Message from the Chair
I want to start off by thanking all of you for making me feel so welcomed and at home here at BIDMC. It’s been a busy first month. I have been pleased to meet and interact with a large number of individuals and groups, and I am continually impressed by the people and programs in our Department and organization.
From the outside, you see national media coverage and our leaders advocating for women’s rights, but what you gain as an insider in this Department is even more remarkable. During a breakfast meeting with our residents, I heard about two residents who invented their own medical devices, one who developed global medical educational tutorials, and others with amazing talents and ideas. I also had the honor of bringing together leaders in medical education, quality improvement, clinical divisions and administration where the desire for connection and energy in the room was palpable. What has stood out the most in my meetings so far is the fact that this Department is made up of a wonderful group of colleagues who work hard, support one another, and laugh often, and in so doing, create a bright future for our specialty.
Briefly, here are some of the themes that I have heard thus far:
- Everyone is deeply dedicated to patients and their families, learners, and to each other with a commitment to serve the community – one of our important distinguishing characteristics.
- There is a strong desire to enhance our existing efforts to position ourselves to further expand our influence on women’s health globally.
- There is a clear commitment to equity, inclusion, and advocacy.
- Faculty are excited to contribute their expertise and skills, but many feel disconnected from the broader organization and colleagues in other divisions and locations.
- Our faculty and staff are working very hard because they are deeply passionate about the missions of this Department, but we need to focus our efforts to ensure that the environment is supportive, allowing us to take care of ourselves and avoid burnout.
As I continue meeting with different groups and individuals, I hope that you will continue to openly share with me what inspires you, what makes this Department so special, and your hopes for the future.
The Future
Our shared vision is to become the premier Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology in this country and the trusted voice for women’s health globally. We will commit ourselves to strive for the very best outcomes for women in terms of patient care in the context of gender equity and diversity.
Coming out of COVID, I am well aware of the challenges we face: two-thirds of U.S. health systems are in deficit, there are growing costs of drugs and supplies, increasing clinical acuity and competition for services, personal and system-wide fatigue, widespread staffing shortages, deferred academic goals, and so much more. Health systems project that these pressures will continue for the next two to three years, at least. We are certainly not immune, but I am confident that together, we will be able to move steadily forward and gain momentum to achieve our goals and vision with purposeful leadership, adherence to our values and unique strengths, collective partnerships, and a nimbleness and adaptability so that we remain relevant in a future marked by a changing and dynamic environment.
One may legitimately ask how we can accomplish such lofty goals, acknowledging that we have a relatively small Department and finite resources. The answer, I believe, lies in a few places. First, over the next 5-10 years, we will focus on the development of robust targeted research programs to supplement, complement, and enhance our clinical care and education programs. Secondly, we need to dedicate ourselves to intradepartmental collaboration, an activity and culture that will ensure our efforts are multiplied by each other’s success. Let’s not forget that we are an integral part of an outstanding academic institution, which houses many other successful BIDMC departments eager to collaborate. Furthermore, we need to take advantage of our position within HMS and the great Harvard University, where among the thousands of faculty, students and staff are some of the most interesting, exciting, and creative people in the world. But above all else, it is the people in this Department who hold the keys to success.
To hone in on our plan to achieve these goals, I’m pleased to announce that we are embarking on a strategic planning process over the next six to eight months. This will create our roadmap for Fiscal Years 2024-2028. I will continue to keep you all updated throughout this process.
Please know that my door is always open. I couldn’t be more excited to be on this journey with all of you.
Warmly,
Jeanne-Marie Guise, MD, MPH, MBA
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October 2022
COVID-19 Resources
Upcoming Events
Use the link above to join our meeting on Oct. 24, 4-5 p.m. All are welcome!
Join leadership and colleagues on Oct. 13 at noon on the Shapiro Plaza for a brief speaking program, musical performances and a prize drawing!
Celebrate BIDMC’s environmental sustainability program and congratulate your colleagues at the virtual Healthy Work, Healthy Home Celebration on Oct. 20 at noon.
