Research Announcement

Dear colleagues, residents, and students,

Happy New Year. I hope you had a restful and joyful holiday season. As we begin a new year, I am energized by the opportunity to welcome new people and ideas into our department’s vibrant environment of scientific inquiry. I am also deeply grateful to the faculty who mentored students and residents this past year, and especially to our Research Committee members: Dr. Ming Tsai, Dr. Martin Keltz, Dr. Vani Dandolu, Dr. Olivia Grubman, Dr. Anubha Arora, and Dr. Brittany Sanford.

For our department’s researchers, winter is not a season of hibernation, but one of focus and productivity as we prepare for a new cohort of enthusiastic learners to join us this summer. We will once again host first-year medical students for our six-week structured OB-GYN Summer Research Fellowship. Students will review a list of available projects, rank their preferences through an online application, and be matched based on interests and availability.

Last year, we hosted 26 fellows, many of whom have since presented their work at the Medical Student Research Forum, as well as at regional and national conferences. Several of these fellows will also present their research at our upcoming Department Research Day. The fellowship continues to be one of the medical school’s most highly regarded research programs and received excellent feedback from student participants.

Our residents are also hard at work preparing their oral presentations for Research Day, which represents the culmination of nearly two years of planning, data collection, and project implementation.

I would like to encourage interested faculty to reach out to me as soon as possible to discuss potential research ideas. I am here to support you in developing a successful and rewarding research experience. You are the experts in your fields and best positioned to identify meaningful questions and gaps in the literature. As a research methodologist with strong institutional knowledge and a practical mindset, I would be delighted to help you design a feasible and impactful project.

I look forward to many exciting conversations and collaborations in the year ahead.

In collaboration,

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

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Director of Medical Student and Resident Research

Interim Section Chief, Complex Family Planning, WMCHealth

Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health

Mandatory New CITI Training Modules

If you haven't done so already, please complete the following NEW required CITI training modules per the IRB: 

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Subjects Protections

2. Artificial Intelligence: The Impact on Academic and Research Integrity

You will find these by logging into your account at citiprogram.org, affiliating with New York Medical College, and selecting the modules above. Please contact Bruno or Bianca if you are having trouble completing this requirement. 

Upcoming Dates To Keep In Mind:

• Department Research Day: May 7, 2026
• Call for abstracts (for poster presentations) is open and will close on 3/6.
• If you are a student who participated in the 2025 Research Fellowship, or a faculty mentor, please apply/encourage your students to apply

• OB-GYN Student Summer Research Fellowship: will run from early June to mid-July.
• Projects must be ready to go (IRB approved if required) by mid-May.
• Project ideas must be fleshed out and ready to be announced to student applicants by mid-February.
• Every second-year resident should be working on a proposal that incorporates student fellows.
• Faculty are encouraged to consider research ideas that would allow for the recruitment of a summer student fellow 

OB-GYN Research Day 2026

Upcoming Conference Submission Dates

SASGOG 14^th Annual Meeting

Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology; September 25-29, Atlanta, GA: abstract submission open February 2-May 16

AAGL 2026 Global congress

American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists: November 13-16, Boston MA: abstracts due March (exact date TBD)

AUGS 47th Annual Meeting

American Urogynecologic Society: October 4-7 Denver, CO: abstracts due April 7, 2026

Society of Family Planning Annual Meeting

Society of Family Planning Annual meeting: October 24-27 San Francisco, CA: abstracts due April 2026 (exact date TBD)

Recent Peer Reviewed Publications

Publications:

• Frisse A, Morrison-Buckley S, Lunde B, Wang K, Stoffels G, Dragoman M. Evaluating Graduating OBGYN Residents’ Training in Postpartum Permanent Contraceptive Procedures. Contraception (forthcoming)

• Bibi M, Rubin S, Noruzi K, Stern R, Sashitzky S, Steinhart A, Keltz M. Transvaginal ovarian drilling prior to a second IVF cycle may improve the rate of euploidy in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome when compared to controls. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2026 Jan 9.

• Rubin SC, Stern R, Robb C, Keltz M. Case report of the management of intravascular leiomyomatosis including uterine surgery, vascular surgery, hormonal management, and in vitro fertilization. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. Published online December 15, 2025.

• Peskin M, Sanford BH, Muoser CA, Chew Murphy EC, Kulkarni A, Lynch B, Nienalto T, Gehret Plagianos M, Bernstein P, Dar P. Impact of a multi-faceted quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing primary cesarean delivery rates. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2025 Dec 8.

• Noruzi K, Rubin S, Tetelbaun L, Foley K, Keltz M. Improved embryo yield in repeat IVF cycles following suboptimal euploid embryo yield: a potential effect of regression to the mean. Biol Reprod. 2025 Nov 14;113(5):993-994

• Wentzel KE, Rubin SC, Coots C, Mesa A, Galaviz V, Keltz J, Stifani B, Ryntz T. "I Feel Chained Right Now": A Qualitative Study Exploring Treatment Decision-Making Among Individuals with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2025 Oct 15.

• Arora A, Pollack B, Babajanian M, Friedman-Ciment R, Glass M, Kasoff M, Bibi M, Magovern M, Soto R, Hirani R, Nussbaum O, Steinhart A, Drugge ED, Silber A, Grimes CL. Maternal and neonatal outcomes after delayed vs early cord clamping at cesarean delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2025 Jun;7(6):101680.

• Rubin SC, Noruzi K, Chen E, Greene A, Keltz M. Intraovarian platelet-rich plasma (PRP) infusion appeared to benefit low prognosis IVF patients; however, when compared to controls, no significant benefit could be confirmed. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025 Aug;42(8):2719-2726. doi: 10.1007/s10815-025-03530-5. Epub 2025 Jun 2. 

