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Neonatologist, Associate Professor, Prisma Health of the Midlands, Mednax, University of South Carolina

Laura Valleni is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is board certified in both Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Laura is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and is an attending neonatologist and clinical faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics for Neonatology at the Prisma Health System of the Midlands in Columbia, South Carolina – providing neonatal intensive care for the region. Current research focus includes study of metals during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes, neonatal drug withdrawal as well as various neonatology practice related quality improvement initiatives. Laura's volunteer work includes medical work in Haiti post the Earthquake (Medical Response Team), Medical Outreach Team in Vietnam, and teaching Neonatal Resuscitation in China and Tibet. She also serves on the board of Carolina Sunshine for Children and works with the March of Dimes to improve the health of mothers and babies, including serving as the 2018 Chair of the March of Dimes Signature Chef Event. Since 2016, Laura has been the co-chair for South Carolina's "Famously Hot New Year" celebration – an event that draws tens of thousands of people to South Carolina for a free colossal New Year’s Eve celebration. A collaborative project with 3 other Liberty Fellows, is to improve cardiac arrest outcomes by integrating a mobile app with Emergency Medical Systems throughout SC to allow for effective CPR-trained citizen bystander response to cardiac arrest events. Laura completed a fellowship in Neonatology at the Medical University of South Carolina, earned her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Public Health Epidemiology from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of California at Riverside. Laura is a Fellow of the 11th class of the Liberty Fellowship Program (2016) and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.