Category: News

Check out our quarter four newsletter!

Dr. Kenan Omurtag, Chief of Fertility and Reproductive Medicine at WashU Medicine, joined Fox2 Now to discuss fertility preservation options—including egg and embryo freezing. As more women look for ways to extend their reproductive lifespan, Dr. Omurtag highlighted how preservation can provide peace of mind. “Reproductive journeys are long journeys. They are emotionally, physically, and […]

When Mary Catherine Riley was diagnosed with stage III low-grade serous ovarian cancer, she turned to Dr. Premal Thaker at Siteman Cancer Center. Known for her expertise and compassionate care, Dr. Thaker guided Mary through surgery, chemotherapy, and ultimately a groundbreaking clinical trial.

WashU Medicine’s Dr. Jeannie Kelly, Chief and director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Ultrasound, on a new bedside program helping postpartum mothers with hepatitis C begin treatment before leaving the hospital. “Curing hepatitis C in these mothers has a huge ripple effect — it protects their health, their families and their future pregnancies,” Dr. Kelly explained. […]

When Kelly Easton learned she was pregnant with identical twins, she had no idea she would soon face the same rare complication her mother did decades earlier—Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). Diagnosed at her 20-week ultrasound, Kelly was referred to the Fetal Care Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the only center in Missouri offering minimally invasive fetal […]

A St. Louis native and former Division I athlete, Dr. Megan Gornet is now a fertility and reproductive physician at WashU Medicine. She partnered with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to create a groundbreaking rule that protects player rankings during fertility treatments—ensuring athletes are supported on and off the court.

Welcome New Fellows! Complex Family PlanningRachel Crebessa, MD Gynecologic OncologyMostafa Eyada, MDAnnalyn Welp, MD Maternal Fetal MedicineHaley Baker, MDDuy Hoang Dinh, MDKatherine Zhu, MD Minimally Invasive Gynecologic SurgeryNaomi Atobiloye, MD Reproductive Endocrinology and InfertilityMitra Sharifi, MD Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic SurgeryChristina Herbosa, MD

A groundbreaking surgery at the Fetal Care Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital is giving children like Wesley a brighter future, thanks to the expertise of Dr. Kathy Bligard, Associate Director of the Center. Wesley was the first patient at the Center to undergo a fetoscopic spina bifida repair, a minimally invasive procedure offered at only a […]

WashU Medicine gynecologic oncologists Dr. David Mutch and Dr. Dineo Khabele are at the forefront of research with the Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE. They bring together interactive research teams from three institutions to create a dynamic translational research program aimed at developing and testing new strategies to prevent and treat endometrial cancer.  – Illumination is […]

WashU Medicine OBGYN’s Discuss the Importance of Addressing RED-S in Adolescents and Professionals It’s well studied in athletes—chronic low energy availability leads to performance implications. It turns out that rest and recovery are essential for top performance, even for Type A doctors. Is it possible to create space for rest, recovery, and recharging in our […]

The St. Louis Men’s Group Against Cancer held its annual luncheon to come together to celebrate sponsors and the incredible organizations making a difference in people’s lives. Dr. Holly Hoefgen was honored with a philanthropic grant in partnership with the St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation – Integrated Care and Fertility. “The Preservation Program helps even […]

This week, the 5900 location was recognized for its exceptional service to gynecology patients, earning 5-star patient satisfaction scores: the highest level of recognition awarded by BJC HealthCare. This achievement highlights the team’s consistent dedication to providing compassionate, high-quality, and patient-centered care. The recognition reflects a strong commitment to excellence and meaningful impact in the […]

Women’s Chemo Infusion Center was awarded a 5-Star award from PRC (Professional Research Consultants) for being in the top 10th percentile nationally for NPS. This means 90% or more of our patients state they would recommend us when surveyed about their care in WCIC. This site has achieved this for multiple years in a row and just continues to confirm […]

