2023 Match Day: Our Chiefs

Congrats to our Chiefs on their Fellowship Match! ⭐️ Shannon Beerman, MD – MFM at Washington University ⭐️Elizabeth Buckley, MD GynOnc at Montefiore ⭐️Melissa (Missy) Cantave, MD MIGS at Mayo Clinic – Florida ⭐️Vanessa Fuentes, MD MIGS Cleaveland Clinic – Florida ⭐️Caroline Min, MD MIGS at Columbia University

Dr. Williams featured in ‘People’ magazine (Links to an external site)

One of the most common menopause symptoms, hot flashes usually last between two and five minutes and are often more intense in the two years leading up to menopause itself (defined as 12 months with no period), says Dr. Makeba Williams, an OB-GYN and associate professor at Washington University in St. Louis who is a certified […]

WashU OBGYN represents at STL OBGYN Society

Drs Mittal, Combs, Wood, McCourt, Khabele, Bligard, Raghuraman, and Whelan attended the STL OBGYN Society meeting. The September Topic: “Medication Management of Obesity”

WashU OBGYN celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and National Latino Day

Almost 20% of the US population is Latino. With this growing number, the population is on track for 1 in 3 people to be Latino by the year 2050. Despite this increase, Hispanic doctors make up only 6% total of the physician population. “Increasing the total number of Latino physicians in medicine is imperative for […]

2023 National Postdoc Appreciation Week

Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week! WashU has a diverse community of over 850 postdocs from different parts of the world.  Their commitment to research, teaching, and mentorship not only enhances the academic community at Washington University, but also plays a pivotal role in advancing science, technology, and scholarship across the country and around the world. We […]

R21 grant for labor research

Antonina Frolova, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was awarded an R21 for her project titled, “Metabolic mechanisms of uterine contractility in labor.” The objective of the project is to determine the mechanisms driving obesity-related labor dysfunction. This research may lead to new options for pharmacologic and behavioral interventions to optimize myometrial energy […]

$11.6 million grant supports innovative research in endometrial cancer (Links to an external site)

Cases of endometrial cancer — a gynecologic cancer of the lining of the uterus — have increased in recent decades, as have deaths caused by the condition. To spur new strategies to prevent and treat endometrial cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded researchers at Washington University […]

R01 grant for research on maternal opioid use

Jeannie Kelly, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Yong Wang, PhD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, were awarded an R01 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The project is titled, “The Opioid in Pregnancy: Imaging of Oxygenation, Inflammation, and Development in Brain & Placenta […]

Dr. Mullen receives 2023 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award

Dr. Maggie Mullen has been awarded grant funding through the 2023 Victoria’s Secret Global Fund for Women’s Cancers Career Development Award, in partnership with Pelotonia & AACR,  Targeting platinum chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer. **This two-year grant starts in September.** These accomplishments are impossible without our amazing research and clinical teams and the sponsorship of our […]

Meet Darius Whitaker

Darius Whitaker (he/him) is the Program Manager for our DEIA initiative in the department. He has been with us for almost a month! What is your favorite part about your job?  My favorite part of my job is being able to help enhance and create inclusive working environments. In addition, I enjoy being able to […]

Meet Dr. Lebovic (Links to an external site)

What during your training led you to choose your specialty? To me, reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) is the best field in medicine. There has been amazing progress to benefit patients and allow for more successful treatment options. I was drawn toward the combination of office visits (remote or in-person), technology (ultrasound and surgical devices) […]

Meet Megan Wolken

Megan Wolken (she/her/hers) is the Supervisor of the Clinical Office for REI! She has been in the department for almost 4 months. Never hesitate to ask questions, someone else might not have the courage. Megan Wolken, on the best advice she has recieved. What’s something that most people don’t know about you? I work renaissance […]

Dr. Makeba Williams featured in ‘Fortune’ (Links to an external site)

6 things you didn’t know about menopause and its symptoms Menopause symptoms can go beyond just hot flashes or night sweats. This life stage affects nearly a billion women globally, but it’s often misunderstood. Dr. Makeba Williams of Washington University in St. Louis explains.