The GME Wellness Committee invites faculty and families (children 5 years and older) to join in a volunteer opportunity at Cradles to Crayons in Newton on Nov. 5, 10 a.m. to noon. Email Margaret Lie, MD, for more details.
Join colleagues for a professional networking event for physicians of Spanish and
Latin American ancestry in academic medical centers in Massachusetts - Thursday, November 3, 7-9 p.m. at Heibert Lounge, Boston University School of Medicine. Email Shannon Theriault for more details.
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Sign Up for Emergency Alerts
AlertMedia is BILH's new emergency notification system that will alert staff about emergencies through communications channels of your choosing: email, phone calls, text messages and more. This new system replaces BIDMC's existing notification system.
Setup in AlertMedia is very simple and ensures we can reach you in an emergency. More information is available on the Portal.
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New Location: Center for Intimate Health and Wellness
As of Oct. 1, the Center for Intimate Health and Wellness, led by Mallika Anand, MD, MS, has relocated from One Brookline Place to the BID-Chestnut Hill office at 200 Boylston Street, on the 4th floor of the Medical Offices building.
We continue to offer holistic, multidisciplinary treatment for patients who have concerns about their intimate health, such as pain with sexual activity and decreased sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and other concerns. Treatment options we coordinate include pelvic floor physical therapy, hormonal and non-hormonal medications, female pelvic medicine reconstructive surgery, and recommendations for sex therapy.
Referrals can be placed in OMR under "Urogynecology;" please select "sexual dysfunction." Please call 617-667-4070 for more information.
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The Parent Connection: In-Person Meetings Are Back!
With the guidance and support of BILH Infection Control, we are pleased to announce that some of our new parent support groups have returned to meeting in person! Please share this news with your patients and refer them to bidmc.org/parentconnection to learn more and register.
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Longwood – Boston
In-person every Monday, 1-2:30 p.m.
BodyScapes Fitness, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur
Dedham
In-person every Wednesday, 9:30-11 a.m.
Dedham Health Complex, 200 Providence Hwy
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Virtual Support Group
On Zoom every Tuesday, 10-11:30 a.m.
Working Parents & Second Time Parents Group
On Zoom two Thursdays per month, 7-8:30 p.m.
Postpartum Breastfeeding Support Group
On Zoom every Wednesday, 12-1:30 p.m.
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Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight
From Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, BILH is featuring employees on its social media channels in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Our own Fátima Reyes, MD, Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, is part of this series. Read below to learn more about Dr. Reyes.
How has your background shaped your career goals?
Growing up as Mexicana/Chicana, I witnessed the many difficulties my monolingual immigrant family experienced with limited healthcare access. Aside from a lack of insurance, hospitals didn’t always feel safe. Living without healthcare made me understand how it is a human right that affects all other aspects of life and wellbeing. I decided to be part of the medical system to provide the care I wish my family had. As I learned about medicine, I saw many disparities that inspired me to become a researcher and advocate. I became a fellow in gynecology oncology to serve and advocate for people with gynecologic cancer and to narrow disparities in this community.
Tell us a bit about your work serving the Latinx community.
I see my service to the Latine community in two categories. First, as a physician completing the sixth year of my training, I prioritize mentorship and sponsorship of Latine premedical, medical students and residents to continue to diversify medicine. In 2020, I started the Latino Student Medical Association Carmen Reyes MCAT Fund to decrease the financial obstacles that impede medical education for Black and Latine students.
Second, as a gynecologic oncology fellow, I provide language concordant care for our Spanish speaking patients. My thesis is a completely bilingual research project that will hopefully improve the care of Spanish speaking gynecologic cancer patients across the country.
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BIDMC Research Retreat
In September, BIDMC hosted its first annual Research Retreat, a daylong event aimed at recognizing innovation and discovery across the medical center. Our Chair Jeanne-Marie Guise, MD, MPH, MBA, was an invited speaker, just one week after her arrival at BIDMC. Her talk, “Driving to the Outcomes We Deserve,” highlighted the Department’s research as well as efforts to close the gap between the outcomes we currently experience and the performance and health we should be able to achieve, given our country’s wealth and our people’s talents.
It was incredible to see OBGYN represented during the poster session!
