2026 Danielle Peress Memorial Fund Awards

Pictured above (left to right): Drs. Efe Cudjoe, Gregory Kirschen, and Estefania Rivera Mudafort have been selected as the recipients of the 2026 Danielle Peress, MD Memorial Fund Award.

The Danielle Peress, MD Memorial Fund was established in 2018 in memory of Dani Peress, MD, who envisioned supporting MFM fellows in their clinical or translational research endeavors. Learn more about the Danielle Peress, MD Memorial Fund Award here.

Efe Cudjoe, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow at Brown University/Women & Infants, will conduct a study, “Addressing Postpartum Visit Attendance Through Mobile Health: A Feasibility Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Postpartum Mobile Van Visits.”

Timely postpartum visits are essential for detecting and managing complications after birth, yet many face structural and logistical barriers that limit access. Mobile health clinics have emerged as a promising solution to address access gaps in maternal care by bringing care directly to communities. Studies have shown that using a community-based mobile van significantly increases early care engagement among underserved populations. Despite these promising findings, a critical knowledge gap remains about the use of mobile vans to improve access to care in the postpartum period, when patients often face the greatest barriers to follow-up.

Dr. Cudjoe’s study aims to generate foundational data to inform future strategies for integrating mobile postpartum care into routine maternal health delivery systems and will utilize this pilot data to support a future large-scale study. Dr. Cudjoe will be mentored by Alisse Hauspurg, MD, and Methodius Tuuli, MD, MPH, MBA.

Gregory Kirschen, MD, PhD, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, will conduct a study, “Molecular determinants of myometrial dysfunction in obesity: Potential role of collagen deposition.”

Term induction of labor (IOL) has led to an overall reduction in the cesarean delivery (CD) rate in the U.S. among low-risk birthing people. However, disparities in IOL outcomes exist across weight categories. Obese individuals exhibit higher rates of failed IOL leading to CD compared to lean individuals. Failed IOL carries significant morbidity, including postpartum hemorrhage, infection, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Building on previous findings from others and our own work, this project hypothesizes that myometrium from obese subjects contains higher collagen content, which replaces healthy contractile myometrium. This project additionally posits that these tissue changes compromise myometrial function, thereby driving increased rates of failed IOL and hemorrhage.

Dr. Kirschen’s study aims to generate foundational data to inform interventions aimed at mitigating dysfunctional labor and postpartum hemorrhage in patients with obesity. Dr. Kirschen will be mentored by Kristin D. Gerson, MD, PhD.

Estefania Rivera Mudafort, MD, MHS, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow at the University of Connecticut, will conduct a study, “OBLS Essentials for All: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility of a Bilingual Maternal Emergency Preparedness Online Education Program.”

The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, with marked racial and linguistic disparities affecting Hispanic/Latine populations. Comprehensive emergency preparedness training during the antenatal period for patients and partners remains lacking, with no validated educational programs that teach them to recognize warning signs, activate emergency systems, and respond effectively while awaiting professional care. The Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) curriculum has significantly improved provider knowledge and performance during maternal emergencies. OBLS Essentials adapts these evidence-based principles into a short, web-based module for pregnant individuals and their partners, with translation and cultural adaptation for Spanish-speaking populations, filling a critical gap in patient-facing maternal safety education.

Dr. Rivera Mudafort’s study aims to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of OBLS Essentials as an emergency preparedness curriculum for pregnant patients and their partners in both English and Spanish, addressing a critical gap in maternal safety education. Dr. Rivera Mudafort will be mentored by Andrea Shields, MD, MS.

Learn more about the Danielle Peress, MD Memorial Fund Award here.