Incoming Fellow Match Day 2024

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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 […]

Chiefs Match Day 2024

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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 […]

WashU GynOnc Team “Teals on Wheels” at 2024 Pedal the Cause

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Gyn Onc Teal on Wheels is a hospital affiliate team comprised of doctors, nurses, gynecologic cancer survivors, gynecologic cancer researchers, caregivers, and friends and family who have all been touched in some way by gynecologic cancer.  We come together each year to ride in honor of those who might not be able to ride and to […]

Dr. Kelly SUPPORT-MOM Grant Accepted

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The SUPPORT-MOM study collaborates with patients, clinicians, and payer informants to design, implement, and study Contingency Management for pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorders. Contingency Management is one of the most powerful strategies to improve outcomes for people with substance use disorders but is understudied in the obstetric population.  We will focus specifically on the interplay […]

Department gathers at WashU Medicine’s Staff Appreciation Lunch

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The annual staff appreciation lunch for WashU Medicine employees was held on Sept. 19 on the spacious Couch Lawn! A big thanks to the delicious food from Kenrick’s BBQ and Ted Drewes for providing us with a tasty lunch and dessert. Our Gynecologic Oncology office stopped to snap a photo with the one and only, […]

Dr. Thaker on “The Real Monica Adams” podcast

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“Ovarian Cancer research has come a long way. Today we sit down with representatives from St Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness to discuss where we are in research, upcoming events, and the story of one patient’s fight.”

Hispanic Heritage Month

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Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and […]

REI Fellow Accepted to Residents and Fellows Diversity Initiative (RFDI)

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Dr. Aileen Portugal, REI Clinical Fellow, was recently accepted to participate in the RFDI this academic year, a BJC/WashU/SLCH consortium initiative to advance health equity. Congratulations, Dr. Portugal! Established in 2006 by the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, the Residents and Fellows Diversity Initiative (RFDI) focuses on promoting a diverse and inclusive environment within our community to […]

This is Cancer: Stage 4 Endometrial Cancer at 41: “You Have Cancer; It Doesn’t Have You”

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The early symptoms were not clear. But after feeling “off” for a few days after traveling internationally Candice took herself to the ER. Soon after that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 endometrial cancer. She was just 41. With the guidance and expertise of Washington University gynecologic oncologist Dr. Premal Thaker, Candice welcomes each day, […]

Dr. Gomez-Lopez receives R01 Grant for “T Cells and IL-9 Signaling at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Preterm Labor and Birth”

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The major goal of this proposal is to unveil non-infectious causes of preterm labor and birth and may lead to the development of a treatment – such as vitamin D, which is FDA-approved during pregnancy – to reduce the risk of preterm birth. “T Cells and IL-9 Signaling at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Preterm Labor […]

WashU Fertility Named Center of Excellence

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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 […]

Universitywide effort aims to bring WashU to the world (Links to an external site)

The Source •

“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 […]

Dr. Bligard on NBC Nightly News: “Concerns for pregnant women as CDC warns of rise in parvovirus” (Links to an external site)

NBC Nightly News •

“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. Mullen lab awarded Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fund (Links to an external site)

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation •

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named six new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators. The recipients of this prestigious award are outstanding, early-career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research at major research centers under the mentorship of the nation’s leading scientists and clinicians. Mary M. Mullen, MD, with mentors Dineo Khabele, MD, and Nima Mosammaparast, MD, […]

Dr. Raghuraman & Dr. Frolova Awarded R01 Grant

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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!

Dr. Williams in Women’s Health Magazine (Links to an external site)

Women's Health •

“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, […]

Dr. Whelan Nominated for BEE Award

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Dr. Victoria Whelan was nominated for a BEE Award for her extraordinary compassion and skill for a patient to recognize her service. This is a reflection of how team members can enrich the patient experience. Patient Story Dr. Whelan has been hands down the best healthcare provider I have ever had. Dr. Whelan is the […]

2024 Fellowship Graduation

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The summer marks the academic year where we welcomed some to our faculty and said goodbye to others. We had an amazing group, and we cannot wait to see where they go! Congrats to our graduates. Gynecologic Oncology: Dr. Alexander Cohen and Dr. Tyler Woodard Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility: Dr. Emily Spurlin Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Dr. […]

Scott Biest retires after 31 years in Practice

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After 31 years of practice, Dr. Scott Biest, Chief of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, retires on June 30, 2024. Dr. Biest earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees in the combined program at the University of Missouri Kansas City. After he completed his residency at Washington University, Dr. Biest joined Drs. David Weinstein […]

Gomez-Lopez receives award to study pregnancy complications (Links to an external site)

School of Medicine •

Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, PhD, a professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a four-year, $500,000 award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to further research into the immunobiology of the maternal-fetal interface and identify biomarkers to predict preterm labor and birth. One in 10 babies is born prematurely and, in many cases, […]

2024 Resident Graduation & Rothman Research Winners

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Our Graduates Awards Dr. David Rothman Research Project The Rothman Research Symposium is a day where trainees present their OBGYN-related research projects. These presentations are evaluated by a distinguished panel of our own select faculty and guest speaker.            Resident Winner: Melissa Cantave            Topic: Examining the impact of a safety net minimally invasive gynecology surgery clinic             Fellow […]

Dr. Khabele to Speak at Juneteenth Celebration

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Please join in a  Juneteenth Celebration on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. in Frick Forum in Knight and Bauer Hall at Olin Business School on the Danforth Campus. Join colleagues for food, music and to hear from WashU faculty and staff about their research, work and projects as they connect to the […]

ADHD meds may help pregnant patients control opioid use disorder (Links to an external site)

School of Medicine •

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that pregnant people who took ADHD medications while also being treated for opioid use disorder continued to take medication to address their opioid use disorder about two months longer than patients who stopped taking ADHD medications. These patients also required fewer emergency room visits […]

New Resident Welcome for 2024 Interns

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New residents gathered to meet other residents, faculty, and the residency team over the weekend to start their first week as WashU ObGyn interns! We are so excited to have you all join us.

