2023 REPORT ANNUAL
“The most impactful part of being an ACOG member has been knowing that even if I’m on the labor floor or at the statehouse, there are always people who stand beside me and support me and ... help me do my best job as an obstetrician–gynecologist and women’s health advocate.” —Heather Ann Smith, MD, FACOG
“ACOG has been incredibly instrumental in my everyday practice, and I feel completely confident in using their clinical resources to know that I’m providing my patients with the best possible evidence-based care.” —Tiffany Mei, MD, Junior Fellow in Training
“[ACOG] is just such a supportive organization. The educational support that you get from CME, the support that you get for patient education, the updates that you can get from the Green Journal, practice updates, all the information you can get off the website, plus the collegial interaction from the meetings, they’ve all sustained me in my career. I’ve been in practice for more than 30 years, and I don’t think I could have done it without ACOG.” —Maryanne McDonnell, MD, FACOG
“I am proud to serve as ACOG’s in-house clinical expert on family planning, helping to develop guidelines for our members and assist with improving and implementing training programs, such as the Postpartum Contraception Access Initiative, across the United States.” —Michael Belmonte, MD ACOG 2023–24 Darney-Landy Fellow
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2
Letter from the President and CEO
3
About ACOG
4
Abortion and Contraception
6
Advocacy and Government Affairs
8
Equity Transformation
10
Clinical Practice
13
Federal Grant Programs
16
Publications and Products
18
Health and Payment Policy
20
Obstetric and Gynecologic Education
22
Educating Patients and the Public
24
Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting
26
Membership
28
Districts and Sections
32
Board of Directors
33
ACOG Foundation
36
Our Supporters 1
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO • MEETING CHALLENGES: LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY
Dear ACOG family and valued supporters, Over the last year, ACOG has navigated today’s increasingly complex practice environment on behalf of members. We are proud to be 62,575 members strong and to have persevered as a vibrant community despite the obstacles. ACOG has fiercely advocated against legislative interference in medicine while also developing resources and support systems for members and trainees. We have negotiated for increased payment rates for critical obstetric and gynecologic services, advocated for entirely new payment systems, and worked to advance equity and create just environments for our members and their patients. And we have continued our essential work to create comprehensive clinical guidance to support evidence-based care while also evaluating innovative ways to deliver that information to clinicians. In all of this work, one theme has been clear: leadership. ACOG has remained a national leader in defending and restoring access to care and in promoting the sustainability of our profession. Our achievements in 2023 were made possible by our community of members, all of whom are leaders in their own right. Over the course of the last year, our members exemplified leadership at all levels by proudly sharing their stories with ACOG, with elected officials at the White House and in statehouses, with the public through media and the news, and with their communities. They found innovative ways to act on their commitment to providing patients with the care that they need while battling financial and administrative burdens. They leveraged the judicial system, advocated in their institutions, and even created grassroots coalitions to advance the values that drive them every day. Just as ACOG has worked to support our members in their lifesaving and worldchanging endeavors, so too have we been empowered by our members—by their ideas, purpose, and drive. ACOG’s leadership is possible only because our members stand together. As we look to the future, we remain proud of how much we achieved in 2023 and eagerly anticipate how our community’s leaders will continue to make meaningful changes for their colleagues, their patients, and their profession in the coming years.
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Verda J. Hick s
Christopher M. Z ahn
Verda J. Hicks, MD, FACOG
Christopher M. Zahn, MD, FACOG
74th President of ACOG
Interim CEO
ABOUT ACOG About ACOG is the premier professional membership organization for obstetrician–gynecologists. The College produces practice guidelines for health care professionals and educational materials for patients, provides practice management and career support, facilitates programs and initiatives to improve obstetric and gynecologic health, and advocates for members and patients. ACOG represents more than 62,000 members spanning the entire career life cycle. The organization is composed of 12 Districts, which contain a total of 93 Sections. ACOG’s Districts and Sections represent various regions, countries, territories, and states in North and South America. ACOG Fellows are board-certified obstetrician–gynecologists whose professional activities are devoted to the practice of obstetrics and gynecology, who possess unrestricted licenses to practice medicine, and who have attained high ethical and professional standing.
Mission ACOG’s mission is to support our members to improve the lives of all people seeking obstetric and gynecologic care, their families, and communities.
Vision ACOG’s vision is an equitable world in which exceptional and respectful obstetric and gynecologic care is accessible to all. 3
ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTION In the first full year after the catastrophic Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, ACOG remained steadfast in our work to protect access to abortion care where it remains, restore access to abortion care where it is banned or restricted, connect obstetrics and gynecology trainees with the comprehensive education they need, and prevent new attempts at legislative interference in the practice of medicine. When the U.S. court system needs to hear from medical experts,
In FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and Danco Laboratories,
ACOG is there to advocate for access to comprehensive
LLC v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al., ACOG outlined the
reproductive health care, speak up against the criminalization of
overwhelming evidence demonstrating that mifepristone, which
evidence-based medicine, and protect the sanctity of the patient–
has undergone rigorous testing and review and has been safely
physician relationship. In 2023, ACOG filed three dozen amicus
used in the United States for 23 years, is conclusively safe and
briefs representing the voice of science and medicine in courts
effective. As ACOG explained to the Supreme Court, “Restricting
across the country. ACOG has been …
access to mifepristone will not only jeopardize health, but worsen
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Leading coalitions of medical societies in opposing bans and restrictions on abortion in state and federal courts and at all levels of the judicial system, including the Supreme Court
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Actively fighting against legal attacks on mifepristone
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Defending the critical role of the Emergency Medical
racial and economic inequities and deprive women of the choices that are at the very core of individual autonomy and well-being.” In the Texas case Deanda v. Becerra, ACOG filed a brief supporting access to family planning services, including affordable birth control and reproductive health care, for adolescents under the federal Title X program.
Treatment and Labor Act, including its protections of abortion care •
Arguing against gestational age bans and laws that impose restrictions on specific medical procedures
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Advocating for access to and coverage for contraception under Title X and the Affordable Care Act
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Asking trusted legal organizations to provide resources to our members in restrictive states to ensure that they are informed and supported in an extremely challenging legal landscape
NOTABLE BRIEFS In Cox v. Texas, a pregnant woman sought to obtain an emergency medically indicated abortion. ACOG filed an amicus brief with the Texas Supreme Court explaining the danger of legislative interference and the need for clinicians to be able to offer—and patients to access—essential reproductive health care.
Helping Physicians Talk about Abortion Discussions about abortion—whether with friends and family, community members, colleagues, or legislators—can feel tense, adversarial, and counterproductive. ACOG staff partnered with members to facilitate 30 Effective Conversations about Abortion workshops, serving more than 1,800 participants, to help health care professionals develop the skills needed for constructive discourse on abortion. The substantial clinical challenges in obstetric and gynecologic training in the wake of the Dobbs decision underscore the indispensability of ACOG’s active collaborations with other national educational organizations. In 2023, ACOG continued to work with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education to preserve training objectives in clinical abortion care.
