Women & Infants’ Russo named to 3 medical genetics organizations

PROVIDENCE – Dr. Melissa Russo, a maternal-fetal medicine and clinical genetics specialist in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, has been appointed to three professional organizations and committees.

Russo has been named to a three-year term of the Genetics Committee of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; a three-year term on the Professional Advisory Board of the Marfan Foundation; and a nominated member of the International Research Society for Genetic Aortic Disease and the Montalcino Aortic Consortium, a consortium of clinical, basic and translational investigators around the world committed to diagnosing and managing aortic disorders and discovering their genetic causes and modifiers.

“Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder that affects the blood vessels, leaving individuals with a genetic predisposition for aortic dissections. The work of these two organizations is crucial to ensuring early diagnosis and proper treatment that can save the lives of mothers and babies,” Russo said. “I am deeply honored to represent my specialty and Women & Infants Hospital with these prestigious organizations.”

A magna cum laude graduate of Colgate University, Russo earned her medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology and fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine and clinical genetics at Johns Hopkins University.

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Russo is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine and genetics. Prior to joining Women & Infants, she was at Texas Children’s/Baylor University in Houston, Texas, where she was an assistant professor of maternal-fetal medicine and human and molecular genetics. Her research interests include prenatal genetics and reproductive and pregnancy outcomes in women with connective tissue disorders such as Marfan syndrome and Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

Russo performs preconception and pregnancy genetic consultations at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic of Women & Infants.

Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.