Princeton University Athletics
Yarden Fraiman '09 MD / Men's Swimming & Diving
City, State / Workplace/Title
Boston, MA/Boston Children's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital/Clinical fellow and research fellow
Medical Specialty / Other Degrees (MBA/MPH, etc.)
Perinatal-Neonatal Medicine and Pediatrics/Will obtain MPH from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (May 2021)
What made you choose a career in healthcare?
Healthcare combined my love of research, science, and caring for others.
What is the focus of your work today?
I am a neonatology fellow and work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) of the hospitals mentioned above. In addition to being a fellow in the Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program, I am also a research fellow in the Harvard-wide Pediatric Health Services Fellowship and I'm obtaining my MPH. My training will end this June and I'll be joining they faculty at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching Harvard teaching hospital. In addition to caring for preterm and critically ill infants, I am also a researcher. My research focuses on racial and ethnic disparities and inequities in neonatal care. I specifically use advanced methodology to identify modifiable structural factors, such as community, that uphold, sustain, propagate, and magnify inequity. By understanding the underlying modifiable structures that create inequity, we can begin to create interventions to create justice.
How has your work changed in the face of COVID-19?
COVID-19 has changed the way we work in the NICU. Practicing medicine behind a mask can be difficult especially in the NICU where we face difficult moral, ethical, and medical decision making. It also makes it harder to share in the joy of new families.Yarden Fraiman
COVID-19 has changed the way we work in the NICU. Practicing medicine behind a mask can be difficult especially in the NICU where we face difficult moral, ethical, and medical decision making. It also makes it harder to share in the joy of new families. We've integrated telehealth into our practice, especially in meeting with families prenatally and discussing the potential outcomes of premature birth.
How did being a Princeton student-athlete prepare you for the challenges you’ve faced?
My time as a Princeton student-athlete prepared me by giving me a strong foundation of time management skills, coupled with a strong sense of self and personal drive. Additionally, it gave me the skills I need to be an effective and valued member of a team.
What keeps you inspired as you look ahead?
The hope that we can improve the life of infants and families across the lifecourse.
Medical School / Other Affiliations
Harvard Medical School, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Tiger Heroes
In partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, the official health care system of Princeton Athletics, “Tiger Heroes” honors front line workers and health care leaders from our alumni community. This digital and social series highlights alumni from all 37 varsity sports programs who have risen to the challenge since the onset of COVID-19. We also recognize special Princeton friends and family. Nominations may be sent to Jess Deutsch, Princeton's Associate Director, Student-Athlete Services: jdeutsch@princeton.edu