UCSF DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS, GYNECOLOGY & REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT REPORT 2021
IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF ALL WOMEN THROUGH EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND LEADERSHIP IN PATIENT CARE, SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.
2 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
CONTENTS OVERVIEW • Welcome from the Chair • Department at a Glance • Strategic Priorities • Financial Summary • Practice Locations • Faculty Directory • Selected Publications • Staff Highlights
DIVISIONS/ORU • Center for Reproductive Sciences • Obstetrics, Gynecology & Gynecologic Subspecialties • Gynecologic Oncology • Maternal-Fetal Medicine • Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery & Urogynecology • Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility • Zuckerberg San Francisco General Obstetrics & Gynecology
MAKING A DIFFERENCE • Our Global Reach • Community Connections
MISSION AREAS • Patient Care • Research • Education • Advocacy • Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change
SUPPORT • Help Advance Women’s Health: Make a Gift of Support
490 Illinois Street, Floor 10 San Francisco, CA 94143 https://obgyn.ucsf.edu/ @UCSF_ObGynRS
Erika Pham, Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives Wendy Turner, Communications Manager Assisting: Angel Manaois & Alison Wenz Design: Sean Brainerd/volume11creative Photography: Noah Berger, Courtney Halip, Chloe Jackman, Santiago Mejia, Susan Merrell, Erika Pham, Barbara Ries, Marco Sanchez © 2021 THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
Department Report 2021 | 3
OVERVIEW
WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR This past year was a continuation of the roller coaster ride the COVID pandemic engendered. We experienced the highs of reduced restrictions in our work and communities, and the lows of increased visitor restrictions and fear due to waves of COVID variants. Now we are progressing on an attenuated flat stretch of uncertainty. We find ourselves weary – weary of masking, weary of worrying about loved ones, weary from the continually escalating demands of our work.
Our culture of activism and advocacy has helped to transform the way we deliver care to our patients. We responded at a national level to the growing crisis around challenges to reproductive autonomy. Our research physicians, social scientists, trainees, and staff mobilized to raise funds, provide data, expert testimony, educational support, and policy advocacy to counter restrictive reproductive measures, including Texas SB 8.
COVID raised many questions about how to best meet the needs of our patient community as well as those of our Department members. Our workforce has sustained a hyper-adrenaline mode for nearly two years, but importantly, how do we sustain wellness?
This departmental report serves to chronicle the events of the past year and as a snapshot of the accomplishments and challenges we encountered along the way. What strikes me most is our strong response to the demands of the times. I am proud of the amazing level of care, discovery, and education we provide and how we repeatedly answer the call to serve. I am honored to lead this Department of brilliant, caring, and committed individuals. Together we are strong.
As we seek to answer this and other questions, the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences remains steadfast in its commitment to provide the highest level of patient-centered care in an environment driven by our commitment to health equity, discovery, and training. Our focus on equity and inclusion has never been more essential. We have continued to engage both interpersonally and departmentally in conversations that challenge the status quo of white supremacy within healthcare and other systems. I am proud that our faculty, learners, and staff have driven many of these conversations and have leveraged their expertise and experience to advance equity within and well beyond the reaches of our Department. We are only just beginning.
4 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Amy P. Murtha, MD Professor and Chair Edward C. Hill, M.D., Endowed Chair in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences University of California, San Francisco
OVERVIEW
OUR DEPARTMENT AT A GLANCE
#1
#1
#1
Obstetrics and Gynecology Program in Schools of Medicine, 2022 by U.S. News & World Report
Obstetrics and Gynecology Program in Graduate Schools, 2022 by U.S. News and World Report
NIH Research Funding for Obstetrics and Gynecology departments, 2020
3,811
155,657
628
$60.4M
Deliveries
Patients Visited
Total Publications in FY21
Total Extramural Grants and Contracts Revenue in FY21
OBGYN & RS - All Employees Volunteer Clinical Faculty
7 Faculty Hires
Faculty 25% 18%
Faculty Emeriti
TOTAL 702
3%
Recall Faculty
1%
Non-Faculty Academics
4%
12%
65 Staff Hires
Residents, Trainees, PostDocs, Students
Diversity by Category
37%
Staff
100%
Recall Faculty Faculty Non-Faculty Academics Staff
Faculty Emeriti Volunteer Clinical Faculty Residents, Trainees, PostDocs, Students
89%
90% 82%
87%
86%
86%
82%
80%
# of Faculty and Staff by Division/Group Volunteer/Emeritus UroGyn/MIGS 1% 11% GynOnc 2%
70% 63% 60% 55% 51%
ZSFG
50%
49%
23% 40% 33%
33%
30%
Central Administration
25%
25%
8%
25%
22%
REI
20%
17%
10%
16% 6% 8%
OGGS
MFM
0%
Faculty % Female (2020)
Staff
Residents
% UIM (2020)
% Female (2019)
PostDocs % UIM (2019)
CRS
Department Report 2021 | 5
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Collaborative processes between division faculty and investigators remain a priority as we continue focusing on areas such as staff engagement and appreciation, assuring diversity of our Department members, and recruitment. Some of our top priorities include:
Center of Excellence in Women’s Health D eveloping a strategic process for leadership transition F undraising for Endowed Administrative Chair for CoE Director C elebration of CoE’s 25th Anniversary Center for Reproductive Sciences R ecruitment of and collaboration with the new Director to develop vision, priorities, and infrastructure growth Education Leadership Transitions and Curriculum Development R esidency Program now led by Sara Whetstone, MD, MHS S trategy development for leadership structure to support the education community D evelopment of CME offerings with a health equity focus Establishment of Center for Obstetric Medicine Reorganization of current programs and offerings for specialty obstetric care: P artner with the Health System to market facility F ocus on care for complex medical disorders S upport for Multidisciplinary Approach to the Placenta Service (MAPS) program
Department Executive Leadership Amy Murtha, MD, Department Chair Synthia Mellon, PhD, Interim Director, Center for Reproductive Sciences Andrea Jackson, MD, MAS, Division Director, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Gynecologic Subspecialties Lee-may Chen, MD, FACS, FACOG, Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology Mary Norton, MD, Vice Chair, Clinical & Translational Genetics; Division Director, MaternalFetal Medicine Marcelle Cedars, MD, Vice Chair, Clinical Programs; Division Director, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Rebecca Jackson, MD, Interim Vice Chair, Education; Division Director, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Sara Whetstone, MD, MHS, Interim Vice Chair, Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change LaMisha Hill, PhD, Interim Associate Chair, Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change Vanessa Jacoby, MD, MAS, Vice Chair, Research Connie Yu, MHA, Associate Chair of Administration & Finance Department Administrative Staff Leadership Connie Yu, MHA, Associate Chair of Administration & Finance Beth Glascock, MPA, Chief Financial Officer
Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change R ecruitments for Vice Chair and Associate Chair for Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change Future of Remote Work COVID-19 has transformed working life across the institution and the world at large. With the trend for future work moving toward a hybrid model comes the desire for increased flexibility in combining remote and in-person arrangements.
