Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellows

MD: University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona

Residency: UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, CA

Research Mentors: Ritu Chitkara, MD, Justin Baker, MD, Seth Hollander, MD, and Melissa Scala, MD

Clinical Mentors: Ritu Chitkara, MD

Research Interests: My interest is to focus on health disparities as a contributing factor to preterm birth and how these disparities impact specific disease processes in preterm neonates. I hope to advocate for underrepresented and marginalized communities that we serve in our NICUs in order to identify barriers to care and implement early intervention

MD: Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Residency: UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, CA

Research Mentors: Valerie Chock, MD, MS Epi, Gary M. Shaw, DrPH, Richard J. Shaw MD, and Melissa Scala MD

Clinical Mentors: Alexis Davis, MD, MS Epi

Research Interests: I am interested in exploring best practices for supporting parental mental health in the NICU and the subsequent effects on neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants. I also have an interest in health system infrastructure and actionable steps organizations can take to improve healthcare provider wellbeing.

MD: University of Ibadan in Ibadan, Nigeria

Residency: Michigan State University Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan

Research Mentors: Jochen Profit, MD, MPH, Sonia Bonifacio, MD, Baraka Floyd, MD, and Melissa Scala MD

Clinical Mentors: Anca Pasca MD

Research Interests: I am passionate about addressing the impact of social determinants of health on neonatal outcomes and interested in research focused on advancing health equity for vulnerable infants. Additionally, I am interested in optimizing neonatal nutrition and human milk availability globally.

MD: Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA

Residency: Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital / Boston Medical Center)

Research Mentors: Jonathan Reiss, MD, Nima Aghaeepour, MD, Valerie Chock, MD, MS Epi, John Kerner, MD, Chris Duggan, MD

Clinical Mentors: Meera N. Sankar, MD

Research Interests: I am passionate about neonatal nutrition - especially parenteral nutrition (PN). My primary clinical research project aims to answer whether mixed vs soy-based IV lipid emulsions are associated with distinct inflammatory profiles in preemies - as measured by cellular markers (eg leukocyte subtypes) + inflammatory mediators (eg interleukins). I am also assisting colleagues with several projects exploring: 1) whether PN formulations co-written by AI might benefit patients, 2) whether PN is associated with tighter glucose control in neonatal encephalopathy + 3) whether increased parenteral sodium is associated with better growth in babies on CRRT. On the side, I love medical education + point-of-care ultrasound.

MD: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Fachbereich Medizin in Frankfurt, Germany

Residency: Stanford Pediatrics in Palo Alto, CA

Research Mentors: Erik Jensen, MD, John Benjamin, MD,  Valerie Chock, MD, MS Epi, Lawrence Prince, MD, PhD, and Raya Saab, MD

Clinical Mentors: Lisa Bain, MD

Research Interests: My research focuses on lung development and prematurity-related lung disease, with a long-term goal of identifying innovative strategies to prevent and treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Under the mentorship of Erik Jensen, I use physiological monitoring and clinical data to better characterize lung disease in premature infants. My primary project examines the relationship between intermittent hypoxemia and hyperoxemia (IHH) and BPD in a large retrospective cohort (n≈1100). To advance my translational research approach, I am pursuing basic science training under the guidance of Lance Prince. In this work, I study the differentiation of lung mesenchymal cells in a cell culture model, including analysis of cells from a rare neonatal mesenchymal tumor harboring an EGFR KDD mutation. In addition, I am involved in multidisciplinary and quality improvement efforts aimed at advancing BPD care. I am a member of the Cardiac and Respiratory Care for Infants with BPD (CRIB) team, which develops management recommendations for infants with BPD during and after their NICU stay. I also participate in a small baby ventilator management working group focused on optimizing ventilation strategies to reduce lung injury in premature infants.

MD: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, FL

Residency: Kaiser Permanente Northern California GME in Oakland, CA

Research Mentors: Sonia Bonifacio, MD, Lisa Bain, MD, and Nivedita Srivinas, MD

Clinical Mentors: William Rhine, MD

Research Interests: Quality Improvement, Congenital Heart Disease, Neonatal Brain Injury, Improving care for patients and families with Limited English Proficiency