The AAP/VON Scholar Awards are awarded every year to five fellows and early career neonatologists by the Vermont Oxford Network (VON) the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Neonatal Perinatal Medicine (SoNPM). 

Sam Gentle, M.D., assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology, was selected as one of the five AAP/VON Scholars for 2021 in recognition of his work in data-driven quality improvement in the care of infants.

“Attending the VON Annual Quality Congress ignited my QI journey,” said Dr. Gentle.  “Receiving recognition from the network transforming neonatal care reflects our care providers’ commitment to continuously improve the outcomes of preterm infants.”

Dr. Gentle’s quality improvement work focuses on systematic patient assessment and communication within the NICU with local initiatives involving oxygen saturation histogram analysis to reduce retinopathy of prematurity, oral feeding optimization to reduce length of stay in in preterm infants, and standardizing ventilator weaning in extremely preterm infants. 

Congratulations Dr. Gentle!