Ijeoma Eleazu, M.D. | Seldin Symposium Reflections

Foster Fellow, 2023

What stood out about your research experience at UT Southwestern, and how did it shape your career?

The best part of my research experience at UT Southwestern, hands down, was the mentorship. I was lucky to have mentors who appreciated my curiosity and encouraged me to ask nontraditional questions within the Dallas Heart Study Data Set and beyond. Dr. James de Lemos, in particularly, was instrumental to building me up as an investigator.

How did participating in the Seldin Symposium impact your research path?

It was wonderful to present at the Seldin Symposium and be selected as a Foster Fellow. The experience that I gained sharing my work with the Department of Medicine led to me apply for and become a finalist at the Northwestern Young Investigators Forum in Chicago. I have since published this manuscript in the Journal of American Heart Association.

What are your current research interests and goals?

My current research interests are within the realm of cardio obstetrics, the intersection of cardiovascular disease and maternal mortality. I am collaborating on a prospective cohort study with the UTSW Maternal Fetal Medicine Department exploring trends in post-partum blood pressure and hypertension in patients with preeclampsia. I hope to continue similar work as a member of the faculty!

What advice would you offer current Internal Medicine trainees about pursuing research?

Let your passion shape your questions, hold on to good mentors, and believe in yourself and your capability to learn along the way! Good Luck!

Representative Publications

• Personal Actions to Create a Culture of Inclusion: Navigating Difficult Conversations With Medical Colleagues.
  Sulistio MS, Chen CL, Eleazu I,Godfrey S, Abraham RA, Toft LEB. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Nov. Epub 2023 Nov 7.
• Associations of a Composite Stress Measurement Tool With Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Outcomes: Findings From the Dallas Heart Study.
  Eleazu I, Ayers C, Navar AM, Salhadar K, Albert M, Carnethon M, Brown ES, Ogbu Nwobodo L, Carter S, Bess C, Powell-Wiley TM, de Lemos JA. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Mar 4. Epub 2025 Feb 19.