Speaker: Samantha Meltzer-Brody, M.D., M.P.H.

Title: Innovative Approach in Translational Research and Treatment of Perinatal Depression
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Introduction:

 (Dr. Meltzer-Brody was named the Executive Dean of the UNC School of Medicine in January 2025 and is the Assad Meymandi Distinguished Professor. From 2019 until March 2025, she served as the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also directed the UNC Center for Women’s Mood Disorders.  

Dr. Meltzer-Brody is also an internationally recognized physician-scientist in perinatal depression. Her research has investigated the epidemiologic and biological predictors of perinatal depression and innovative treatment approaches (pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic). She served as the academic PI for novel psychopharmacologic clinical trials to develop the first FDA approved medication for postpartum depression (brexanolone), and served as an investigator for the newly approved oral drug (zuranolone) for PPD.   She has also served as a co-PI for a PCORI funded study to scale psychotherapy for perinatal depression using trained non-specialists and virtual delivery of care.  

Dr. Meltzer-Brody has received numerous awards for her work.  She was awarded the 2023 NIH Clinical Center Distinguished Clinical Research Scholar and Educator in Residence, named to the 2022 Forbes list of 16 Healthcare Innovators You Should Know, and received the 2020 UNC O Max Gardner award, a UNC System Award (17 universities) for the highest faculty honor.  In 2025, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.  

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the underlying pathophysiology of postpartum depression 

2. Discuss the mechanism of action of the neurosteroid treatment of postpartum depression 

3. Describe the genetic signature of postpartum depression 

ATTENDANCE / CREDIT
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TRANSCRIPT
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