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Immune responses to SARS-COV-2 infection in pregnancy | Authors: Eleanor Schonberg, Katherine McMahan, Lisa Tostanoski, Catherine Jacob-Dolan, Michele Hacker, Dan Barouch, Ai-ris Y. Collier
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Associations of out-of-pocket payments, bad debt, and cost-coping strategies with financial toxicity in patients with gynecologic cancers | Authors: Katharine Esselen, Joanne Jang, Rasha Baig, Annika Gompers, Meghan Shea, Michele Hacker
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Abortion Provision Among Massachusetts OB/GYNs | Authors: Sara Neill, Sarah Martinez, Alisa Goldberg, Elizabeth Janiak |
Durability of antibody responses following three doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines with and without breakthrough infection | Authors: Marjorie Rowe, Nicole Hachmann, Jessica Miller, Olivia Powers, Kevin Hall, Nehalee Surve, Katherine McMahan, Haley VanWyk, Dan Barouch, Ai-ris Collier
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Grant Announcement
Rose Molina, MD, MPH, Division of Global and Community Health, recently received the Learning Health Systems K12 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) for her project, "Measuring and Enhancing Trust and Therapeutic Alliance for Patients with Limited English Proficiency." With this grant, Dr. Molina will develop patient-reported outcomes for trust and therapeutic alliance with Spanish-speaking patients. She will also co-design a communication intervention with patients, cultural brokers, clinicians, and health system leaders to enhance trust and therapeutic alliance in pregnancy care. Congratulations, Dr. Molina!
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In the News
Anna Modest, PhD, MPH, Director of Clinical Research Education, and Naima Joseph, MD, MPH, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recently published a study in Obstetrics & Gynecology (the Green Journal), that demonstrated how pregnancy-associated homicide and suicide are commonly preceded by mental health problems, substance use disorders or intimate partner violence. The article was a featured podcast on the journal's website and highlighted in several media outlets:
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Happy Patients, Exceptional Care
We received the following recent comments in patient surveys:
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"Incredibly compassionate surgeon who took the time to explain my procedure in detail, and answered every question I had. Dr. Dottino is the best of the best!"
"Dr. Anand was extremely helpful, informative and reassuring. She took time with me to explain everything clearly."
"Excellent all around. Staff great. Dr. Mason, my gynecologist, is the BEST doctor and my favorite out of all my doctors!!!"
"Dr. McKinney is an amazing physician! I feel so fortunate to have found her. Not only is she an expert in her field, but she is kind and caring."
"I feel so fortunate that Dr. Kaufman is my doctor! She is professional and her experience and knowledge are more than evident!"
"Dr. Wang is exceptionally kind and patient."
"Abby is by far the best nurse practitioner I've ever had!"
"Dr. Todd Shapiro is one of the best doctors I have taking care of my health! His office and team are extremely professional and caring."
"I am so grateful to the MFM team, especially Dr. Chloe Zera, for thoughtfully explaining the evidence for induction (and its limitations) in light of the particular circumstances of my medical history."
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"Dr. M. Kobelin is very thorough, informative, patient, and a dedicated physician."
"Dr. Lefevre is great. I highly recommend him. He is very informative & he always takes time to let me ask questions and he answers all my questions."
"Leslie Berube is an asset to your staff."
"Dr. Garrett is a wonderful doctor, she puts you at ease by explaining everything in terms so you understand."
"Kate Nolan is an excellent clinician - Kind, respectful, wonderful listener. I would recommend her to anyone seeking specialty care."
"Dr. Dottino - professional, knowledgeable kind, caring, listens compassionately. My full confidence."
"From the moment she greeted us in the hospital room, Dr. Appiagyei Cole was outstanding. She took time to connect with my wife and ensure that she felt seen."
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Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program Accreditation
At its September meeting, the ACGME Review Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology reviewed our Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program and granted "continued accreditation without outcomes." As a newer program only in its second year, we look forward to graduating our first fellow in 2024 and being granted full accreditation. Congratulations to all involved in the Gyn Onc Fellowship Program!
