Alex Peahl, MD, MSc, discusses the unique role that academic specialists in OBGYN can play on the front lines of turning evidence into 'actionable' clinical care.

In a newly published commentary, Helen Morgan, MD, and coauthors discuss the impact of the June 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization and its impact on undergraduate medical education.

Check out the latest publications from Emma Lawrence, MD, MS!

• Attitudes, experiences, and training on comprehensive abortion care: A nationwide survey of trainee physicians in Ghana. African Journal of Reproductive Health.

• Clinical presentation and predictors of eclampsia among women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Ghana. Pregnancy Hypertension.

The APGO RRR grant, under the leadership of Maya Hammoud, MD, MBA, Helen Morgan, MD, and David Marzano, MD, continues to lead national conversations around residency application and transition to residency issues and had two notable publications this month:

• Current Communication Practices Between Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Applicants and Programs, published in JAMA Network Open, demonstrated that there are many inequities in communication practices prior to the implementation of program signaling.
• Facilitating an Optimal Transition to Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, describes the national curriculum and efforts to implement transition coaching for incoming residents. 

In the wake of ongoing attacks on transgender people and their ability to access care, the federal administration has drafted a new rule to the nondiscrimination clause of the Affordable Care Act – Section 1557.

The proposed rule would make explicit protections against discrimination based on gender identity and expression. In their perspective, the authors describe the background of the proposed rule, its importance, and its potential implications on both trans people and practicing physicians. They call on physicians to take action in protecting trans people and their ability to obtain vital care.

Effective January 2023, NIH has issued the Data Management and Sharing (DMS) policy to promote the sharing of scientific data. This policy applies to all research, funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH, that results in the generation of scientific data. This will affect most NIH proposals going forward. 

Under the DMS policy, NIH expects that investigators:

• Plan and budget for the managing and sharing of data
• Submit a DMS plan for review when applying for funding
• Comply with the approved DMS plan 

For more information, including templates and examples, please visit the UM Office of Research NIH DMS Plans website and/or reach out to Melissa Schon.

Planning to submit an external grant? Please complete our new Proposal Intake Form!

This summer, the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ABOG) offered a subspecialty exam for Complex Family Planning for the first time.

Congratulations to Halley Crissman, MD, MPH, on passing the exam and becoming our Department's first and only ABOG-certified subspecialist in Complex Family Planning!

A new paper by Suzie As-Sanie, MD, MPH, - "Sustained improvement in physical function and quality of life in women with endometriosis-associated pain treated with relugolix combination therapy over 104 weeks: SPIRIT Long-Term Extension Study” - has been chosen as one of 2 prize papers for the ASRM 2022 Scientific Congress.

Candidates for the prize papers are selected by the Research Committee from all abstracts submitted to the Congress. These oral presentations are judged at the Congress and winners are determined by the Research Committee. The winner of this prize is awarded $1000.

On November 14, Suzie As-Sanie, MD, MPH, was named the inaugural Richard and Virginia Ferguson Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

On November 18, we celebrated Maya Hammoud, MD, MBA, and her inauguration as the J Robert Willson Research Professor.

Please join us for the 2023 Pelvic Floor Research Group Day! Our keynote "Biomechanics of the Pregnant Cervix" will be given by Kristin M. Myers, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Columbia University.

Date: February 22, 2023

Time: 8:20 am - 4:30 pm

Location: Rackham Amphitheatre (4th Floor)

Questions? Visit the PFRG Day website or contact pfrg@umich.edu.

President Ono has announced a new Career Development Fund for Staff. The fund supports staff in enhancing their professional experience at the university by offering grants of up to $1,500 for individuals and up to $5,000 for teams to fund a wide range of learning opportunities.

The Healthcare Equity Consult Service recently launched at U-M Health. This first-of-its-kind service seeks to support patients and families who feel their care is affected by bias or discrimination. The program supports the belonging and inclusion priority in the BASE strategic framework that guides the work within U-M Health. 

Michigan Medicine, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Ann Arbor Chapter, and SOS Community Services are collecting donations to benefit families of young children.

The goal is to provide 50 families with high need items for infants and young children. 

The drive will support families working to move out of poverty and homelessness through several initiatives at SOS Community Services, including the Ypsilanti Parent Network. 

Donations can be purchased via Amazon Wish List or by contacting Angela Johnson.

Deadline for donations is December 22, 2022!

Every year we come together as a department to collect items and donations for Delonis Shelter, an organization that offers the tools and help necessary to support individuals end their experience of homelessness permanently.

Donations can be sent directly to the Shelter. Questions? Contact Emily Rivkin. 

Volunteers are needed to help plan for Health Equity Month (April) and Black Maternal Health Week (1st week in April)​. Please reach out to Courtney Townsel or Emily Rivkin if you are interested in planning a great series of events!