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This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Brian Smith, MD, MPH, MHS, associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology and Quantitative Sciences. Smith talks to us about his research as principal investigator of the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Coordinating Center. He also discusses his perception of the greatest challenges and opportunities in the field of neonatology. He talks about his two greatest mentors and offers advice for trainees.

This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Sharla Rent, MD, medical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology. Rent talks to us about how she ultimately decided on a career in neonatology due to her love for the combination of intensive care and forming long-lasting relationships with families who are in the ICN for months. She also talks about her primary research interest in global health. Notably, she worked in Ethiopia and Ghana to explore provider perceptions of viability and decision making during newborn resuscitation. She also shares what she learned from her most significant mentor as well as her passions outside of work.

Agnes Chao, MD, a third year fellow in the Division of Neonatology, was recently invited to join the Robert J. Lefkowitz Society. She was also awarded the Marshall Klaus Perinatal Research Award for her work with Eric J. Benner, MD, PhD, the George W. Brumley Jr. MD Distinguished Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology, on the therapeutic potential of oxysterols in neonatal white matter injury.

This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Trevor Burt, MD, associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology. Burt talks to us about how he gravitated toward pediatrics early in med school – but was drawn to neonatology during his junior year of residency where he got to attend and participate in high-risk deliveries. He also talks about his research interests in human developmental immunology. Specifically, his lab studies human T cell development and function, with a particular interest in immune tolerance.

Congratulations to Samia Aleem, MD, who recently received a 2020 Fellows’ Clinical Research Award from the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) for her abstract, entitled Assessing 3 Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Definitions: Associations between Room Air Challenge Results and Respiratory Outcomes.

When visitor restrictions caused a mother of twin babies to face an impossible decision, the team from Duke University Hospital's Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) came up with a safe solution.

Nearly 50 schools and more than 300 students from across the country gathered in St. Louis, MO, for the 15th Annual Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) National Conference with the theme, "Unidos for Medicina y Más: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Latinx Health." 

This week's Faculty Spotlight shines on Jennifer Peterson, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology.

Many problems can arise in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, but one common virus has been shown in a new study to increase hearing and respiratory problems, as well as extend hospital stays after birth.

A research team funded by the National Institutes of Health has updated an online tool to provide information for clinicians and parents on outcomes for extremely preterm infants.