Academic Section(s):
Neonatal-Perinatal
Education:
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK - 2012
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX - 2015
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX - 2018
Board Certification(s):
American Board of Pediatrics, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (2020)
American Board of Pediatrics, General Pediatrics (2015)
Clinical/Research Interests:
Dr. Bergner’s clinical and research interests focus on nutrition in high-risk infants. Her work examines how early nutritional exposures influence growth, development, and health, with a particular emphasis on human milk and enteral feeding practices in the preterm population. She leads clinical research examining the role of human milk and fortification in early growth and development, including its impact on future morbidity. Likewise, her quality improvement work centers on bedside practices that optimize human milk provision, growth, parent-infant bonding, and infant feeding. Her current scholarly work includes collaborative, multicenter research in early feeding and nutritional challenges for vulnerable infants.
Dr. Bergner is also dedicated to medical education, particularly trainee professional development, mentorship, and program development. Her educational scholarship explores the learning environment, leadership, wellness, and the evolving needs within graduate medical education. She is particularly interested in building better training programs and developing the people within them. She enjoys helping trainees identify their strengths, define their professional goals, and grow as clinicians, educators, researchers, and leaders.
Select Honors & Accomplishments:
2024 – Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma
2018 - Arnold J. Rudolph Award, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
2018 - Travel Award for Young Investigators, Pediatric Academic Societies
2018 - Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science, Southern Society for Pediatric Research
2016 - Travel Award for Young Investigators, Pediatric Academic Societies
2015 - Distinguished Resident Educator, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Select Publications:
MyNCBI Publications
Bergner EM, Glass K, Hillman EA, Crabtree C, Bruno CJ, Gray MM. A Survey of Program Directors on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Training in the United States: Programmatic Structure, Learning Environment, and Wellness Activities. Am J Perinatol. 2026 May;43(7):875-881. doi: 10.1055/a-2701-6697. Epub 2025 Sep 16. PubMed PMID: 40957614.
Ailumerab H, Miller JL, DeShea L, Beasley WH, Chaaban H, Bergner EM. Risk factors associated with the development of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants on an exclusive human milk diet: a single-center case-control study. J Perinatol. 2025 Dec;45(12):1745-1750. doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02401-2. Epub 2025 Aug 30. PubMed PMID: 40885806.
Bergner EM, Taylor SN, Gollins LA, Hair AB. Human Milk Fortification: A Practical Analysis of Current Evidence. Clin Perinatol. 2022 Jun;49(2):447-460. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2022.02.010. Epub 2022 Apr 21. Review. PubMed PMID: 35659096.
Bergner EM, Taylor SN, Gollins LA, Hair AB. Human Milk Fortification: A Practical Analysis of Current Evidence. Clin Perinatol. 2022 Jun;49(2):447-460. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2022.02.010. PubMed PMID: 35659096
Bergner EM, Shypailo R, Visuthranukul C, Hagan J, O'Donnell AR, Hawthorne KM, Abrams SA, Hair AB. Growth, Body Composition, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes at 2 Years Among Preterm Infants Fed an Exclusive Human Milk Diet in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Study. Breastfeed Med. 2020 May;15(5):304-311. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2019.0210. PubMed PMID: 32298596
Burge K, Bergner E, Gunasekaran A, Eckert J, Chaaban H. The Role of Glycosaminoglycans in Protection from Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2020 Feb 20;12(2). doi: 10.3390/nu12020546. Review. PubMed PMID: 32093194