NEWS

Welcoming Our New ACHIA Director, Dr. Samantha "Sam" Hanna, MD, MPH

We are excited to announce that Dr. Samantha "Sam" Hanna will officially join ACHIA as our new Director on September 1, 2026. Her passion for children and commitment to quality improvement makes it a pleasure to transition leadership to her.

Dr. Hanna serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at UAB. She completed her pediatric residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and subsequently pursued a Pediatric Hospital Medicine fellowship at UAB. Through her experience as a pediatric hospitalist, Dr. Hanna has observed how thoughtful modifications in healthcare systems and processes can significantly enhance patient outcomes and family experiences.

Her dedication to this field led her to obtain formal training in patient safety and quality improvement, including the UAB Graduate Certificate in Patient Safety and Quality Improvement and the Cincinnati Children’s Intermediate Improvement Science Series (I2S2). Dr. Hanna has spearheaded institutional initiatives to bolster inpatient care and improve screening for social determinants of health. She has also contributed to national multi-center quality improvement collaboratives.

Dr. Hanna is deeply passionate about implementing quality improvement strategies to foster safer, more effective, and equitable care for children. Originally from West Virginia, she now resides in Birmingham with her partner, Chris, and their rescue dog, Ralphie.