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Dr. Mary D'Alton
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Invest in the Future of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Foundation for SMFM's mission is to advance care in pregnancy through research and education. We rely on contributions from the SMFM members, friends of the Foundation, and our industry partners to sustain this mission. Because of this support, we are able to provide over $300,000 in scholarships and grants annually. To see your investment at work and learn more about our
programs visit our website.
The number of Society members who give each year to the Foundation has increased substantially since 2014, as is apparent from the graph.
Our goal is to have 800 members donate in 2018. To date we have 479 members who have donated, 59.8% towards our goal. We will need help from all of you to achieve this new goal! Those who contribute $100 or more will receive the Literature Alert for the next 12 months.
You can track our progress toward the 800-member goal and see a list of recent donors on the Foundation's website here.
Ways to Support the Foundation
You can make an immediate impact toward the Foundation's mission by donating online today.
You also have the option to create a recurring gift at various time intervals.
You can participate in the Giving Tuesday movement on November 27 - look for announcements via email and social media beginning in early November.
You can make a gift of other assets through the sale of appreciated securities or by recommending a grant from your donor-advised fund.
You can give a delayed gift to the Foundation through estate planning, which can offer additional tax benefits. Consider including the Foundation in your will or trust, or naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of retirement plan assets or a life insurance policy. Visit our website for more information about planned giving or contact the Foundation staff at [email protected].
If you have already contributed, thank you! Please consider asking a colleague to make a contribution to match yours. The impact of your contributions on the future of our specialty cannot be underestimated. We could not sustain our programs without your efforts and are enormously grateful for your support. We look forward to seeing you at the 2019 SMFM Annual Meeting and updating you on our progress.
With enormous gratitude,
Mary D'Alton, MD
Chair, Board of Directors
Foundation for SMFM
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Healthy Policy & Advocacy
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PRGLAC Report Reaches Secretary Azar
As required under the 21st Century Cures Act, the Task Force Specific to Research in Pregnant Women and Lactating Women (PRGLAC) submitted its recommendations to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, in September. The report recommends a cultural shift in research, so that there is a presumption of inclusion for pregnant and lactating women. The full report can be found
here and features 15 recommendations, including that the Secretary should exercise his ability to continue PRGLAC for another two years.
SMFM is working with partners in the Coalition to Advance Maternal Therapeutics to urge the Secretary to respond appropriately to the report, as well as with Congressional champions to implement recommendations where legislative action might be required.
SMFM is hosting a Congressional briefing on November 15, 2018 featuring Dr. Diana Bianchi, Director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), as well as others to highlight the federal investment in research in pregnant women and lactating women. We will share more information on that event as it becomes available.
Two House Subcommittees Take on Maternal Mortality
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on September 27, 2018 on the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act (H.R. 1318). The hearing's webcast can be viewed
here. Witnesses from ACOG, March of Dimes, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Mr. Charles Johnson, who lost his wife shortly following the birth of their second child, provided compelling testimony in favor of the legislation, which would assist states in establishing and maintaining maternal mortality review committees.
Separately, the House Ways and Means Committee Health Subcommittee launched its own investigation into maternal mortality as it relates to the hospital system. SMFM eagerly awaits the results from the inquiries and will work to advocate for passage of H.R. 1318 before the end of the year.
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Practice Management Resources
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Monthly Coding Tip: New ICD-10-CM Codes for 2019
There are several new ICD-10-CM codes that have been issued that will affect MFM providers. These codes became effective for dates of service on or after October 1, 2018. Previous codes should not be used for dates of service after October 1, 2018. For the complete list of new codes impacting MFM, visit the
SMFM website.
NEW! Professional Development for Practice Managers, Nurses and Sonographers
The High-Impact Practice Management Academy is a series of three independent, professional development courses designed especially for up-and-coming members of the team. The Academy focuses on developing strong people management skills and creating a culture of excellence.
The first course in the series "Engaging, Developing and Managing Individuals and Teams for High-Impact Practices," is scheduled to take place in Phoenix on March 29-30, 2018. . Visit the SMFM website to register and learn more. Act quickly as space is limited and registration closes on November 30, 2018. Questions? Contact Darryl Diamond at
[email protected].
Spring 2019 Coding Course: Save the Date
Our next Coding Course for MFM will take place in Houston, Texas on May 16-17, 2019. Additional details will be available next month.
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39th Annual Pregnancy Meeting Updates
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Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
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Later this month, we expect to open registration f
or SMFM's 2019 Annual Meeting. SMFM members will be the first to receive an e-mail announcement once registration is open and we encourage you to act early for the best course selection and pricing.
In 2019, we will be back in Las Vegas and will offer 68+ hours of CME at 13 postgraduate courses on February 11 - 13. From February 14 - 16, we will showcase the latest scientific research with oral plenaries and even more poster presentations than 2018.
On behalf of the Program Committee, I encourage you to:
- Submit late-breaking abstracts. The electronic abstract submission site is now open. The deadline for submitting late-breaking abstracts is Monday, November 12, 2018. We are using the same online abstract management company, Precis, as we did for the general abstract submissions. You can access the Precis site here. If you are logging-in for the first time, please create an account. If you had an account for the general abstract submission process earlier this year, you can use the same log-in credentials. We encourage you to review the criteria and instructions for submission available online before you begin.