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Collaborative Training Initiatives: PACE for Resident Education The Patient-Centered Abortion Care Education (PACE) curriculum, launched in 2023, is a collaboration with the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG), Innovating Education in Reproductive Health, and the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program in Abortion and Family Planning. PACE—which is available free of charge to trainees in every state, including those with abortion bans or restrictions—provides the essentials of abortion care education, including medical knowledge, technical skills, and evidence-based counseling and
Resources As the national narrative evolves regarding reproductive health care, including abortion, ACOG continues to develop engaging, reliable resources to keep the public, policy makers, partners, and ACOG members informed. These include materials on the impact of the Dobbs decision on the obstetrics and gynecology workforce, understanding and navigating medical emergency exceptions in abortion bans and restrictions, and the status of mifepristone given the 2023 FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case. ACOG also created resources refuting common abortion myths and empowering members to address pervasive abortion misinformation.
practices. PACE was piloted in 17 residency programs across the United States and engaged 195 resident volunteers. It was rolled out nationally in July 2023 at the CREOG Educational Retreat in San Diego, California.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration Training In states and institutions where abortion care is highly restricted, accessing training on early pregnancy loss care can be challenging. In 2023, ACOG staff held clinical trainings on manual vacuum aspiration for early pregnancy loss. Participants were provided with an in-depth didactic session and a hands-on simulation experience.
Manual vacuum aspiration training at the District VII Annual District Meeting
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ACOG members on Capitol Hill during the 2023 Congressional Leadership Conference
ADVOCACY AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACOG’s commitment to science and evidence-based medicine extends to the policy-making arena, where our legislative and regulatory influence continues to grow in the face of mounting political interference in the practice of medicine. Our advocacy activities are wide-ranging and include networking and lobbying on Capitol Hill, with federal agencies, and in statehouses and governors’ offices across the United States. AGOG is also a leader within the AMA and hosts a number of policy-honing events, such as our Congressional Leadership Conference and State Legislative Roundtable.
Progress on Key ACOG Priorities
State Legislative Advocacy
Despite the intense partisan gridlock in the U.S. Congress,
The Dobbs decision refocused legislative advocacy on the states. In
ACOG’s skillful advocacy efforts continue to advance bipartisan
response, ACOG increased the size of our state legislative advocacy
priorities consistent with our Commitment to Policy Action.
team and supported our members in their advocacy efforts through
Activities in 2023 included …
bill analysis, strategy formulation, and relationship building. The
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Introducing and advocating for multiple bills to improve maternal and infant health outcomes
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Generating momentum on a long-term fix to the flawed Medicare physician payment system
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Securing a permanent option for states to provide 12 months of postpartum Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage
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Providing technical assistance to legislators seeking to introduce legislation to protect, restore, and improve access to reproductive health care, including abortion
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State Legislative Roundtable offered an opportunity for our member advocates to gather and learn from each other and external partners while preparing, comparing, and refining their strategic plans to influence the legislative landscape on topics from payment policy to ballot measures related to abortion.
ACOG Leadership in the AMA House of Delegates In 2023, ACOG continued to solidify our reputation as the authority on policies affecting all those seeking obstetric and gynecologic care. ACOG’s 14-member delegation to the AMA, led by delegation Chair Nita Kulkarni, MD, FACOG, and Vice Chair G. Sealy Massingill, MD, FACOG, is a powerful and respected voice, providing critical on-the-ground perspectives of obstetrician– gynecologists and their patients. ACOG delegation members shared powerful testimonies with the AMA House of Delegates that propelled a number of accomplishments in June and November of 2023, including new AMA policies that … •
Opposed adverse medical licensing actions and the termination of medical liability coverage for those assisting in, referring patients to, or providing reproductive health services
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Protected access to gender-affirming care, including support for increased opportunities for education in gender-affirming care training and equitable, evidence-based coverage
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Reaffirmed the FDA’s mission of regulating safe and effective medications without political or ideological interference
Congressional Leadership Conference 2023
ACOG 2023–24 Darney-Landy Fellow Michael Belmonte, MD, at the announcement of the CARE for Moms Act on Capitol Hill
In March 2023, nearly 700 obstetrician–gynecologists convened in Washington, D.C., for the annual Congressional Leadership Conference to network with colleagues, hone their advocacy skills, and build relationships with members of Congress. During meetings with legislators, attendees advocated for legislation to advance research in pregnant and lactating individuals, shared stories about the negative effects of the current Medicare physician payment system on physician practice and patient access, and reiterated that abortion is essential health care.
ACOG members preparing for meetings on Capitol Hill
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EQUITY TRANSFORMATION ACOG is fully committed to the work of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which includes dismantling racism and changing the culture of medicine. This work is directed by the Collective Action against Racism, a five-year strategic implementation plan and program developed by ACOG with key input from members, partner organizations, and experts in DEI and anti-racism.
Activities in 2023 included … •
A number of sessions incorporating DEI principles at ACOG’s Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting (ACSM), including a half-day session consisting of training on upcoming events and a leadership and facilitation workshop
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District DEI community events that focused on topics such as the history of race and racism in medicine and creating inclusive workspaces
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Sharing information and updates about the Collective Action against Racism program in the meeting agendas of all Annual District Meetings
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The District DEI Delegation serves as a central hub for discussing initiatives, projects, needs, and issues related to DEI and anti-racism efforts. Each of ACOG’s Districts is represented in the delegation by three volunteer leaders: one Junior Fellow, one EarlyCareer Fellow, and one Fellow.
Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha Memorial Lecture Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha were enslaved Black women whose exploitation led to foundational advances in the field of obstetrics and gynecology that benefit millions of patients today. Every year on February 28 and March 1, the dates that bridge Black History Month and Women’s History Month, ACOG formally acknowledges the contributions of these women. As part of the 2023 observance, ACOG held the second Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha Memorial Lecture. Jessica Buck DiSilvestro, MD; Cynthia Izuno Macri, MD, FACOG; Jaleen Sims, MD, MPH, FACOG; and Mark B. Woodland, MD, MS, FACOG, participated in a roundtable discussion moderated by Jenni Villavicencio, MD, MPP, FACOG. The panel, Supporting Colleagues of Color: Practical Tips for Combating Racism and Burnout, focused on the speakers’ experiences as practitioners in the field; what it means to be a supportive, anti-racist colleague; and tools and strategies for combating racism and burnout.
The 2023 Betsey, Lucy, and Anarcha Memorial Lecture, Supporting Colleagues of Color: Practical Tips for Combating Racism and Burnout
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CLINICAL PRACTICE ACOG is the most trusted source for reliable, timely clinical guidance for obstetrician–gynecologists that is based on the best available evidence. More than 10 active standing committees and expert workgroups work to prioritize clinical topics, review current evidence, and develop clinical recommendations, all of which are published in the leading peer-reviewed journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, also known as the Green Journal. Clinical guidance in 2023 included a focus on maternal mortality, with the understanding that adverse maternal mental health is a significant contributor to current unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality across the United States.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Clinical Consensus
ACOG’s clinical practice guidelines provide clinical management
Clinical Consensus documents provide recommendations on
recommendations that are developed through assessment of the
focused clinical issues based on a careful examination of available
benefits and harms of care options based on a systematic review of
scientific data, supplemented with expert opinion when the
the evidence.
evidence is limited.
