Marcia W. VanVleet, MD, director of the newborn nursery at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and associate professor in pediatrics (clinical) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, was given the 2015 Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (RIAAP) Special Achievement Award. The award is given to a physician who has made an outstanding contribution to children’s health in Rhode Island through research, service, or educational endeavors.
“When I think of state leaders in newborn and pediatric health in Rhode Island, Dr. VanVleet first comes to mind. The contributions she has made to the field in the last 15 years are immeasurable. This special achievement award from the RI Chapter of the AAP is well deserved,” said James F. Padbury, MD, pediatrician-in-chief and chief of Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and the William and Mary Oh-William and Elsa Zopfi Professor of Pediatrics for Perinatal Research at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Dr. VanVleet graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Society and her medical degree from the University of Vermont. She completed her pediatric residency, general ambulatory pediatric fellowship, and master’s degree in Public Health from Brown University. An assistant professor of pediatrics at The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Dr. VanVleet develops curriculum to advance resident and medical student learning in the newborn nursery, specifically.
Dr. VanVleet is a member of many national and hospital organizations and committees including Women & Infants Hospital Quality Forum; Women & Infants Hospital Infant Council for Improving Pediatric Outcomes; Rhode Island Newborn Screening Task Force; Rhode Island Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Fetus and Newborn; and the Ambulatory Pediatric Association.
Dr. Vanvleet’s research interests focus on the advancement of medical education, breastfeeding, neonatal abstinence syndrome, survey methodology, and public health.