Department of
Congratulations to Shweta Bhagwat, PhD, postdoctoral research associate in the lab of Celia Santi, MD, PhD, for recently receiving a prestigious NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) for her project titled “Study the impact of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) toxins on sperm function.” Her research is being funded by the NIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child […]
We are proud to announce that three of our trainee nominees have been elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Society this year. Congratulations to Dr. Josh Brill (Gynecologic Oncology), Dr. Christine Jackson (Complex Family Planning), and Dr. Adriana Nigaglioni (Residency) on this well-deserved recognition. We are also pleased to congratulate Dr. Toni Frolova […]
WashU Medicine researchers Polina Lishko, PhD, and Celia Santi, MD, PhD, have been awarded a five-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant to support collaborative research focused on defining mechanisms important for regulating male fertility. The award recognizes the investigators’ longstanding leadership in reproductive physiology and translational fertility research. The R01 grant project titled “Temperature and Polyamines: […]
Three WashU Medicine OBGYN residents were inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). Congratulations to Dr. Katie Granger Howard, Dr. Alexandra (Ali) Houston-Ludlam, and Dr. Erin Johnson on this outstanding recognition! The Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) is a community of medical students, physicians, and other leaders who have been recognized for their compassionate care. GHHS […]
For the third consecutive year, our Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Gynecology division was proud to sponsor and celebrate the Girls on the Run Spring 5K, cheering on young girls from across the St. Louis area as they crossed a finish line they had been working toward for weeks. The event brought together thousands of […]
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 40th Annual Rothman Research Day, a tradition that highlights the dedication, innovation, and scholarly excellence of our residents, fellows, and basic science researchers. Each year, this event brings our community together to showcase the impactful research being conducted across a wide range of disciplines. We are […]
Our clerkship students visited The Bridge STL, which is a part of the Health Equity and Justice curriculum. During the visit, they toured both the boutique and their 13,000 sq ft warehouse that serves as the hub for collecting, sorting, and distributing donations. They met with Executive Director Michelle Sortor, who provided a comprehensive overview […]
Dr. Celia Santi, James P Crane Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in the Center for Reproductive Health Science, was highlighted in the Division of Physician-Scientist Newsletter. This newsletter supports the career development of Physician-Scientists, shares resources, guides mentorship, and encourages research pursuits at all career stages. What motivated you to become a physician-scientist? I originally […]
Dr. Sara Wood, Chief of Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, has been honored with a prestigious Dean’s Impact Award. This recognition celebrates faculty who embody the compassion, innovation, and dedication necessary to advance clinical care, education, and research in ways that are both dynamic and deeply rooted in community […]
Our Education team was once again on the WashU Medicine campus, meeting with future physicians and sharing what residency and fellowship training in ObGyn at WashU is all about. The fair connects students with professionals to discuss fellowships, residency training, and career choices within WashU Medicine The team included coordinators Kim Coombs & Rayna Mittler, […]
WashU Medicine’s Department of Gynecologic Oncology was proud to come together this year at the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) Living Out Loud Gala: an inspiring evening where the strength of community was on full display. SLOCA, the only non-profit in Missouri solely dedicated to ovarian cancer, has been a beacon of hope in […]
We were honored to welcome Sandra Brooks, MD, MBA, FACOG, Chief Executive Officer of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), to WashU OBGYN for her presentation, Advancing Our Mission, Together. Dr. Brooks inspired our residents and faculty with a meaningful conversation about leading through change, advocating for patients, and navigating the evolving landscape […]
The Distinguished Service Teaching Awards celebrate the faculty and house staff who make an extraordinary difference in medical student education at Washington University. Each year, students nominate and vote for the course directors, lecturers, clerkship directors, attendings, residents, and coordinators who stand out for their commitment, teaching, and dedication to the next generation of physicians. […]
The Black Family Wellness Expo continues to be a cornerstone event where healthcare meets community, bringing together families and medical professionals in a welcoming, accessible setting. WashU Medicine ObGyn was thrilled to return this year, connecting with community members face-to-face and sharing resources on women’s health and the services we offer. This year’s Expo once […]
We are excited to have these nine outstanding candidates joining our program in June! Thank you to the education team and everyone who made this interview season such a success. Ready to rock the new Academic Year of 2027! Loren Adler, MD – University of Missouri – Columbia Alice Azzun, MD – University of Kansas – […]
Dr. Katherine Bligard, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at WashU Medicine’s Department of OBGYN, has been awarded a grant through the 19th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP, one of 22 investigators recognized this cycle). The CTRFP reflects an ongoing partnership between the WashU Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and The Foundation […]
J. G. Probstein Visiting Professorship, hosted by the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, welcomed Kemi Doll, MD, MSCR. Dr. Kemi Doll is a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington. She is a Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the UW School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Health Systems and Population […]
The MIGS team had a wonderful time at the weekly WashU Medicine farmers market! We connected with attendees to raise awareness about endometriosis and share updates on two of our exciting research studies: Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat — your interest and support mean so much to our team!
