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: TBD

Clinical Mentors: Meera N. Sankar, MD

Research Interests: Clinical research in parenteral nutrition / neonatal cholestasis / intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD)

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

Residency: Stanford Pediatrics in Palo Alto, CA

Research Mentors: Lawrence Prince, MD, PhD, Erik Jensen, MD, John Benjamin, MD, and Raya Saab, MD

Clinical Mentors: Lisa Bain, MD

Research Interests: My research focus is clinical and translational research to understand mechanisms leading to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and identify interventions to prevent or reverse those mechanisms. Primarily, I am conducting a cell-based research project with mentorship from Lance Prince to better understand the differentiation of lung mesenchymal cells and their regeneration. Within this project, I will analyze cells of a rare neonatal mesenchymal cell tumor with an EGFR KDD mutation to gain insight into the role of the EFGR receptor during those processes. In addition, guided by Erik Jensen, I am using the knowledge gained in my translational research in clinical research projects on the early clinical manifestations of BPD.

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