Dear OBGYN Team,

Well, we've done it! We made it through the most challenging year that we could have imagined. From one spike to the next, you kept living our values, caring for our patients, and excelling across our tripartite mission.

We graduated a wonderful class of exceptionally trained residents and fellows, and are about to welcome the newest members of the Michigan Medicine OBGYN family.

As we end this academic year, I again thank you for all you do each and every day, to provide exceptional care for our patients, teach our learners, and support or help advance our knowledge and science through research and innovation.

Thank you all for being the best!

Dee E. Fenner, MD
Congratulations and Good Luck to our Graduating Residents!
Congratulations to Drs. Sarah Bell, Jasmine Ebott, Erin Inman, Fatima Jibrel, and Marisa Sturza on their graduation. Thanks to all the faculty, nurses, and patients who have supported them in their journey.
Dr. Ernst & Gynecology Clinic for Adolescents & Women with Disabilities Featured in Youth Today
Clinics that Specialize in Gynecologic Care for Women...

Izzie Bullock, who has cerebral palsy, receives gynecologic care from a University of Michigan clinic reserved for women with disabilities...She gets specialized care from doctors and nurses trained to handle patients with a variety of disabilities.

Read more
youthtoday.org
Dr. Stout and Team in JAMA
In their new study, Molly Stout, MD, Cos Van de Ven, MD, Dee Fenner, MD, and Roger Smith, MD, evaluate whether electronic health care records can be used to monitor and predict changes in pregnancy and birth rates after the COVID-19 pandemic societal shutdown.
Dr. Malone Helps Patients Understand Their Prenatal Care Provider Options in New Michigan Medicine Blog
OB-GYN, family physician, midwife, doula: Which...

Three experts explain what you need to know before choosing your prenatal provider.

Read more
healthblog.uofmhealth.org
New Paper in Breastfeeding Medicine by Dr. Maria Muzik
A new article from Maria Muzik, MD, MS, Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology - “Reimagining Racial Trauma as a Barrier to Breastfeeding Versus Childhood Trauma and Depression Among African American Mothers” - explores the personal and contextual factors that can prevent women from breastfeeding.
Dr. Lawrence to Apply What She Learned as Our Global Women's Health Fellow in Ghana this Summer
Fogarty project will pilot at-home blood pressure...

A patient has her blood pressure taken at a district hospital in northern Ghana. A new UM-led research project will pilot at-home blood pressure tests for pregnant women in Ghana. An new maternal health research project will pilot the use of...

Read more
medicine.umich.edu
Record Number of Births at VVWH Birth Center!
On June 29th, the Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital Birth Center exceeded 500 deliveries for the month of June. This is 500+ mothers who gave birth to 518+ babies! The second-highest number of moms giving birth was 461, in October 2019, and May of 2021 was not far behind, with 459.
Thank you to every member of the Birth Center Team for coming together to take such great care of our families.  The work done every day by our nurses, clerks, techs, social workers, COBANs, nurse practitioners, environmental services staff, phlebotomists, hearing screeners, PAs, birth certificate staff, administrative assistants, administrators, midwives, residents, fellows, and doctors is nothing short of amazing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us in more ways than we could ever have imagined. The Team’s response to the challenge has been inspiring. Thanks for all that you do!
Important New Study By Joanne Bailey, CNM
A new study by Joanne Bailey, CNM, and coauthors examines childbirth outcomes among individuals undergoing induction of labor in certified nurse-midwifery care as compared to two categories of expectant management.
Dr. Marsh on Uterine Fibroids in Verywell Health News
More People Are Turning to the Emergency Room for...

More and more people are turning up to emergency rooms for fibroid symptoms, like pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. But research shows that these visits could be avoided with regular care and checkups.

Read more
www.verywellhealth.com
Dr. Zivin in the New England Journal of Medicine
A new article by Kara Zivin, PhD, MS, MA, & team calls for policies that draw women into care and help them recover from substance use disorder, rather than push them away from care and into the criminal justice system.
Congratulations, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Team!
Our entire Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Team - Suzie As-Sanie, MD, MPH, Beth Skinner, MD, Courtney Lim, MD, and Sara Till, MD, MPH - passed the first-ever ABOG MIGS Focused Practice Exam. This is a testament to their surgical expertise and experience caring for women with benign and complex gynecologic diseases.
2021 Milton Goldrath Resident Research Support Award
Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 47th Annual Scientific Meeting
Our faculty and learners are participating in 10 presentations at this week's Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 47th Annual Scientific Meeting.