L.A.B. Award Winners – Spring 2024

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Congratulations to the latest recipients 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. Brittani Steinberg, MDProject: “Cervical Cancer Screening Preferences in Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Diverse Patients” Mentor: Jennifer Reeves, MD, […]

Black Maternal Health Week 2024 recap

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April 11-17, 2024 – Updates from the DEIA Committee This week provided an opportunity for us to raise awareness and take action to improve the health and well-being of Black mothers and birthing people.  As part of our commitment to supporting maternal health, we have organized a series of events aimed at educating, empowering, and […]

Dr. Dineo Khabele on The Black Maternal Health Crisis with NinePBS

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The CDC says the Black maternal health crisis is a state of emergency. Black mothers in Missouri are three times as likely to die within a year of giving birth compared to white mothers, according to the state’s Department of Health & Senior Services. Host Carol Daniel, Listen, St. Louis with Carol Daniel Nine PBS, […]

Medical Students Honor Four Mentors from OBGYN

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Medical students at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recently honored faculty and residents with Distinguished Service and Teaching Awards (DSTAs) for the 2023-24 academic year. From our department, four mentors were honored. Read the full article here

R1 Research Retreat

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Interns teamed up with our research team for a day dedicated to research and fellowship!

Residents & Fellows present at STL OBGYN Society

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A look into the STL OBGYN society meeting! Residents and fellows presented (Dr. Brittani Steinberg, Dr. Halley Staples, Dr. Courtney Murphy, Dr. Mark Valentine). Dr. Steinberg won first place and Dr. Staples won second place!  Congrats to all!

Register for Families Run for Ovarian Cancer ROC Star 5k & 1-Mile Run/Walk

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FamiliesROC Registration is Open! Today, May 8th, is World Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day. A day to raise awareness of the disease, support survivors, and honor those lost too soon.  Today registration for the 18th annual Families Run for Ovarian Cancer ROC Star 5k & 1-Mile Run/ Walk opens as well. We hope you will consider […]

Sarah Smith named finalist for 2024 Excellence in Nursing Awards

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Congrats to all the recent BJC Excellence in Nursing Awardees! Our very own Sarah Smith, RN, BSN, CLC, was selected as a finalist for the category of women’s health. Sarah works as a Nurse Coordinator in our fetal care center, providing compassionate care to families from day one and throughout their experience. Additionally, shout out […]

Debbie Frank was awarded the Research Support Award

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Debbie Frank joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as the Scientific Editor in 2012 and was promoted to Senior Scientific Editor in 2021. In this role, she helps faculty members, medical fellows, residents, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students prepare research manuscripts, grant proposals, and fellowship applications. Debbie’s primary goal is to facilitate clear and […]

PedsGyn Goes to Girls on the Run St Louis 5k

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Our Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Gynecology division was able to celebrate young girls in the St. Louis area with the 5k they have all been training for with Girls on the Run. It was an excellent event with thousands of participants. They were so excited to interact with the community they get to work […]

Viju Gupta, PhD & Audrey Johnston, MBA graduated from the Emerging Leaders Program

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Viju Gupta, PhD and Audrey Johnston, MBA from the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences celebrated their graduation as two of only 30 WashU staff members in the inaugural cohort of the Emerging Leaders Program, sponsored by the Institute for Leadership Excellence. This is a 9-month, competitive program for WashU Staff members who manage individual contributors […]

CRepHS at Immunology 2024

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The Annual Meeting of the American Association of Immunologists (Immunology 2024) was held in Chicago, Illinois! From our team, Dr. Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, Dustyn Levenson, and Valeria Garcia-Flores!

Powell named 2024 Dean’s Impact Award Recipient

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Throughout his career, Matthew Powell, MD, has leveraged his own professional standing to advance others’ careers through direct one-on-one mentorship and sponsorship, providing opportunities, expanding networks and nominating protégées for awards and promotions. Since joining our faculty in 2002, Powell has helped train over 35 gynecologic oncology fellows, including 14 who benefited from his leadership […]

2024 Rothman Research Day

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Our annual Rothman Research Day is a day each year where residents and fellows gather to present their research for the day. With the strong tradition of biomedical research at Washington University, we integrate research training throughout the residency help our residents master basic concepts of research. At the beginning of the PGY-2 year, residents […]

OB Ultrasound Recognized with 5-Star Award

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The OB Ultrasound Clinic at Washington University has been honored with the esteemed five-star PRC Excellence Award by Barnes Patient Satisfaction Experience Team. This recognition is awarded to clinics that excel in patient satisfaction and is given to those who score among the top 10% nationally. The OB Ultrasound Clinic achieved this accolade through outstanding […]

DEIA Committee Book Club

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Join the DEIA Committee for book Club! They will be reading “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” – When: Sunday, May 26th, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Where: The Drip Coffee Shop @ STL Public Library

2024 SLOCA Living Out Loud Gala

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St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness (SLOCA) held their annual Living Out Loud Gala. What a great event with great physicians!

Dr. Wood on Houston Fox 26

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Dr. Sara Wood speaks with Houston Fox 26 about the benefits of bladder botox, insurance coverage, what an office visit looks like, and more.

Education team visits WUSM fair

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The Education team got together on the WUSM campus to meet medical students and educate them on what WashU ObGyn is all about! The team included coordinators Kim Coombs & Rayna Mittler, Dr. Tammy Sonn, and Education Manager, Elizabeth Wanken.