Read the latest news about the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Penn OBGYN Ranked No. 2 in Research Funding
Exciting news! We are thrilled to announce that our OBGYN department has been ranked #2 in NIH funding! This remarkable achievement reflects our commitment to groundbreaking research and innovation in women’s health. A huge thank you to our dedicated team of researchers, clinicians, and staff for their hard work and dedication. Together, we are advancing the field of obstetrics and gynecology to improve the lives of women everywhere.
Department Celebrates New Inductees into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
We are proud to announce that Drs. Florencia Polite, Abike James, and Divya Shah have been inducted into the prestigious 2025 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. This esteemed recognition honors their outstanding contributions to medical education, leadership, professionalism, and service. Congratulations to these exceptional individuals for their dedication to excellence in the medical field!
Four OBGYNs Recognized with A Penn Pearl
We are proud to announce that four members of the OBGYN Department have been honored with a prestigious Penn Pearl Award. Congratulations to Drs. Holly Cummings, Jordan Stone, Karampreet Kaur, and Nayla Laban!
The Penn Pearl Award is a special recognition given to residents, fellows, and faculty who have demonstrated exceptional support and mentorship throughout the clinical training of Penn medical students. This award is particularly meaningful as it is nominated and voted on by the students themselves.
The Department extends its heartfelt congratulations to these outstanding individuals who embody excellence and dedication in clinical education!
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Kim, Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, on being selected to join the Academy of Master Clinicians. The Academy recognizes and celebrates exceptional clinicians who consistently exemplify the highest standards of patient care, humanism, professionalism and commitment to leadership at Penn Medicine. Membership to the Academy is the highest clinician honor a Penn physician can receive, and all of us in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are so proud to have Dr. Kim awarded this prestigious and well-earned honor.
Ringing the Bell for PCOS
On January 3rd, Dr. Anuja Dokras, along with members of the PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association, rang The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange to raise awareness for polycystic ovary syndrome.
The PCOS Challenge is the nonprofit organization leading in advocacy, treatment and support for those with polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common hormone disorder in women.
Dr. Sindhu Srinivas Appointed Executive Director of HUP Cedar Avenue
Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE, has been appointed Executive Director of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) Cedar Avenue. In this role, Dr. Srinivas will oversee all HUP-based hospital services at the Cedar campus, working closely with the HUP Executive Team to enhance care delivery, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity.
Dr. Srinivas brings to the table: a stellar track record in patient care, groundbreaking research, pioneering work in establishing quality benchmarks for OBGYN outpatient care, and innovative strategies that have moved the needle on reducing maternal health risks. Since her arrival to the Cedar leadership circle earlier this year, Dr. Srinivas has already left an indelible mark. Her introduction of a comprehensive trauma-informed care program for the HUP Cedar staff showcases her forward-thinking approach.
We congratulate Dr. Srinivas on her new position and look forward to her continued leadership at HUP Cedar Avenue.
Two OBGYN Faculty Honored with Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence
Abike T. James, MD, MPH, Vice Chair for Academic Excellence and Community Engagement in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology and Courtney A. Schreiber, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Family Planning and Stuart and Emily B.H. Mudd Professor in Human Behavior and Reproduction were recently honored with Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence.
Dr. James was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Duncan Van Dusen Professionalism Award for Faculty. This award acknowledges a faculty member whose respectful approach, integrity, self-awareness, and personal accountability are exemplary of the campaign for the ongoing elevation of the culture of Penn and for the promotion of exceptional patient care experiences.
Dr. Courtney A. Schreiber was selected as this year's recipient of the Luigi Mastroianni, Jr. Clinical Innovator Award. This award acknowledges physicians who have made significant contributions toward the invention and development of new techniques, approaches, procedures or devices that change medical practice and are of major benefit to patient care.
The Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence were established in 1996 and are a series of highly competitive awards celebrating Penn's commitment to excellence in scholarship, teaching, innovation, service, leadership, professionalism and patient care. Learn more here.
Celebrating Excellence: OBGYN Team Shines at Penn Medicine Experience Week
We’re proud to announce that several members of our OBGYN Department have been honored with Advocacy Awards during Penn Medicine Experience (PMX) Week. These awards recognize employees who exemplify the PMX Standards: Compassion, Presence, Empowerment, Collaboration, Accountability, and Cultural Humility.
Our 2024 PMX Advocacy Award Winners:
- Provider Awards: Lakeisha Mulugeta-Gordon, MD and Amy M. Lodise, MSN,CRN (Gyn Onc)
- TEAM Award: Hannah Gross-Eskin and Sequita Jackson (Dickens Social Work Team)
- Practice Award: Uduak Andy, MD, Stephanie Haly, MSN, CRNP, Sara Altman, Lisa Chiddick-Roberts, Toni Flicker and Tanira Marshall-Barnes (Urogynecology at Valley Forge)
John J. Mikuta, MD Endowed Lectureship in Gynecologic Oncology
The 2024 John J. Mikuta Lecture took place in September at the Widener Lecture Hall at the Penn Museum.
Dr. Dineo Khabele, a physician-scientist with extensive clinical and translational research expertise in gynecologic oncology and Chair of the Department of OBGYN at Washington University School of Medicine, was the guest speaker.
Dr. Khabele's lecture entitled A Surgeon-Scientist's Perspective on Ovarian Cancer Care and Research summarized advances in ovarian cancer care and research and provided a personal perspective as a gynecologic oncologist, surgeon-scientist, and administrator in an academic medical center.
The John J. Mikuta, MD Endowed Lectureship in Gynecologic Oncology was established in 2015 by Dr. Mikuta and his wife, Margaret. Dr. Mikuta was the Franklin Payne Professor Emeritus and served for 30 years as the Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He was highly regarded by his former patients, trainees, colleagues and staff for his compassion, empathy, and integrity. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology and was active in women and gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Mikuta helped shape the careers of many gynecologic oncologists and influenced Penn medical students as one of the faculty in the Professionalism and Humanism course.
Addressing Maternal Death Disparities with Text Messaging
Heart Safe Motherhood, the text-based program created by Dr. Sindhu Srinivas and Dr. Adi Hirshberg, allows postpartum patients to monitor their blood pressure at home. The program has nearly eliminated the rate at which postpartum patients are readmitted for blood pressure complications within a week of giving birth, reducing admissions from 5% down to 1%. The Penn Medicine program has yielded impressive results and closed a racial disparity gap in care. Heart Safe Motherhood has been recognized nationally and by the American Heart Association and American Hospital Association among others. And now it is also being used by other hospitals in the Philadelphia area.
You can read the full article about Heart Safe Motherhood in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
21st Annual Resident Research Day & John Rock Lecture
On Friday, May 10th, the Department of OBGYN hosted the 21st Annual Resident Research Day & John Rock Lecture. This yearly event serves as a platform for the HUP OBGYN chief residents to present their ongoing research projects and discuss their findings. This is a much-anticipated occasion where we honor the hard work of our residents and recognize the contributions they are making in the field.
.ashx?h=223&w=150&la=en)
Erica E. Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG served as the 2024 John Rock Lecturer and delivered her lecture entitled Uterine Fibroids: A Journey of Patients, Pearls, and Promise, which examined the meaning of equity in the infertility space and challenged us to reimagine patient-center care through a lens of inclusion.
Dr. Erica E. Marsh is a renowned researcher and community advocate. She is the Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School, holds the University Diversity and Social Transformation Professorship at the University of Michigan, is the S. Jan Behrman Collegiate of Reproductive Medicine at the Medical School, serves as the Associate Director of the Michigan Institute of Clinical and Health Research, and is the founder and director of Health and Reproductive Disparities (onWHARD!).
Honoring Excellence in Nursing
We are pleased to announce Christina Ward, RN as the winner of this year’s Louisa Tatonetti Borio Award for Nursing Excellence in Ambulatory Women’s Health Care. This departmental award recognizes a nurse who consistently demonstrates compassion, integrity, a positive attitude and teamwork. Please join us in congratulating Christina. Her positive attitude and commitment to excellence in patient care is inspiring and we are so grateful for all that she does.
We also had the opportunity at the award celebration to highlight the achievements of all 14 nominees. While we can only select one winner, every nomination is a testament to the incredible work happening within the OBGYN Department.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
The OBGYN Department celebrated the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Deborah Driscoll and Dr. Jerome Strauss along with two newly OBGYN endowed chair appointees; Dr. Anuja Dokras and Dr. Fiona Simpkins.
The Founder's Professorship in Women's Health was established to honor legacy of Dr. Deborah A. Driscoll, the first woman chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Driscoll is the Luigi Mastroianni, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Dean for Professional Services at the Perelman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Chief Physician Executive for Penn Medicine Medical Group and Senior Vice President of the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania. Her accomplishments are history making, including becoming the first woman President of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
To acknowledge Dr. Jerome Strauss, a luminary in the field of reproductive medicine, The Jerome F. Strauss, III, PhD, Assistant Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynecology was named in his honor. He served as the founding Director of the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health during his 30 years at Penn and is an Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr. Anuja Dokras was the inaugural recipient of the Founder's Professorship in Women's Health. This esteemed professorship symbolizes our commitment to excellence in women's healthcare and acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Dr. Deborah A. Driscoll. It is a deserving honor for Dr. Dokras as an internationally recognized leader in the field of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and the Director of the Women's Health Center for Clinical Innovation, the first of its kind in the country.
Dr. Fiona Simpkins was recognized as the current chair of The Hilarie L. Morgan and Michell L. Morgan President's Distinguished Professorship in Women's Health. Her research regarding ovarian cancer aligns with the mission of the Morgan Professorship, to improve health outcomes for women for generations to come.
Empowering Maternal Health
At Penn Medicine, we are working to improve maternal health and reduce health disparities for new and expectant mothers through a number of programs and initiatives. Join Dr. Elizabeth A. Howell, Dr. Abike James and others as they discuss various initiatives aimed at ensuring every mother receives quality care. Discover insights and actionable steps toward creating a more equitable healthcare system for mothers and their families. Watch the video now and join the conversation for positive change in maternal health, Advancing Maternal Health Equity. This video is part of a new documentary entitled "American Delivery" chronicling glimmers of hope amid the maternal health crisis.
Penn Ovarian Cancer Researcher Recognized with Innovation Award
Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD, Director of the Penn Ovarian Cancer Research Center, was honored with the Gynecologic Oncology Innovation Award at the 2024 Society for Gynecologic Oncology Annual meeting on Women's Cancer. Established in 2011, this award honors exceptionally creative thinkers who significantly impacted the understanding of and/or approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of gynecologic cancer. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Drapkin on receiving this well-deserved award!
Philadelphia Heart Ball Honors Heart Safe Motherhood
The American Heart Association (AHA), the largest voluntary health organization fighting cardiovascular disease, announces co-founders of Heart Safe Motherhood Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE and Adi Hirshberg, MD, to be recognized as the 2024 Edward S. Cooper Award Honorees at the 2024 Philadelphia Heart Ball on March 23rd. By overcoming in-person barriers to care, the Heart Safe Motherhood program has reduced disparities in care as well as lowered readmission rates for new mothers. Learn more by reading the AHA press release on their online Newsroom.
The Edward S. Cooper Award, named in honor of Dr. Edward S. Cooper, recognizes individuals from the Greater Philadelphia Area who exemplify the work of Dr. Cooper and the mission of the American Heart Association. Dr. Cooper is a world-renowned physician and a pioneer in hypertension and stroke, and the first African American to serve as national president of the American Heart Association. View the AHA video to learn more about Dr. Cooper and the mark he has made in Philadelphia and beyond.
Marisa Bartolomei named new director of Center for Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Marisa S. Bartolomei, PhD, Perelman Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, as the new Director of the Center for Women's Health and Reproductive Medicine (formerly known as the Center Research on Reproduction and Women's Health) at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM).
Dr. Bartolomei has made instrumental discoveries in advancing epigenetic control of genomic imprinting, which continue to propel the field, in particular for healthy pregnancy and fetal development. Her leadership as co-director of the Epigenetics Institute has been invaluable to our research and training community. Recently awarded the 2024 March of Dimes Richard B. Johnston, Jr, MD prize, which "honors an outstanding scientist who has advanced the science that underlies our understanding of pregnancy, birth and prenatal development," Dr. Bartolomei is a leader in female-based and biased diseases. Read more about Dr. Bartolomei here.
In addition to her numerous accolades, Dr. Bartolomei is a revered mentor, one of our strongest advocates for and role model of women in science, and her imprint on our campus is evident through her involved leadership of initiatives such as the PSOM Portrait Review Committee. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bartolomei on this new leadership role and thanking her for continued service and contributions to our scientific community.
Highlighting our Commitment to Improve Maternal Health
Penn Medicine is taking bold action to improve maternal health and eliminate disparities. Read more in the latest issue of the Penn Medicine magazine
New Center to Advance Maternal Health Equity
Rising rates of maternal mortality and associated racial disparities across the US reflect a national crisis.
To help address those disparities, we are proud to announce the launch of the March of Dimes Research Center for Advancing Maternal Health Equity, based at Penn and led by our very own Elizabeth A. Howell, MD, MPP, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Center will be on the forefront of scientific research and technology development to combat racial disparities, increase access to high-quality care and promote early interventions to save lives during pregnancy, delivery and beyond.
Learn more about the March of Dimes Research Center for Advancing Maternal Health Equity.
2024 Departmental Awards & Honors
- Dr. Jourdin Batchelor received the Sharon Youcha Compassionate Patient Care Award for excellent patient care with compassion, empathy and respect, and listens and treats the patient as a whole person.
- Dr. Efe Cudjoe received the Robert R. Rascoe, MD Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Patient Care. This award recognizes a chief resident who has demonstrated compassionate care and concern for our patients. The recipient was selected by the attendings and nursing staff in the Helen O. Dickens Center for Women's Health.
- Dr. Catherine Jennings - Midwife's Intern Award
- Dr. Jeremy Applebaum - Midwife's Golden Mitt Award
- Dr. Anne Kim - Resident Research Award for Excellence in Research
2024 Teaching Awards
- Dr. Leigh Ann Humphries - Fellow Teaching Award for Excellence in Resident Education
- Dr. Jeremy Applebaum - Resident Teaching Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education
- Dr. Danielle Burkland - Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Melvina Parks - Collaborative Award for Resident Teaching Excellence
- Dr. Holly Cummings - APGO Excellence in Teaching Award
- Dr. Emilie Stylli - Resident Educator Development Award
- Dr. Nia Bhadra-Heintz - CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education