Dr. Jamie Doss was recently honored with the “Friends of Nursing” award, a recognition given by his nursing colleagues in appreciation of his outstanding collaboration, compassion, and dedication to patient care. As a Chief Resident, Dr. Doss has consistently demonstrated a deep respect for the nursing team, actively fostering a supportive and team-oriented environment. His […]

Dr. Sara Wood, Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, has been honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award by the Graduate and Professional Student Council at WashU Medicine. This prestigious recognition reflects Dr. Wood’s unwavering commitment to the success of WashU graduate students. Through exceptional mentorship, impactful research guidance, […]

The Center for Reproductive Health Sciences is thrilled to announce that research from the lab of Dineo Khabele, MD, was recently published in BMC Cancer. The research article is titled “The Tie2 antagonist rebastinib reduces ovarian cancer growth in a syngeneic murine model” and was authored by Gupta et al. The researchers of this study concluded that “Rebastinib […]

WashU Medicine Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology proudly sponsored the Energy Award at the Power of One Gala for Girls on the Run St. Louis (GOTR-STL). As a strong advocate for youth empowerment and community well-being, WashU Medicine Peds Gyn is honored to support an organization that fosters confidence, health, and achievement in young girls. Girls […]

The Michael D. Nelson Society Board is delighted to announce Dr. Rachel Furuya and Dr. Christina Herbosa, as awardees of the David G. Mutch Residency Research Scholarship Award. This honor is given to support and enhance the scholarly research activity of residents while at this level of their professional journey.   Rachel Furyua, MD Poster presentation: “Comparison of […]

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research has released its 2024 rankings for top NIH funding to US medical schools. The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is proud to share that they are ranked #8 in the country. This demonstrates ongoing growth in a highly competitive research environment. This accomplishment reflects the outstanding contributions of the department’s faculty, whose innovation, […]

Candice Woolfolk, PhD, MPH selected as Statistical Editor for Green Journal! We are so exited for Dr. Woolfolk taking on this new role and advancing her career. We are fortunate to have her as a part of our team. “Candice L. Woolfolk, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Divisions of Clinical Research and […]

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 100,000 women develop obstetric fistulas annually. Vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas are debilitating complications of obstructed labor resulting in the continuous flow of urine and/or feces, damaged pubic bones, lower extremity contractures, recurrent infections, shame, and social isolation. The surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistulas today is only […]

The U.S. Health Preventative Services Task Force has endorsed self-testing to help reduce cancer rates across the country. Washington University gynecologic oncology surgeon Dr. Stewart Massad says the goal is to make testing more accessible for those who don’t get pap smears. The self-testing kits are available in the office now and are less invasive. […]

In the fifth installment of blackdoctor.org‘s video series in partnership with Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, Dr. Dineo Khabele, Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Oncology at Washington University in St. Louis and a member of OCRA’s Scientific Advisory Committee, lays out the facts about ovarian cancer, including the importance of risk awareness and prevention, […]

Check out our quarter one newsletter!

A Cross-Disciplinary Symposium on the State of Science, Clinical Current Approaches, andCritically Unanswered Questions. This event was sponsored by The National Institute of Mental Health and the Silvio O. Conte Center at WashU School of Medicine. Dr. Jeannie Kelly was a featured speaker for this event.

Kenan Omurtag, MD, explores different treatment options for patients struggling with infertility; assisted reproductive technologies are compared and contrasted. The Impact of Health Benefit Design on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Utilization and Pregnancy-Related Outcomes Videos include Background of Assisted Reproductive Technology, Describing Intrauterine Induction and Target Patient Populations, Exploring Best Practices for IVF, and Examining […]

Wellness Champion Allison Wyrsch held the first-ever ObGyn health screening for the entire department! Our HR partners brought a team to test A1c level (blood test to measure diabetes risk), current blood pressure, cholesterol, and other key indicators in detecting disease early. WashU employees can participate once a year and by completing their appointment: receive […]

