Assistant Professor
Division of Neonatology
Additional Titles
Chair, Fellowship Clinical Competency Committee
Chair, Fellowship Education Committee
Education
Medical School
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Residency
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Fellowship
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Interest
My primary research interests are focused on identifying mechanisms that contribute to pulmonary disease in preterm infants. My present research focus is the role of oral nitrate metabolism in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia with a dual approach of identifying components of nitrate metabolism predictive of BPD development in preterm infants and parallel investigations using a hyperoxic animal model for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. I am co-investigator on a recently awarded R21 from the NICHD to confirm preliminary findings in a larger cohort of preterm infants.
I have complementary interests in clinical and outcomes research and quality improvement. I recently led a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative to improve oxygen saturation targeting in extremely preterm infants with an ongoing initiative to reduce length of stay in moderately preterm infants. Through a recently awarded KPRI grant I will be leading a randomized trial assessing teleneonatology in neonatal resuscitation after which it will be implemented in multiple sites in the state with the goal of improving birth outcomes. I am the neonatal lead within the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative with the goal of improving health outcomes in mothers and babies throughout the state of Alabama with recent projects involving birth certificate accuracy and a forthcoming initiative to optimize care for infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. I also serve on multiple state and regional committees centered around identifying modifiable causes and plausible interventions for infant mortality in the State of Alabama.
In addition to these research and quality improvement interests, I am continually invested in fellow education and curriculum development as the Chair of the Clinical Competency Committee and Fellow Education Committee.