As a neonatologist, I care for critically ill newborns in the Cincinnati Children's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and counsel families with complex prenatal diagnoses through the Cincinnati Fetal Care Center. Caring for a critically ill infant is truly a team effort. I value the input of every member of the care team and strive to empower families to be active in their child's care.
I was drawn to neonatology because of the complexity of medicine and the opportunity to care holistically for patients and their families at a very vulnerable time. NICU babies are incredibly resilient, and their families have a strength that is amazing to witness. It is an honor to help these tiny people at the start of their lives and to watch them grow.
I believe that genetic testing, including whole genome sequencing, is the next frontier in neonatology and has the potential to change how we diagnose and treat critical illnesses in the NICU. My research focuses on the complications faced in infancy by patients with Down syndrome, many of whom spend time in the NICU. I aim to improve their care and provide more accurate counseling for families. I also hope to better understand how early genetic testing, both prenatally and in newborns, impacts clinical outcomes and health equity.
I was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Society, during my junior year of medical school at Thomas Jefferson University. As a NICU fellow, I was awarded the Reginald Tsang Award for my clinical and academic achievements.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and two parakeets, going to the gym, playing the piano and doing crossword puzzles.