Documents introduced in 2023 include …
Documents introduced in 2023 include …
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“Management of Premenstrual Disorders”
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“Compounded Bioidentical Menopausal Hormone Therapy”
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“Viral Hepatitis in Pregnancy”
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“Management of Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia or
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“Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions during Pregnancy and Postpartum”
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“Treatment and Management of Mental Health Conditions during Pregnancy and Postpartum”
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Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia” •
“Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnant Individuals”
Committee Statements
International Leadership
Committee Statements address issues related to the practice of
As part of the international obstetrics and gynecology community,
obstetrics and gynecology, such as ethics and opportunities for
ACOG members participated in the 2023 International Federation of
advancing equity.
Gynecology and Obstetrics World Congress in Paris, France, which
Documents introduced in 2023 include … •
“Ethical Considerations for the Delivery of Obstetric and Gynecologic Care during a Pandemic”
•
•
convened a broad range of obstetric and gynecologic health care professionals. Then-FIGO President Jeanne Conry, MD, PhD, FACOG, a past president of ACOG, built a robust meeting program with representatives from the ACOG Global Expert Workgroup. By focusing on clinical research, evidence, and clinical expertise, the planners
“Improving Access to Intrauterine Devices and
presented an agenda that was both broad and deep to more than
Contraceptive Implants”
8,000 attendees, including trainees from all over the world.
“Health Care for Immigrants”
Quality and Safety Collaboration
Voluntary Review of Quality of Care (VRQC) is a confidential,
ACOG is a leading voice in important national and international
health care institutions. Institutions may request that ACOG’s
proceedings related to clinical guidance for obstetric and gynecologic care. ACOG partners with national organizations such as the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Society of Family Planning, and American Society for Reproductive Medicine to ensure that our guidance is aligned and applicable to a broad range of physicians. With health equity as the driving framework, ACOG also collaborates to ensure that obstetric and gynecologic care is considered and incorporated into the work and priorities of organizations with a broader focus, such as the American College of Radiology, American Cancer Society, and National Commission
voluntary, consultative peer review service that ACOG offers to VRQC team of practicing board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists visit the institution to evaluate the degree to which practice patterns are consistent with published guidelines and suggest possible avenues for improvement. In 2023, the VRQC program completed 16 hospital site visits and onboarded 18 new physician reviewers. ACOG’s work on Indigenous health also continues to expand through program activities in Native and Indigenous communities, supported by a contract with the Indian Health Service.
on Correctional Health Care.
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Levels of Maternal Care
Strategies for Health Equity
In 2023, the Maternal Levels of Care Verification program verified
The Improving Access to Evidence-Based Reproductive Health
12 hospitals across seven states. State health departments and
Care grant continued to provide virtual and in-person training and
perinatal quality collaboratives in Georgia, Florida, and Michigan
technical assistance through help desks that respond to member
are committed to using this program in their state and offering
inquiries and implementation calls with leaders at individual health
financial support for the surveys. Other states; hospital systems;
care institutions.
individual hospitals; and payers such as Cigna, United, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association have expressed interest in joining.
The Strategies for Health Equity team provided 61 trainings and
The advanced certification in perinatal care program launched
nine implementation calls. The main training programs include the
in January 2023. More than 30 institutions have applied or
Implementing Progress in Abortion Care and Training program,
completed preapplication materials, and more than 10 hospitals
also known as the IMPACT program, which offers Effective
have been certified.
Conversations about Abortion workshops; the Postpartum
workshops attended by more than 2,500 participants, along with
Contraception Access Initiative; and the Optimizing Care for Pregnancy Loss program. There was a marked increase in Effective Conversations about Abortion workshops held in 2023: a total of 30 workshops were held in 2023 as compared with 18 in 2022. The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Prevention program continued to expand training thanks to a network of champions and continued funding from a CDC award. Members of the program’s FASD Champions partnership completed several grand rounds in 2023 dedicated to FASD prevention. Many of these presentations were conducted in partnership with FASD United’s Circle of Hope Birth Mothers Network, which provided personal stories that served as an important complement to the clinical presentation.
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FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
Season two of the Labor of Love podcast focused on obstetric care professionals’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
ACOG is proud to collaborate with a number of U.S. federal agencies that share ACOG’s commitment to advancing obstetric and gynecologic health. The initiatives produced through these collaborations include …
Strengthening Public Health Partnerships The Strengthening Public Health Partnerships program receives funding through CDC. ACOG collaborates with CDC and a robust network of partner organizations to build the capacity of obstetric care clinicians and practitioners who practice outside the obstetric setting to improve the health outcomes of pregnant and postpartum individuals through materials development, educational and training opportunities, and data sharing. In 2023, programming focused on … •
Developing multiple perinatal mental health resources to improve ACOG members’ capacity to integrate mental health and obstetric care, in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School’s Lifeline for Moms
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Expanding the number of resources available to practitioners in emergency department and prehospital care settings to enhance readiness to identify and manage patients with obstetric emergencies during pregnancy and the postpartum period
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Disseminating maternal mortality data and information on states’ actions to eliminate preventable maternal deaths
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Conducting an assessment to better understand how ACOG’s Districts and Sections address maternal mortality
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Hosting the annual ACOG and CDC maternal mortality prevention meeting during the ACSM
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Maternal Immunization ACOG’s Maternal Immunization program supports ACOG’s commitment to reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among pregnant and recently pregnant individuals. The program
Health Care Practitioner Education on Early-Onset Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer
focuses on increasing Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis),
This program supports ACOG’s goal to increase clinician
influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunization rates among pregnant
knowledge about the prevention and early diagnosis of early-onset
people by collaborating with prenatal care clinician organizations to
breast cancer and gynecologic cancers through engaging online
improve communication, disseminate educational resources, and
CME opportunities and a multichannel awareness campaign. In
develop an infrastructure to advance maternal immunization.
2023, this program provided a series of five free CME-accredited
Initiatives under this program include … •
Hosting an annual Maternal Immunization Summit of stakeholders working to improve maternal immunization rates
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online courses; a number of journal articles published in Obstetrics & Gynecology; the Don’t Lump Your Patients Together campaign, which focused on early-onset breast cancer; and the Are You Seeing the Full Picture? campaign, which focused on uterine, ovarian, and lower anogenital tract cancer.