Dr. Dickison selected for APGO Academic Scholars & Leaders Program 2023

Dr. Dickison was selected for the 2023 APGO Academic Scholars & Leaders Program. The APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program (ASL) is an initiative of the Association ofProfessors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO). Its purpose is to enhance education in obstetricsand gynecology by preparing ob-gyn physician faculty, through a rigorous 15-month curriculum, topossess the skills […]

American Cancer Society grant

Sumegha Mitra, PhD, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, received a 3-year, $754,414 Research Scholar Grant, RSG-22-070-01-TBE, from the American Cancer Society (ACS) to study high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Dr. Mitra’s ACS-funded project is titled “Protein Homeostasis Network Regulates Oncogenic Signaling in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer.” “My American Cancer Society grant will study how adaptive […]

Welcome New Fellows

REI – Aileen Portugal​, MDGyn Onc – Whitney Grither, MD, PhD​MIGS – Alison Kosmacki, MD​Gyn Onc – Mark Valentine, MD, PhD​MFM – Drew Hensel, MD​CFP – Ishana Shetty, MDMFM – Julia Whitley, MD​FPMRS – Hunter Terry, MD​

Registration Now Open for the 48th Annual Symposium

Eric P. Newman Education Center @ Washington University Medical CenterOctober 19, 2023 8:00 AM – October 20, 2023 3:30 PM Coordinator Michelle R Padgett, MS, ATC, Washington University CME Agenda This conference is offered as an in-person course only. Thursday, October 19, 2023   7:30am Registration & Continental Breakfast    8:10     Welcome – Makeba Williams, MD, NCMP Session I […]

Sonn Named Associate Dean of Student Affairs (Links to an external site)

Tammy Sonn, MD, has been named Associate Dean of Student Affairs effective January 2024. The Associate Dean of Student Affairs is responsible for providing proactive leadership for the delivery of programs and services to support medical students’ academic achievement as well as personal and professional development across the student lifecycle. 

Summertime scientific successes for Santi Lab

The lab of Celia Santi, MD, PhD, has been busy this summer with scientific discussions and networking opportunities! Dr. Santi presented her lab’s work on non-hormonal contraception during the “Male Contraceptive” session at the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR) 56th Annual Meeting. The “Reproductive Sciences: From Innovation to Impact” SSR meeting took place in Ottawa, Canada, […]

Compadre, van Biljon publish a co-first author article in Clinical Cancer Research

Amanda Compadre, MD, and Lily van Biljon recently published an article in Clinical Cancer Research titled “RAD51 Foci as a Biomarker Predictive of Platinum Chemotherapy Response in Ovarian Cancer.” This paper demonstrates that RAD51 foci are a robust marker of platinum chemotherapy response and survival in ovarian cancer. This research was led by Mary (Maggie) Mullen, MD. […]

Dr. Ashley Veade to Serve as Associate Program Director for the Residency Program

July 25, 2023 – During this upcoming academic year, the residency leadership team is growing in accordance with ACGME guidelines given the increased development of our residency program.  After an open call for applications and an interview process, we are excited to announce that Dr. Ashley Veade was selected as our next Associate Residency Program Director!  She will […]

Apply for the 2023 Cycle 2 of LAB Awards, now introducing a “Mini Lab” Award!

The Washington University Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is soliciting applications for 2023 Cycle 2 of the L.A.B. Award internal pilot grants. The goal of this program is to promote research and grantsmanship by providing pilot funding for residents, clinical fellows, postdoctoral research fellows and associates, and junior faculty in the Department who have no startup or […]

REI celebrates National World Embryologist Day

Our Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility division celebrated National World Embryologist Day! They are a part of the team who make the magic behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone who makes our mission possible!

Washington University OBGYN Opens Maternal-Fetal Medicine Services in Carbondale

Nationally Recognized High-risk maternity care in Southern Illinois July 7, 2023 Washington University Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Ultrasound specialists opened their newest location in Carbondale, IL, offering high-quality care close to home for patients in Southern Illinois. This service will offer onsite ultrasounds and telemedicine consults with high-risk pregnancy experts.

