Carrie Gower (she/her) is the Practice Manager for MFM and Fetal Care! She has worked in the department for 5 years. You can often find her buzzing around COH 10! Never stop trying to learn or to grow yourself. Don’t settle, always strive for the best. Best piece of advice she has ever received! What […]
Emily Constantini (she/her) is a Patient Billing/Services Representative I for COH 7! She has been with us for right around 3 months. We are lucky to have her! When asked about the best piece of advice she was ever given, she mentioned this from her best friend: No one has power over you, unless you […]
WashU ObGyn Department Chair, Dr. Dineo Khabele, is the first Black Chair at the institution. She has firsthand seen the disparities in care and is set to be proactive in mending the problem. “Sometimes it feels hopeless, and sometimes people feel sort of dejected or like they can’t do anything. I want to let people […]
Last night, residents, students, and attendings gathered to view Michelle Alexander speak in regard to her book, The New Jim Crow, and race in America today. Delicious Ethiopian food catered by Meskerem was enjoyed! When asked about what keeps her hopeful, Alexander admitted that it’s hard to always be hopeful. But she has witnessed small […]
“It must be acknowledged that these advancements were made through the exploitation of enslaved women’s bodies…” Dr. Marion Sims, historically known as the Father of Gynecology, had surgical instruments named after him and monuments erected after he developed gynecologic surgical techniques, specifically vesicovaginal fistula repair. However, his surgical techniques and instruments were developed on the […]
WashU’s Department of OBGYN has once again achieved a US TOP 10 RANKING! Funds awarded to our department by the National Institutes of Health totaled $6.4M in 2022, as reported by Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research #BRIMR. Congrats to our amazing & dedicated research teams!
Amber Richardson (she/her) is Supervisor/Medical Assistant for OBGYN-COH 710. She has been with the department for 7 years! [My favorite part of my job is] The team I work with. They make the workplace enjoyable. I love being a part of the day-to-day office life with the team we have. Amber Richardson What’s something that […]
Chris Higginbotham (she/her) is a Financial Analyst for the Business Office. She has been with the department for 2 years. We are so happy to have someone like her greeting everyone on COH 10! [Most people don’t know] I got married in Heidelberg, Germany, and I have my motorcycle certification! Chris Higginbotham What do you […]
Dineo Khabele, MD, FACOG, FACS, a specialist in gynecologic oncology, is head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine. She made history when she assumed that role in 2020, becoming the first Black department head at the medical school. She points out, however, that many such schools in the U.S. have […]
Hormonal birth control methods are highly effective, but for many people who take them, they have undesirable side effects. But these could someday be avoided with the advent of fast-acting nonhormonal contraceptives. In a study published February 14 in Nature Communications, a group of Weill Cornell Medicine pharmacologists report a male contraceptive that prevented 100 percent […]
This Feb/Mar MO American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is focusing on period poverty. Period poverty refers to the inability to afford period products (pads/tampons/cups). About 40% of US people with uteruses struggle with period poverty, causing about 1/3 of low-income people with uteruses to miss work or school due to the lack of access to […]
**TLDR: Dr. Howard P Venable, the first Black physician faculty member at WASHU, was an accomplished ophthalmologist, who had his land in Creve Couer taken away from him and his family by the mayor in 1959 under the basis of racial segregation and eminent domain. It wasn’t until 2021 that the land was rededicated and […]
On Wednesday, February 15, the Michael D. Nelson Alumni Society hosted the first annual Residency Career Day! The residents were able to hear from many of our community physicians, starting with presentations from Dr. Makeba Williams, who spoke on career values as a physician. Dr. Diana Gray** spoke on the various academic tracks an ObGyn can […]
Feature on NBC Nightly News featuring Dr. Kenan Omurtag.
The members of CRepHS held a Valentine’s Bake-Off and card-making party. Photos courtesy of Julie Emmerich!
**TLDR: Just blocks away from Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the “Delmar Divide” calls to attention the stark racial makeup and socioeconomic inequity that exits immediately north and south of Delmar Boulevard. Aiming to address the striking disparities in St. Louis, the “Delmar Divine” is a shared space for collaboration and innovation among many nonprofits and social service organizations in St. […]
Gynecologic Oncologist & surgeon Andrea Hagemann, MD, recently joined KMOV to discuss how the HPV vaccine greatly reduces the risk of cervical cancer & a number of other cancers, making it a key part of cancer prevention for both girls & boys. http://ow.ly/8Kok50MLQ03
Dr. Roxane Rampersad, Washington University Professor, of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Barnes Jewish Hospital talks with Tom and Carol about the decline in birth rates in the state of Missouri.