6 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Brenda Kittredge, MBA, Director of Operations Mary Beth Blasnek, MS, Division Administrator, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Mai Nguyen, MBA, Division Administrator, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Lan Pham, MPA, Division Administrator, Mission Bay, Mount Zion, Parnassus Noel Chow, MPA, Director of Research Administration
OVERVIEW
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
ANNUAL FUNDING CATEGORY
FY21 REVENUE Fiscal 2021
Clinical Enterprise Revenues UCSF Health
55,740,417
Other Clinical Revenue (PSA, etc.)
1,617,671
ZSFG Affiliation Agreement & Profee
9,264,280
Other Revenue (e.g. IDCR, STIP, Recharge) 1%
State General Fund 1%
Gifts & Endowment Income 10%
66,622,367 Extramural Funds Federal
27,231,813
Local
300,721
Private
30,387,341
State
2,433,222 60,353,097
Clinical Enterprise Revenues
Extramural Funds
Gifts & Endowment Income
Other Revenue (e.g. IDCR, STIP, Recharge)
State General Fund
Gifts & Endowment Income Gifts/Endowments
Clinical Enterprise Revenues 46%
Extramural Funds 42%
13,857,897 13,857,897
Other Revenue (e.g. IDCR, STIP, Recharge)
1,895,858
State General Fund
1,866,475
EXTRAMURAL FUNDS 4%
3,762,333 Grand Total
144,595,694
45%
50%
1% Federal
Local
Private
State
Department Report 2021 | 7
OVERVIEW
PRACTICE LOCATIONS
MISSION BAY CAMPUS enter for Reproductive Health C 499 Illinois Street, 6th Floor Fertility Practice Fertility Preservation Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Clinic Betty Irene Moore Women’s Hospital 1855 Fourth Street Fetal Treatment Center Labor & Delivery Women’s Health Resource Center Ron Conway Family Gateway Medical Building 1825 Fourth Street Gynecologic Surgical Oncology Clinic Gynecology Practice Obstetrics Practice Prenatal Diagnostic Center
MOUNT ZION CAMPUS Women’s Health Building 2356 Sutter Street Center for Reproductive Health Dysplasia Clinic General Obstetrics Practice Gynecology Practice Women’s Health Primary Care Women’s Option Center Young Women’s Program Helen Diller Cancer Center 1600 Divisadero Gynecologic Oncology Practice
SATELLITE PRACTICES Gynecologic Oncology Greenbrae Prenatal Diagnostic Center Fremont, Greenbrae, Monterey, Santa Rosa, San Mateo, Berkeley, Oakland
Bakar Cancer Hospital 1855 Fourth Street Gynecologic Oncology Surgeries
Fetal Treatment Center Oakland (BCH)
Owens Street Practice 1500 Owens Street, Suite 380 Gynecology Practice Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Obstetrics Practice Urogynecology
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery & Urogynecology Greenbrae
Obstetrics, Gynecology Berkeley, San Mateo
ZUCKERBERG SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL & TRAUMA CENTER 1001 Potrero Avenue Family Birth Center Gynecologic Oncology Obstetrics/Gynecology Obstetrics, Midwifery, and Gynecology Women’s Option Center 2500 18th Street New Generation Health Center
8 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
OVERVIEW
FACULTY DIRECTORY Center for Reproductive Sciences Department of Ob, Gyn & RS Aditi Bhargava, PhD Marco Conti, MD Susan Fisher, PhD Jennifer Fung, PhD Stephanie Gaw, MD, PhD Roy Gerona, PhD Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc Steven C. Hall, PhD Diana Laird, PhD Synthia Mellon, PhD Paolo F. Rinaudo, MD, PhD Joshua Robinson, PhD Frederick Schaufele, PhD Dan Wagner, PhD
Departments, School of Medicine Robert Blelloch, MD, PhD (Urology) Adrian Erlebacher, MD, PhD (Laboratory Medicine) Holly Ingraham, PhD (Cellular Molecular Pharmacology) Tippi Mackenzie, MD (Surgery) Emin Maltepe, MD, PhD (Pediatrics) Todd Nystul, PhD (Anatomy) Aleksander Rajkovic, MD, PhD (Pathology) Nadia Roan, PhD (Urology) Marina Sirota, PhD (Pediatrics)
Gynecologic Oncology Edwin A. Alvarez, MD Jocelyn Chapman, MD, FACS, FACOG Lee-may Chen, MD, FACS, FACOG Karen Smith-McCune, MD, PhD Megan Swanson, MD, MPH Stefanie Ueda, MD
