Overview
Reducing severe maternal morbidity and mortality remain an important focus of my work both clinically, scholarly and in my community engagement. Maternal hypertensive disease and cardiac disease are areas of particular interest. Prenatal diagnosis, including the diagnosis and management of conditions such as fetal growth restriction and fetal anomalies are also a key part of my clinical, teaching and scholarly work. My teaching and scholarly interest in global health focuses on these areas.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
·
2019 - Present
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine,
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
·
2023 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Recent Scholarly Works
The Effects of Climate Change on Obstetric and Gynecologic Health.
Journal article Obstet Gynecol · July 1, 2026 In the United States and globally, the negative effects of climate change, such as extremes of heat, wildfire smoke, and air pollution, are associated with early pregnancy loss, preterm birth, preeclampsia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and stillbir ... Full text Link to item CiteSubstance Use Disorder as a Contributing Factor to Pregnancy-Associated Deaths
Journal article O&G Open · April 2025 Substance use disorder (SUD) is increasingly linked with risk of accidental overdose and suicide among pregnant and postpartum people. However, less is understood about SUD as a contributing factor to natural manner of death among peripartum people ... Full text CiteRacial, Ethnic, and Color-Based Discrimination and Pre-Pregnancy Risk Factors for Preeclampsia Among Nulliparous Patients.
Journal article Health Equity · 2025 INTRODUCTION: Obesity and chronic hypertension are well-known risk factors for maternal morbidity and mortality. Evidence suggests racism contributes to the development of these chronic conditions. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Nullipar ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2024 - 2030Decision analytic model to investigate primary and secondary prevention strategies to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the US
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities · 2024 - 2027Mixed method study of novel usage of machine learning and traditional methods to improve obstetric ultrasound capacity in low resource settings
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2026 - 2026View All Grants
Education
East Carolina University ·
1994
M.D.