UAB, Children's of Alabama Name Fargason Director of Neurodevelopmental Initiatives

BIRMINGHAM – Crayton “Tony” Fargason, M.D. has been named Director of Neurodevelopmental Initiatives, a key coordinating role between the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine, the UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children’s of Alabama.

In this role, Dr. Fargason will work to integrate activities with UAB’s well-established entities such as the Department of Genetics, the Institute for Precision Medicine and Southern Research, as well as with partner Hudson Alpha. Fargason will also work with community service partners such as Mitchell's Place, Glenwood and the RISE Center at the University of Alabama to advance collective efforts for patients and families affected by neurodevelopmental challenges.

“Dr. Fargason will lead us towards a collaborative goal of enhancing the research, medical education and clinical care for patients with neurodevelopmental challenges, including autism spectrum disorder,” said Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D., FACS, senior vice president for Medicine and dean of the School of Medicine.

Fargason will continue to serve as the Medical Director and Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Children’s, as he has for nearly 20 years, and will continue his work as a Professor in the UAB Department of Pediatrics.

“Dr. Fargason’s education and training, clinical experience, and research, coupled with his long time leadership role as the Medical Director of Children’s, uniquely qualify him to represent the entire pediatric enterprise as an integral part of the burgeoning campus-wide Neurodevelopmental Initiatives,” said Mike Warren, President and CEO, Children’s of Alabama.

Fargason received his undergraduate B.A. and B.S. degrees from Tulane University, and earned his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his Pediatric Internship and Residency at Northwestern University Medical School, where he also earned an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He is board certified in both Pediatrics and Clinical Informatics.

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient and outpatient services throughout central Alabama. Ranked among the best pediatric medical centers in the nation by US News & World Report, Children’s provided care for youngsters from every county in Alabama, 45 other states and six foreign countries last year, representing more than 676,000 outpatient visits and more than 15,000 inpatient admissions. With more than 2 million square feet, Children’s is the third largest pediatric medical facility in the U.S. More information is available at childrensal.org.