Recent Presentations

NYMC Medical Student Summer Research Forum, December 5, 2025:

• Morris P, Kodali P, Gao Y, Silver A, Clifton J, Villazhiñay-Matute B, Sanfor B, Stifani B. “Brace yourself”: a qualitative study of patient perceptions of induction of labor

• Agyapong A, Mehta R, Correia J, Shah P, Stifani B, Tsai M. Language representation in randomized control trials in obstetrics and gynecology

• Kwok L, Genovese A, Buckler E, Ryntz T, Galaviz V, Villazhiñay-Matute B, Stifani B. Listening to your body: analysis of Reddit discusión on sexual function after hysterectomy

• Printz A, Silvera A, Hardart A, Stifani B, Villazhiñay-Matute. Understanding patient perspectives on menopause and hormone replacement therapy via Reddit

• Sweeney C, Johnson B, Kayode T, Villazhiñay-Matute B, Drugge E, Stifani B. The association between state-level abortion restrictions and poor mental health

• Noruzi K, Rubin S, Stonberg A, Rivera I, Stoner M, Nussbaum O, Keltz M. Transvaginal ovarian drilling (TVOD) and platelet-rich plasma increases ovarian stromal flow and decreases vascular resistance in low-prognosis IVF patients

• Schreiber C, Rivera I, Robb C, Keltz J. Prevalence of central sensitization in women with chronic pelvic pain

• Hizami M, Schulhof A, Stifani B. “Is induction really that bad?” Expectant parents’ perceptions of elective induction of labor

• McKee T, Sharma N, Arora A. Information available online about hormone testing for menopause and perimenopause

• Chi E, Kodali P, Silvera A. Grubman O, Aggarwal C. Interdisciplinary care for pregnant and postpartum patients who have cardiac disease and hypertension

• Setteducate A, Tetelbaum L, Xu P, Felder E, Lowy M, Keltz M. Impact of body mass index on IVF outcomes

• Joyce C, Keerthy K, Gandhi S, Frisse A, Villazhiñay-Matute B, Stifani B. Over the counter, out of reach: a secret shopper study of Opill availability in New York pharmacies

• Gao Y, Han K, Kulkarni A, Pradhan T. Cost-saving or time-consuming? Examining the impact of insurance prior authorization for locally advanced cervical cancer

• Murty E, Ledoux M, Lapointe L, Spruill T, Stifani B. Patient perspectives of baby-friendly hospital initiative practices

• Schulhof A, Patel R, Grudzinski S, Volpacchio De Landri A, Stifani B. “It’s tough being told you have a woman’s disorder when you’re very much not a woman:” OB-GYN care experiences among trans and gender-diverse individuals

• Grudzinski S, Patel R, Yuce M, Villazhiñay-Matute B, Stifani B. Picture this: patient perspectives on two different visual aids for contraception counseling 

APHA Annual Meeting, November 4, 2025:

• Sweeney C, Kayode T, Johnson B, Drugge E, Stifani B, Villazhiñay-Matute B. “The Impact of State-Level Abortion Legislation on Mental Health Among Reproductive-Age Women in the U.S."

ACOG District II Annual Meeting, October 25, 2025:

• D’Ascanio A, Akbar A, Stifani B. “I feel like a ticking time bomb”: learning from social media to improve care for ectopic pregnancy

• Hizami M, Schulhof A, Stifani B. “Is induction really that bad?” Expectant parents’ perceptions of elective induction of labor

• Joyce C, Keerthy K, Gandhi S, Stifani B, Villazhiñay-Matute. Over the counter, out of reach: a secret shopper study of Opill availability in New York pharmacies 

American Society of Reproductive Medicine, October 28, 2025:

• Noruzi K, Rubin SC, Stonberg A, Rivera I, Stoner M, Keltz M. Transvaginal Ovarian Drilling (TVOD) And Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Increases Ovarian Stromal Blood Flow and Decreases Vascular Resistance in Low Prognosis In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Patients

• Ohrn, S., Rubin, S., Stonberg, A., Robb, C., Rivera, I., Felder, E., Keltz, M. Frozen Plus Fresh: Supplementing Autologous Oocyte Thaw with Fresh Oocytes Doubles both The Euploid Embryos and The Cumulative Ongoing Pregnancy Rate Per Patient

American Association of Laparoscopic Gynecologists Annual Meeting, November 9, 2025:

• Xu, P., Noruzi, K., Steinhart, A., Rubin, S., Sashitzky, S., Keltz, M. Submucosal myomas following hysteroscopic myomectomy are associated with lower live birth rates and increased miscarriage rates in IVF.

Society of Family Planning Annual Meeting, October 25, 2025:

• Recabo O, Giovinazzo L, Frisse A, Ryntz T, Salcedo J, Stifani B. Fetal demise in the second trimester: incidence of abnormal coagulation studies and bleeding complications (oral presentation) 

International Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology, October 7, 2025:

• Zeuner R, Keltz J, Sunday A, Stifani B. Women leaders in OB-GYN: a survey of residency program directors and department chairs (poster selected for poster tour)

The Obstetrics & Gynecology e-newsletter is distributed to all OBGYN staff, faculty, students, and residents.

Suggestions for story ideas are always welcome. Please e-mail your comments and inquiries to the Senior Administrator, Bruno S. Villazhiñay Matute, Dr.P.H., M.P.H., FACHE(c) at BVillazh@nymc.edu.

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Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

New York Medical College

School of Medicine

40 Sunshine Cottage Road, Valhalla, NY 10595