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Fellowship Match
It is a privilege and an honor to be able to announce the phenomenal fellowship matches of four of our Chief Residents. Witnessing our residents establish their next roles is truly a testament to their hard work and commitment to their medical training. We are so incredibly proud of you!
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Daniela Febres-Cordero, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, BIDMC
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Devon Abt Harris, MD,
Gynecologic Oncology, BIDMC
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Tesia Kim, MD, MSEd,
MIGS, MassGeneral Brigham – Newton Wellesley Hospital
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Marissa Palmor, MD,
REI, Oregon Health & Science University
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Residents Participate in GYN Simulation
Our residents recently participated in a GYN simulation on total abdominal hysterectomy. Big thanks to Andrew Wiechert, MD, Gynecologic Oncology, for leading this simulation. If any faculty are interested in getting involved in resident didactics/simulation opportunities, please email Residency Program Director Brett Young, MD, at [email protected].
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Resident Wellness Retreat
Pizza and painting were the themes of our most recent Resident Wellness Retreat! Thanks to our faculty and physician assistants who provided coverage so everyone could attend. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to see all of our recent happenings: @BIDMCobgynrez
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Congratulations
Please join us in congratulating Dafny Argueta, who has transitioned into a new role as Residency Program Coordinator. Dafny has been our Fellowship Coordinator since 2016 and has helped our programs flourish. A go-getter, Dafny has stepped into the residency role whenever needed for the past two years, and we're excited for her next chapter with the residency program. Congratulations, Dafny!
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Equity, Quality, Improvement and Safety (EQuIS) |
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Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL)
As a part of our implementation of the AIM Patient Safety Bundle around Obstetrical Hemorrhage, we began using Quantitative Blood Loss (QBL) measurements in 2021. QBL is an effective measurement for early detection of significant hemorrhage in obstetric patients, with a higher sensitivity than Estimated Blood Loss (EBL) tests.
We began using QBL in select deliveries, then all vaginal deliveries, and eventually all deliveries during the spring of 2022. We have been tracking a handful of process and outcome measures, which we are now sharing as a part of our Obstetric Hemorrhage dashboard on the Portal. A huge THANK YOU to our obstetric providers and nursing colleagues on Labor & Delivery for the success of this project!
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Do Not Use! Clinical Documentation
While it is our culture to use abbreviations in such a fast-paced work environment, did you know that The Joint Commission has an Official “Do Not Use” List? This list was developed to encourage consistent documentation and avoid misunderstandings and errors.
Click here to view the list.
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Uma Deshmukh, MD, MUP, FACOG, has joined our Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Deshmukh earned her BA in Sociology and Anthropology at Swarthmore College. She worked for several years in the non-profit sector and completed a Master’s in Urban Planning at NYU before deciding to pursue a career in medicine. She completed medical school, residency and her Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at Yale University.
Dr. Deshmukh's clinical and research interests include complex obstetric surgery and Placenta Accreta Spectrum disorders. She will primarily be staffing the CMFM for ultrasound and consults, covering the inpatient service and Labor & Delivery, and joining the New England Center for Placental Disorders team. Welcome, Dr. Deshmukh!
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Sarrah Shahawy, MD, MPH, has joined our Division of Global and Community Health and Division of Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology (ASGOG). Dr. Shahawy earned her BA in Biological Sciences and French from the University of Southern California, a Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School, and a Master of Public Health in Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed her residency training at Northwestern University, and prior to joining BIDMC, she was a clinical fellow in Global Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Dr. Shahawy's clinical and research interests center on the intersection of local and global migrant women’s health, with a focus on optimizing sexual and reproductive health by taking into account the ethical, social, and political realities that endanger and marginalize women globally. In the US, she conducts community-based, qualitative research with immigrant and refugee groups. Internationally, her research has focused on regions often overlooked in global health—namely, the Middle East North African (MENA) region. Dr. Shahawy will continue her global and community health research and will be clinically based at BIDMC, where she will see patients on Shapiro 8, Labor & Delivery, the GYN OR, and resident precepting clinic. Welcome, Dr. Shahawy!
