Hello,

Fall is here and the trees have started to turn! Change seems to be the only constant in our world right now. But despite all of the uncertainties around us, the one thing I know I can always depend on, is the dedication, compassion, and commitment of our faculty and staff.
Knowing that each and every one of you is doing your best to care for our patients, teach our learners, and work diligently to discover tomorrow’s cures, keeps me grounded and enthusiastic.

Just look at all of the amazing accomplishments highlighted in this month’s newsletter!
Best,

Dee E. Fenner, MD
Michigan Medicine Achieves MiAIM Gold Designation for CY2019!
The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) is a national data-driven maternal safety and quality improvement initiative based on proven implementation approaches to improving maternal safety and outcomes in the U.S.

AIM works through state teams and health systems to align national, state, and hospital level quality improvement efforts to improve overall maternal health outcomes. At the state level, Michigan AIM (MI AIM) strives to decrease maternal mortality and morbidity in Michigan by working with birthing hospitals to implement maternity care safety bundles.

MI AIM recently awarded Michigan Medicine a Gold Designation for our hospital’s work implementing these safety bundle protocols in the Birth Center at Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital.

A special thank you to Dr. Alissa Carver, Missy Knudsen, Megan Bollinger, Allie McCague, and Anne Marie Piehl, whose hard work and leadership allowed us to move from a Silver Designation in 2018 to a Gold Designation in 2019!
New Article by Dr. Moniz and Team in BMJ Quality & Safety
In their newly published article, Dr. Michelle Moniz and coauthors - including University of Michigan Medical student, Vivian Ling, and OBGYN faculty members Drs. Roger Smith and Vanessa Dalton - evaluate the implementation of immediate postpartum contraceptive services at five hospitals and provide the first estimates of health system costs for adopting recommended contraceptive care in maternity units in the United States.
2020 OBGYN Resident Retreat
This year’s Resident Retreat was a wonderful opportunity for the OBGYN residents to relax, connect, and work on their lawn game and volleyball skills! In addition, they had the chance to reflect on the strengths of our OBGYN Residency Program and identify some areas for continued improvement.

A big thank you to Dr. Nicholson for sharing her beautiful lake house, and to everyone who covered for our residents in the hospital!
New Study by Drs. Admon and Dalton Featured on USA Today!
Pregnancy-related death is a national crisis. Medicaid...

Expanding access to Medicaid could dramatically improve pregnant people's access to health care and address some of the factors driving the nation's disparity in pregnancy-related and postpartum deaths, according to new research published Tuesday.

Read more
www.usatoday.com
New Michigan Medicine Heart Disease in Pregnancy Program
The Michigan Medicine Heart Disease in Pregnancy Program was established to support women with cardiovascular disease complicating pregnancy and the postpartum period.

The goals of this new, innovative clinical program are to:

  • Establish the University of Michigan as a leader in the care of women with cardiac disease complicating pregnancy

  • Provide a centralized clinic for women with cardiac disease in and immediately following pregnancy to improve patients clinical experience and health outcomes

  • Develop evidence based protocols to standardize the care of women with cardiac disease in pregnancy

  • Establish a research program to better understand the complex interactions of pregnancy and heart disease to transform women’s health care

Michigan Medicine patients can now visit our multidisciplinary OB Cardiology clinic to receive both their obstetrical and cardiology care at one visit. The clinic is housed in the Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital to facilitate patient access to the fetal diagnostic center, fetal echocardiograms, anesthesia consultation, echocardiograms for adult women with congenital heart disease, and social work support for pregnancy. Some women will have a one-time consult to support their care from outside physicians and other women will receive comprehensive prenatal care from our team.  
Don't Forget to Get Your Flu Shot!
The Michigan Medicine deadline to get your flu vaccine is Dec. 1, 2020! To fully protect our patients and each other, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology recommends that you get your flu shot before November 2, 2020.

Vaccines are available at free flu clinics and Occupational Health Services here at Michigan Medicine.

If you receive your vaccination outside of Michigan Medicine, please send proof of vaccination directly to OHS. Please include your name and UMID in your e-mail. Ashley Kirk will provide a sticker for your ID badge!
Get your flu shot by Dec 1st!
Dr. Marsh & Team Receive $1M to Expand COVID-19 Research
As part of an NIH initiative, Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities, Dr. Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG, and her team of MICHR collaborators, in partnership with the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center, was awarded $1M to grow its efforts in COVID-19 awareness and education research, especially among populations disproportionally affected by the pandemic.