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Rebecca Hess Amirault, CNM, MSN Victoria Berger, MD Talia Borgo, RN, MSN, CNM Tammy Brunk, DNP, CNM, FNP-BC Shilpa P. Chetty, MD Jacquelyn Chyu, MD Katherine Connolly, MD Jennifer Duffy, MD, MHS Sheri Foote, CNM Melinda I. Fowler, CNM, MSN Kate Frometa, CNM, MSN Stephanie Gaw, MD, PhD Neda Ghaffari, MD Juan M. Gonzalez, MD, MS, PhD Roxanna Irani, MD, PhD Deborah Karasek, PhD Miriam Kuppermann, PhD, MPH Ben C. Li, MD Amy Murtha, MD Mary E. Norton, MD
Amy Padula, PhD, MSc Annalisa Post, MD Larry Rand, MD Patricia Robertson, MD Frederico Rocha, MD, MS Melissa Rosenstein, MD, MAS Nasim Sobhani, MD Camila Soto-Espinoza, CNM Teresa Sparks, MD Alison Starling, CNM Martha Tesfalul, MD Mari-Paule Thiet-Akram, MD Carol Thomason, CNM Vanessa Tilp, CNM, MSN Laura Weil, CNM, MSN, MPH Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH Sasha Yamnik, CNM, MSN Amanda Yeaton-Massey, MD Marya G. Zlatnik, MD, MMS
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery & Urogynecology Alexander Berger, MD Traci Ito, MD Alison F. Jacoby, MD Abner Korn, MD Jeannette Lager, MD, MPH Jessica Opoku-Anane, MD, MS Caitlyn Painter, DO
Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Gynecologic Subspecialties Amy (Meg) Autry, MD Sloane Berger-Chen, MD Katherine Brown, MD, MAS Adwoa Christy, MD Naghma Farooqi, MD Elena Gates, MD Mindy Goldman, MD Joanne Gras, DO Mitzi Hawkins, MD Tushani D. Illangasekare, MD Andrea Jackson, MD, MAS Vanessa Jacoby, MD, MAS Deborah D. Kamali, MD Robyn Lamar, MD, MPH Felicia Lester, MD, MPH, MS Nancy Milliken, MD Malini Nijagal, MD, MPH Gaetan Pettigrew, MD Tami Rowen, MD, MS Nicholas Rubashkin, MD, MA, PhD(c) George F. Sawaya, MD Karen Scott, MD, MPH Tania Basu Serna, MD, MPH Vasiliki Tatsis, MD, MS, MBA Sara Whetstone, MD, MHS Tricia Wright, MD, MS Stacy Young, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Yanett Anaya, MD Hakan Cakmak, MD, PhD Marcelle I. Cedars, MD Victor Y. Fujimoto, MD Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc Heather G. Huddleston, MD Eleni Greenwood Jaswa, MD, MSc Evelyn Mok-Lin, MD Martha Noel, MD Paolo F. Rinaudo, MD, PhD Mitchell P. Rosen, MD, HCLD Thalia Segal, MD
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Deborah Anderson, CNM, MSN Antonia Biggs, PhD Carol Camlin, PhD, MPH Deborah Cohan, MD, MPH Craig Cohen, MD, MPH Ana Delgado, CNM, MS Julio Diaz-Abarca, CNM, MSN (SFDPH) Eleanor Drey, MD, EdM Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH Diana Greene Foster, PhD Lori Freedman, PhD Asmara Gebre, CNM, MS Waru Gichane, PhD, MSPH Daniel Grossman, MD Cynthia Harper, PhD Margy Hutchison, CNM, MSN Rebecca Jackson, MD Carole Joffe, PhD Laurie Jurkiewicz, CNM, MS (SFDPH) Rachel L. Kaplan, PhD, MPH Rebekah Kaplan, CNM, MSN Jennifer Kerns, MD, MS, MPH Katrina Kimport, PhD Abner Korn, MD Karen Lopez-Acero, RN, CNM Karen Meckstroth, MD, MPH Biftu Mengesha, MD, MAS Suellen Miller, CNM, PhD Kara Myers, CNM, MS Sara Newmann, MD, MPH Misa Perron-Burdick, MD Andrea Pfeffer, CNM, MSN (SFDPH) Lauren Ralph, PhD, MPH Carmen Rivera, CNM, MS (SFDPH) Sarah CM Roberts, DrPH Corinne Rocca, PhD, MPH Dominika Seidman, MD, MAS Jody Steinauer, MD, PhD Naomi Stotland, MD Ushma Upadhyay, MPH, PhD Dilys Walker, MD Savanah Washington CNM, MSN (SFDPH) Department Report 2021 | 9
OVERVIEW
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
10 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
OVERVIEW
STAFF HIGHLIGHTS GALLUP ENGAGEMENT: EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION UCSF partners annually with Gallup to conduct the organization-wide UCSF Staff Engagement Survey which takes a variety of metrics such as growth, individual needs, and teamwork. The survey results provide critical feedback that helps in understanding staff experiences at work and progress towards improving the engagement climate of the Department. After a challenging year where many of our staff were working remotely, managers across the Department have committed to focus efforts on improving employee recognition.
