Melissa Medvedev, MD, PhD

Dr. Melissa Medvedev (Morgan) is a physician-scientist with a background in clinical research, global health, and health technology innovation. Her research focuses on evaluating interventions to promote survival and prevent disability in mothers, neonates, and children. She co-led the OMWaNA trial, which compared the effectiveness, safety, costs, and cost-effectiveness of kangaroo mother care initiated before stabilization vs. standard care among neonates weighing 2000g or less at five hospitals in Uganda. She is a co-investigator on the VIVANT study, a RCT evaluating whether oral azithromycin improves growth and infectious morbidity in low birthweight and underweight neonates across 45 health facilities in Burkina Faso.

Dr. Medvedev is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of Nature/npj Women's Health. She is a member of the WHO/ UNICEF Every Newborn Measurement Improvement KMC Working Group, the UNICEF/NEST360 Target Product Profiles Working Group, the NEST360 Education and COVID-19 Working Groups, and the COVID-19 Small and Sick Newborn Care Collaborative Group (in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and NEST360). She previously served as an Associate Editor of Nature/npj Digital Medicine.
Education
11/2020 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California, San Francisco, CA
PhD, 08/2020 - Epidemiology & Biostatistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
Fellowship, 06/2019 - Biodesign Innovation, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Fellowship, 06/2017 - Preterm Birth Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, CA
Fellowship, 06/2016 - Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
Residency, 06/2013 - Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA
MD, 05/2010 - Medicine, University of Texas Medical School, Houston, TX
MSc, 09/2006 - Global Health Science, University of Oxford, UK
Honors and Awards
  • Woodruff Medal, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 2021
  • Loan Repayment Program Award (renewal), National Institutes of Health, 2021
  • Loan Repayment Program Award (renewal), National Institutes of Health, 2018
  • Early Career Award, Thrasher Research Fund, 2015
Websites

  1. Moxon SG, Wharton-Smith A, Sharma S, Aluvaala J, Campbell OMR, Gupta G, Lobis S, Warthin C, Penn-Kekana L, Freedman LP, Delphi panel on EmONC signal functions and levels of care. A Delphi process to build consensus on revised Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) signal functions and levels of care. PloS one 2025. PMID: 40982434


  2. WHO expert consultative group on small and/or sick newborn indicators for Every Newborn Action Plan. Measuring ENAP interventions for small and/or sick newborns in routine health information systems: indicators and considerations from a WHO expert consultation. Journal of global health 2025. PMID: 40341314


  3. Tumukunde VS, Sekitoleko I, Opondo C, Nyirenda M, Tann CJ, Lawn JE, Medvedev MM. Kangaroo mother care among hospitalised neonates: evaluation of the validity of duration measurement methods compared to observation linked to the OMWaNA trial in Uganda. BMC pediatrics 2025. PMID: 40205609


  4. Medvedev MM, Tumukunde V, Tann CJ, Opondo C, Lawn JE. Kangaroo mother care before stabilisation: the OMWaNA trial - Authors' reply. Lancet (London, England) 2025. PMID: 40057341


  5. Stevenson G, Namukwaya S, Katongole J, Tumukunde V, Blencowe H, Seeley J, Tann CJ, Lawn JE, Elbourne D, Medvedev MM. "I have to be strong": A qualitative study of parental bereavement experiences in Uganda following the death of their baby. Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives 2025. PMID: 40024218


  6. Tumukunde VS, Loucaides E, Medvedev MM, Nyirenda M, Lawn J, Tann CJ. Measuring the duration of kangaroo mother care for neonates: a scoping review. BMJ open 2025. PMID: 39843372


  7. Tumukunde VS, Katongole J, Namukwaya S, Medvedev MM, Nyirenda M, Tann CJ, Seeley J, Lawn JE. Kangaroo mother care prior to clinical stabilisation: Implementation barriers and facilitators reported by caregivers and healthcare providers in Uganda. PLOS global public health 2024. PMID: 39083500