Fran Manyx (they/them) is a Clinical Research Study Assistant II for the Division of Clinical Research. They have been with us since last April! I love the interaction I have with patients as well as knowing I will learn something new everyday from any aspect of my job. I love having an avenue for growth […]
Babies diagnosed with Spina Bifida are being offered an innovative and less invasive way to be treated. Many patients choose to travel to St. Louis to have this surgery with some coming from quite a distance away. The surgery is performed in our Fetal Care Center, the only one in the area, and one of […]
Media Advisory: New MRI method provides detailed view of the placenta during pregnancy Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have developed a new method to process MRI scans to reveal the distinct compartments of the placenta, take measurements of oxygen levels in each region and determine if there are malformations in blood vessels […]
Department members Z. Sun, W. Wu, P. Zhao, D. M. Nelson, A. Odibo, Y. Wang were featured on the cover article on Ultrasound in Obstetrics in Gynecology & “Association of intraplacental oxygenation patterns on dual-contrast MRI with placental abnormality and fetal brain oxygenation” Most human in-vivo placental imaging techniques are unable to distinguish and characterize various placental compartments, such […]
Dr. Lindsay Kuroki of Washington University ObGyn and Siteman Cancer Center speaks with Fox2 Now about how the HPV is decreasing cervical cancer cases.
Ryan Stoner (they/them) is a Clinical Research Assistant for DCR. They have been with us for a little of a month. We are so excited to have them with us! I care deeply about advocacy for marginalized people especially as it concerns the healthcare system in this country. Healthcare has historically not been equitable and […]
A group of WashU OBGYN faculty and staff, and a fellow, are presenting on the topics of labor, prematurity, ultrasound/imaging, reproductive health equity, and more at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s 43rd annual “Pregnancy Meeting.” Congratulations to our accomplished OBGYN team members: Ebony Carter, MD, MPH; Emily Diveley, BSN; Antonina Frolova, MD, PhD; Cassy Hardy, RN; Jeannie Kelly, […]
Michele Davis is Registered Medical Assistant II for COH 7! She has been with the department for 14 months. I like caring for people. I like that I am learning something new constantly and I am never bored, However, it is the staff that makes me happy, they accept my silliness. Michele Davis What do […]
Did you know that people who menstruate can spend up to a third to half of their lives experiencing some stage of menopause? Medical professionals are still learning about menopause and utilizing ways to normalize this period of life for their patients — making it possible to uncover inequities in menopausal care and discoveries in […]
Meet our 2023 – 2024 chief administrative residents! They were all voted on amongst their peers. They are critical to the success of our team as they take on a huge leadership role in the program. Congrats to Dr. Caroline Min, Dr. Erika Mauban, and Dr. Elizabeth Buckley!
To fertilize an egg, human sperm must undergo a process in which the membrane becomes more negative inside. The ion channel responsible for this membrane hyperpolarization has long been unclear. In this publication, the Santi and Denton labs describe a screen to identify inhibitors of a strong candidate – the sperm-specific potassium channel SLO3. They […]
Ebony B. Carter, MD. MPHAssociate Professor, Ob/GynChief, Division of Clinical Research Thank you to the Division of Physician-Scientists for this feature on Dr. Carter! What motivated you to become a physician-scientist?Two foundational experiences in college launched my clinical research career trajectory. First, I was awarded a Stanford Chappell-Lougee undergraduate research opportunity grantto spend a summer […]
Women and infants and our REI team organized a rapid improvement event (RIE) to improve our third-party reproduction experience for patients. Our third-party coordinators, Christy Wagoner and Kate Staples, along with our WashU leadership team, Dana Schull and Tiffany Little are working with our BJH team. They are led by Jennifer Hudson, Cindy Barkman-Burks, Lauren Sharpe, […]
A part of the residency crew were excited to get their own copies signed!