Evaluating ACOG’s maternal immunization resources through surveys and focus groups of pregnant and recently pregnant individuals
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Patient education videos, infographics, and other key resources
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Oversight of ACOG’s Immunization Champion Award
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Development of ACOG’s monthly immunization newsletter
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Management of ACOG’s Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Workgroup
Improving Pregnancy Outcomes Through Education, Collaboration, and Training (IPROTECT) Through the CDC’s National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and Division of Reproductive Health, this funding supports ACOG’s efforts to improve pregnancy outcomes by preventing infections and reducing the impact of emerging threats to pregnant individuals. IPROTECT also
COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence ACOG’s COVID-19 vaccine confidence program supported
supplements ACOG’s obstetric emergencies program. In 2023, ACOG focused on … •
podcast, which explores emerging challenges in maternal and
ACOG’s efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence among
postpartum health
obstetric–gynecologic patients by empowering and activating trusted obstetric care clinicians to hold confident conversations about COVID-19 vaccines through a video training and a vaccine
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Developing a six-part training series, Inform to Empower: Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence One Conversation at a Time
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Developing COVID-19 vaccine confidence tool kits to supplement the online Inform to Empower training
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information regarding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations •
Creating the Vaccine Confidence Champion network made up of ACOG members who leveraged the Inform to Empower Training to educate members, clinician peers, and the public about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations
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Developing educational resources for clinicians and patients to increase knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 vaccines
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and information •
Hosting subject-matter expert engagement opportunities and meetings
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Developing several patient education videos on preventing infections during pregnancy and maternal immunization and Compassionate Conversations webinars
Creating a vaccine confidence social media campaign by working with members and experts to share evidence-based
Developing an environmental scan of ACOG’s infectious disease resources and guidance to identify gaps in resources
champion network. In 2023, ACOG focused on … •
Developing, maintaining, and promoting ACOG’s Labor of Love
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Conducting evaluations through focus groups at the ACSM to better understand the utility of ACOG recommendations on specific topics of interest
Women’s Preventive Services Initiative
Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health Technical Assistance Center
The Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) is a coalition of national health professional organizations and consumer advocates
The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Technical
with expertise in obstetric and gynecologic health tasked with
Assistance Center provides comprehensive, high-impact technical
developing, reviewing, and updating recommendations for the
assistance to all entities implementing AIM patient safety bundles
Women’s Preventive Services Guidelines and improving health
in the United States. Funded by a cooperative agreement with
across patients’ life spans. WPSI recommendations adopted by
HRSA and the AIM national team, ACOG employs group technical
HRSA help ensure that people receive a comprehensive set of
assistance through methods such as learning collaboratives,
preventive services without copayment, coinsurance, or a deductible.
peer learning opportunities, skills training sessions, one-onone coaching, mentoring, and individual consultations. Specific
WPSI highlights for 2023 include …
types of technical assistance focus on helping AIM states and
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entities engage birthing facilities to participate in AIM; supporting
Conducting 14 presentations—four of which were accredited for
education on AIM patient safety bundles and other resources, such
continuing medical or nursing education credits—at regional and
as the Obstetric Emergency Readiness Resource Kit; and helping
national conferences, webinars, and organizational meetings
entities strengthen quality improvement processes and address
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barriers to participation in AIM and AIM patient safety bundle
Disseminating more than 16,500 well-woman charts to residents and medical students
implementation. All technical assistance is intended to support best practices that make birth safer, improve maternal health
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outcomes, and save lives.
Adding three new resources, including a How I Practice video on diabetes in and after pregnancy, and revising several resources, such as the WPSI coding guide and the wellwoman chart, for a total of 28 resources available for clinicians and patients on obstetric and gynecologic preventive care
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Collecting clinicians’ current practices, barriers, and facilitators in screening for anxiety and interpersonal violence in the primary care outpatient settings
AIM 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
$3 million annual award for a four-year funding cycle
49 states and
2 jurisdictions supported
More than
1,900
participating birthing facilities
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PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS In 2023, ACOG produced several new products and publications tailored to meet the needs of our community. These included … •
PROLOG: Gynecology and Surgery, Ninth Edition, the premier learning tool for staying abreast of developments in obstetrics and gynecology
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The 2023 Coding On Demand online courses, offering convenient access to essential coding expertise
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The 2023 OB/GYN Coding Manual: Components of Correct Coding, which serves as an indispensable reference for precise coding practices
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The Heart Health for the Pregnant Patient eModule, dedicated to addressing critical aspects of maternal well-being
Obstetrics & Gynecology Obstetrics & Gynecology, also known as the Green Journal, is the most prestigious peer-reviewed journal in its field and has been published by ACOG since 1953. Each monthly issue provides readers with premier clinical research on current developments in obstetrics, gynecology, and total health care. Jason D. Wright, MD, FACOG, an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of gynecologic cancers and gynecologic surgery, serves as editor in chief. In 2023, Obstetrics & Gynecology achieved an impact factor of 7.2—the third-highest impact factor in the history of the journal—according to Journal Citation Reports from Clarivate. A journal’s impact factor is based on the average number of citations per article published during the two preceding years.
THE GREEN JOURNAL’S MOST-READ ARTICLES OF 2023 •
G. Neal-Perry et al., “Safety of Fezolinetant for Vasomotor Symptoms Associated with Menopause: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
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L. Admon et al., “State Variation in Severe Maternal Morbidity among Individuals with Medicaid Insurance”
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M. Prabhu and L. Riley, “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination in Pregnancy”
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M. Thoma and E. Declercq, “Changes in Pregnancy-Related Mortality Associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in the United States”
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SPECIAL ISSUE: “RACISM IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: LIGHTING A PATH TO HEALTH EQUITY” In the October 2023 special issue of the Green Journal, authors tackled the complexities of racism in obstetrics and gynecology. In an editorial about this critical topic, Ebony B. Carter, MD, MPH, FACOG, who serves as associate editor, equity, for the Green Journal, shared her own family’s anxiety about racism when traveling decades ago and their reliance on the Green Book, a guide to safe restaurants, hotels, and more for Black families traveling through the South in the mid-20th century. Dr. Carter wrote: “To be Black parents driving through the South was to be unsure of where you could safely eat, sleep, fill the gas tank, or take your children to the restroom. A fun family vacation could quickly become a humiliating, dangerous, and potentially deadly experience. ... “Let us be honest in admitting that the pages we have published in the 70 years from 1953 to 2023 have not always been a safe space for historically marginalized people, with serious implications. This includes impeding scientific progress in achieving reproductive health equity, limiting the careers of colleagues from historically marginalized communities, and advancing narratives that portend that mothers and pregnancy-capable people are culpable in their adverse outcomes. ... “But, the good news is that adversity is not a foregone conclusion. This story is also full of creativity, resilience, radical thinking, and hope, because each of us have the potential to affect positive changes that promote health parity.”
Original artwork by Michelle Browder, used with permission
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HEALTH AND PAYMENT POLICY Payment policies are key influencers in how health care organizations and professionals deliver care and how patients select and use that care. To assist and support members, ACOG provides policy analysis and advocacy for coverage and payment policies from public payers, such as Medicare and Medicaid, and private and commercial payers. ACOG also meets members’ needs through educational resources such as webinars, policy articles, technical assistance, the annual publication of the OB/GYN Coding Manual, presentations to Annual District Meetings, and web resources. 18
Policy Analysis and Advocacy In 2023, ACOG and our members submitted 53 letters to federal and state policy makers across agencies, including CMS, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, the Office for Civil Rights, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Office of Health Plan Standards and Compliance Assistance. These letters addressed payment, health equity, over-the-counter contraception, data privacy, prior authorization rules, information blocking, and rules related to essential health benefits and marketplace plan coverage and eligibility.
