Dr. Williams joined the Department of Pediatrics as faculty on May 1, 2023. Dr. Williams received her BS from Virginia Tech in 2007 and completed her medical degree at the Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University in 2012. She was a Pediatric Resident at UNC from 2012 to 2015. Since graduating, she has practiced as a General Pediatrician in New Hampshire. Dr. Williams will be working with the team at UNC Pediatrics at Pittsboro. Welcome back Heather!

Timothy Vece, MD was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Vece has been a faculty member in Pediatric Pulmonology since 2016. Dr. Vece is the Medical Director, North Carolina Children’s Airway Center and part of the Rare and Genetic Lung Disease Program.

Andrea Trembath, MD, MPH was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Trembath has been a faculty member in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine since 2017. Dr. Trembath is the Co-Medical Director for Children’s AirCare, primarily focusing on the care and transport of neonates.

Chengwen Li, PhD was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Li has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2010. Dr. Li is member of the Gene Therapy Center and is an internationally recognized expert in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for gene therapy.

Zachary Willis, MD, MPH was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective May 1, 2023. Dr. Willis has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2016. Dr. Willis is a specialist in pediatric infectious disease with particular interest in studying antibacterial resistance and is the Director of the Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

Ashley Sutton, MD was promoted to Professor of Pediatrics effective April 1, 2023. Dr. Sutton has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2012. Dr. Sutton is a Pediatric Hospitalist and Director of Quality, Patient Safety and Flow for the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine.

Jennifer Fuchs, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective April 1, 2023. Dr. Fuchs has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2019. Dr. Fuchs is a Pediatric Hospitalist and the Program Director for the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship.  

We are excited to congratulate Pediatrics department members recently inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA). Election to Alpha Omega Alpha signifies a lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism, and service. Membership in the society confers recognition of someone’s dedication to the profession and art of healing. Many congratulations to Laura Rachal, MD, Alhaji Mohammed, MD, and Chris Okorieocha, MD.

Pan, Wu, and Cannon were published recently in the journal, Contemporary Pediatrics. Biologics to the rescue: changing the treatment paradigm in juvenile idiopathic arthritis considers the use of biologic medication in the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Kenya McNeal-Trice, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, has been selected to join the second class admitted to the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics (NADEP). Members are selected after careful peer review. Reviewers congratulated Dr. McNeal-Trice on the depth and breadth of her educational experiences, expertise, and contributions to the field.