Check out our fiscal year 2026 quarter two newsletter!
WashU Medicine OBGYN hosted its annual Career Day, highlighting the wide range of professional opportunities within obstetrics and gynecology. Residents engaged with physicians from across the St. Louis area, gaining valuable perspectives on both private and academic practice through panel discussions. The 2026 agenda featured panels moderated by WashU faculty, highlighting alumni and experts from […]
We are proud to share the Department of OBGYN’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Annual Report from WashU Medicine. This year’s report reflects continued momentum across our mission: expanding clinical care to improve access, advancing innovative research, and strengthening our educational programs through professional development and meaningful community collaboration. Our faculty and staff have received numerous […]
Resident, Dr. Anna Jones, was awarded a Dr. David G. Mutch Residency Research Scholarship. Congrats on this accomplishment! The title of her poster is, “Real-world outcomes after Mirvetuximab Soravtansine treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer.” She will present at SGO in April. Dr. Jones’ primary investigator is Dr. Brooke Sanders. About the Scholarship This scholarship was […]
Dr. Kathy Bligard, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist with WashU Medicine OBGYN, chats about the best advice for what to do when a pregnancy is diagnosed as high-risk and how to support a patient during that time.
When Marissa Chrismer learned she was expecting triplets, she was quickly referred to Jeannie Kelly, MD, MS, a WashU Medicine OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist. From their first appointment, Dr. Kelly helped Marissa navigate the excitement and uncertainty of a high-risk trichorionic-triamniotic pregnancy, closely monitoring her for potential complications like preeclampsia and developing a proactive […]
Confusion and concern around hormone therapy have been common for years, especially for women navigating menopause and perimenopause. Recently, the FDA made a significant update, removing long-standing black box warnings from many hormone therapy treatments, a change that has sparked important conversations about safety, access, and women’s health. To help break down what this update […]
Dr. Premal Thaker, Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was elected to the Faculty Practice Plan (FPP) Board of Directors and Clinical Practice Committee (CPC) as a faculty-at-large representative. In this role, she will contribute to strategic and operational decision-making that supports physician practices across the institution. The Washington University School of Medicine Faculty […]
Maggie Mullen, MD, MSCI, has been selected for an ASCI / Young Physician-Scientist Award. From the American Society for Clinical Investigation site, “The Young Physician-Scientist Awards (YPSA) recognize physician-scientists who are early in their first faculty appointment and have made notable achievements in their research.” The award honors investigators poised to become future leaders in […]
Lindsay Kuroki, MD, MSCI, WashU Medicine Gynecologic Oncologist, has been nominated to serve on the board as a Member-at-Large for the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP) Cervical Cancer Prevention & HPV Management. From the ASCCP site, “ASCCP is dedicated to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and management of anogenital and HPV-related diseases through […]
Resident, Dr. Sarah Cohen, was awarded a Dr. David G. Mutch Residency Research Scholarship. Congrats on this accomplishment! The title of her poster is, “Impact of Proximity to Sources of Pollution on Birth Outcomes.” She will present at SMFM. Dr. Jones’ primary investigator is Dr. Nandini Raghuraman About the Scholarship This scholarship was generously started […]
Chronic pelvic pain is a common but often misunderstood condition that affects millions of women and can deeply interfere with daily life, relationships, and emotional well-being. Rather than having a single cause, pelvic pain is usually the result of several overlapping factors in the body, which can make diagnosis and treatment frustrating for patients. In […]
Congratulations to the latest recipient of the Department of OB/GYN’s Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey (L.A.B.) Award named in honor of Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey—the enslaved women whose sacrifice, without consent, nearly 200 years ago, allows surgical repair for women with vesicovaginal fistulas today. Rachel Crebessa, MDClinical Fellow, Complex Family Planning Project: Improving contraceptive counseling in a large, academic internal medicine clinic […]
In recognition of January as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, WashU Medicine gynecologic oncologist and surgeon Lindsay Kuroki, MD, MSCI, recently joined Show Me St. Louis to discuss the critical role of prevention, early detection, and access in reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Dr. Kuroki emphasized the importance of regular checkups, timely screening, and early […]
Maggie Mullen, MD, MSCI, has been selected for funding through the Siteman Investment Program. “The Siteman Investment Program (SIP) Research Development Award (RDA) is designed to award pilot funding to faculty investigators to support pioneering cancer research and produce data to leverage further external peer-reviewed funding” via the Siteman Research Site. Dr. Mullen’s proposal, “Targeting […]
The collaborative Women & Infants (W&I) Safety and Quality Team was honored with a QUEST Award, presented by Dr. Lynch at the recent BJH Employee Recognition Ceremony. QUEST = Quality, Equity, Safety, and Transparency. This recognition highlights the team’s commitment to improving patient safety and outcomes through meaningful, data-driven quality improvement efforts. The QUEST Award […]
The goal of this project is to reduce cervical cancer disparities by implementing and evaluating community-based interventions that enhance access to at-home HPV screening for medically underserved women, particularly those who are Black, have low incomes, or reside in rural areas. This project will test the feasibility of distributing at-home HPV self-collection kits through the […]
Our education team met with Doorways, a valued non-profit community partner that hosts our clerkship students for a key component of their OB-GYN rotation. Doorways is the only agency in our region dedicated to providing housing and comprehensive supportive services for individuals living with HIV, making this partnership an especially meaningful learning opportunity for our […]
Check out our quarter one newsletter!