PAYMENT ADVOCACY & POLICY PORTAL 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
Coding On Demand and OB/GYN Coding Manual ACOG’s popular Coding On Demand online courses and OB/GYN Coding Manual, which was updated and expanded in 2023, guide obstetrician– gynecologists and their colleagues through new coding and best practices for reimbursement. Coding On Demand programs are presented by physician members of ACOG’s Committee on Health Economics and Coding, who cover services and procedures within their subspecialties, and expert ACOG staff. The courses are self-paced and feature voice-overs and assessment. Participants can submit feedback and any additional questions to ACOG’s coding specialists.
2,832 ACTIVE USERS
ACOG’s Coding On Demand online courses carry CME credits.
Compassionate Conversations Webinars Compassionate Conversations are live and recorded panel discussions facilitated by ACOG members on difficult conversations faced in obstetrics and gynecology practice. Each webinar features companion resources for physicians and patients to peruse following the webinar to increase understanding on sensitive topics, such as hepatitis C.
95.3%
SATISFACTION RATE by members who asked coding and insurance questions
9,193
ARTICLE VIEWS, a 20% increase from 2022
October 2023 Compassionate Conversations webinar about the impact of hepatitis C on overall health
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OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC EDUCATION Leading the Way in Obstetric and Gynecologic Education ACOG actively engages in leading, innovating, and transforming medical education. In 2023, ACOG was proud to support … •
The launch of ResidencyCAS, a new platform that will provide residency programs with a holistic view of applicants, facilitate exceptional alignment between applicants and programs, and contribute to a diverse workforce well suited to addressing the critical needs of the obstetrics and gynecology profession and obstetric and gynecologic patients
•
Four CREOG meetings—the CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, CREOG Education Retreat, CREOG School for Program Directors and Program Managers, and CREOG Workshops for Residents: Preparing to Be Teachers and Leaders—which were attended by a total of 2,500 participants
•
The CREOG in-service training exam, a critical annual self-assessment exam for obstetrics and gynecology residents, which successfully reached more than 6,000 residents across the United States
•
The continuation of the ACOG Robert C. Cefalo National Leadership Institute, ACOG’s signature leadership program, which helps provide 40 talented obstetrician– gynecologists with the skills they need to lead the profession and health care as a whole in times of change. This transformational program has prepared nearly 700 obstetrician– gynecologists across 11 countries and three continents since its inception.
CME Accreditation ACOG holds the highest accreditation standard available to a CME-granting entity: approval with commendation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for a sixyear term. This status, awarded in 2022, recognizes the centrality of evolving, evidence-based medical education to ACOG’s mission.
Training session on advanced surgical techniques at ACOG’s 2023 Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting
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ResidencyCAS FAQs for applicants and residency program staff
Participants in the March 2023 ACOG Robert C. Cefalo National Leadership Institute
Participants in the April 2023 CREOG Workshops for Residents: Preparing to Be Teachers and Leaders
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ACOG video for patients about symptoms of and treatment for perinatal mental health conditions
EDUCATING PATIENTS AND THE PUBLIC ACOG is committed to educating patients and the public about obstetric and gynecologic conditions and health care. We develop and publish resources for patients and others to explore and engage with directly. Clinicians around the world make these resources available in their practices.
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Patient Website ACOG’s patient website, launched in 2020, serves as an essential resource hub offering current, evidence-based insights on a broad range of health topics, reflecting ACOG’s dedication to empowering patients to make informed health care choices. The patient website provides invaluable information on such topics as birth control, prenatal testing, menstrual health, heart health, and vaccine recommendations, complemented by stories from real patients and obstetrician– gynecologists. Accessible features include a user-friendly dictionary of obstetric and gynecologic health terms and downloadable infographics. All content is developed with ACOG guidance, reviewed by ACOG members, and crafted to align with health literacy standards, guaranteeing reliability and accessibility for all users.
Expanding Our Range and Reach of Patient Education Resources Clinicians can refer patients to ACOG’s online materials that are in a range of userfriendly formats. These include new customizable health tools, member-preferred infographics, videos, Expert Views, FAQs, and Ask ACOG items. These resources are all based on ACOG’s clinical guidance, and all are free. Additionally, clinicians may opt to purchase the ACOG digital pamphlet subscription to access printable illustrated handouts in both English and Spanish. ACOG materials are created and updated in response to evolving health concerns; changes in ACOG’s clinical guidance, such as recommended duration of breastfeeding and guidance on viral hepatitis in pregnancy; emerging health risks, such as RSV; and other identified areas of need. These resources speak to patients from puberty through menopause and beyond. They clarify important issues, such as health care for transgender and nonbinary teens; conditions and procedures that draw scarce mainstream attention, such as screening for hemoglobinopathies; and everything in between. In 2023, ACOG introduced the ACOG Explains animated video series. These videos repackage complex information into short animations that are engaging, easy to understand, and memorable. Four ACOG Explains videos were released on the patient website in 2023 on the topics of cervical cancer screening, prenatal genetic testing, managing menopause symptoms, and mental health and pregnancy.
PATIENT WEBSITE 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
Maternal Health Awareness Day January 23, 2023, marked the third year in which ACOG observed Maternal Health Awareness Day at the national level. Our theme for that year, Know Why, brought together maternal health partners, health policy leaders, stakeholders, and the public to raise awareness about the underlying causes of maternal deaths. Understanding the causes of maternal deaths and recognizing the importance of standardized data, such as the data gathered through maternal mortality review committees, are key first steps toward identifying those causes and developing solutions. As part of the theme, ACOG focused on mental health conditions and cardiac and coronary conditions, which were two of the leading causes of U.S. maternal deaths from 2017 to 2019 as identified by 36 state maternal mortality review committees in a 2022 CDC report.
14.3 MILLION PAGE VIEWS
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ANNUAL CLINICAL & SCIENTIFIC MEETING
Then-ACOG President Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG, addressed attendees at the 2023 ACSM Opening Ceremonies and President’s Panel.
ACOG’s ACSM is the premier meeting of professionals in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States, offering cutting-edge educational sessions and networking opportunities to attendees. Nearly 4,000 people from more than 50 countries attended the ACSM in Baltimore, Maryland, in May 2023.
More than 500 medical students engaged in student programming at the 2023 ACSM. Program offerings included three roundtable workshops, a hands-on skills workshop, and the annual medical student residency fair.
Nearly 50 residents at the 2023 ACSM participated in the Resident Reporter program, which was generously sponsored by Hologic, Myriad Genetics Inc, and Sage/Biogen.
