Katie DesJardin, NNP joined Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine on February 19, 2023. Ms. DesJardin earned her BSN from St. Louis University in Missouri and worked for many years as a NICU RN at Omaha Children’s, Duke and WakeMed. She recently graduated from the Duke University MSN/NNP training program and passed her NCC national board exams! In addition, she served for nearly 10-years in the United States Army working as a Cadet and Nurse earning numerous honors including: Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals as well as Global War on Terrorism, National Defense, and Army Service Ribbons. Welcome Katie!

A UAB-UNC School of Medicine collaboration found that a single oral dose of the common antibiotic azithromycin reduced the risk of maternal sepsis or death by 33 percent in women who delivered vaginally. UNC School of Medicine study leads were Melissa Bauserman, MD, MPH, Carl Bose, MD, and Jackie Patterson, MD, MPH.

Kristen Brandt joined Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine on January 9, 2023. Ms. Brandt received her BSN and MSN/NNP at the University of Texas after first earning a BS in Psychology at Texas A & M University. She joins our team with 17 years of experience working as a neonatal nurse practitioner in Level 2/3 NICUs in Texas.  Welcome Kristen!

Congratulations to Dr. Misty Good on her election to the Research Committee of the Executive Council Leadership Team for the American Academy of Pediatrics Mid-Career Neonatologist Section (MidCaN).

MidCaN aims to create, inspire, and empower a community of mid-career leaders by supporting career and leadership development and increasing active participation in SoNPM among mid-career neonatologists (7-17 years out of fellowship). Involvement in MidCaN provides excellent opportunities for professional growth and maturity at your local level, within the neonatal-perinatal section, and on the national stage of the AAP.

We are excited to announce a $5,345 donation from Capital Area Disc League (CADL) to the Newborn Critical Care Center from proceeds raised at a recent disc golf tournament.

Thank you CADL!

Principal investigators Misty Good, MD, MS, and Scott Magness, PhD, at the UNC School of Medicine, and Jennifer Canvasser, MSW, NEC Society will lead a $1-million project funded through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to map cellular roles in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Natalia Akopyants, joined the Department of Pediatrics as an Associate Professor in the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine on October 31, 2022. Dr. Akopyants, earned her PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics at the Research Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry in the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia in 1988. In 1998, Dr. Akopyants completed post doctoral training in Microbiology with the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University in Saint Louis, MO. Since 1999, Dr. Akopyants has continued her research career as faculty in the Department of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine. Welcome Natalia!

Congratulations to Wesley Jackson, MD MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Sue Tolleson-Rinehart, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health, on their election to membership in the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR).

The Society for Pediatric Research encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by creating a multi-disciplinary network of diverse researchers to improve child health. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. Active Members are independent researchers conducting hypothesis-driven research in a field related to pediatrics that have been nominated and seconded by SPR members and approved by SPR Council.

Congratulations Sue and Wes!

Wesley Jackson, MD, MPH was promoted to Associate Professor of Pediatrics effective October 1, 2022. Since becoming a faculty member in 2018, Dr. Jackson has had a strong commitment to the Department of Pediatrics’ Research mission. Dr. Jackson has expanded his research interests to include clinical trials operations, pharmacokinetic modeling, and epigenetic analyses. Dr. Jackson’s goal is to combine these interests to improve the outcomes of infants through drug development for diseases with limited available therapies, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy.

Dr. Emiliee Lewis, Assistant Professor in the division of Hospital Pediatrics, has been asked to serve as UNC site lead for the American Academy of Pediatrics VIP Network Project: Learning and Implementing Guidelines for Hyperbilirubinemia Treatment (LIGHT). The project seeks to implement the AAP Clinical Practice Guideline