- Reserve your hotel room. All official Annual Meeting activities will take place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Visit the hotel's website or call + 1 (866) 227-5944 and mention SMFM's 39th Annual Pregnancy Meeting to reserve your room at the discounted rate of $255/night. Reservations must be made by January 21, 2019 to enjoy the group rate.
- Confirm your onsite childcare. For the first-time ever, SMFM is offering childcare services at the Annual Meeting. This is a pilot program, sponsored by UT Health McGovern Medical School, and subsidized by SMFM. Childcare will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and requires a separate registration. Learn more about this offering and other family-friendly options at the Annual Meeting.
- Get the latest information. As new information is available, it will be posted on the SMFM website at www.smfm.org/2019 and shared via social media using the hashtag #SMFM19. We encourage you to continue to check back and look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.
Warm regards,
Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MSc
2019 Postgraduate Course Chair
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Dr. Kelli Barbour |
The SMFM Global Health Committee plans to highlight a member's work in global health. This month's member is Kelli Barbour, MD.
Dr. Barbour is an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston where she spends 60% of her time on domestic work and 40% on global
efforts
focused in Lilongwe, Malawi.
She received her MD and a Master's in Global Health Sciences at UC San Francisco and spent time working at
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She completed residency at Indiana University, which allowed her the opportunity to spend five months in Kenya at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. As a fellow at the University of Utah, Dr. Barbour spent six months in Geneva, Switzerland as the inaugural recipient of the Queenan International Agency Mentored Research Fellowship awarded by the Foundation for SMFM.
What made you decide to go into global health?
I had always been interested in traveling and in medicine, so global health seemed like a natural combination of the two. As I spent more time in global settings (Guatemala, Tanzania, Kenya, Jamaica and Malawi), during medical school, residency, and fellowship, I cemented the desire to use my medical training and interests in medical education, research, and quality improvement in a global setting to improve care in low-resource settings, help train the next generation, and improve global and local health care policies. Many of these things can be done domestically, but there is something special and invitingly challenging about getting to do these things in a global setting.
What has been the most rewarding in your career?
I'm still early in my career, so I am not sure I can choose a most rewarding moment. I am grateful for each of the experiences that have led me to my current position and endeavors.
What are some of the projects that you are currently doing?
Ensuring high quality care of critically-ill obstetric patients, developing an ultrasound curriculum for the Malawi Ob/Gyn MMED (residency) program, maternal mortality and morbidity assessments.
What advice would you give to residents/fellows who are interested in global health?
There are a lot of different opportunities for exploring global health and a lot of different ways to do global health. Some people do a few weeks per year, some spend the entire year abroad. Look for opportunities that align with your areas of interests and skills and pursue fellowships that will give you more experience to vet your interests and time commitment.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy traveling, reading, off-roading (ATVs), music, family history, pickleball, and swimming.
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2019-2022 SMFM/AAOGF Scholarship Award Recipient
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Dr. Jacqueline Parchem |
We are pleased to announce that Jacqueline Parchem, MD has been selected for the 2019-2022 Foundation for SMFM/AAOGF Scholarship Award for her project entitled, "Modulation of Neural Tube Development by Amniotic Fluid Exosomes." Dr. Parchem is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), McGovern Medical School, and a physician scientist trainee in the Department of Cancer Biology at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Parchem's goal is to advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying defects in fetal development and pregnancy complications. Her research aims to determine the role of exosomes in the development of neural tube defects and to investigate innovative fetal therapies. Dr. Parchem's long-term goal is to establish a translational research program that applies basic science discoveries to the management of pregnancy-related conditions. This award will provide her with the training and mentorship support needed to develop into an independent physician scientist leader in maternal-fetal medicine.
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Clinical Guidance and New Publications
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This month, SMFM has issued or endorsed the the following publications:
As always, SMFM's clinical guidance can be found on the SMFM website and is available at no-cost.
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SMFM has partnered with ISUOG on a pre-Congress Course that will be live-streamed from the World Congress in Singapore this October.
Title - From Genetics to Obstetric Management: Essential Genetics in Practice
When - October 20, 2018 (participate live or access the recording at a later time)
What - Appropriate for all delegates, this state-of-the-art course explores genetics as applied in everyday clinical practice. Attendees will gain an understanding of different molecular technologies and their associated advantages and limitations. Learn about appropriate use of testing tools and developments of screening programs with technological advances. Hear debates between leading clinicians about what genetic tests mean and how they influence clinical practice.
The course is co-chaired by Drs. Lorraine Dugoff (SMFM) and Angeline Lai (ISUOG). Key speakers include Baskaran Thilaganathan, Jon Hyett, Aris Papageorghiou, Fabricio da Silva Costa, Ann Tabor, and many more. For more information and to register, please visit the
ISUOG website.
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Patient Education Resources
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MotherToBaby Fact Sheets
MotherToBaby, a service of the non-profit Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, creates and maintains patient- and provider-friendly bilingual (English/Spanish) fact sheets on a wide variety of exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Fact sheets can be downloaded at no cost.
UPDATED - SEPTEMBER 2018
To view all fact sheets,
click here
.
If you cannot find a fact sheet on a specific exposure of interest, please contact one of MotherToBaby's experts at + 1(866) 626-6847 (phone), + 1 (855) 999-3525 (text) or email and live chat.
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The University of North Carolina is seeking applicants for their Global Women's Health Fellowship. The deadline for application is November 1, 2018. More information can be found on the
UNC website.
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To ensure you will not lose any of future updates from SMFM due to a spam filter error, please add [email protected] to your address book or "safe-senders list."
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