Andrea Gaona Romero is a Research Assistant II for the Carter Team doing EleVATE research project! She has been with us for about a month now. I had a teacher who once told me to take as many pictures as I could, especially of significant events. I think this has been so useful to me […]
The Resident DEIA committee hosted the department for viewing “City of Joy,” directed by Madeleine Gavin. The film, “follows the first class of students at a remarkable leadership center in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region often referred to as “the worst place in the world to be a woman.” These women have been through unspeakable violence spurred on by a […]
Valene Garr Barry is a Postdoc Fellow for Clinical Research! She has been with us for a little over a year. My favorite part of my job is getting to work with all of the incredible people in our department. Valene Garr Barry Where are you from? Chicago, Illinois What do you do outside of […]
Megan Steiner is a Nurse Coordinator for the department. She has been with us for 4 years [My favorite part of the job is] Working closely with the providers to ensure great care for our patients! Also, I get to tell patients the fetal sex if they do certain genetic testing and it really makes […]
Tre’Vaion Hollimon is the first newborn of 2023 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital St. Louis! Tre’Vaion weighs in at seven pounds 11 ounces. He is almost 20 inches long. Parents Desiree and Shaun were not planning for a trip to the hospital on New Years, but they get to enter 2023 with a healthy baby boy! Lucky […]
Kate Staples is an IVF Nurse Coordinator for our Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility division! She has been with the department for 5 years! I love being a part of the patients’ journey to become parents. Kate Staples What do you do outside of work? family? hobbies? I love to spend time with my husband and […]
Jeannie Kelly is an Associate Professor of OBGYN for the Maternal-Fetal Medicine division! She has been with us for 6 years. What’s the best part of your job? Hands down, the people! I couldn’t ask for better partners and trainees, or the amazing staff who make our department run. Getting to take care of the […]
Peinan Zhao, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Clinical Research (DCR). He has been in the department for 6 years! When asked what he would bring with him on a deserted island? [I would bring] lighter, a good knife and axe for outdoor living, a book with long story and lots of […]
Kimberly (Kim) Coombs is an ‘Executive Secretary’ for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She has been with the department for over 10 years! I enjoy watching how hard our physicians work towards making our patient’s healthcare a success from behind the scenes. Our division as a whole working towards the goal of providing care to all at-risk women. […]
Ken Zimmerman Jr. is one of the Residency/Fellowship Program Administrators! Helping the Fellows achieve their educational and professional goals by assisting or completing administrative processes necessary for their Fellowship. Ken Zimmerman Jr What do you do outside of work? family? hobbies? I have taught martial arts: Taekwondo, Judo and Cane Self-Defense for twenty years. In […]
Dr. Makeba Williams talks with KMOV’s Paige Hulsey about the relationship between menopause and racial disparities. Watch below.
Anthony Odibo, MD, has been named the Virginia S. Lang Endowed Chair in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Shown at his installation ceremony are (from left) David H. Perlmutter, MD, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine; Dineo Khabele, MD, head of […]
We celebrated Dr. David Mutch on his announcement as the 2022 President’s Achievement Honoree The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital hosted a celebration honoring the partnership and the 2022 President’s Achievement Honoree: Dr. David Mutch, Ira C. and Judith Gall Professor, Vice Chair of Gynecology. Faculty and fellows of the department joined to celebrate at Majorette in […]
March of Dimes announces two early career scientists as recipients of the 2022 Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Awards: Dr. Antonina Frolova, MD, PhD from Washington University, St. Louis and Dr. Isaac Marin-Valencia, MD, MS from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. These annual awards support outstanding investigators embarking on independent research careers who […]
Congratulations Dr. Sonn for receiving the 2022 APGO Humanism in Teaching Award! The APGO Humanism in Teaching Award honors ob-gyn educators from APGO member departments who are outstanding role models in the teaching of ob-gyn. Awardees are recognized as not only skilled clinicians but also as outstanding educators who intentionally foster compassionate, respectful, and collaborative relationships […]
WashU ObGyn CFP meetup at the Baltimore conference for Complex Family Planning!
Celia Santi, MD, Ph.D., recently received a two-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The $435,000 award, beginning November 2022, will support her lab’s efforts in screening and characterizing a new class of female-controlled non-hormonal contraceptive agents using in vitro and in vivo assays. Dr. Santi’s research project is titled, “SLO3 inhibitors: a […]