Carl Backes, Jr., MD, a neonatologist and current cardiology fellow at Nationwide Children's Hospital, has been awarded $35,000 from the March of Dimes Ohio Chapter for his project to expand an outpatient methadone education program.
The project involves working to increase health education and information available to pregnant women who use alcohol or other drugs and are being treated with methadone. Dr. Backes and his team will investigate whether their recent efforts have improved retention rates and strengthened the relationships between these at-risk women and their health care providers.
"We're very grateful for the support we've received from the March of Dimes to expand this education program," said Dr. Backes. "We believe our efforts to increase maternal compliance with methadone maintenance during pregnancy will lead to improved maternal and infant outcomes. This funding will help us ensure that our multidisciplinary educational program continues for this vulnerable mother-infant dyad."
Dr. Backes is also a graduate of the Neonatology fellowship program at Nationwide Children's and is currently in his first year of cardiology fellowship training. He is board certified in Pediatrics.
For more information on Neonatology at Nationwide Children's Hospital, visit, http://www.NationwideChildrens.org/neonatology