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