We are excited to congratulate Pediatrics department members who were recently included in the 2023-2024 cohort of the AOE FLAGship Program!
Emily Vander Schaaf, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has been named an inaugural Co-Director of the newly established Office of Health Equity through Education and Leadership (HEEL) within the UNC School of Medicine Office of Curricular Affairs. The HEEL office was created as a result of Dr. Vander Schaaf’s leadership and advocacy. Congratulations Emily!
Molly Berkoff, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has been elected to the ACGME Board of Appeals for Pediatric Child Abuse.
In addition, Dr. Berkoff has been elected to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Foster Care, Adoption and Kinship Care Executive Committee. The Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care promotes the health and development of children and youth who are at risk for or have experienced family disruption. The Council accomplishes this by developing policy guidelines for comprehensive and trauma-informed care, advocating for child and youth to thrive, and providing education and support to the members of the American Academy of Pediatrics, other health professionals, and the child welfare community. Congratulations Molly!
Dr. Desmond Runyon, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has been listed in the Research.com 2023 Ranking of Best Scientists in Social Sciences and Humanities. Dr. Runyon was ranked 444 in the US across all social scientists and humanities! What a great statement about his long and distinguished career in child maltreatment, and the enduring impact of his work. Congratulations Des!
Jesse Hart, MD joined the Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine on July 17, 2023. Dr. Hart completed her pediatric residency at UNC and has provided pediatric primary care at WakeMed, where she was also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. Dr. Hart has been very involved in student and resident medical education, including serving as the Co-Director of the Community Based Longitudinal Curriculum for the Raleigh campus. Dr. Hart will provide primary care, alongside Dr. Rao, at UNC Panther Creek, and will spend one day a week in our UNC Children’s Primary Care Clinic at Carolina Pointe II, supervising our pediatric residents. Welcome back Jesse!
Bianca A. Allison, MD MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, sought to examine the awareness and knowledge that adolescents have about the legal landscape of abortion and how these changes might affect them and their communities. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that many adolescents – across a diversity of ages, genders, and geographies – are aware of and concerned about the potential impacts of abortion restrictions.
Tisu Mvalo, MD was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective June 1, 2023. Dr. Mvalo has been a faculty member in Pediatrics since 2016. Dr. Mvalo practices at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. He also provides on-the-ground mentorship for the rotating learners and is the PI for several ongoing research studies at UNC Project Malawi.
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!
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.
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.