Overall Engagement 2019
+ + + +
Basic Needs Individual Teamwork Growth
STAFF-AT-LARGE
(Grand Mean) Over Time
4.14 3.96
4.16
2021
Gallup identifies 12 specifically worded measures about engagement that indicate a highperforming work environment in the following categories:
3.92
Staff-At-Large (SAL) represents staff interests with a focus on equity, inclusion, and structural change. The aim is to empower staff development, whether it be self-advocacy, career growth, or personal development, through education, connection, advocacy, allyship, and transparency. Staff-at-Large Representatives + Veronica Alvarez, MPA, PMP
Ob, Gyn, RS
UCSF
+ Daphina Melbourne (Jaontra “JJ” Henderson assumed the role in FY22)
SAL Initiatives Supporting Health (Equity), Innovation, Networking, and Engagement (SHINE) The mission of SHINE is to foster a culture of continuous learning and community-building that celebrates our staff, enhances their professional development, and promotes their well-being. It is comprised of two workgroups: Professional Development and Events & Recognition. SHINE was awarded a faculty/staff morale grant sponsored by the UCSF School of Medicine Dean’s Office which was used in support of staff wellness and engagement initiatives.
+ B i-weekly office hours for staff to meet with SAL representatives + Ongoing anonymous survey to capture staff feedback + M onthly development series focused on various topics and trainings requested by staff + Staff advocacy during monthly faculty leadership meetings
Professional Development Co-Chairs + Vashti Sinigayan, MPA + Bethanie Brandon (Courtney Cooper assumed the role in FY22)
Events & Recognition Co-Chairs
Workgroup Initiatives
+ Hilary Bunlert, MA
The workgroup focuses on a culture of continuous learning and community-building that promotes professional development and staff well-being:
(Angel Manaois assumed the role in FY22) + Clare Cook
Workgroup Initiatives In addition to Department-wide All Hands and Town Hall events, the workgroup organizes social/networking, staff appreciation, and engagement events for staff. Virtual events helped to keep the community spirit alive while many worked remotely.
+ S HINEThru Wednesdays provided weekly live, online, morale boosting events that covered a variety of wellness, training, professional development, and DEI topics + Conception of the Professional Development Guide as a resource for new and existing staff
Department Report 2021 | 11
DIVISIONS
12 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
DIVISIONS
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES (CRS) The CRS is a research unit made up of basic science researchers and physician scientists. Basic scientists center their work in labs and use state-of-the-art techniques to study molecules and cells to better understand fundamental aspects of reproductive science. Physician scientists, researchers with medical degrees, seek new knowledge about health through research and then translate that research in ways that can improve patient care. The CRS is comprised of scientific leaders from multiple UCSF departments who focus on the foundations of reproduction. Some CRS scientists specialize in the early origins of cells and their development into eggs and sperm. In turn, that research can be used by physicians who work directly with patients who may have questions about conception or fertility. This investigative work is done in collaboration with divisions in our Department whose focus is on pregnancy and fertility. The CRS also provides an interdisciplinary training program for future leaders in the field of reproductive sciences.
Synthia Mellon, PhD Interim ORU Director
22 total Faculty; 14 from Ob, Gyn & RS 19 Staff members from Ob, Gyn & RS 43 total Post Docs; 21 from Ob, Gyn & RS 32 total Graduate Students; 15 from Ob, Gyn & RS
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +D aniel Wagner, PhD: Searle Scholar & NIH Director’s Award + Susan J. Fisher, PhD: March of Dimes and Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize in Developmental Biology + Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology’s “Giants in Ob/Gyn Series” and program project NIH grant award for the UCSF-Stanford Endometriosis Center for Discovery, Innovation, Training and Community Engagement (ENACT) + Aleksandar Rajkovic, MD, PhD: newly elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) + Hao Chen, PhD (Joshua Robinson Lab): Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention Innovator Award + Ivan Osokine, PhD, MD (Adrian Erlebacher Lab): SRI President’s Presenter’s Award at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation +P aolo Rinaudo, MD, PhD: Scientific Chair at ASRM 2021 and Associate Editor for Fertility and Sterility
LOOKING AHEAD + Recruitment for a permanent CRS director is underway
Department Report 2021 | 13
DIVISIONS
Andrea Jackson, MD, MAS Division Director; Grace Marie Waldrop Chair of Obstetrics/Gynecology
24 Faculty
OBSTETRICS, GYNECOLOGY AND GYNECOLOGIC SUBSPECIALTIES (OGGS) The OGGS Division offers patients the full range of gynecologic and obstetric services. Our physicians and nurse practitioners are leaders in their fields and provide gynecologic care from the annual exam, problems with menstruation, and managing menopause symptoms, to complex gynecologic surgical needs. Our skilled and knowledgeable teams partner with our patients to maintain health, treat disease, and discuss sexual health & birth control options. Our obstetric clinicians guide our pregnant patients with care and expertise through their pregnancies and labors, including complicated surgical deliveries. We offer compassionate consultations through our “Pregnancy Options” clinics for those who are uncertain about continuing pregnancies or experiencing pregnancy loss. Our division is home to many national and local experts in reproductive health including the treatment of abnormal pap smears, racial healthcare inequities, care of gender and sexual minorities, sexual health, and breast cancer survivorship. As a division we are committed to providing excellence in whole-person obstetrical and gynecologic care that is evidenced-based and equitable.