“Katherine Bligard, MD, a WashU Medicine maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital who cared for Sara at the Fetal Care Center, explains that because of the difference in the placenta’s blood vessel connections, Baby A was dehydrated and Baby B was overly hydrated. “Amniotic fluid is baby’s pee,” Dr. Bligard says. […]

“On St. Louis on the Air, Drs. Andrea and Ian Hagemann — two frequent collaborators with St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness — shared the importance of listening to and learning from ovarian cancer survivors. The doctors said first-person accounts have furthered advancements in research and treatment. Survivor experiences also help medical providers understand what it means to treat […]

A new study conducted by the University of Washington in St. Louis found the rate of xylazine-positive tests in opioid-addicted patients cared for in one of the city’s maternity wards surged from zero percent in December 2022 to 100% by July 2023. “These results underscore the critical need to further study the impact of xylazine on […]

There’s no denying the popularity of the Oura Ring — over two and a half million of these little wearables have been sold worldwide, according to the company. In fact, the Gen3 model was named the best overall smart ring by our tech experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute.

First-year medical students at WashU Medicine in St. Louis received their white coats, symbolizing their entrance into the medical profession. Dr. Tammy Sonn, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, welcomed the incoming medical students. Dr. Dineo Khabele, the Mitchell & Elaine Yanow Professor and head of the Department of […]

“Interdisciplinary group care for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain” This is a 4-year grant, read more on the NIH RePORTER page.  Summary/Abstract: Endometriosis affects 10-15% of women, causing musculoskeletal pain, bowel and bladder problems, mood disorders, and infertility. Chronic pelvic pain is the most common symptom affecting 57.2% of patients. Endometriosis is responsible for an […]

Maternal-Fetal MedicineDr. Duy Hoang DinhUniversity of Kansas Medical Center Dr. Haley BakerUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Dr. Katherine ZhuUniversity of Chicago Medical Center Reproductive Endocrinology and InfertilityDr. Mitra SharifiWashU ObGyn Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic SurgeryDr. Christina HerbosaWashU ObGyn Complex Family PlanningDr. Rachel CrebessaUniversity of Tennessee College of Medicine Gynecologic OncologyDr. Mostafa EyadaThe University of […]

Congrats to all of our graduating chiefs who matched! Dr. Helen Gao: MFM at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Dr. Kali Stewart: MFM at Johns Hopkins Dr. Hannah Millimet: MIGS at the University of Michigan Dr. Jaclynne Hedge: REI at OHSU Dr. Mitra Sharifi: REI at WashU Dr. Christina Herbosa: UrgoGyn at WashU Dr. Kati […]

We are proud to announce that The Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center continues to be a Center of Excellence in the OPTUM Fertility network – A UHC company.  Furthermore, employees at WASHU, Wells Fargo Advisors, NESTLE PURINA, to name a few all have their fertility benefits through OPTUM. Optum Fertility is also being sold to […]

“As a new academic year begins, Washington University in St. Louis is unveiling a new visual identity and an enhanced effort to communicate its important contributions in the areas of education, research and patient care to key internal and external audiences. The update includes a new university logo and website and the official adoption of […]

“In recent years, parvovirus infected about 3% of Americans. Now the number has tripled. NBC News’ Anne Thompson speaks to a patient who contracted the virus this spring. Thirty weeks pregnant and in the hospital, she’s dealing with serious complications including her placenta not pushing enough blood to bring her son critical oxygen and nutrients.”

Dr. Nandini Raghuraman and Dr. Toni Frolova awarded multi-PI R01 studying uterine contractility in labor. The team will be awarded 2.7 million over 5 years for a clinical and translation study investigating how oxytocin should be dosed and how the uterusshould contract in response to oxytocin during induction of labor. Congrats!

“Menopause mirrors what was happening to you at the beginning of your reproductive life,” says Makeba Williams, MD, associate professor and vice chair for professional development and wellness in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Instead of getting their periods, women are getting hot flashes. Sometimes, […]