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Julie Baker, Perinatal Ultrasonographer, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
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Quiana Cocanougher, Admin Assistant III, Gynecologic Oncology
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Lisa Kacherov, Perinatal Ultrasonographer, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
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Kate Powell, Research Project Manager
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Dayana Valerio, Fellowship Program Coordinator
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Staff Development Resources |
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Tip of the Month: Guidelines for Giving Feedback
Feedback should be:
- Well timed and expected
- Based on firsthand data
- Limited to behaviors that are remediable
- Phrased in descriptive, objective language
- Deal with specific performance/incidents, not generalizations
- Include data
- Deal with decisions and actions
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Administrative Coordinator, Gynecologic Oncology
Req ID: 46137BR
Job Summary: To provide administrative and academic support for the Division Director of Gyn Oncology as well as the Fellowship Director, program and the other faculty.
Responsibilities include:
- Screens telephone calls and access for high-level position(s) deciding which individuals need face to face meetings, which can be refer to other managers or when possible, resolves the situation. Schedules and prepares for diverse and complex appointments, meetings and travel arrangements.
- Oversees planning and preparation for committees. Distributes minutes, prepares agenda, materials and committee work.
- Plans, coordinates and makes recommendations in preparation for high-profile programs and events for the department.
- Independently composes and edits complex and sensitive correspondence, reports and documents for final approval by manager.
- Compiles, analyzes and summarizes data from multiple sources to create detailed complex documents, reports and high-level presentations.
- Acts as a resource for the department for information and training. Coordinates multiple schedules and diverse workflow to meet operational needs. Accountable for outcome of work with minimal oversight from manager/director.
- Initiates, organizes and implements systems and procedures to efficiently coordinate work of the department.
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Policies, Procedures, Guidelines and Directives
Below is a list of PPGD updates from the past month. As revisions may reflect significant changes, please review carefully. These documents were developed and are maintained by our Obstetrics or Gynecology Leadership (Quality Improvement) Committees, which are multidisciplinary committees that include membership from nursing, faculty, house staff, practice assistants, scrub technicians, and Anesthesiology. PPGDs are reviewed and updated regularly based on hospital guidelines.
Administrative
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Recent Presentations and Publications |
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Presentations
McKinney S, Jaresova A, Macharia A, Farid H, Fobert D. Vulvovaginal medicine: A comprehensive curriculum to master the basics. 2022. Presented as an oral presentation at the annual meeting of XXVI World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, Dublin, Ireland.
Garg N, Patell R, Dodge L, Miller E, Halleck J, Einstein D, Buss M. Patients’ perceptions of treatment benefits and correlation with end-of-life quality markers in advanced malignancy. 2022. Presented as an oral presentation at the annual meeting of ASCO Quality Care Symposium, Chicago, IL.
Publications
Detlefs SE, MD, Carusi DA, Modest AM, Einerson BD, Deirdre Lyell D, Grace M, Shrivastava V, Khandelwal M, Salmanian B, Shainker SA, Fox KA, Subramaniam A, Crosland A, Elaine Duryea E, Shamshirsaz AA, Shrestha K, Belfort MA, Silver RM, Clark S, Shamshirsaz AA. The association between placenta accreta spectrum severity and incidence of small for gestational age neonates. American Journal of Perinatology,2022. Sep12. [Epub ahead of print]
Lozano PM, Lane-Fall M, Franklin PD, Rothman RL, Gonzales R, Ong MK, Gould MK, Beebe TJ, Roumie CL, Guise JM, Enders FT, Forrest CB, Mendonca EA, Starrels JL, Sarkar U, Savitz L, Moon J, Linzer M, Ralston JD, Chesley FD. Training the Next Generation of Learning Health System Scientists. Learning Health Systems. e10342. doi:10.1002/lrh2.10342
Chen JJ, Gompers A, Evenson A, James BC, Royce C. Surgical adaptation of the situation awareness rating technique (S-SART): Assessing and fostering situational awareness among medical students. Journal of Surgical Education, 2022. In press.
Wamakima B, McKinney S, Bookman L, Gompers A, Hacker MR, Farid H. Post-menopausal vaginal and cervical cancer risk related to in utero diethylstilbestrol exposure. Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 2022. In press.
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