14 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
1
Fellow
16 Staff members
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: 20,000+ visits annually
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS: UCSF/Kaiser Hospitalist Fellowship Program, General Obstetrics & Gynecology Research Fellowship Program
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE: VA Fellowship in Women’s Health Program, HEAL Fellowship Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +A ndrea Jackson, MD selected as Division Chief +E xpanded program w/ 3 new faculty members +E xpanded patient access through Telehealth +H ospitalist fellowship up and running +G aetan Pettigrew, MD & Sara Whetstone, MD re-funded as Watson Scholars
LOOKING AHEAD +E xpansion of race & culturally concordant care +B enign Breast Clinical Fellowship +T ransgender surgical health program
DIVISIONS
Lee-may Chen, MD, FACS, FACOG Division Director; John A. Kerner, MD Distinguished Professorship in Gynecologic Oncology
5 Faculty
GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY (GynOnc)
3 Fellows 4 Staff members
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: The GynOnc Division specializes in helping patients by providing high quality cancer care and treatment. Our patients benefit from our ongoing collaborations with experts in many fields, including genetics, research, and patientsafety. Our team knows that every individual and situation is different, and the care our patients receive is just as personalized and unique. Our division is made up of compassionate doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses who have the most innovative research, pioneering science, and cutting-edge technology at their fingertips. Our patients have access to clinical trial opportunities and specialized genetics services. We use evidence and data to guide us, and patient safety for better outcomes is always our goal. Virtual visits have expanded access for patients, and we continue to grow our field by educating tomorrow’s leaders.
6,000+ visits and nearly 1,000 new patients
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS: UCSF/KPSF Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +G ynOnc Symposium and Friends' Circle gathering of survivors and gynecologic oncology experts + I nternational education collaborations with the Makerere University and the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala continued. Uganda gynecologic training tumor board carried on via zoom and graduated three fellows +3 0% of GynOnc visits are now virtual, expanding reach and access
LOOKING AHEAD + We continue to work towards being the top regional referral center for gynecologic cancers
Department Report 2021 | 15
DIVISIONS
MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE (MFM) Providers in our MFM Division deliver care and expertise to patients whose pregnancies may require extra attention. Our team offers prenatal services such as genetic testing, detailed ultrasound, and specialized maternal-fetal care that can help direct treatment and improve outcomes. In cases where an early or complex birth is likely, our multidisciplinary teams provide family-centered obstetric care and labor and delivery management. Our specialists have access to the latest technologies, all in the comfortable patient- and family-friendly atmospheres of the state-of-the-art Women and Children’s Hospitals at Mission Bay. Our Birth Center team of obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, and MFM specialists takes pride in delivering quality care every step of the way. Our researchers are investigating many aspects of maternal-fetal health, such as the biology of the placenta and how the environment and genetics influence reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes. Our MFM Division includes 4 board-certified MFM-geneticists and we provide unique care through our robust precision medicine and midwifery programs. We are training future leaders in clinical genetics and high-risk pregnancy care, and we offer the highest level of complex care for our maternal-fetal patients. Specialty programs care for patients with conditions such as placenta accreta, maternal cardiac conditions and diabetes, and mental health disorders.
Mary Norton, MD Division Director; Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Genetics; and David E. Thorburn, MD, and Kate McKee Thorburn Endowed Chair in Perinatal Medicine and Genetics
38 Faculty 9 Fellows 51 Staff members
NEARLY 3,000 DELIVERIES at our Mission Bay facility
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: 37,000+ OB visits (including visits done by MFM and OGGS providers as well as postpartum visits)
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS: Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Fellowship Program, Combined MFM/Clinical Genetics Program, UCSF Preterm Birth Initiative Fellowship Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +R oxanna Irani, MD, PhD awarded the School of Medicine Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Volunteerism and Community Service for work with the Collaborative to Advise on Reopening Education Safely (CARES) +B asic Training in Reproductive Medical Genetics virtual course co-led by Mary Norton, MD; enrolled 1/3 of MFM fellows in USA +H ired two new CNM faculty +E stablished a new relationship with Highland Hospital to provide MFM care, led by Jennie Duffy, MD
LOOKING AHEAD +M ary E. Norton, MD will serve as the new Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division chair for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ABOG) 2021-2025 term
16 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
DIVISIONS
Jessica Opoku-Anane, MD, MS Interim Division Director
6 Faculty
MINIMALLY INVASIVE GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY & UROGYNECOLOGY (MIGS/UROGYN) Our MIGS/Urogyn team provides expertise and personal care to patients with gynecologic, urinary, or reproductive tract issues. We have specialty centers dedicated to understanding and treating fibroids (muscle growths in the uterus) and endometriosis (uterine tissue that grows outside the uterus). Our division is also a training site for physicians seeking advanced training in urogynecology. Urogynecologists focus on bladder conditions and pelvic organs, along with the muscles and tissues which support them. Our providers have expertise in surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, including behavioral and biofeedback therapies. When surgical treatments are recommended, our experts perform “minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.” These MIGS techniques are performed with a digital camera connected to a telescope. The camera provides the surgeon with a clear view of the procedure, which is projected on high-definition digital video monitors located throughout the operating room. These techniques are less invasive and have lower risks of complications; there is also less discomfort and faster recovery times for patients.
1 Fellow 8 Staff members
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: 5,000+ annually
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery & Urogynecology Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +M IGS/Urogyn services launched the Division this year +F ibroid Center – fibroid treatment focus benefitting from our unique UC research collaboration +E ndometriosis Center – offering the rare combination of surgical & medical, and integrated health services to our patients
LOOKING AHEAD + I ntroducing more MIGS techniques +U rogyn – Currently recruiting faculty to be able to provide gender concordant care +R ecruitment underway for MIGS/ Urogyn Division Chief
Department Report 2021 | 17
DIVISIONS
Marcelle Cedars, MD Division Director; Vice Chair of Clinical Programs; Laura Ambroseno and Raffaele Savi Family Presidential Chair in Reproductive Health
12 Faculty 6 Fellows 37 Staff members
REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY & INFERTILITY (REI)
NUMBER OF PATIENTS VISITS:
The REI Division focuses research on fertility and the hormonal conditions that may affect fertility. This knowledge and expertise is available to patients through various clinics. The Center for Reproductive Health (CRH) offers a broad range of reproductive services from childhood through menopause. The CRH’s Fertility Preservation Program sees patients diagnosed with cancer and offers them options for future conception. It is the largest and longest running fertility clinic in the country. Fertility preservation has been expanded to include transgender patients or those with genetic risk for miscarriage or implantation difficulties. Increasingly, CRH is working with adolescents and teens with hormonal or anatomic abnormalities to identifying critical genetic fingerprints that might prevent successful pregnancy.