Dr. Galakatos retires after 58 years of service

Andrew E Galakatos, MD, received his BS Degree from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1960, a medical degree from the University of Missouri in 1965, and ObGyn residency training at Barnes Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) from 1965 to 1970. He served two years in the Army and then had a two-year fellowship […]

Frolova named Doris Duke program scholar

Antonina (Toni) Frolova, MD, PhD, a maternal-fetal medicine physician and Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, applied and was selected to be a scholar in the Doris Duke COVID-19 Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists (CFRCS) program at Washington University School of Medicine. As an early career physician-scientist, the program will benefit Dr. Frolova’s navigation of this stage […]

Saying goodbye to Dr. Strand

Dr. Eric Strand, former division chief, Associate Residency Director, is leaving the department. “Dr. Strand is Professor and Division Director of General Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has served the department as Division Chief since 2012, Residency Program Director from 2015 – 2022, and Associate Program Director from 2022. He has held positions on departmental and hospital committees and is a leader […]

2023 Residency Graduation and Awards

We said goodbye to residents, welcome some back as fellows, and introduced a whole new team of interns! Read about the awardees below. Our Rothman Research Symposium is comprised of 2 half days where our residents, fellows, and basic science trainees present their OBGYN-related research projects which they have diligently worked on for a long […]

Welcome new 2023 Interns!

We are so excited to welcome our new interns! Welcome to Washington University School of Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology! We are happy you’re here. Emma Altieri – University of California – IrvineKatie Brow – Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineCat Burns – Indiana UniversityKatie Carbonell – Washington UniversitySarah Cohen – WashUKatie Howard – Medical College of Georgia at Augusta UniversityAli Houston-Ludlam – […]

Dr. Powell in “FDA to Decide on Dostarlimab Plus Chemo Approval in dMMR/MSI-H Advanced Endometrial Cancer in 4 Months”

The team presented the confirmatory additional endpoints of the Ruby trial which showed with the addition of dostarlimab immunotherapy added to chemotherapy for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, there is a 71% improvement in progression-free survival or death for the biomarker-positive population and a 34% improvement in the overall population.  Although we are […]

Magdalena Nelson was awarded the WashU School of Medicine Research Support Award

Magdalena Nelson, MBA, Director of Research and Business Administration in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is this year’s recipient of the WashU School of Medicine Research Support Award. This award from the medical school recognizes employees for exceptional performance or cooperation, outstanding leadership, and superior quality of service. As a distinguished honors awardee, Magdalena was […]

WashU Gynecologic Oncology Tissue Bank celebrated collecting its 100th tissue sample

The WashU Gynecologic Oncology Tissue Bank celebrated collecting its 100th tissue sample for bench-to-bedside research endeavors. Along with this notable achievement in specimen collection, the labs of Drs. Dineo Khabele and Maggie Mullen have instituted a newly organized process for collecting and managing samples, and are developing research on patient-derived organoids. “We couldn’t have done it without the hard […]

STL OBGYN Society Research Meeting!

WashU took first (Dr. Amanda Compadre, mentor Dr. Mullen) and third place (Dr. Bridget Huysman, mentor Dr. Raghuraman). We are so proud!

Dr. Massad and Dr. Kuroki take home awards at the ASCCP conference

At the ASCCP conference in May, two of our Gynecologic Oncologists received awards. Dr. L. Stewart Massad received an Award of Merit from ASCCP for his leadership in developing guidelines for endocervical curettage. Dr. Lindsay Kuroki received two awards; a service award for her 2-year term as a junior board member, and an Award of Merit for […]

Dr. Kelly Honored with 2023 Dean’s Impact Award

Dr. Jeannie C. Kelly, Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, was honored with the 2023 Dean’s Impact Award! The 2023 Dean’s Impact Awards recognize faculty whose superior efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have had lasting impact, who demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and who delivered exceptional […]

Dr. Kuroki chosen for the SGO Health Equity Subcommittee

Dr. Lindsay Kuroki chosen to lead the SGO Health Equity Subcommittee under Jeffrey Hines, MD, Chair and Navya Nair, MD, Vice Chair. This is Dr. Kuroki’s second year serving on the Diversity, Inclusion & Health Equity Committee (DIHE) committee. Congrats Dr. Kuroki!