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Attendees at a session about placenta accreta spectrum
A medical student at an IUD simulation training
Medical students at a laparoscopy simulation training
A participant in the session Bridging Equity Gaps: Chronic Stress, Racism, and Mitigating Effects of Trauma-Informed Care
Networking at the Ninth Annual Mix and Mingle Alumni Reception
New Fellows at the Presidential Inauguration and Convocation ceremony
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MEMBERSHIP MEMBER ENGAGEMENT 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
995
ACTIVE USERS
in MentorCity, ACOG’s official mentorship platform
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More than
11,000 LOG-INS
to ACOG Engage, an online community for members
1,089
DISCUSSION THREADS read on ACOG Engage
62,575 MEMBERS Members by Gender
Fellows:
30,469
Women: 43,286 Men: 18,549 Not Specified: 321 Prefer not to answer: 301 Nonbinary: 98 Prefer to self-describe: 15 Queer: 2 Transgender men: 3
Junior Fellows:
11,081
Medical Students:
11,488
Members by Country
Life Fellows and Fellows Senior Status:
4,415
United States: 59,824 Mexico: 563 Canada: 492 Other countries: 1,696
Associate Members and Educational Affiliates:
5,122
District VI: 5,620
Members by District
District V: 6,249
District II: 4,590 District I: 3,861
District X (Armed Forces District): 1,698 Undistricted: 873
District III: 4,751
Not specified: 84 District IX: 5,952
District IV: 8,585 District VIII: 6,634
District XI: 4,497
District VII: 5,778
District XII: 3,403
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DISTRICTS AND SECTIONS In 2023, ACOG members came together for regional meetings throughout the United States to discuss and debate critical topics, such as physician wellness, career support, reproductive rights, and health equity. These topics provided the foundation for additional events and special initiatives in the 12 ACOG Districts.
Cultivating Junior Fellow and Medical Student Advocates District I’s free, in-person Junior Fellow and Medical Student Day, which was organized around the theme Finding Your Path in Obstetrics and Gynecology, welcomed 125 speakers and attendees from across the United States. Program highlights included navigating different career paths in obstetrics and gynecology, the legal landscape of reproductive care, implementing technology and innovation into practice, and a hands-on skills session.
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Leading in Education and Patient Safety District II continued to lead in developing education and patient safety resources for its members, incorporating respectful care and a health equity lens throughout. District II released a course, Practicing Equity When Treating the Menopausal Patient, that offers education to members on how to treat and counsel patients during the menopausal transition, with a focus on the experiences of Black and Indigenous communities and communities of color. In 2023, District II also celebrated 10 years of the Safe Motherhood Initiative, which continues to work with obstetric teams across New York to develop and implement bundles that outline a standardized approach for managing obstetric emergencies using data and recommendations from the state maternal mortality review board to guide its work. In addition, District II released its Reentering Obstetrician–Gynecologists into Practice report to educate members on things to consider before they take a leave from practice and offer strategies for hospitals to reintegrate returning physicians.
Junior Fellow Day Almost 250 ACOG members attended District III’s 2023 Junior Fellow Day, which focused on access, awareness, and advocacy and was held at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia. Morning lectures included a talk from Aasta Mehta, MD, FACOG, Pennsylvania Section secretary and medical officer of women’s health for the Department of Public Health Philadelphia, who spoke about truths and myths of maternal morbidity and mortality. ACOG President Verda J. Hicks, MD, FACOG, spoke about leadership, and John Harris, MD, MS, spoke about access to care for women with disabilities. Attendees participated in hands-on simulation sessions and breakouts on topics such as maternal– fetal medicine, urogynecology, and gynecologic oncology.
Argentina Section Future Leaders Scientific Symposium and Meeting District IV Chair May Hsieh Blanchard, MD, FACOG; District IV Chair-Elect Scott Sullivan, MD, MSCR, FACOG; and District IV Early-Career Fellow Council Chair Andrea Desai, MD, FACOG, joined the Argentina Section for its Future Leaders Scientific Symposium and Meeting in August 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The simultaneous English- and Spanish-language translation allowed for seamless dialogue and communication, facilitating insightful and astute questions from the audience. The opportunity to build camaraderie, discuss unique and common challenges, and learn from one another made for a truly memorable and productive conference. In addition, Dr. Blanchard presented certificates of fellowship to Argentina Section Fellow inductees from 2020 who were unable to receive their certificates in person because of the pandemic.
The Harmony Project The Harmony Project, championed by District V, represents a pioneering approach to wellness within the medical community, blending the therapeutic power of art with the camaraderie of shared experience among physicians. At its core, the project harnesses the ancient tradition of mosaic making as a means of stress relief and self-expression for health care professionals grappling with the demanding rigors of their profession. Beyond its immediate therapeutic benefits, the Harmony Project serves as a catalyst for broader cultural change within the medical field. By prioritizing physician wellness and fostering a culture of compassion and empathy, the project seeks to fortify the mental and emotional resilience of health care professionals, ultimately enhancing the quality of patient care. Through their participation in the Harmony Project, physicians not only find healing and renewal for themselves but also contribute to the creation of a more compassionate and sustainable health care system for all.
Supporting Data Tracking for Rural Teams Coming up with a clear vision to reach ACOG’s core values and mission was the focus of District VI in 2023. District VI’s first initiative was hypertension in pregnancy. A data tool kit was provided to rural labor and delivery units and emergency rooms to help track improvements in specific measures to identify severe hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancy and postpartum. Rural teams received individualized support from the North and South Dakota Perinatal Quality Collaborative, which helps reduce maternal mortality by addressing key contributing factors, to promote success and sustainable outcomes. In addition, District VI undertook an initiative on anemia and currently is providing substance use disorder resources and information to North Dakota and South Dakota health care professionals. The North and South Dakota Perinatal Quality Collaborative also thrived in 2023.
Hands-on training at the Armed Forces District Annual District Meeting in Tacoma, Washington
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DISTRICTS AND SECTIONS
Assessing District Member Needs and Interests In 2023, District VII leaders collaborated with the ACOG Marketing and Membership departments on a strategy for creating, promoting, and disseminating a survey to collect member feedback about the services provided by ACOG and the needs of District VII members. The survey collected information from Fellows and Junior Fellows of each of District VII’s nine Sections and provided helpful data for guiding District activities. District VII leaders learned about the most significant challenges facing members, the best ways to reach members with important information, and the value points offered by ACOG. This information will help guide future District VII efforts.
Rural Obstetrics Committee District VIII formed a Rural Obstetrics Committee in the fall of 2023. Keri Rath, MD, FACOG, and Megan Henrie, MD, FACOG, from rural New Mexico proposed this much-needed committee to examine issues facing those in rural settings and determine best practices. Workgroups were established to focus on three areas: prenatal care delivery in rural areas; training first responders and emergency departments to deliver safe, high-quality care during obstetric emergencies in which no birthing facility is available; and slowing the closure of rural maternity units because of financial constraints or lack of adequate staffing.
District VIII Advisory Council at the 2023 Annual District Meeting
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The Continuous Learning on Equity, Advocacy, and Race in Health Care (CLEAR) Initiative In April 2023, the District IX Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion launched the Continuous Learning on Equity, Advocacy, and Race in health care (CLEAR) initiative as a continuing education effort to promote systemic equity in health care and the health sciences. This endeavor is also an opportunity to advance anti-racist policies for District IX’s members, their colleagues and trainees, and their places of work and study. The CLEAR initiative includes a repository of resources for personal learning and growth and in-person and virtual spaces for discussion within the participating ACOG community. Participants were encouraged to access five to seven resources over the month duration. The CLEAR initiative offers educational options in varying formats so that participants can listen to a podcast, read an article, watch a webinar, or reflect on their actions. Most importantly, the initiative offers tools for transformation so that participants can better translate lessons into action.