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Also situated within the REI division is the UCSF Multidisciplinary Clinic for Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This first of its kind clinic offers comprehensive care and clinical trial opportunities to women with PCOS. All REI clinical programs serve as a platform for research and education, and the division is committed to training a new generation of REI specialists through its robust fellowship program.
+F uture American Society of Reproductive
44,000+ annually
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: (REI) Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +T halia Segal, MD collected specimens of clean air (during COVID), smoky air (during fire season), and “normal” air (as a control) to study the impact of air quality on egg & sperm production +H eather Huddleston, MD led a major PCOS Awareness Month campaign + Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Honor Roll for 2020: Drs. Edwin Alvarez, Jocelyn Chapman, and Megan Swanson, and NP, Mercedes Rose
LOOKING AHEAD Medicine (ASRM) leaders: Marcelle Cedars, MD: president-elect; Jerrine Morris, MD: chair of Access Care Committee; and Thalia Segal, MD: incoming chair for Environmental Health +T he ASPIRE study which examines the impact of COVID-19 on early pregnancy, will begin capturing 1st trimester COVID-19 infection & vaccination information in January of 2022. The goal being to follow children born for several years to evaluate neurologic development
18 | UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
DIVISIONS
ZUCKERBERG SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY The Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology at ZSFG provides comprehensive obstetric, midwifery, and gynecologic services to San Francisco families. The division is located at Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Trauma Center and features a state-of-the-art Family Birth Center that offers births attended by midwives or physicians, labor support by trained doulas, and expert nursing care. ZSFG’s certified nursemidwifery faculty are national experts and were the first practice in the western United States to implement CenteringPregnancy®, an innovative and patient-centered group prenatal care model. As a certified Baby-Friendly Hospital, we are a recognized leader in breastfeeding support. The ZSFG division also focuses on creating leaders in research, teaching, and clinical skills in abortion and contraceptive care. The Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, housed within this division, integrates research, training, clinical care, and advocacy to advance reproductive autonomy, equitable and compassionate care, and reproductive and sexual health worldwide. Bixby members are a multidisciplinary group of over 200 people with physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, social scientists, clinical researchers, and staff that span UCSF schools and departments.
Rebecca Jackson, MD Division Chief Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital & Bixby Reproductive Global Health Center; Robert B. Domush, MD, Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology Education
22 clinical faculty, 13 PhD faculty, and 7 PhD non-faculty academics in the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health 3 Family Planning Fellows 107 Staff members
NUMBER OF PATIENTS: 25,000+ annually
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM: Family Planning Program
2020-21 HIGHLIGHTS +F amily Planning Awards recipients: Jennifer Kerns, MD, MS, MPH, Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH, Jody Steinauer, MD, PhD +B ixby’s work on abortion access includes expert witness testimony and amicus briefs to the Supreme Court in addition to many scientific publications +T he California Prevention Training Center leveraged its expertise in STIs and HIV to train COVID contract tracers during the pandemic + Pregnancy Pop-Up Village brought prenatal education and services directly to neighborhoods in the Bayview + ZSFG engaged in strategic planning and goal setting related to anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and structural change across clinical care, education, research, and advocacy. Hired Jasmine Powell as the Division’s inaugural Equity & Justice Specialist + The Lown Institute ranked ZSFG as the #9 hospital in the US for spending on charity care, community health initiatives, and community investment
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
OUR GLOBAL REACH
LACTIN-V/FRESH team dancing with the first enrolled participant (woman in gray dress)
Biotherapeutic Products to prevent BV & HIV Since 2007, Drs. Cohen and Hemmerling have led the development of LACTIN-V, a product containing a naturally occurring vaginal bacteria to reduce the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. Bacterial vaginosis occurs in 15% to 50% of women worldwide and is associated with preterm birth, pelvic inflammatory disease, and a higher risk for HIV acquisition and other reproductive health diseases. In 2020, the team published findings in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that women using LACTIN-V had fewer episodes
of bacterial vaginosis recurrence. Recent studies examined LACTIN-V among young women in South Africa at very high risk of HIV acquisition. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently funded a study on the effects of LACTIN-V on the vaginal bacterial community, inflammation, and other factors associated with HIV acquisition in women. This research will help advance the science to reduce reproductive health consequences, including pre-term birth, through optimization of the vaginal microbiome.
Differentiated Care in Kenya Family AIDS Care & Education Services (FACES), a collaboration between our Department and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, is working towards an HIV-free future for all through high-quality research, health care services, and training. This past year, FACES completed a multi-year program evaluating differentiated service delivery (DSD) to examine health outcomes, preferences, and experiences with DSD. This method was adopted nationally in 2016 to optimize care for stable clients while reducing strain on health care workers and facilities. Evaluation findings showed a significant increase in people continuing HIV care and suppression of their viral loads. These findings point to ways FACES is continuously working to improve patient care, including attainment of the UNAIDS’ 95-95-95 targets 9-years ahead of schedule to ensure a healthier future for Kenyans.
