The Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) Society, a nonprofit dedicated to improving outcomes for babies at risk of NEC, is honored to welcome Dr. Camilia R. Martin to the NEC Society’s 12-seat Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Martin is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, and the Associate Director of the NICU and Director for Cross-Disciplinary Research Partnerships in the Division of Translational Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston.

Throughout her career, Dr. Martin has demonstrated her deep commitment to our most vulnerable infants and their families. She is particularly interested in understanding nutritional influences on gut development and the risk of intestinal injury in premature babies. “I am honored to have been asked to join the NEC Society Scientific Advisory Council. The NEC Society uniquely harmonizes a multidisciplinary approach to take a 360° view of the issues surrounding this complex disease and to advance novel treatment strategies. I look forward to becoming a part of this dedicated and passionate team.”

Dr. Martin joined the Council to fill the vacancy of founding Council member, Dr. Alexander Penn, who stepped down to focus on his work with the US military. Dr. Penn is developing technologies to prevent death and improve recovery in injured warfighters. Dr. Penn began serving as a Council member for the NEC Society in 2014, just as the organization was forming. Dr. Penn writes, “I am so proud to have been a part of the NEC Society from the beginning. It is an amazing organization filled with dedicated, inspired, and capable people. I have no doubt that through its efforts, many future lives will be saved and enriched.”

The NEC Society’s 12 Scientific Advisors work hand-in-hand with Jennifer Canvasser (founder, director) and Erin Umberger (director) to guide the organization’s projects and priorities, which aim to advance patient-centered research for premature and medically fragile infants at risk of NEC. Jennifer Canvasser shares, “We are deeply grateful to both Dr. Penn and Dr. Martin. Through their extraordinary commitment to babies and their families, the NEC Society will continue to drive research and improved practices as we strive to prevent this devastating disease.”

To see a full list of the NEC Society Scientific Advisory Council, please click here.