  8. Tumukunde V, Medvedev MM, Tann CJ, Mambule I, Pitt C, Opondo C, Kakande A, Canter R, Haroon Y, Kirabo-Nagemi C, Abaasa A, Okot W, Katongole F, Ssenyonga R, Niombi N, Nanyunja C, Elbourne D, Greco G, Ekirapa-Kiracho E, Nyirenda M, Allen E, Waiswa P, Lawn JE, OMWaNA Collaborative Authorship Group. Effectiveness of kangaroo mother care before clinical stabilisation versus standard care among neonates at five hospitals in Uganda (OMWaNA): a parallel-group, individually randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation. Lancet (London, England) 2024. PMID: 38754454


  9. Penzias RE, Bohne C, Ngwala SK, Zimba E, Lufesi N, Rashid E, Gicheha E, Odedere O, Dosunmu O, Tillya R, Shabani J, Cross JH, Liaghati-Mobarhan S, Chiume M, Banda G, Chalira A, Wainaina J, Gathara D, Irimu G, Adudans S, James F, Tongo O, Ezeaka VC, Msemo G, Salim N, Day LT, Powell-Jackson T, Chandna J, Majamanda M, Molyneux EM, Oden M, Richards-Kortum R, Ohuma EO, Paton C, Hailegabriel T, Gupta G, Lawn JE, with the Health Facility Assessment Technical Content Reviewers, Co-design Group, Health Facility As. Health facility assessment of small and sick newborn care in low- and middle-income countries: systematic tool development and operationalisation with NEST360 and UNICEF. BMC pediatrics 2024. PMID: 38454369


  10. Kirby RP, Molyneux EM, Dube Q, McWhorter C, Bradley BD, Gartley M, Oden ZM, Richards-Kortum R, Werdenberg-Hall J, Kumara D, Liaghati-Mobarhan S, Heenan M, Bond M, Ezeaka C, Salim N, Irimu G, Palamountain KM, TPP Survey, Consensus Meeting Participants Collaborative Authorship Group. Target product profiles for neonatal care devices: systematic development and outcomes with NEST360 and UNICEF. BMC pediatrics 2023. PMID: 37968603


  11. Patil M, Qureshi A, Naydenova E, Bang A, Halbert J, De Vos M, Nair P, Patil M, Medvedev MM. Assessing a digital technology-supported community child health programme in India using the Social Return on Investment framework. PLOS Digital Health 2023. PMID: 37910483


  12. Medvedev MM, Tumukunde V, Kirabo-Nagemi C, Greco G, Mambule I, Katumba K, Waiswa P, Tann CJ, Elbourne D, Allen E, Ekirapa-Kiracho E, Pitt C, Lawn JE. Process and costs for readiness to safely implement immediate kangaroo mother care: a mixed methods evaluation from the OMWaNA trial at five hospitals in Uganda. BMC health services research 2023. PMID: 37301974


  13. Bountogo M, Sié A, Zakane A, Compaoré G, Ouédraogo T, Brogdon J, Lebas E, Nyatigo F, Medvedev MM, Arnold BF, Lietman TM, Oldenburg CE, NAITRE Study Team. Infant mortality and growth failure after oral azithromycin among low birthweight and underweight neonates: A subgroup analysis of a randomized controlled trial. PLOS global public health 2023. PMID: 37186577


  14. Amsalu R, Oltman SP, Medvedev MM, Baer RJ, Rogers EE, Shiboski SC, Jelliffe-Pawlowski L. Predicting the risk of 7-day readmission in late preterm infants in California: A population-based cohort study. Health science reports 2023. PMID: 36605457


  15. Amsalu R, Oltman SP, Baer RJ, Medvedev MM, Rogers EE, Jelliffe-Pawlowski L. Incidence, Risk Factors, and Reasons for 30-Day Hospital Readmission Among Healthy Late Preterm Infants. Hospital pediatrics 2022. PMID: 35694876


  16. Rao SPN, Minckas N, Medvedev MM, Gathara D, Y N P, Seifu Estifanos A, Silitonga AC, Jadaun AS, Adejuyigbe EA, Brotherton H, Arya S, Gera R, Ezeaka CV, Gai A, Gobezayehu AG, Dube Q, Kumar A, Naburi H, Chiume M, Tumukunde V, Medhanyie AA, Plange-Rhule G, Shabini J, Ohuma EO, Tadele H, W/Gebriel F, Hadgu A, Alamineh L, Mehta R, Molyneux E, Lawn JE, COVID-19 Small and Sick Newborn Care Collaborative Group. Small and sick newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: global survey and thematic analysis of healthcare providers' voices and experiences. Volume 6 of Issue 3. BMJ global health 2021. PMID: 33716220


