Our Team
LEADERSHIP
Brian Brocato, DO, FACOG
Obstetrics Co-Lead
Dr. Brocato is a physician specializing in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. His expertise is in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic and complex maternal and fetal health conditions, including substance use disorder in pregnancy. He received his medical degree from Western University in Pomona, CA in 2007 and completed his residency and fellowship training at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. He is a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
Samuel Gentle, MD
Neonatology Lead
Dr. Gentle is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neonatology) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from UAB, completed his residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and completed a fellowship at UAB. His special interests include local and statewide quality improvement initiatives, education/curriculum development, and research related to prematurity.
DeeAnne Jackson, MD, MPH
Pediatrics Lead
Dr. Jackson is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics (Division of Academic General Pediatrics) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia, completed both residency and fellowship at UAB/Children’s of Alabama, and received an MPH from the UAB School of Public Health. As Medical Director of the UAB Hospital Newborn Nursery, she develops curriculum/educational materials for pediatric residents and medical students, authors clinical protocols and policies, and participates in several Alabama committees relating to newborn care.
Martha Wingate, DrPH, MPH
Administrative/Public Health Lead
Dr. Wingate is a Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Health Care Organization and Policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. Her work focuses on preterm birth, fetal and infant mortality, racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes, public health systems, and health policies related to pregnancy and infant health. She provides local, statewide, and national technical assistance to the MCH workforce.
Frances Burgan, MD
Obstetrics Co-Lead
Dr. Burgan is a general obstetrician-gynecologist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. Her areas of interest and expertise are in patient safety and the patient experience, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She received her medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in 2011 and completed her residency at Magee-Women’s Hospital at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA. She is mother and is a Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
Staff
Britta Cedergren, MPH, MPA
Program Director
Destiny Bibbs
Program Coordinator
Caitlin Ballard, MSN, RN, CNL
RN Quality Improvement - Neonatal Initiatives
Mattie Logan, MPH
Digital Media Specialist
Lora Ham, MSN, RN
RN Quality Improvement
Steering Committee
Rosemary Blackmon
Alabama Hospital Association
Brian Brocato, DO, FACOG
UAB School of Medicine, OBGYN
Janet Bronstein, PhD
UAB School of Public Health
Mallory Camerio, BS
Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Donna Dunn, PhD, CNM, FNP-BC
UAB Department of OBGYN
Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH) Alabama Section Representative
Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) Office of Women’s Health
Eric Ford, PhD
UAB School of Public Health
Samuel Gentle, MD
UAB School of Medicine, Neonatology
Charity Howard
ALPQC Patient Family Partner
Oasis Family Birthing Center
Alabama Birth Coalition
DeeAnne Jackson, MD, MPH
UAB School of Medicine, Pediatrics
Honour McDaniel, MPH
March of Dimes
Carolyn Miller, LICSW, PIP
ADPH Perinatal Division
April Montgomery, BSN, RN
ADPH Perinatal Division
Drew Nelson, MPH
Alabama Medicaid Agency
Cathy Nichols, RN
ADPH State Perinatal Program
Association of Women’s Health,
Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Alabama Section Representative
Ginnie Prater, MD, CCD,CMD
BlueCross and BlueShield of Alabama
Rhiannon Reed, DrPH
ALPQC Patient Family Partner
Melinda Rowe, MD
Alabama Medicaid Agency
Allison Todd, MSN, RN
UAB Department of OBGYN
Dianna Tullier, MEd
Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education
Martha Wingate, DrPH, MPH
UAB School of Public Health