Congratulations to Duke School of Medicine fourth-year medical students Melissa Marchese and Adwoa Baffoe-Bonnie, recipients of the Vice Dean Award for Research Excellence.
Melissa, mentored by faculty Liping Feng, MD, was recognized for her research, “Mixtures and Maternal Health: The Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy and Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) on Cardiometabolic and Pregnancy Outcomes.” The findings raise new concerns about how combined exposure to HIV medications and pollutants in drinking water could impact women’s heart health, especially during pregnancy.
Melissa also received an American Heart Association Student Scholarship in Cardiovascular Disease, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Scholars in Basic Sciences Award last spring, for her project mentored by Dr. Feng.
Adwoa, working with mentors Sarahn Wheeler, MD, MHSc; and Rachel Wood, MD, was awarded for her project, “Is second trimester cervical length predictive of spontaneous preterm birth risk in patients with history of cesarean delivery in the second stage of labor?” Researchers found that cervical length may not be a reliable way to predict preterm birth in people with a prior second stage cesarean, and doctors may need new methods to identify who is at risk.
Adwoa also was honored at the 2025 Hammond Research Day as the Outstanding Clinical Poster Winner.