FEBRUARY 2024

Dear OBGYN Faculty, Staff, and Colleagues,

As we embark on the month of February, I am delighted to take a moment to celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the profound contributions of Black Americans and the vital and rich role of building what is our country today. Despite some progress and societal changes, we still struggle as a society with a racial divide, and deeply rooted racism that affects all strata of society, and healthcare and women’s health are deeply affected by healthcare disparities and inequities. This occasion provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, values that are fundamental to our mission as healthcare providers.

In the realm of women's health, it is crucial that we recognize and address the disparities that persist among diverse populations. Black women, in particular, face unique challenges in accessing quality healthcare and achieving optimal health outcomes in particular with the alarming rise of maternal morbidity and mortality to the highest levels in decades. This Black History Month, let us not only celebrate the achievements of Black leaders but also renew our dedication to advancing women's health equity and helping bridge the gaps of health inequity in collaboration with our community partners with a humble attitude and approach to learning and deep commitment.

Our department has a vital role to play in fostering inclusivity and breaking down barriers that may impede access to healthcare for all women, regardless of their racial or ethnic background. By embracing diversity in our approaches to patient care, research, and education, we can contribute to a healthcare system that truly meets the needs of every individual as a basic fundamental human right.

Let us use this month as a catalyst for meaningful conversations, initiatives, and collaborations that will drive positive change in women's health equity. Together, we can ensure that our department continues to be a beacon of compassionate care and unwavering commitment to the well-being of all women and continue to be the leader in our center.

In March, we will be developing the strategic plan for the second half of the year for our Center for Women’s Health Equity and we will continue to update the department and seek everyone’s engagement and participation to help eradicate the stain and burden of health disparities for our patients.

Thank you for your dedication to our shared mission, and I look forward to the impactful contributions we will make together.

In partnership and service to all our patients and their families

Warm regards,

Sean S. Tedjarati, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., CPE, FACOG, FRCS(c)

Chairman & Clinical Professor / Director

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

New York Medical College / Westchester Medical Center

President and CEO

WMCHealth Physicians, Advanced Physician Services

Westchester Medical Center Health Network

Angela Silber, M.D., M.B.A.

Elected Lead Advocate for Maternal-Child Health Care in New York

Dr. Angela Silber, Clinical Associate Professor, and MFM Network Chief, has been elected to serve as the co-chair for the New York State Association of Regional Perinatal Programs and Networks (ARPPN).

Dr. Silber said, "Together, we will work tirelessly to ensure that every family receives the highest standard of care during this pivotal time in their lives." Her dedication to maternal-child health care and her expertise in perinatal medicine make her the perfect candidate for this important leadership role. Alongside Dr. Edmund F. La Gamma, M.D.'76, section chief of newborn medicine at WMCHealth's Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, she will guide ARPPN in its mission to advance perinatal care across the state.

Her commitment to improving health outcomes for mothers and newborns is truly commendable, and we are confident that under her leadership, ARPPN will continue to be a driving force in advocating for the highest standards of care.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Silber on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to witnessing the positive impact she will undoubtedly make in her new role. Click here to read the announcement.

Ashanda Saint Jean, M.D.'89

2024 Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership Program

Join us in congratulating Ashanda Saint Jean, M.D.'89, clinical associate professor, for being selected to be a 2024-2025 Women’s Wellbeing through Equity and Leadership (WEL) Scholar.

We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr. Saint Jean and eagerly anticipate the positive impact she'll bring to our department and the WEL community. Stay tuned for updates on her inspiring journey!

Outstanding District Service Award

Dr. Saint Jean has been honored with the prestigious ACOG Outstanding District Service Award. This accolade recognizes fellows for their exceptional and distinctive contributions at the District Level. She will be presented with this esteemed award during the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, California, in May 2024. Heartfelt congratulations, Dr. Saint Jean!

Dominique Malacarne Pape, M.D.

Promoted to Associate Professor

We extend our sincere congratulations to Malacarne Pape, M.D. on her academic achievement. Her hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence have truly paid off, and we are thrilled to see her accomplishments recognized.

We're grateful for Dr. Malacarne Pape's continued dedication to our students and the next generation of OBGYN physicians. Her invaluable contributions positively impact our institutions, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing her future successes.

Timothy Ryntz, M.D.

CFP Boarded

We are thrilled to announce that Timothy Ryntz, M.D., clinical associate professor, has achieved certification in the subspecialty of complex family planning, marking a significant milestone in his career. By meeting the rigorous qualifications set forth by the CFP board, Dr. Ryntz has demonstrated his dedication and expertise in this specialized area of medicine. This accomplishment not only highlights his commitment to providing high-quality care but also underscores his ongoing efforts to enhance his skills and knowledge for the benefit of his patients.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Ryntz on this well-deserved achievement, and we look forward to his continued contributions to the field of Complex Family Planning.

Julia Keltz, M.D.

Accepted for Presentation at 2024 CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting

We are delighted to announce that Julia Keltz, M.D., clinical assistant professor, will be presenting "Developing Leaders in Medicine: A Clinical Leadership Curriculum Across Specialties and Institutions" which has been accepted for the CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, from February 28 to March 2, 2024.

Congratulations, Dr. Keltz, on this achievement! We eagerly anticipate witnessing your continued success and contributions to the field.

Bianca Stifani, M.D., M.P.H.

New Member of the Contraception Editorial Board

We are thrilled to share that Bianca Stifani, M.D., M.P.H., clinical assistant professor, has been invited to join the editorial board for contraception, a top journal in Complex Family Planning. She will be contributing to manuscript submissions, and reviews, and promoting the journal alongside leaders in the field.

This is one of many great milestones, and many more for many years to come. Congratulations!

Welcome to Obstetrics & Gynecology

Please join us in welcoming some of our newest leaders and clinicians.

Ming Chih Tsai, M.D.

Ming Chih Tsai, M.D. is an accomplished physician executive with exceptional success in providing the vision, strategy, and leadership skills to drive high-quality, safe, accessible, and responsive patient healthcare in major health system environments. He joins us from NYU Langone Health System and will serve as our OBGYN associate director.

Victoria Minior, M.D.

Victoria Minior, M.D., is an accomplished maternal-fetal medicine specialist with notable academic appointments and research contributions recognized nationally and internationally. She is joining us from Next Generation Women's Imaging and MFM as the medical director of OBGYN Ultrasound.

Veronica Galaviz, M.D.

Veronica Galaviz, M.D., completed her fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) at Good Samaritan University Hospital. She is passionate about providing care to patients who suffer from pelvic pain and complex gynecologic pathology. We welcome her to the MIGS team where we are sure she will excel.

Lisette Alvarez, DSW, LMSW

Lisette Alvarez, D.S.W., LMSW, has over 19 years of experience and comes to us from New York Presbyterian and Mount Sinai. She completed her dissertation on postpartum depression and is licensed to provide counseling services. She holds a Master of Social Work from Fordham University and a Doctor of Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Jamie Struhar, PA-C

Jamie Struhar, PA-C, a graduate physician assistant from Quinnipiac University, has diverse clinical experience with OBGYN, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and primary care. Jamie is well-positioned to make significant contributions to patient care as part of our MIGS team.

Katharine Scozzari, PA-C

Katharine Scozzari, PA-C, has joined our MFM clinical team. Ms. Scozzari is a highly accomplished graduate physician assistant from Hofstra University with a strong background in clinical practice. Her previous association with University Diagnostic Medical Imaging speaks volumes about her exceptional skills and expertise in the field. 

Dayna Davi, FNP

Dayna Davi, FNP, has joined our OBGYN clinical team at Health Alliance in Kingston, New York. With more than 15 years of experience at Albany Medical Center, she is a highly accomplished nurse who completed her FNP at The Sage Colleges - Sage Graduate School. We are confident that her expertise and skills will be a valuable addition to our team.

Elly Wagner, PA-C

Elly Wagner, PA-C, is an NCCPA board-certified physician assistant. She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. She is from Newburgh, New York. Elly is passionate about providing accessible healthcare to women in the Hudson Valley. Welcome to our OBGYN team!

Enhancing Research Opportunities: Introducing the BMJ Case Reports Fellowship at NYMC Capozzi Library

We're excited to announce that the NYMC Capozzi Library offers a subscription to the BMJ Case Reports Fellowship. This fellowship grants affiliate and corresponding authors the following benefits:

• Unlimited submissions without any publication fees
• Access to a comprehensive database of case reports
• Fair Use of materials for classroom or personal use

Click here for more information about our membership.

Resident Highlight:

Emily Passarelli, M.D., PGY-2

Published in the International Urogynecology Journal

Dr. Passarelli's study "Perineal lacerations and social media: can patients find reliable information on Instagram and TikTok?" was recently published in the esteemed International Urogynecology Journal (IUJ) in November 2023. The IUJ, renowned for its comprehensive coverage of urogynecology and female pelvic floor disorders, provided a platform for her research aimed at assessing the availability of credible information on obstetric perineal lacerations amidst the burgeoning landscape of patient-centric healthcare content online.

Heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Passarelli on these remarkable achievements. We eagerly anticipate future successes.

The 2024 Gold Student Summer Fellowship program is open for applications - Deadline: March 18th, 2024

The 2024 Gold Student Summer Fellowship program is accepting applications! This wonderful opportunity is open to medical students who are interested in working on a research or service project this summer related to community health with supportive funding of up to $4,000.

The fellowship program empowers medical students to develop skills to become a compassionate, relationship-centered physician.

Gold Student Summer Fellowships:

       • Improve the health and lives of traditionally underserved populations.

       • Focus on enhancing cultural humility in delivering care.

       • Encourage collegial and interprofessional teamwork.

       • Designed and implemented by students.

       • Promote a lasting or systemic change.

Please visit the website for information on eligibility, selection criteria, the review process and application materials.

American Society of Reproductive Medicine 2023 Conference 

Martin Keltz, M.D., clinical professor, and Moses Bibi, medical student, attended the American Society of Reproductive Medicine 2023 Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. On October 16th, they presented groundbreaking research on reproductive outcomes after transvaginal ovarian drilling. Dr. Keltz presented the findings to a panel of moderators, discussing the study's design and its implications for the field of fertility medicine and surgery. Congratulations on the amazing work done and thank you to the research team for guiding the endeavors.

Shadowing Opportunities

OBGYN shadowing experiences are available to medical students. Arrangements are made through the Clerkship.

Should any student contact an Attending regarding a shadowing opportunity, please notify the Clerkship at NYMC-OBGYNCLERKSHIP@nymc.edu.

OBGYN Clerkship Incident Report

While this is an anonymous Mistreatment or Professionalism Incident Report, you may choose to include contact information for follow-up and further investigation. These reports go directly to the NYMC OBGYN Clerkship Director and are then discreetly fully reviewed. You are encouraged to contact the course clerkship director/site director if you are unsure if an instance constitutes mistreatment and would like to discuss it before submitting.

February Grand Rounds

A reminder that Grand Rounds is mandatory for faculty to attend in person. Virtual attendance is allowed for faculty outside the Valhalla campus.

Location: Taylor Care Conference Center

Dates & Topics:

02/08/2024: No Grand Rounds

02/15/2024: Case Reports (8-9)

02/22/2024: "Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: How can we do better?" presented by Emily Rosenfeld, M.D. (9-10) and Case Report (10-11)

02/29/2024: Journal Club (9-10) and Case Report (10-11)

How to access the New York Times:

To access the New York Times via the library subscription:

Step 1: Go to accessnyt.com

Step 2: Search for and click the listing for New York Medical College

Step 3: Choose Student or Staff (Students will enter their year of graduation and will have access until that date)

Step 4: Click Create Account and complete registration fields. ***You must use an NYMC affiliated email address for this account.

After completing this process once, your login (with affiliated email address) will remember your library access, so you will be able to go to the NY Times directly and access by simply signing in to the Times account you created via NYMC.