Saint Francis Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist Presents at Symposium

Veronica Maria Pimentel, M.D., presented at the inaugural Women's Health Clinical, Health Disparities, Basic Science Research Poster Symposium.

Veronica Maria Pimentel, M.D., Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist and Director of Research for OB/GYN Residency at Saint Francis, recently presented her published study at the inaugural Women’s Health Clinical, Health Disparities, Basic Science Research Poster Symposium at UConn Health.

Dr. Pimentel’s study titled “Feasibility of Universal Screening for Preeclampsia Risk and Aspirin Recommendation in the Ultrasound Unity” showed that the introduction of a simple questionnaire she developed captured two-thirds of patients at risk for developing preeclampsia in pregnancy. These patients subsequently received counseling on preeclampsia and almost four-fifths accepted the recommended aspirin prophylaxis.

Dr. Pimentel and her research team, which includes Rebecca Crowell, Ph.D., Director of Research Development at Saint Francis, are working on optimizing postpartum care to decrease maternal morbidity and mortality.

Janine Austin Clayton, M.D., Director of Research on Women’s Health at the National Institutes of Health, was the keynote speaker for the symposium. Dr. Pimentel is also an Assistant Professor at the UConn School of Medicine and a member of its Group on Women in Medicine and Science.