Dr. Johnson in Development Engineering

In a new article in The Journal of Engineering in Economic Development, Timothy Johnson, MD, and coauthors seek to understand the engagement of stakeholders during the early stages of product design in low-income country contexts.

New Publication from Gynecologic Oncology Team

A recently published case report by Olivia De Bear, PA-C, Jean Siedel, DO, and Aimee Rolston, MD, brings attention to the first documented case of acquired factor 8 inhibitor in ovarian malignancy. The case report highlights the potential paraneoplastic syndrome that can spontaneously occur with malignancies, the workup involved with diagnosing, and the extensive treatment regimen.

New Article by Dr. Rosen

In a recently published article in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, Monica Rosen, MD, and coauthors study factors predictive of achieving menstrual suppression with norethindrone vs. norethindrone acetate in adolescents, as optimal dosing is unknown.

CNM Faculty in Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health

In their new article, Deb Rhizal, CNM, DNP, and Joanne Bailey, PhD, CNM, discuss quality improvement efforts to redesign psychosocial screening to align with trauma-informed care (TIC) principles and illustrate practical methods of implementing TIC principles.

Please join us in celebrating Elisabeth Quint, MD, who is retiring from the University of Michigan after over 30 years of service.

Dr. Quint is a pioneer in the field of Pediatric Gynecology and has held many leadership roles within and outside of our institution. Dr. Quint has served in every role with the highest level of professionalism, insight, compassion, and goodwill. She has been a role model and mentor to many students, residents, and faculty. She has done all of this while caring for her patients with compassion, dedication, and the absolute highest quality of care. Most recently, Dr. Quint was recognized by the Urology Department for her outstanding collaboration and cooperation in the care of Urologic patients.

We want to personally thank Dr. Quint for her innumerable contributions to our patients, learners, and our Michigan Medicine family.  

Molly Stout, MD, MS, and Molly Moravek, MD, MPH, MSCI, were selected to receive the AAOGF/AGOS President’s Travel Award for the annual meeting of The American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society (AGOS) to be held in Chicago, IL, September 28-September 30, 2023.

We are pleased to announce that Melina Dendrinos, MD, will be our new Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Advanced Training Program Director, effective July 1, 2023!

A special thank you to Dr. Quint who served in this role from 2011-2023.

Melisa Scott, CNM, and Latresa Wiley, LMSW, received a Michigan Medicine Community Health Services grant to strengthen the programming, resources, and coordination for “Our Village.” 

Our Village was established to provide a supportive space for African American expectant and new moms to gather, support, and learn from one another.

We are pleased to share that Deborah  Berman, MD, has been appointed assistant dean for admissions in the Medical School. She has served as interim assistant dean for admissions since July 2021. Dr. Berman has demonstrated a strong commitment to recruiting talented and diverse students who will graduate from the U-M Medical School and go on to provide outstanding patient care and become leaders in healthcare and biomedicine.

This month, the Michigan Medicine care team helped provide exceptional, patient-centered care to a pregnant patient with multiple social needs. This patient received immediate linkages for identified unmet social needs like employment, gaps, health care coverage, and food insecurity. Her team also helped make her care more accessible through virtual visits to overcome transportation barriers and online support programs (“Stay Home, Stay Connected,” our online pregnancy support group, as well as “Our Village,” the African American Expectant and New Mom Group) to address social isolation and pregnancy information needs.

Thank you to everyone who continues to make the Michigan Plan for Appropriate, Tailored Healthcare (MiPATH) program a success!

Sara Till, MD, MPH, was invited to present at the 2023 2nd NICHD Gynecologic Pain Research Virtual Meeting organized by the Gynecologic Health and Disease Branch (GHDB) at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Dr. Till's presentation, "Integrating Non-Pharmacologic Strategies in Care of Chronic Pelvic Pain: Evidence and Access," was well received.

Hannah McLaughlin, MD, and Melissa Brackmann, MD, were awarded a Workforce Well-being grant by the Michigan Medicine Wellness Office. They are part of a new research team started in our department to examine faculty attrition and retention. Other Michigan Medicine team members include Shira Fishbach, MD, Payton Schmidt, MD, and Helen Morgan, MD.

Versha Pleasant, MD, MPH, has received a MICHR – K12 Award and a gift from the Ben Bryer Foundation to support her project, The Genetic Risk Assessment with Mobile Mammography (GRAMM) Project: Providing Genetic Counseling Referrals in Tandem with Mobile Mammography for At-Risk Black Women.

The goal of the GRAMM Project is to increase the uptake of genetic counseling and testing services by providing risk assessment and referrals to genetic counseling to at-risk Black patients at the time of mobile screening mammography. 

Our Department was well-represented at the 2023 Maternal Infant Health Summit in Lansing:

• Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG: Health Equity and Uterine Fibroids
• Alex Peahl, MD, MSc: The PATH to More Equitable Prenatal Care: The Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy
• Joanne Bailey, PhD, CNM: Approaches to Improve Maternal Health During Labor and Birth
• Helen Joa, MSW: Building a Diverse Doula Workforce in Southeast Michigan
• Lisa Kane-Low, PhD, CNM: Implementing Shared Decision-Making and Respectful Care to Reducing Cesarean Births and Increase the Experience of Health Equity

Natalie Saunders, MD, and Carrie Bell, MD, recently received Making a Difference Awards.

Dr. Saunders was recognized for her outstanding care of Michigan Medicine patients: “I'm in the middle of moving and won't have a new OB when I move. I had a medical issue come up last minute and Dr. Saunders went above and beyond to help me.

She squeezed me into her busy schedule and she was so patient and caring. She answered every single question I had and on top of it calmed my crying toddler. She is a very compassionate and knowledgeable doctor and I would recommend her to everyone.”

Dr. Bell was acknowledged for volunteering her time and expertise at the Youth Summit 2023 on May 20: "Thank you for dedicating a Saturday to welcome underrepresented in medicine students to the Big House, cheering them on, showing them your work, and for teaching them more about the health sciences and all the different paths they can pursue.

You are expanding possibilities and increasing exposure to Michigan Medicine and the university. The students got so much out of the day, and that is thanks to you! You have made a difference and on behalf of the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion, we appreciate it immensely.”

Mark your calendars now to join us for the 31st Annual Primary Health Care of Women Conference! The course will be held at DoubleTree on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, but you may attend the conference virtually. 

This annual conference will feature the latest updates in women’s health care from leading experts in the field. Topics include assessing cardiac risk in women, pharmacogenetic testing, uses of GLP-1 agonists, care of women with disabilities, problems with puberty, and more! 

The 27th Annual Reproductive Sciences Program and OBGYN Research Forum was held on June 9th, 2023. This event was a day celebrating local innovative reproductive science research and featured research showcases, trainee/learner poster presentations, and the annual Anita Payne & John F. Randolph Lectures.

Fifty-one abstracts/posters were presented and approximately 125 participants were in attendance. Congratulations to Jessie M. Nelson, Sarah D. Compton, Mina M. Farahzad, Olivia K. Winfrey, and Monica W. Rosen for the best abstract oral presentation entitled “The Relationship Between Estrogen and Subsequent Growth Restriction Among Adolescents with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding at Menarche.”

Our Department hosted a successful Emergencies in Clinical Obstetrics Course on May 31st. The event, organized by Danica Aquino, MD, Dave Marzano, MD, and Becky Hovatter, was well-attended by nurses, nurse educators, CNMs, residents, and faculty.

We continue to respond to all OBGYN Inequity Inbox submissions. This serves as a forum to document our environment and learn from our colleagues’ experiences to drive changes in our workplace culture and clinical practices.