Program:
Start Year:
2023
Why did you choose Duke for your residency training?
I felt like the program at Duke mirrored the interests that drew me to ob/gyn as a specialty: incredible commitment to patient care, dedication to integrating advocacy into daily practice and a desire to use research to better our understanding of diseases that impact people with gyn organs. I was also very drawn in by the concept of building a community of "kind consultants" — I hoped to be a part of a group of trainees and faculty that wanted to collaborate across specialties to serve patients. This kindness seemed to permeate the department and create a culture of care and dedication not only towards patients, but towards each other.
What excites you about the residency program at Duke Ob/Gyn?
Is it cheating to say everything? The faculty, trainees and staff I've met have been generous and thoughtful, and have already gone out of their way to make sure that I had what I needed to begin my training. My co-interns are amazing people with incredible stories that I know will make such a difference for their patients. We also benefit from such great role models in senior residents to show us how to build a team that will prioritize supporting and caring for each other over the next four years.
What are your career goals?
I hope to be an ob/gyn-scientist studying the immunologic pathogenesis of diseases that affect gyn organs. I’m leaving myself open to discover the subspecialty with which I will pair my research — will I study implantation failure in REI, tumor immunology in gyn onc or autoimmune disease affecting pregnancy in MFM? I know Duke has the resources and faculty to support my journey to any subspecialty I choose, and I am excited for the dedicated opportunity to explore all the facets of obstetrics and gynecology.
Describe your research interests/goals:
I am interested in the interaction between systemic immune tolerance and the specific immune tolerance present in gyn organs. This precarious regulatory equilibrium plays a role in many obstetric and gynecologic conditions, including tolerance to pregnancy and treatment of cancers.
What are your hobbies?
I am a yoga teacher and also enjoy megaformer (lagree) pilates. I love sourdough baking and am constantly adding sourdough to various baked goods. The perfect television show is Below Deck, including spinoffs Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht (I pretend Below Deck Adventure Yacht and Below Deck Down Under are part of a different franchise).
Education & Training
Undergraduate school & graduation year:
Mount Holyoke College, 2013
Graduate school & graduation year:
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2022
Medical school & graduation year:
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2023
Awards & Honors
2023 Oscar B. Crofford Award in Diabetes Research, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
2022 Vanderbilt Scholar in Diabetes, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2021 Levi Watkins Jr. Graduate Student Award, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
2021 Advocate of the Year, Vanderbilt LGBTQI Life
2019, NIH National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases F30 Fellowship
2018 "Out LGBTQ+ Role Model of the Month," Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
2017 Gold Humanism Honor Society
2016 Microbes and Defense Academic Society
2013 Mary Lyon Scholar with high honors in Neuroscience and Behavior, Mount Holyoke College
2012 Abby Howe Turner Award, Mount Holyoke College
2011 Sarah Williston Scholar, Mount Holyoke College
2011 Psi Chi Honors Society in Psychology
Publications
Kaur K, Salwi S, McNew K, Kumar N, Millimet H, Ravichandran N, Tytus K, Zhang A, Garrett Wood A, Grimm B, Fairbrother E. (2022) Medical Student Perspectives on the Ethics of Pelvic Exams Under Anesthesia: A Multi-Instutional Study. Journal of Surgical Education, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2022.05.015.
McNew K, Abraham A, Sack D, Smart C, Pettway Y, Falk A, Lister R, Faucon A, Bejan C, Capra J, Aronoff D, Boyd K, Moore D. (2022) Vascular Alterations Impede Fragile Tolerance to Pregnancy in Type 1 Diabetes. F&S Science, 3(2):148-158.
Nguyen L, Omage J, Noble K, McNew K, Moore D, Aronoff D, Doster R. (2021) Group B streptococcal infection of the genitourinary tract in pregnant and non-pregnant patients with diabetes mellitus: An immunocompromised host or something more? American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 86(6): e13501.
Wilson C, Stocks B, Hoopes E, Rhoads J, McNew K, Major A, and Moore D. (2021) Metabolic pre-conditioning in CD4 T cells permits transplantation tolerance in lupus-prone mice. JCI Insight, 6(19); e143245.
Hollis K, McNew K, Sosa T, Harrsch F, and Nowbahari E. (2017) Natural Aversive Learning in Tetramorium Ants Reveals Ability to Form a Generalizable Memory of Predators’ Pit Traps. Behavioral Processes, 139: 19-25.
McNew K, Whipple W, Mehta A, Grant T, Ray L, Kenney K, and Singh A. (2016) MEK and TAK1 regulate apoptosis in colon cancer cells with KRAS-dependent activation of proinflammatory signaling. Molecular Cancer Research, 14(12); 1204-16.
Presentations
McNew K, Falk A, Boyd K, Moore D. May 23, 2022. A Regulatory Battle Produces Fragile Tolerance to Pregnancy in Type 1 Diabetes. (presented at the American Society for Reproductive Immunology)
McNew K, Falk A, Moore D. May 9, 2022. The Intersection of Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy: A Contradiction in Immune Tolerance. (presented at Vanderbilt University Diabetes Day)
McNew K, Hoopes E, Moore D. June 27, 2020. B Lymphocytes Preclude Immune Tolerance in Type 1 Diabetes. (presented at MSTP Retreat, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
McNew K, Hoopes E, Moore D. September 11, 2019. Tolerance Favors the Young: Disruptions in Immune Tolerance as NOD Mice Age. (presented at MSTP Seminar, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
McNew K, Hoopes E, Moore D. August 8, 2019. Tolerance Favors the Young: Disruptions in Immune Tolerance as NOD Mice Age. (presented at Molecular Pathogenesis Training Series, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
McNew K, Hoopes E, Wilson C, Moore D. August 30, 2018. B Lymphocytes Impair Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Type 1 Diabetes. (presented at Molecular Pathogenesis Training Series, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
McNew K, Singh A. December 12, 2014. Proinflammatory Signaling Networks in KRAS/TAK1-Dependent Colon Cancers. (presented at Boston University Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Section of Medical Oncology and Hematology Floor Talk Series)
McNew K, Bemis A, Harrsch F, Hollis K. April 19, 2013. Antipredator Behavior in Pavement Ants, Tetramorium sp. E. (presented at Mount Holyoke College Senior Symposium)
McNew K, Miller E, Bhardwaj N. October 17, 2012. Inflammasome Stimulation in Human Myeloid Dendritic Cells: Possibilities for Future Vaccines. (presented at Mount Holyoke College Learning from Application Symposium)
Maness K, Miller E, Bhardwaj N. July 28, 2012. Mechanism of Inflammasome Stimulation by Listeria monocytogenes in Human Myeloid Dendritic Cells. (presented at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium)