There’s a powerful message on the social media profile of Dr. Geeta Swamy, vice dean for scientific integrity and associate vice president for research at the Duke School of Medicine and Duke University:
“Behind every strong woman is a story that gave her no other choice.”
The message resonates with Swamy, who as the Haywood Brown, MD Distinguished Professor of Women’s Health, is mindful of the challenges faced by women — especially expectant mothers — in embattled regions across the nation and globe.
Here in Durham, Swamy’s community outreach includes tackling maternal-infant infectious diseases through vaccination and medical misinformation that can cause vaccine hesitancy among city residents, particularly new mothers. She has also served on a university task force to eliminate racism in clinical research and co-directed the NIH-funded Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit’s clinical trials to improve health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
A professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of maternal-fetal medicine, Swamy is a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and a consultant to the World Health Organization, where her expertise has advanced national and international efforts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaccines in pregnant women.
During the pandemic shutdown, she appeared on The Today Show to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine. “It’s exciting to get information out beyond Duke walls,” said Swamy about the appearance, in an interview meant to allay concerns about vaccine safety with School of Medicine Dean Dr. Mary Klotman.
She oversees the Duke Office of Research Initiatives, Duke Office of Scientific Integrity, Office of Research Administration, Office of Research Contracts, and the Duke Health IRB.