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Carol Camlin’s, PhD, MPH K24 project, “Mentoring Clinical Investigators in Patient Oriented Research on Human Mobility and HIV,” was recently awarded from the NIH National Institute of Mental Health.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A Research Counselor at Spilhaus Clinical Research Site in Harare, Zimbabwe packing blankets for study participants affected by supply shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safe Clinical Research in Zimbabwe During COVID-19 The University of Zimbabwe-UCSF Clinical Trials Unit’s (UZ-UCSF CTU) greatest challenge this year was the COVID-19 pandemic. The UCSF team spent the year focused on supporting the in-country partner, UZ-CTRC, in mitigating COVID-19 while successfully conducting 90% of scheduled study visits (n=15,000) from March 2020 to August 2021. While the Zimbabwe government was asking everyone to stay home during national lockdowns, the CTU’s research staff became frontline essential workers, quickly adapting operations to accommodate safe clinical research care and ensuring that the 2,659 participants in their care had no disruption to their prevention, care, and treatment methods (related to HIV/AIDS & TB). The CTU’s Community Advisory Boards (CAB) quickly responded by providing food hampers and other essential goods for study participants left vulnerable during lockdowns. Tapping into its infrastructure and expertise built around infectious disease research for nearly 3 decades, the CTU is now urgently preparing to incorporate COVID-19 research in collaboration with NIAID’s newlyestablished COVID-19 Prevention Network.
“ We can’t ignore the impact of COVID-19 in the last 2 years. It has been a harrowing past couple of years, but it was not all negative. There are many important lessons learned from the COVID-19 response that have had an impact in the HIV prevention and treatment field and the health sector as a whole. Besides the biomedical lessons learned from the two quite similar viruses, I learned a lot on a personal level. The pandemic brought out the supportive and cohesive culture that we as Africans pride ourselves in. As a result, when thrown into the deep end, we held a united front, we didn’t sink, we swam!” - Dr. Nyaradzo Mgodi, UZ-UCSF CTU Zengeza Clinical Research Site Leader
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Spontaneous young dancer at the 20th Anniversary of the CoE cheered on from left to right by Director Nancy Milliken, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Exec. Director Judy Young, and the late Janice Mirikitani of GLIDE
CoE 25th Anniversary 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of our federal designation as a National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health (CoE), the only such Center in northern CA. The CoE has pursued its mission of advancing women’s health and transforming women’s lives by supporting rigorous research, nurturing innovative comprehensive health care
throughout a woman’s life span, promoting sex and gender content in health professional education, supporting leadership development for women and girls, and engaging community partnerships. The past 2 years we have focused on Black Women’s Health through the newly launched Black Women’s Health and Livelihood Initiative.
Gender Affirming Health Program The UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program gets a new home at 1725 Montgomery Street after many years of being nurtured in CoE’s Women’s Health Primary Care. The Program consists of experts in transgender medicine and surgery across UCSF Medical Center. The multidisciplinary team includes our Department’s experts in gynecologic surgery, ovarian fertility, sexual health, obstetrics
& gynecology. The aim of the Gender Affirming Health Program is to provide evidence-based, cutting-edge clinical care for transgender and gender non-binary communities, as well as to conduct pioneering research and train the next generation of medical providers on all aspects of gender-affirming clinical care. https://transcare.ucsf.edu/
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Meeting at Alemany Farms
Food As Medicine The Center of Excellence in Women’s Health (CoE), under the leadership of Tammy Nicastro, formed a community partnership with Alemany Farm in Southeast San Francisco. The CoE, together with the Farm, are learning from the community about their use of the land and food grown there, the perceived value of its current offerings, and improvements needed or desired by neighbors to better support their food security and wellness needs. The CoE is also exploring a Food as Medicine Program for food insecure patients with chronic disease of Women’s Health Primary Care who live near the Farm.
Black Women Know: San Francisco Reproductive Justices Summit The Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative partnered with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to facilitate a diverse group in planning SF’s Reproductive Justice Summit: Black Women Know. The Summit goal was to bring Black community members and health care staff together to challenge antiblack racism in sexual health care and develop actionable recommendations for treating all family-planning patients equitably within a health care system committed to anti-racism. Black presenters, Afrocentric ceremony, art, and spoken word woven throughout the summit set the tone for a healing and safe space for authentic engagement and sharing. Final summit recommendations for health care systems covered 7 key areas: Trustworthiness, Respect, Quality of Care, Advocacy, Sexuality & Pleasure, Staff & Clinic Accountability, and Systems Accountability & Change.
Black Women gathering to share wisdom and experiences
Black Women’s Patient Family Advisory Council The Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative launched the Black Women’s Patient Family Advisory Council (BWPFAC), a group of self-identified Black women, transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals who have received care or have had a family member cared for at UCSF Health (San Francisco). This council of advisors are justly compensated to share their wisdom and bringing their authentic voice and experience as we work to improve the quality of care and reduce the trauma Black women experience in the health care setting. This BWPFAC will serve as a health equity model for the restructuring of existing patient advisory councils at UCSF.
Members of the Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative gather at Ida’s Café in Mount Zion
Wellness & Leadership for Black Women Webinar Series Research by the Black Women’s Health & Livelihood Initiative identified leadership development and wellness for Black women as significant needs for faculty and staff at UCSF. The Wellness & Leadership for Black Women Webinar Series, created in the fall of 2020
“ Thank you so much for providing these amazing speakers and the opportunities to prioritize our well-being as Black women!!! ” provides education, inspiration, resources, and community building for and among Black women at UCSF and the Bay Area community. This space is created and cultivated for Black-identified women and Black gender non-conforming, non-binary, and transgender individuals. Topics to date have included: Laughter as Medicine, Filling Our Cup: SelfPreservation for Black Women, Financial Literacy, How to Get Unstuck in Your Career & Managing Up
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MISSION AREAS
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MISSION AREAS
PATIENT CARE
The happy couple poses with the Antepartum Unit who threw the event as family and friends watched over video from Nicaragua, Mexico, Miami, and California
Embedded Mental Health Support for Pregnant and Postpartum Patients The UCSF Obstetrics Clinic’s “Perinatal Wellness Program” now offers shortterm therapy through the “Collaborative Care Obstetric Resource Program” (CORP). CORP uses the principles of collaborative care to support patients’ mental health needs within their obstetric home. Patients receive individual therapy for mild to moderate anxiety and depression with a licensed clinical social worker (care manager) who is supported by regular consultation with a psychiatrist. The treatment plan and updates are communicated to the patient’s obstetrician who is an integral member of the CORP team. While collaborative care is widely utilized in primary care, UCSF’s CORP program is one of only a handful of collaborative care programs embedded in an obstetric clinic. This unique program allows patients to receive mental health support that is integrated with their prenatal care. 2021 Maternity Care Honor Roll Award: Congratulations to the UCSF Labor & Delivery team and to the ZSFG Family Birth Center team for earning this award which recognizes performance and progress in reducing Cesarean rates among low risk, first birth deliveries.
