Dear Providers:
Happy New Year! We are proud to introduce our new Division of Adolescent Medicine, formerly part of the Division of General Pediatrics. We offer primary adolescent and young adult care, and subspecialty services at the William A. Daniel Jr. Adolescent Health Center at Children’s of Alabama. Our team of physicians, nutritionists, nurses, psychologists and social workers are specially trained to handle the unique needs of adolescents and young adults, seeing more than 5,000 of these patients annually. Our program is one of seven premier programs in the United States federally funded as a Leadership Education in Adolescent Health Training Program that allows for our interdisciplinary, comprehensive approach.
Our vision is to dramatically improve the health and well-being of the adolescents and young adults of Alabama, the region and beyond by delivering the highest quality care, providing an exciting learning environment for our trainees, patients and their families, participating in clinical investigations and effectively advocating for improved adolescent and young adult health.
This spring, our clinic will be renovated and expanded to improve access, increase health services and include state of the art technology. We have also hired additional faculty. Our clinic programs include:
Adolescent Clinic
This clinic specializes in both primary care and subspecialty consultation for adolescents ages 11-21. Services include comprehensive health assessments, care of acute illness and minor trauma, immunizations, family planning, acne management, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, mental health conditions and consultations for complex and unexplained medical conditions. We have also expanded our services for screening and management of substance use.
Adolescent Nutrition Clinic
Registered dietitians provide nutrition assessments and counseling to adolescents and families. Adolescents are seen for a variety of nutritional concerns, including sports nutrition, weight management (weight loss or weight gain), healthy eating and anemia or elevated blood lipid levels (cholesterol, triglycerides).
ADHD Clinic: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD clinic is a dedicated clinic to the evaluation and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD) as well as school/learning problems. Our staff includes an adolescent medicine specialist along with graduate level psychology and social work clinicians to assist families and patients in their evaluation and goals.
Eating Disorders Clinic
This clinic specializes in the medical and nutritional care of adolescents and young adults with disordered eating, including anorexia and bulimia nervosa. An adolescent medicine physician and an adolescent dietitian staff the clinic. They work closely with each patient’s psychotherapist to provide a comprehensive team approach for treatment. The clinic also provides diagnostic consultation for patients with unexplained weight loss, vomiting or abdominal pain.
LARC Clinic: Long Acting Reversible Contraception
This clinic specializes in long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) options, such as the implantable birth control rod, for adolescent and young adult females. All patients will be scheduled for an evaluation appointment with an Adolescent Medicine physician prior to scheduling a LARC placement appointment.
LEAH Clinic: Leadership and Education in Adolescent Health
The LEAH Clinic specializes in the evaluation, treatment and education of adolescents and young adults ages 11-21 with complex medical-psychosocial needs. The clinic is staffed by trainees and UAB faculty in the following disciplines: adolescent medicine, nursing, nutrition, psychology and social work. The 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.
Menstrual Disorder Clinics
This clinic specializes in the medical care of adolescents and young adults with menstrual problems. Adolescents are seen for a variety of menstrual concerns, including painful menstrual cycles or cycles that are too heavy, come too often or are too infrequent. Adolescents are also seen in this clinic for absence of a period and having a period at an early age. In addition, the clinic provides diagnostic consultation for patients with unexplained abdominal pain related to menstrual cycles. Adolescent medicine physicians in this clinic work closely with pediatric gynecology, hematology, endocrinology and nutrition.
Children’s Center for Weight Management (CCWM)
This clinic specializes in weight management for children and adolescents. The CCWM can assist adolescents who are overweight and help their families establish healthy habits to achieve their overall goals through a variety of services. A pediatric, interdisciplinary team monitors patient progress, including a pediatrician, surgeon, nurse, nurse practitioner, registered dietitian, physical therapist and psychologist.
Additional services include: HIV prevention and treatment, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), sports physical exams and transition from adolescent health care to adult health care.
Our Providers:
Heather Ashley, MD
Heather Austin, PhD
Krista Casazza, PhD, RDN, LD, CSSD
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD, MPH, FAAP, FSAHM
Nefertiti Durant, MD, MPH
Samantha Hill, MD
Hannah Hulsey, MD
Jamie McKinney, MD
Rebekah Savage, MD, MPH
Tina Simpson, MD, MPH
Stephenie Wallace, MD, MSPH
We are committed to providing a comprehensive array of services and programs in an adolescent-friendly environment with specialists to help your adolescent and young adult patients transition into a healthy adulthood. We look forward to partnering with you in this endeavor. We are available for primary care, consultations and referrals. It would be an honor, privilege and pleasure to work with you and provide care for your patients. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at 205-638-9231.
Sincerely,
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, MD, MPH, FAAP, FSAHM
Derrol Dawkins, MD Endowed Chair in Adolescent Medicine Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine
Division Director, UAB Adolescent Medicine
Vice Chair, Pediatrics for Community Engagement
Immediate Past President, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine
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