DISTRICTS AND SECTIONS
Facilitating Effective Transitions: Addressing Burnout and Retention in Military Physicians In 2023, ACOG’s Armed Forces District received a grant from the ACOG Foundation to pursue a project titled Facilitating Effective Transitions: Addressing Burnout and Retention in Military Physicians. Military-affiliated obstetrician– gynecologists provide care for approximately 40,000 annual deliveries in the United States and at military bases abroad. With more than 6.9 million women living in areas with low or no access to maternity care in the United States and 2.2 million women of childbearing age living in maternity care deserts, maintaining robust obstetric care in the military health system is paramount. Because of a reduction of military physicians beginning in 2019, many of the armed forces are facing physician shortages in the military health system. Recent studies have identified a 26% burnout rate in military physicians, with high levels of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion. Effective interventions to reduce burnout include coaching programs and peer support programs.
Encouraging Advocacy
Levels of Maternal Care Program
During the 88th Texas legislative session, District XI hosted a Junior Fellow Advocacy Day in conjunction with the Interim District Advisory Council meeting open to Fellows, Junior Fellows, and medical student members. Prior to the state capitol office visits, attendees were educated on key pieces of proposed state legislation and how to effectively make advocacy asks when speaking to legislators. The event also included a panel of health care advocacy group representatives whose missions align with ACOG’s. During this discussion, members learned more about the strength of partnerships when advocating for the same goals to improve the lives of Texas patients and families. As a result of this advocacy from District XI members and many others, House Bill 12 was passed by state lawmakers in 2023 to allow Texans enrolled in Medicaid for Pregnant Women to maintain their health insurance for 12 months postpartum.
In 2023, District XII continued to leverage relationships with its strategic partners to launch and support the voluntary Levels of Maternal Care program in Florida. After successfully lobbying key Florida legislators for continued funding, the Levels of Maternal Care verification program saw 60% of all deliveries occurring at level-verified hospitals in 2023. The program is one of several collaborative initiatives that District XII works on in conjunction with the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative. To date, Florida’s Levels of Maternal Care program is one of the most successful voluntary verification programs of its kind in the country and represents one of the many great strides toward reducing maternal mortality rates within District XII.
District XI members at the Texas Capitol on Junior Fellow Advocacy Day
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Board of Directors provides governance for ACOG with day-to-day operational support from executive staff and teams.
President
President-Elect
Immediate Past President
Verda J. Hicks, MD, FACOG
Stella M. Dantas, MD, FACOG
Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG
Treasurer Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG
Chair, District VIII Judith M. Kimelman, MD, FACOG
Secretary Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG
Chair, District IX Kelly A. McCue, MD, FACOG
Assistant Secretary Michelle Y. Owens, MD, MS, FACOG
Chair, Armed Forces District Monica A. Lutgendorf, MD, CAPT, MC, USN, FACOG
Interim Chief Executive Officer Christopher M. Zahn, MD, FACOG Chair, District I Erin T. Bradley, MD, MPH, FACOG Chair, District II Christine M. Herde, MD, FACOG Chair, District III Gregory W. DeMeo, DO, FACOG Chair, District IV May Hsieh Blanchard, MD, FACOG Chair, District V Jody Jones, MD, FACOG Chair, District VI Tamara G. Helfer, MD, MBA, FACOG Chair, District VII Christopher T. Welsch, MD, FACOG
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Chair, District XI Gayle Olson Koutrouvelis, MD, MPH, FACOG Chair, District XII Cole D. Greves, MD, FACOG
Fellow at Large Daniel M. Breitkopf, MD, FACOG Fellow at Large Pratima Gupta, MD, FACOG Early-Career Fellow at Large Nicole L. Plenty, MD, MPH, MS, FACOG Early-Career Fellow at Large Emily R. Penick, MD, LTC, MC, USA, FACOG Chair, Junior Fellow College Advisory Council Anna Caroline Cochrane, MD, FACOG
Vice Chair, Junior Fellow College Advisory Council Allen Ghareeb, MD Subspecialty Representative, American Urogynecologic Society Elisa R. Trowbridge, MD, FACOG Subspecialty Representative, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Marvin V. Williams Jr, DO, FACOG Subspecialty Representative, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Erica E. Marsh, MD, MSCI, FACOG Subspecialty Representative, Society of Gynecologic Oncology Lee-may Chen, MD, FACOG Subspecialty Representative, Society of Family Planning Anitra D. Beasley, MD, MPH, FACOG Public Member Malka S. Zeefe, JD
ACOG FOUNDATION The mission of the ACOG Foundation is to support the charitable, educational, and scientific programs and activities that further the interest of ACOG members and their colleagues to improve the lives of all people seeking obstetric and gynecologic care and their families and communities.
grantees are helping us amplify ACOG’s impact, and
Dear friends of the ACOG Foundation,
we are grateful for their commitment to our shared
I remain immensely proud of the work of the ACOG Foundation. The past year was a particularly busy one for us, as the Foundation continued to provide critical resources
mission. We are excited to see these projects unfold over the next year.
to ACOG and like-minded organizations to help tackle the
We cannot do this critical work without the generosity of our
challenges faced by the obstetrics and gynecology profession and
supporters who understand the complex and ever-evolving
patients who need access to care. Although we do not know what
landscape of reproductive health care and the profession of
the future holds, we stand steadfast in our commitment to help
obstetrics and gynecology. Please join us in helping improve the
embolden those who provide obstetric and gynecologic services,
lives of all who seek obstetric and gynecologic care, their families,
their patients, and communities across the globe to ensure that
and their communities. Together—and only together—we will
equitable and unfettered access to care is available to everyone.
achieve an equitable world in which exceptional and respectful
This past year, we initiated an open grant award process at the
obstetric and gynecologic care is accessible to all.