Monday, June 28th:


  • Oral Presentation: Surgical Correction of the Genital Hiatus at the Time of Sacrocolpopexy – Are Concurrent Posterior Repairs Cost-Effective? Discussant: C. Swenson.


  • Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Race in Gyn Surgery. Moderator: M. Schimpf; MD Panelists: K. Echols, E. Marsh, G. Taylor, and O. Trowers.

  • Videofest 2.0: Standardized Terminology of Apical Structures in the Female Pelvis. M. E. Florian-Rodriguez, P. Sawyer, A. Madsen, and J. O. DeLancey.

Tuesday, June 29th:

  • Special Lecture: Women in Gyn Surgery. C. Heisler. Introduced by M. Schimpf.

Wednesday, June 30th:

  • Video Presentation: Levator Ani. O. O. Cardenas-Trowers, A. M. Madsen, and J. O. DeLancey.




Go Blue!
Congratulations, Dr. Morgan!
Helen Morgan, MD, was recently selected to join The Michigan Medicine Wellness Office as a Faculty Associate. The Wellness Office team includes faculty, staff, and learners who are passionate about improving workplace well-being for all members of the Michigan Medicine community. Dr. Morgan was chosen for her strong commitment to evaluating parental well-being as a driver of workplace well-being.
Dr. Townsel Recognized for Research & Educational Contributions
Congratulations to Courtney Townsel, MD, MS, for her selection to serve on the Editorial Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Green Journal. The Green Journal is the premier journal in ObGyn.

In addition, Dr. Townsel recently received the Silver Speculum Award, signifying the best ObGyn educator at The University of Michigan Medical School. Thank you, Dr. Townsel, for your dedication to our residents, medical students, and patients!
Dr. Berman Appointed as Interim Assistant Dean for Admissions
We are pleased to share that Deborah Berman, MD, has been appointed interim assistant dean for admissions for the University of Michigan Medical School.

An associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Fetal Medicine, Dr. Berman is passionate about medical students and their wellbeing. She has been a member of the Admissions Executive Committee since 2018 and has been active in the recruitment and development of outstanding medical school students for many years. She will continue in her role as faculty director for the M-Home, the Medical School’s learning community, where she focuses on medical student support and helping to further build community. She also serves as faculty advisor for the M-Response Corps, a group of more than 400 medical student volunteers who have been active during the pandemic in helping to address needs throughout Michigan Medicine.

Congratulations, Dr. Berman!
Dr. Bell Awarded a 2021 MIDAS PODS Grant
Carrie Bell, MD, and co-investigators received funding from the MIDAS Propelling Original Data Science (PODS) program to support their proposal, "Machine learning augmented system for continuous fetal monitoring."

The 2021 round of PODS funding strongly encourages works that transform research domains through data science and AI, works that improve the reproducibility of research, and works that promise major impact and potential for significant expansion.
Drs. Moravek & Mitchell Accepted into MESP
Molly Moravek, MD, and Leah Mitchell, MD, were both accepted to the 2021-2022 Cohort of the Medical Education Scholars Program (MESP). MESP is an internationally acclaimed annual program designed for early-career medical school faculty and fellows to develop as leaders in medical education.
New Article by Dr. Admon Wins "Best of ARM" Distinction
A new JAMA Health Forum article by Lindsay Admon, MD, MSc, and coauthors was recently selected as "Best of ARM" at the AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.

The article examines what factors are associated with postpartum uninsurance among Medicaid-paid births.
Dr. Marsh & Team Receive $3.4M for COVID-19 Vaccine Research
To support increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake and reduce health disparities, Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG, and community partners have been awarded $3.4 million over 5 years by the National Institutes of Health.
Meet our New PGY-1 Class!
  • Brooke Spencley, University of Michigan Medical School
  • Annie Minns, University of Michigan Medical School
  • Emma Manuel, University of Michigan Medical School
  • Darington Richardson, University of Kentucky College of Medicine
  • Kyle Latack, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
  • LeAnn Louis, Tufts University School of Medicine
Introducing our New Fellows and Advanced Trainees!
Please welcome our new Fellows and Advanced Trainees:

Rieham Owda, MD
2021-2023 Complex Family Planning Fellow
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Residency: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Christopher Hong, MD
2021-2024 Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Pennsylvania Hospital

TJ Klein, MD
2021-2023 Global Women’s Health Advanced Trainee
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center
 
Katelyn Tondo-Steele, DO
2021-2024 Gynecologic Oncology Fellow
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Riverside Methodist Hospital

Ashley Hesson, MD, PhD
2021-2024 Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow
Medical School: Michigan State University
Residency: University of Michigan

Alexandra Foxx, MD
2021-2023 Minimally Invasive Surgery Advanced Trainee
Medical School: Vanderbilt School of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt School of Medicine

Mina Farahzad, MD, PhD
2021-2023 Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Advanced Trainee
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine

Breonna Slocum, MD
2021-2024 Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Georgetown University/Medstar Washington Hospital Center

Shubham Kalwani, DO
2021-2022 Women’s Health Advanced Trainee
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Authority Health Family Medicine
New OBGYN Staff Members:
  •  D’Anna Lammers, Clinical Documentation Specialist
2021 Quality Month Symposium: Submit Your Posters by July 9th!
Don't miss this opportunity to showcase the incredible quality improvement work happening within the OBGYN Department and share our best practices with our peers across Michigan Medicine!
Facilitating Conversations for an Anti-Racist Workplace
As part of the Advocacy and Professional Development Subcommittee for the Anti-Racism Oversight Committee, the Office of Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development is hosting several 45-minute micro-learning sessions on Facilitating Conversations for an Anti-Racist Workplace for faculty and staff.

These sessions will assist managers and supervisors (and anyone who leads team meetings) in learning and practicing an approach to use a guiding template for facilitating 15-minute anti-racism discussions with their team. They will also share a plan on how to begin conversations on sensitive topics, and view a conversation in action.
Upcoming Sessions:
July 12: 2:30pm-3:30pm
July 15: 10am-11am
July 21: 1pm-2pm
Save the Date!: 2021 Miller Society Meeting
Mark your calendars for the 2021 Annual Norman F. Miller University of Michigan Alumni Society Meeting. This year's meeting will be held on Friday, September 24, 2021. Stay tuned for more details!
2021 MARTS Conference & RSP Research Forum
The MARTS (Michigan Alliance for Reproductive Technologies and Sciences) Conference aims to accelerate the growth of Reproductive Sciences in Michigan by enhancing collaboration and communication among educators and researchers in the basic, translational and clinical arenas.

Date: October 8th, 2021
Location: Rogel Ballroom, Michigan Union
Celebrating our ObGyn DE&I Engagement and Accomplishments!
The ObGyn DE&I Team invites you to watch our Year in Review video and reflect on the past year, including all of our DE&I accomplishments and our continued commitment to this work moving forward.
Dr. Pearlman's Granddaughter Featured on Michigan Medicine Blog
Family Travels from L.A. for Baby’s Heart Surgery

Couple shares their two-year journey, from a congenital heart defect diagnosis during pregnancy to seeking the best care for their now “daredevil” toddler Rosie.

Read more
healthblog.uofmhealth.org
Congratulations to Natalie Gulau!
Congratulations to Natalie Gulau on her recent engagement to partner, Jesse! Natalie currently supports our Gynecology Division and helps to lead our department's wellness committee.

In addition to their engagement, Natalie and Jesse recently opened their own business, NTW Acres, growing local food and flowers! Stop by their farm stand for some tasty produce and bouquets!
Have something to include in our next newsletter?
Need to Make an Update to Your Provider Profile?
Interested in a Provider Video Profile?
The Department of Communication video team is open again and accepting appointments! Video profiles will be filmed in the North Campus Administrative Complex (NCAC) boardroom.