Chief Resident, Dr. Sarah Combs, was awarded a Dr. David G. Mutch Residency Research Scholarship. Congrats on this accomplishment! The title of her poster is, “Family Planning Curriculum: Student Satisfaction and Self-Reported Competence.” Dr. Combs’ primary investigator is Dr. Jennifer Reeves. About the Scholarship This scholarship was generously started by David G. Mutch, MD, Professor, in […]
Juan Ferreira, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the laboratory of Celia Santi, MD, PhD, has been awarded a Male Contraceptive Initiative (MCI) Fellowship Grant for his project, “High-Throughput Assay to Screen for Candidate Contraceptives Targeting Sperm Function.” Dr. Ferreira began his two-year MCI Fellowship in September 2025. The research conducted through Dr. Ferreira’s MCI-funded project builds on […]
Sarah Smith, RN, BSN, CLC, has been awarded the Fetal Therapy Nurse Network (FTNN) Outstanding Nurse Award. This award recognizes nurses who make an outstanding impact on the health of expectant families facing a fetal diagnosis, promoting excellence in fetal care. Sarah works as a Nurse Coordinator in our fetal care center, providing compassionate care […]
A new study led by WashU Medicine in St. Louis is transforming how postpartum patients receive treatment for Hepatitis C. Dr. Jeannie Kelly, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Ultrasound, helped launch a “meds to beds” program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to ensure patients leave the hospital with antiviral medication […]
Every fall, we welcome WashU Medicine medical students for an engaging, hands-on introduction to obstetrics and gynecology. During this event, students rotate through interactive stations led by our residents, fellows, and faculty, gaining practical experience in key clinical skills such as laparoscopic techniques, suturing, Nexplanon insertion, and LEEP procedures. This annual event offers a valuable […]
WashU Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Complex Family Planning participated in the Society of Family Planning Annual Meeting. Faculty contributions included a hands-on Deep Nexplanon removal simulation workshop led by Dr. Kathryn Thomas, and a “Stump the Professor”style complex case discussion on placenta accreta spectrum presented by CFP fellow Dr. Christine Jackson. The meeting […]
Chief Resident, Dr. Adriana Nigaglioni, was awarded a Dr. David G. Mutch Residency Research Scholarship. Congrats on this accomplishment! Dr. Nigaglioni’s title is “Female physicians and medical student perspectives on fertility coverage: access, satisfaction and career plans” and her primary investigator was Dr. Ashley Veade. About the Scholarship This scholarship was generously started by David G. […]
Congratulations to multi-Principal Investigators, Dineo Khabele, MD, and Sarah K. England, PhD, in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at WashU Medicine, for recently receiving a Women’s Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The K12 grant project is called […]
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WashU Medicine hosted A Golden Era: Celebrating 50 Years of Surgical Advances in OBGYN, a two-day symposium and hands-on Surgical Skills Course held October 16–17, 2025. The event brought together clinicians, researchers, and trainees to celebrate five decades of innovation in women’s health and to explore the future […]
Congratulations to Dr. Sara Pietroforte! Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Amargant i Riera lab, Dr. Pietroforte has been selected as a Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar by WashU Medicine’s Center of Regenerative Medicine. This honor highlights her exceptional contributions to regenerative science and her commitment to advancing the field.
Congratulations to Andy Liu! Andy, a WashU undergraduate researcher in the Amargant i Riera lab, was awarded Best Presentation at the Upper Midwest Summit for Reproductive Science hosted by Northwestern University this past weekend! 🏆 His winning presentation, titled “The mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 is highly expressed in theca cells and regulates follicle development and oocyte maturation,” showcased groundbreaking work in reproductive science.👏 Bravo, Andy! #WashU […]
Congratulations to Heather Campbell, MD, who was selected as a member of the Academy of Educators! The Academy of Educators at WashU Medicine is an institutional collaboration of educators who together will foster a culture of educational excellence and an institutionally valued community of leaders in health science education. We are the faculty development division […]
WashU Medicine OBGYN’s team Shake Your Teal Feathers joined the 19th Annual Families Run for Ovarian Cancer (ROC) Star 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk, supporting ovarian cancer research and awareness through St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA). Funds raised benefit research efforts at Siteman Cancer Center. The team is proud to continue partnering with SLOCA to […]