alabama Pediatrician Chapter Podcast is available now. Listen to the year in review with one of the programs of the Chapter, Reach Out and Read-Alabama.

https://alabamapediatrician.buzzsprout.com/2176486/episodes/18287548-reach-out-and-read-2025-year-in-review

You can also make an end-of-year donation to the program at https://givebutter.com/NuQNBU

11/12/2025

Jamie McKinney, MD, UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pediatrics and Screen Time Use Chapter Champion, was recognized at the Fall Meeting and Pediatric Update for her leadership with the Pages over Pixels campaign. Learn more in the link below about McKinney's role and the overall initiative, which was funded through a grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health.

https://www.uab.edu/medicine/news/pediatrics/mckinney-honored-by-alabama-chapter-of-the-american-academy-of-pediatrics

11/07/2025

Executive Director, Linda Lee and chapter secretary, Elizabeth Dawson, presented at this week's Alabama Department of Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention (Children's Trust Fund) Grantee Training at Perdido Beach Resort. Chapter program, Reach Out and Read-Alabama, received a grant from CTF for the third year in a row.

11/07/2025

In case you missed it, our very own past president, Dr. Nola Jean Ernest, MD, PhD, FAAP, was featured in The Washington Post last month!

A Washington Post-KFF poll finds that pediatricians are the most trusted source for vaccine information and that confidence in them is a strong predictor of vaccination.

10/17/2025

Our very own ,Dr. Nola Jean Ernest, MD, PhD, FAAP, was recently featured in the Washington Post, highlighting the important role pediatricians play in providing parents with accurate information about vaccines and why building this trusting relationship is key in helping keep kids healthy.

A Washington Post-KFF poll finds that pediatricians are the most trusted source for vaccine information and that confidence in them is a strong predictor of vaccination.

09/23/2025

We also honored Senator William (Billy) Beasley of Clayton as a 2025 Graham L. Champion Legislative Hero at the recent Alabama Chapter-American Academy of Pediatrics Awards dinner sponsored by Children’s of Alabama.

Senator William (Billy) Beasley of Clayton was elected to the Senate in 2010 after three terms in the House, has a B.S. in pharmacy from Auburn University and served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. As a business owner and active Rotary Club member, he has advocated for significant causes, including a monument at Tuskegee University recognizing efforts to eradicate polio. In 2025, he sponsored a Joint Legislative Resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the polio vaccine, highlighting the importance of immunization.

📸 Senator William Beasley with Chapter president Norma Mobley, MD