  17. Minckas N, Medvedev MM, Adejuyigbe EA, Brotherton H, Chellani H, Estifanos AS, Ezeaka C, Gobezayehu AG, Irimu G, Kawaza K, Kumar V, Massawe A, Mazumder S, Mambule I, Medhanyie AA, Molyneux EM, Newton S, Salim N, Tadele H, Tann CJ, Yoshida S, Bahl R, Rao SPN, Lawn JE, COVID-19 Small and Sick Newborn Care Collaborative Group. Preterm care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths averted by kangaroo mother care versus mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Volume 33. EClinicalMedicine 2021. PMID: 33748724


  18. Medvedev MM. Management of mother-newborn dyads in the COVID-19 era. Volume 4 of Issue 10. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health 2020. PMID: 32711688


  19. Higgins BV, Medvedev MM, Spindler H, Ghosh R, Longkumer O, Cohen SR, Das A, Gore A, Mahapatra T, Walker DM. Cohort study of neonatal resuscitation skill retention in frontline healthcare facilities in Bihar, India, after PRONTO simulation training. Volume 4 of Issue 1. BMJ paediatrics open 2020. PMID: 32399505


  20. Medvedev MM, Brotherton H, Gai A, Tann C, Gale C, Waiswa P, Elbourne D, Lawn JE, Allen E. Development and validation of a simplified score to predict neonatal mortality risk among neonates weighing 2000 g or less (NMR-2000): an analysis using data from the UK and The Gambia. Volume 4 of Issue 4. The Lancet. Child & adolescent health 2020. PMID: 32119841


  21. Medvedev MM, Tumukunde V, Mambule I, Tann CJ, Waiswa P, Canter RR, Hansen CH, Ekirapa-Kiracho E, Katumba K, Pitt C, Greco G, Brotherton H, Elbourne D, Seeley J, Nyirenda M, Allen E, Lawn JE. Operationalising kangaroo Mother care before stabilisation amongst low birth Weight Neonates in Africa (OMWaNA): protocol for a randomised controlled trial to examine mortality impact in Uganda. Volume 21 of Issue 1. Trials 2020. PMID: 32005286


  22. Raney JH, Medvedev MM, Cohen SR, Spindler H, Ghosh R, Christmas A, Das A, Gore A, Mahapatra T, Walker D. Training and evaluating simulation debriefers in low-resource settings: lessons learned from Bihar, India. Volume 20 of Issue 1. BMC medical education 2020. PMID: 31914989


  23. Ghosh R, Spindler H, Morgan MC, Cohen SR, Begum N, Gore A, Mahapatra T, Walker DM. Diagnosis and management of postpartum hemorrhage and intrapartum asphyxia in a quality improvement initiative using nurse-mentoring and simulation in Bihar, India. Volume 14 of Issue 7. PloS one 2019. PMID: 31276503


  24. Calderon R, Morgan MC, Kuiper M, Nambuya H, Wangwe N, Somoskovi A, Lieberman D. Assessment of a storage system to deliver uninterrupted therapeutic oxygen during power outages in resource-limited settings. Volume 14 of Issue 2. PloS one 2019. PMID: 30726247


  25. Dyer JD, Morgan MC, Cohen SR, Ghosh R, Raney J, Spindler H, Mahapatra T, Christmas A, Walker DM. Does teamwork and communication improve with simulation training? An evaluation of simulation training videos in Bihar, India. East African Journal of Applied Health Monitoring and Evaluation Does teamwork and communication improve with simulation training? An evaluation of simulation training videos in Bihar, India. East African Journal of Applied Health Monitoring and Evaluation 2019. PMID:


  26. Raney JH, Morgan MC, Christmas A, Sterling M, Spindler H, Ghosh R, Gore A, Mahapatra T, Walker DM. Simulation-enhanced nurse mentoring to improve preeclampsia and eclampsia care: an education intervention study in Bihar, India. Volume 19 of Issue 1. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2019. PMID: 30674286


  27. Morgan MC, Spindler H, Nambuya H, Nalwa GM, Namazzi G, Waiswa P, Otieno P, Cranmer J, Walker DM. Clinical cascades as a novel way to assess physical readiness of facilities for the care of small and sick neonates in Kenya and Uganda. Volume 13 of Issue 11. PloS one 2018. PMID: 30462671


  28. Morgan MC, Dyer J, Abril A, Christmas A, Mahapatra T, Das A, Walker DM. Barriers and facilitators to the provision of optimal obstetric and neonatal emergency care and to the implementation of simulation-enhanced mentorship in primary care facilities in Bihar, India: a qualitative study. Volume 18 of Issue 1. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2018. PMID: 30359240


  29. Vail B, Morgan MC, Dyer J, Christmas A, Cohen SR, Joshi M, Gore A, Mahapatra T, Walker DM. Logistical, cultural, and structural barriers to immediate neonatal care and neonatal resuscitation in Bihar, India. Volume 18 of Issue 1. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2018. PMID: 30268110


  30. Vail B, Morgan MC, Spindler H, Christmas A, Cohen SR, Walker DM. The power of practice: simulation training improving the quality of neonatal resuscitation skills in Bihar, India. Volume 18 of Issue 1. BMC pediatrics 2018. PMID: 30176831


  31. Morgan MC, Nambuya H, Waiswa P, Tann C, Elbourne D, Seeley J, Allen E, Lawn JE. Kangaroo mother care for clinically unstable neonates weighing ≤2000 g: Is it feasible at a hospital in Uganda? Volume 8 of Issue 1. Journal of global health 2018. PMID: 29497509


  32. Watkins HC, Morgan MC, Nambuya H, Waiswa P, Lawn JE. Observation study showed that the continuity of skin-to-skin contact with low-birthweight infants in Uganda was suboptimal. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 2018. PMID: 29603791


  33. Dyer J, Spindler H, Christmas A, Shah MB, Morgan M, Cohen SR, Sterne J, Mahapatra T, Walker D. Video Monitoring a Simulation-Based Quality Improvement Program in Bihar, India. Volume 17. Clinical simulation in nursing 2018. PMID: 29616137


  34. Morgan MC, Maina B, Waiyego M, Mutinda C, Aluvaala J, Maina M, English M. Pulse oximetry values of neonates admitted for care and receiving routine oxygen therapy at a resource-limited hospital in Kenya. Volume 54 of Issue 3. Journal of paediatrics and child health 2017. PMID: 29080284


  35. Vail B, Spindler H, Morgan MC, Cohen SR, Christmas A, Sah P, Shah MB, Das A, Walker DM. Care of the mother-infant dyad: a novel approach to conducting and evaluating neonatal resuscitation simulation training in Bihar, India. Volume 17 of Issue 1. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2017. PMID: 28754111


  36. Morgan MC, Maina B, Waiyego M, Mutinda C, Aluvaala J, Maina M, English M. Oxygen saturation ranges for healthy newborns within 24 hours at 1800 m. Volume 102 of Issue 3. Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition 2017. PMID: 28154110


  37. Morgan MC, Kumar GS, Kaiser SV, Seetharam S, Ruel TD. Implementation of a neonatal transcutaneous bilirubin screening programme in rural India. Paediatrics and international child health 2016. PMID: 25844503


  38. Morgan MC, Ruel TD, Kumar GS, Sabnis AJ, Kaiser SV. Predictors of Neonatal Sepsis in Rural Karnataka, India Asian Journal of Clinical Pediatrics and Neonatology 2013. PMID:


  39. Morgan MC, Masaba RO, Nyikuri M, Thomas TK. Factors affecting breastfeeding cessation after discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Volume 22 of Issue 7. AIDS care 2010. PMID: 20635251


  40. Morgan MC, Rashid RM. The effect of phototherapy on neutrophils. Volume 9 of Issue 4. International immunopharmacology 2009. PMID: 19291857