Jeff Federspiel, MD, PhD, MFM Fellow, has been named a Duke CTSA TL1 Scholar. The Duke CTSA TL1 physician fellowship is a 2-year training program aiming to provide 2 years of funded time to support the research training of physician-scholarships.
As a high-risk obstetrician caring for unborn babies and expectant moms with health challenges, Dr. Federspiel’s work is concerned with the high maternal mortality rate in the U.S. He is currently researching ways to better predict and prevent pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs) in pregnant women.
While research suggests that women who undergo cesarean sections are at even higher risk for blood clots than patients who undergo vaginal deliveries, identifying who is at the highest risk and should receive preventative therapies remains unclear. That is why Dr. Federspiel felt it was important to pursue this research.
“As a working doctor who has practiced in several different hospitals, I have found that people have very different opinions about which patients need these preventative therapies, leading to differences in how people are treated,” he said. “I’m hoping that our research will help produce evidence-based answers.”
Dr. Federspiel heard about the TL1 program from Geeta Swamy, MD, Associate Vice President for Research at Duke. His primary mentor is Andra James, MD, MPH, Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine and Consulting Professor of Medicine. He said he is looking forward to working with talented people from across Duke and getting different perspectives and feedback on his research.
“I am delighted and honored to be a TL1 scholar,” Dr. Federspiel said. “I’m looking forward to building my research skills and taking advantage of all Duke has to offer.”