Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is a Brazilian physiotherapist and researcher with expertise in neuroengineering, maternal and child health, and neonatal care. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Valéria holds a Master’s in Neuroengineering from the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences and has extensive experience in hospital and academic settings. Her research contributions focus on neonatal neural activity and pediatric urological sequelae linked to congenital infections like Zika virus. She has served in both clinical and academic roles across various Brazilian institutions, including UFRN, ISD, HU-UFGD, and HRG. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in English, she also acts as a journal referee and participates in numerous collaborative health projects. Valéria has earned distinctions for her dedication to education and contributions to neonatal physiotherapy research and care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is completing her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy (2021–2025) at UFRN, under Dr. Silvana Alves Pereira. She earned a Master’s in Neuroengineering (2018–2020) at the Edmond and Lily Safra Institute, supervised by Dr. Reginaldo Freitas Jr., with a CAPES scholarship. Previously, she completed a specialization in Maternal and Child Health through a multiprofessional residency at UFRN (2016–2018), also under Dr. Pereira. Her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy (2011–2015) was completed at UFRN with CNPq scholarship support. Complementary education includes over 20 short courses in areas like public health, intensive care, clinical pilates, neonatal care, and professional development, offered by institutions such as FIOCRUZ, CEDEP, UFMG, and the Albert Einstein Institute. These reflect her commitment to continuous learning and interdisciplinary training in health care and leadership. She also completed a 240-hour English language course and has participated in multiple training programs since 2009, enhancing her clinical and academic capacities.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Valéria has accumulated rich experience in public health, academic research, and clinical physiotherapy. Since 2022, she works at the University Hospital of Grande Dourados (HU-UFGD/Ebserh) as a government-employed physiotherapist. She has concurrently held research and academic roles at UFRN since 2021. Her past positions include clinical roles at Hospital Rio Grande, Hospital Municipal de Campanha, and UPA Esperança, and academic/research posts at Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD), where she contributed to projects on Zika-related pediatric sequelae. From 2016 to 2018, she was a research fellow at the Regional Hospital Dr. Mariano Coelho. Her early experience includes a scholarship-based position at Hospital Universitário Ana Bezerra. She’s also an active participant in ongoing projects at Instituto Fernandes Figueira and ISD. Valéria’s work combines hands-on physiotherapeutic care with clinical research, specializing in neonatal, neurological, and urological rehabilitation, making her a key contributor in multidisciplinary health teams.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Valéria received an Honorable Mention in 2018 from the Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas do RN for her contribution to the first class of the multiprofessional residency in maternal and child health. In 2015, she won first place in the area of Neonatal and Pediatric Physiotherapy at the III Northeastern Congress of Cardiorespiratory and Intensive Care Physiotherapy (CONEFIR), highlighting her excellence as a student-researcher. These awards recognize her early and continued dedication to improving clinical physiotherapy practice in neonatal and pediatric populations, as well as her commitment to rural health education and service delivery. Her leadership in education and practical training programs, especially in underserved areas, has been widely acknowledged. These honors underscore her impact on both the academic and practical dimensions of physiotherapy and affirm her growing reputation as a committed clinician, researcher, and mentor in Brazil’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Research Interests 🔬

Valéria’s research focuses on neonatal neurophysiology, pediatric rehabilitation, and health impacts of congenital infections such as the Zika virus. At UFRN, her Ph.D. work investigates the relationship between neural activity and visual processing in premature newborns. Through the Instituto Santos Dumont and Instituto Fernandes Figueira, she has contributed to long-term studies on urinary and intestinal dysfunctions in children with congenital Zika syndrome. She integrates neuroengineering principles into pediatric physiotherapy to enhance diagnostic and rehabilitative outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach includes neurodevelopmental monitoring, urological sequelae analysis, and intervention design for affected children. In addition to field research, she is involved in designing care protocols, training health professionals, and evaluating public health strategies. Her work bridges neuroscience, physiotherapy, and maternal-child care, aiming to improve outcomes for vulnerable pediatric populations. She also serves as a peer reviewer, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based practices in neurorehabilitation and child health.

Publications

Rebecca Nunge | Perinatology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rebecca Nunge | Perinatology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rebecca A. Nunge, MD, is a dedicated Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at the University of South Florida with a passion for women’s health, health equity, and medical education. A graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of Notre Dame, she combines academic excellence with extensive clinical, research, and leadership experience. Rebecca has been recognized with numerous awards for her compassion, advocacy, and commitment to underserved populations. She has led initiatives in correctional health, served as a peer mentor, and contributed significantly to student outreach clinics and leadership programs. Her research spans trauma immunology and maternal-fetal medicine, with published work in top journals and presentations at national conferences. She brings a collaborative, patient-centered approach to care and remains committed to mentoring and service. Rebecca embodies leadership, empathy, and scholarship, shaping her future as a physician-leader in OB-GYN.

Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Rebecca Nunge earned her Doctor of Medicine from Indiana University School of Medicine in 2023, where she was inducted into both Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Societies. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Notre Dame in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Studies and a supplementary major in Peace Studies. She pursued global learning through study-abroad programs in Greece and the Middle East, reflecting her early interest in cultural competency and global health. During medical school, she complemented her formal education with active participation in peer mentoring, curriculum development, and medical volunteerism. Her education was further enriched by leadership academies, global health brigades, and clinical rotations that strengthened her holistic, service-oriented approach to medicine. Scholarships from IUSM supported her academic excellence, leadership, and service. Rebecca’s education exemplifies intellectual rigor, ethical commitment, and an enduring dedication to patient advocacy and healthcare equity.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Rebecca Nunge’s experience spans clinical service, community engagement, teaching, and leadership. As a current OB-GYN resident at USF, she provides compassionate care grounded in hands-on medical training and extensive volunteer experience. She served in multiple leadership roles at the Indiana University Student Outreach Clinic, including Women’s Health Chair and Clinic Manager, overseeing prenatal care and operational logistics. She founded the Correctional Medicine Student Outreach Project to address health disparities in incarcerated populations, merging clinical exposure with advocacy and curricular integration. She mentored peers through multiple IU School of Medicine programs and contributed to clerkship orientation panels. Her experience includes volunteering at the Harbor Light Center, Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, and global brigades in Nicaragua. Rebecca’s teamwork, organizational skills, and empathy shine through her community impact and mentoring. She also worked on immunology and maternal-fetal research projects, demonstrating a commitment to integrating clinical insight with scholarly contribution.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Dr. Rebecca Nunge has received numerous awards for academic excellence, leadership, service, and advocacy. In 2023, she was named Resident Intern of the Year at Tampa General Hospital’s Labor and Delivery Unit. She was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society, prestigious recognitions reserved for the top percentage of medical students. At IUSM, she earned several scholarships, including the Roggenkamp, Moore, Hutchens, Means, and Wenning scholarships, honoring academic merit and service. Rebecca was named Women’s Health Volunteer and Advocate of the Month for her dedication at the IU Student Outreach Clinic. She also received the Visionary Leader Award and was recognized among IUPUI’s Elite 50 and Premiere 10 for graduate leadership. Her research was honored with an NHLBI-T35 Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation. Rebecca’s honors reflect her unwavering commitment to equity, excellence, and compassion in medicine, distinguishing her as a leader among her peers.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Rebecca Nunge’s research focuses on maternal-fetal medicine, trauma immunology, and the social determinants of health. At Indiana University, she collaborated with Dr. Todd McKinley and Dr. Mark Kaplan to develop a minimally invasive, cell-based model predicting immune responses to trauma—work that earned recognition at national research symposiums. In OB-GYN, she studied early childhood adversity and post-op pain with Dr. Insiyyah Patanwala, and risk factors for gestational diabetes in twin pregnancies with Dr. Hiba Mustafa. Her interdisciplinary approach merges clinical practice with immunology, public health, and machine learning, as reflected in publications in Seminars in Perinatology and Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Rebecca has also explored the health implications of mass incarceration through her Correctional Medicine Outreach Project, advocating for system-level change. Her research consistently integrates compassion, innovation, and advocacy to improve maternal and community health outcomes, especially among underserved populations.

Publications 
  • Pain medication use during pregnancy.

    Seminars in perinatology
    2025-04-01 | Journal article
    PMID: 40175217
    CONTRIBUTORS: Nunge RA; Kendle AM; Alwan S
  • Machine learning prediction of hypertension and diabetes in twin pregnancies using characteristics at prenatal care entry: a nationwide study

    Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology
    2024-05-28 | Journal article
    Part ofISSN: 0960-7692
    Part ofISSN: 1469-0705
    CONTRIBUTORS: Hiba Mustafa; Erkan Kalafat; Smriti Prasad; M. ‐H. Heydari; R. N. Nunge; Asma Khalil
  • Developing a Minimally Invasive Cell-Based Model to Predict Response to Major Trauma

    Insight: Indiana University Medical Student Research Journal
    2021-12-16 | Journal article
    HANDLE: 25970
    CONTRIBUTORS: Rebecca Nunge
  • Developing a Minimally Invasive Cell-Based Model to Predict Response to Major Trauma

    Proceedings of IMPRS
    2020-12-15 | Journal article
    Part of ISSN: 2641-2470
    CONTRIBUTORS: Rebecca Nunge