Christa R. Tabacaru, MD

Personal illness drew me to the practice of medicine. Along the way, I found that I was happiest working with children, especially the most helpless among us — newborns.

I had the privilege as a medical student to participate in the care of several patients with hypoxic-ischemic injury. Working with these patients and their families showed me the devastating effects of this disease process — and the uncertainties faced by those affected by it.

These experiences, and my interest in neonatology, led me to want to better understand hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). My work is focused on better understanding the effects of HIE and identifying this disability sooner rather than later, which would allow for earlier and more targeted therapy.

I was honored as a medical student by being named to the Gold Humanism Honor Society. As a resident at Virginia Commonwealth University, I was recognized with the William Tate Graham Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine award.

I have led studies on the impact of caffeine boluses and caffeine discontinuation on apnea and hypoxemia in preterm infants and neurally adjusted ventilatory assistance for apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events in very low birth weight infants.