The team leveraged their connections with researchers and community leaders to create a proposal that will identify and implement effective, community-driven strategies to enhance access and inclusion of underserved communities in research designed to advance COVID-19 prevention and reduce health disparities across the state of Michigan. Their project, Communities Conquering COVID, being recognized by CEAL makes Michigan one of only 11 states to receive its support.
Drs. Till and Schon Receive Funding from NIH
Dr. Sara Till, MPH received funding for her NIH K23 Award entitled "An Intervention for Chronic Pelvic Pain."
After scoring in the 1st percentile, Dr. Samantha Schon received funding for her NIH R03 Award entitled "A quantitative assessment of sperm protamine isoforms and post-translational modifications in the setting of normal and abnormal fertility."
Congratulations, Dr. Stout!
Dr. Molly Stout, MD, MSCI, our Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine, was named the inaugural Morton R. Lazar Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Innovation by the University of Michigan Board of Regents this month. 

The traditional investiture ceremony is on hold due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, so please wish Dr. Stout congratulations when you see her!
New OBGYN Faculty Members:
  • Marissa Steinberg Weiss, MD, Clinical Lecturer, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

  • Erin Swor, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Women’s Health  

Coming Soon!: Virtual 2020 Miller Society Meeting
Even though we will not be able to meet in person for the 2020 Annual Norman F. Miller University of Michigan Alumni Society Meeting, we still plan to conduct an Executive Board Meeting (for officers and councilors) and a Business Meeting (for the entire membership) via Zoom. Please contact Jane Juckno for the Zoom login information.
Date: October 2, 2020
Time:

  • 7:30 - 8:30 am (Executive Board)
  • 8:30 - 9:30 am (Entire Alumni Society)

Location: Zoom Webinar
2nd Annual Medical Education Symposium
The Medical Education Symposium is a week for faculty to focus on techniques and strategies that can improve student and trainee engagement, as well as their effectiveness as teachers. The complexity, instability, and uncertainty of our academic and clinical environments present challenges to clinicians, and educators who are entrusted to understand and respond to these challenges. It requires science-using, evidence-based clinicians, and educators who are also rigorous creative thinkers and skilled in problem-solving and problem finding.

This virtual symposium will take place during the week of October 13 - 16, and will include multiple interactive sessions.  
Save the Date!: 2020 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Summit
Date: October 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am

The virtual DEI Summit provides an opportunity for the University to highlight the progress we’ve made over the previous year, the changes we’re experiencing across campus, and the opportunities of continued engagement with our community.

This year’s theme, Arts+Social Change: Building an Anti-Racist World through the Arts, provides a time and space for the campus community to come together to demonstrate a collective commitment to anti-racism that this moment in our history compels.
Save the Date!: 2021 OBGYN Department Picnic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 OBGYN Department picnic has been cancelled.

Don't worry - our celebration next year will be even bigger and better to make up for the fun we missed out on this year!

The 2021 OBGYN Department Picnic will take place on August 7th, 2021!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Work in The Department of OBGYN
Our Department is committed to ongoing, sustained anti-racism and diversity, equity and inclusion work. A great deal of this work will be action-oriented – taking concrete steps to undo systems of racism and inequality. Part of this work will include personal consciousness raising and learning that underpins this change work. Towards the latter, the OBGYN DEI Committee anticipate future department-wide sessions focused on important scholarship in this area. We would be grateful for your thoughts on your experiences and format for this work as we develop our strategic plan.

Please respond to our brief DEI OBGYN Survey by Friday, October 2nd. Your responses will help us plan engaging and meaningful DE&I sessions in the future.
Anti-Racism Primer: What Can I Do?
The Office of Faculty Development is offering an anti-racism primer, “Anti-Racism Crash Course – What Can I Do?” for UM faculty and staff.

Individuals can participate in two ways: a quick start self-guided course or an email subscription cohort.

This content is available at no cost for U-M faculty and staff on the Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn campuses and Michigan Medicine.
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