Professional Role and Affiliation
Audra M. Prince, M.D. serves as a neonatologist and is the Medical Director of Neonatology at East Alabama Medical Center (EAMC), located at 2000 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika, AL 36801. She is part of the Women’s and Children’s Services team within East Alabama Health. Dr. Prince holds a critical leadership position overseeing neonatal care at EAMC, which recently expanded its neonatology capabilities with a seven-bed Level II nursery and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) opened in 2021.
Educational Background and Certifications
Dr. Prince earned her medical degree from the University of Arkansas. She completed her residency in pediatrics followed by a fellowship in neonatology at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She is board certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine, attesting to her specialized expertise in newborn intensive care and infant health.
Experience and Expertise
Dr. Prince brings over two decades of clinical experience in neonatology and neonatal-perinatal medicine focused on the care of preterm infants and critically ill newborns. She is recognized as the first neonatologist to join East Alabama Medical Center’s Women’s and Children’s Services team, marking a milestone in expanding neonatal care services in the region. The Level II NICU under her medical directorship has successfully cared for preterm infants as young as 32 weeks gestation.
Her clinical profile on reputable platforms like US News & World Report records a solid 4.0 rating from patient reviews (7 ratings), indicating a respected presence and trusted provider status in her community.
Contributions to East Alabama Health and Initiatives
Since her appointment in 2019, Dr. Prince has contributed to significant developments in neonatal care at East Alabama Health, including the introduction of neonatology services that significantly enhance the hospital's maternity and newborn care capacity. This expansion enables localized, high-quality care for vulnerable neonatal populations and helps reduce the need for patient transfers to distant tertiary centers.
Under her leadership, EAMC’s NICU has been renovated and upgraded to a Level III facility, capable of handling complex and intensive neonatal cases, reflecting ongoing institutional investment exceeding $76 million toward critical care and infrastructure expansion within East Alabama Health.
Research and Academic Engagement
Dr. Prince is linked to neonatal research endeavors, including investigations into infant cardiac ion channel expression related to sudden unexplained infant death (SUID), demonstrating academic engagement with neonatal and pediatric cardiology literature. She has participated in studies that explore the developmental expression of ion channel isoforms affecting neonatal cardiac function, which have implications for understanding neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Location and Contact Information
- Office Address:
East Alabama Medical Center
2000 Pepperell Parkway
Opelika, AL 36801
- Contact Phone: (334) 528-3160
- LinkedIn Profile: [linkedin.com/in/audra-prince-76117524](https://www.linkedin.com/in/audra-prince-76117524)
Summary
Dr. Audra M. Prince, M.D. is a highly qualified neonatologist with extensive clinical and leadership experience in neonatal care at East Alabama Health. Her role as Medical Director of Neonatology, combined with her pivotal contributions to establishing and expanding neonatology services—including Level II and III NICU capabilities—position her as a central healthcare professional for neonatal and perinatal services in Alabama. Her educational pedigree and board certification emphasize a deep specialization, and her involvement in neonatal research highlights a commitment to advancing clinical knowledge and improving neonatal outcomes. The substantial investments in neonatology infrastructure under her guidance underscore East Alabama Health’s strategic focus on high-acuity pediatric care.
This profile encapsulates essential professional details, clinical focus areas, and institutional contributions relevant to collaboration or engagement within the neonatal healthcare field at East Alabama Health.