Foundation and awarded a total of $137,348 to five grantees whose
Sincerely,
proposals addressed key ACOG Foundation priorities: reducing
Tamik a C. Auguste
preventable maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, transforming the culture of the obstetrics and gynecology profession to combat racism and reduce inequities, and increasing data-driven understanding of obstetrician–gynecologists and their practices to meet patient needs. The Foundation’s five new
Tamika C. Auguste, MD, FACOG Chair, ACOG Foundation Board of Directors
Participants and trainers in the April 2023 CREOG Workshops for Residents: Preparing to Be Teachers and Leaders
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ACOG FOUNDATION
ACOG Foundation Board of Directors 2023–24 Chair Tamika C. Auguste, MD, FACOG Secretary Robert H. Palmer Jr, MD, FACOG Treasurer David W. Doty, DO, FACOG Designated Director Anne L. Banfield, MD, FACOG Ex Officio Director Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG Ex Officio Director Christopher M. Zahn, MD, FACOG
Thanks to donors’ support in 2023, we … • Established ACOG’s first DEI Delegation, comprising ACOG members from each District, whose first in-person convening was at the 2023 ACSM • Trained more than 1,300 clinicians to engage in effective discussions about abortion through 18 workshops • Trained 396 participants in the 2023 CREOG Workshops for Residents and CREOG School for Program Directors and Program Managers • Held the ACOG Robert C. Cefalo National Leadership Institute, which has served nearly 700 physician leaders across 11 countries and three continents over the years with top ratings and accolades
Participants in the 2023 ACOG Robert C. Cefalo National Leadership Institute
• Fielded nearly 1,100 media inquiries in 2023, with roughly half of them about reproductive health care, including pieces in the New York Times, the Washington Post, PBS NewsHour, This American Life, CNN, the Associated Press, and NPR • Provided media trainings to more than 400 ACOG members, with more than 200 ACOG members to date conducting media interviews on ACOG’s behalf • Conducted landscape assessments and engaged with payers about topics frequently discussed on the Payment Advocacy & Policy Portal, such as vaginosis, laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation, immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception, and vulvodynia Members of ACOG’s DEI Delegation at the 2023 ACSM
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ACOG FOUNDATION 2023 GRANTS We look forward to seeing the innovations produced by these programs.
ACOG Armed Forces District
The Cameroon–Arizona Partnership
Cleveland Clinic–Hillcrest Hospital
Infrastructure for Implementation of an Obstetric Hemorrhage Patient Safety Bundle at a Training Hospital in Cameroon
Implementation of a Training Program to Facilitate Integration of CommunityBased Doula Care into an Academic Birthing Center Setting
GRANT AMOUNT:
GRANT AMOUNT:
Facilitating Effective Transitions: Addressing Burnout and Retention in Military Physicians
GRANT AMOUNT:
$47,900
$10,000
$10,000
Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast
Comagine Health Support for the Idaho PQC/Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy
GRANT AMOUNT:
$49,448
Transforming the Culture of Reproductive Care to Reduce Health Disparities in Underserved Communities
GRANT AMOUNT:
$20,000
PROGRAM FOCUS FOR ACOG FOUNDATION 2023 GRANTEES •
60% Prevent maternal mortality and morbidity
•
20% Combat racism and reduce inequities
•
20% Increase understanding of the obstetrics and gynecology field and its current needs
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OUR SUPPORTERS Corporate Donors
Individual Donors
ACOG deeply appreciates the support we received from the
The ACOG Foundation is
following corporate supporters in 2023.
extremely grateful to our donors who generously
PLATINUM
SILVER
Hologic Inc
Myriad Genetics Inc
GOLD
BRONZE
Bayer
Flo Health Inc
BD
supported us in 2023. PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY Anne L. Banfield, MD, FACOG Aaron B. Caughey, MD, PhD, FACOG
Johnson & Johnson
Mark S. DeFrancesco, MD, MBA, FACOG
Sage/Biogen
Vivian M. Dickerson, MD, FACOG Rita W. Driggers, MD, FACOG Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG Thomas M. Gellhaus, MD, FACOG W. Benson Harer Jr, MD, FACOG The Estate of Harry S. Jonas, MD, FACOG Gerald F. Joseph Jr, MD, FACOG Katherine S. Lin, MD, FACOG John P. McHugh, MD, FACOG Wade A. Neiman, MD, FACOG Robert H. Palmer Jr, MD, FACOG Sarah W. Prager, MD, FACOG Patrick S. Ramsey, MD, MSPH, FACOG Maria Teresa Tam, MD, FACOG Jenna Tjossem-Robb, MD, FACOG Christopher M. Zahn, MD, FACOG
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BEACHAM SOCIETY
REIS SOCIETY
LEGACY SOCIETY
Joseph Apuzzio, MD, FACOG
Jacques S. Abramowicz, MD, FACOG
Matthew T. Allswede, MD, FACOG
Tamika C. Auguste, MD, FACOG
Judy L. Banks, MD, FACOG
Kevin A. Ault, MD, FACOG
Carla Blumberg
James T. Breeden, MD, FACOG, and Midge Breeden
Robert Batarla, MBA, CPA
Constance Bohon, MD, FACOG
Sandra A. Carson, MD, FACOG
May Hsieh Blanchard, MD, FACOG
Haywood L. Brown, MD, FACOG
Ying Chan, MD, FACOG
Catherine M. Bonk, MD, FACOG
Ben H. Cheek, MD, FACOG
Anna Marie B. D’Amico, MD, FACOG
Jodi M. Brannen, MD, FACOG
Margaret R. Chou, MD, FACOG
Leonard S. Fagan, MD, FACOG
Charles E. Brown, MD, MBA, FACOG
Grant R. Cox, MD, FACOG
Herbert Guzman, MD, FACOG
Ronald T. Burkman Jr, MD, FACOG
Kendra Davis
W. Benson Harer Jr, MD, FACOG
Eva Chalas, MD, FACOG
Julius R. Ellis, MD, FACOG
David Chelmow, MD, FACOG
Robert B. Gherman, MD, FACOG
Scott D. Hayworth, MD, FACOG, and Nan Hayworth
Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG
Joseph G. Gianfortoni, MD, FACOG
Shanna M. Combs, MD, FACOG
William H. J. Haffner, MD, FACOG
AnnaMarie Connolly, MD, FACOG
Tamara G. Helfer, MD, MBA, FACOG
David W. Doty, DO, FACOG
Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG
Marygrace Elson, MD, MME, FACOG
Peter Hultman
Lisa N. Gittens, MD, FACOG
David Johnson
Dawn Holdren
Thomas F. Purdon, MD, FACOG, and Kathryn M. Purdon
Bridget B. Keller, MD, FACOG
Ann L. Honebrink, MD, FACOG
Paul A. Smurda, MD, FACOG
Judith M. Kimelman, MD, FACOG
Deborah Kamali, MD, FACOG
Eugene C. Toy, MD, FACOG
Judy Levison, MD, MPH, FACOG
Marc A. Landsberg, MD, FACOG
Mary F. Vanko, MD, FACOG
Kelly A. McCue, MD, FACOG
Clayton H. McCracken III, MD, FACOG
Kristy K. Ward, MD, FACOG
Maryanne McDonnell, MD, FACOG
Lila V. Nevrekar, MD, FACOG
Jenny White
Molly Meegan, JD
Tony Ogburn, MD, FACOG
Doris E. Tirado, MD, FACOG
Sharon T. Phelan, MD, FACOG
Holly L. Olson, MD, FACOG
Hartaj K. Powell, MD, MPH, FACOG
Michelle Y. Owens, MD, MS, FACOG
Andrea D. Shields, MD, MS, FACOG
Sarah M. Page-Ramsey, MD, FACOG
Jennifer Walsh
Heather Z. Sankey, MD, FACOG J. Martin Tucker, MD, FACOG, and Robin Tucker Robert Wah, MD, FACOG
Cole D. Greves, MD, FACOG
Alan T. Kent, MD Gloria H. Martin, PhD G. Sealy Massingill, MD, FACOG Robin D. Matthews, MD, FACOG Megan McReynolds Patricia M. Miller, MD