Researcher Spotlight: Rachel Friedman-Moraco

What is your professional background?
I did my undergraduate and medical school training in Michigan and then ditched the dreary Midwest winters to come to Emory for internal medicine residency. I’ve loved Emory and Atlanta so much that I stayed here for ID fellowship and ultimately joined the faculty in 2012. I really enjoy the challenge of caring for complicated, immunocompromised patients, so my fellowship was designed with a transplant ID focus. I currently split time between transplant ID and HIV medicine at Emory and the Grady IDP.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
I’m a member of the Division of Infectious Diseases, where I’ve had innumerable mentors. Drs. Marshall Lyon and Aneesh Mehta have been my primary transplant ID mentors. I’ve also received a lot of support from Dr. Thomas Pearson in the Emory Transplant Center.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important? 
I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in multiple areas of research involving retention and linkage in HIV care and recurrent C. difficile infection in immunocompromised patients. My primary research focus involves Solid Organ Transplantation for people living with HIV (PLWH). I’ve had the honor to be the site PI for the multi-center Hope in Action study evaluating the use of HIV+ donors for PLWH undergoing kidney transplant.

What do you like most about Emory?
I know everyone says it, but the collegiality at Emory is unparalleled.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
“Psych” is probable one of my all-time favorite shows. My daughters have recently gotten me hooked on “Nailed It,” which resulted in me trying to re-create a solar system cake for one of their birthdays.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 
Running, hiking, reading, baking, and hanging out with my husband and two daughters. Depending on the season (and pandemic status), I spend a lot of time cheering on the sidelines of my daughters’ various activities.

What is a fun fact about you? 
I’m a Navy brat and actually attended three different kindergartens in three different states within the same year.