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Wedding Bells & New Life This August, Fatima was hospitalized after her water broke early. She and her partner Jeff had been together for 12 years and had planned to marry in 2020, but COVID-19 interrupted those plans. That gave Birth Center Unit Director Deedee Pubien an idea. “The patient mentioned that she would like to get married before having birth.” Deedee and the nurses and doctors surprised the couple with a small outdoor wedding, complete with sparkling cider and rose petals, in the hospital’s garden courtyard on the 3rd floor. “Seeing their faces, seeing the smiles and their tears, but out of joy, that was the best moment,” said Deedee. Twenty-four hours later, Fatima went into labor, and soon gave birth to the couple’s son Logan, who was 4 weeks early, but reportedly happy and healthy!
MISSION AREAS
Katie’s Story Our daughter Katie had been suffering through years of pelvic pain that led to anxiety, fear, and distress without understanding the cause, coupled with diminishing hope that her condition could be improved. Today changed all that. Nurse Practitioner Becca Neuwirth patiently listened to Katie, skillfully explained to her what might be happening and what her options were for treatment. I’m sure you can imagine what it feels like to see your child suffer, so you can understand how grateful we are for Becca’s expertise and care.
Evelyn, Katie & Peter
It was truly inspirational to see someone do their job in such an exceptional way. As a small token of our appreciation, we donated to the UCSF Foundation in the name of “Patient Care” which Becca exemplifies.
With gratitude, Evelyn and Peter S.
Preserving a Young Woman’s Future Fertility Hi everyone, After a tremendous amount of coordination and teamwork, our pediatric bone marrow transplant patient arrived from Children’s Hospital Oakland, and underwent her oocyte retrieval without any issues, and transported safely back to CHO for her procedure.
Evelyn Mok-Lin, MD
I want to thank all of you so much for helping to make this happen for this young lady. She only has one functioning ovary, and this was her only chance to preserve options for future fertility. We retrieved 10 eggs for her. I am SO GRATEFUL for the teamwork. Special thanks to: -T he CHO team for taking care of her, admitting, transfusing, coordinating ambulances - The anesthesia team for their wonderful anesthesia care -a nd our Center for Reproductive Health procedure nurses–a dream team! With gratitude, Evelyn Mok-Lin, MD
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MISSION AREAS
RESEARCH Our research pillar re-imagined the way research is supported. We invested in Resident research through donor support, strengthened our grants administration team, and provided resources such as grant-writing support to create space for busy scientists to continue the advancement of their work, especially in the context of COVID. This is our investment in the future. RESEARCH BY THE NUMBERS + Approximately 33% of faculty spend more than 1/2 time doing research + #1 NIH funded Ob/Gyn dept in the country for the last 15 years + 97 = # of grants submitted last year + 52% of Department revenue comes from research
Teresa Sparks, MD, MAS
RESEARCH IMPACT + Teresa Sparks, MD, MAS identified numerous genetic diseases underlying hydrops fetalis, a condition that causes severe swelling in a fetus as well as high risks of illness and death. Her research has expanded our understanding of genetic diseases leading to hydrops and creates opportunities to improve counseling and pre- and postnatal care for these pregnancies. Dr. Sparks published her findings in the New England Journal of Medicine and received the Dru Carlson Memorial Award for Best Research in Ultrasound and Genetics from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine for this work. She was also selected as a 2021 Doris Duke Foundation Clinical Scientist Development Award recipient. + Research fellow Maria de Fátima Reyes, MD received a $25,000 award for statistical support for her palliative care project + Daniel Grossman, MD & Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH are conducting funded studies on telehealth medicated abortion with the goal of equitable abortion access for all + Our Research pillar launched the Health Equity Research Interest Group
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MISSION AREAS
FROM THE LABS + Diana Laird, PhD: Postdoc Bikem Soygur, PhD published in Science Advances her first 3D atlas of how developing eggs initiate meiosis + Linda Giudice, MD, PhD, MSc: Laboratory is contributing single cell RNA-seq data on whole human uterus for the Reproductive Cell Atlas for the Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub Tabula Sapiens project, a benchmark first-draft human cell atlas + Nadia Roan, PhD: Her expertise as a virologist, and her laboratory were featured on several news outlets for work on biology of COVID-19
ONGOING COVID RESEARCH NEWS
Deborah Karasek, PhD, MPH
Vanessa Jacoby, MD, MAS
Diana Greene Foster, PhD
Deborah Karasek, PhD, MPH studied used birth certificate data to determine that pregnant people with COVID-19 do not seem to have an increased risk of miscarriage. She and PTBi colleagues published their research paper, “The Association of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy with preterm birth: A retrospective cohort study in California” in the Lancet
Vanessa Jacoby, MD, MAS and pediatric colleague Valerie Flaherman, MD received NIH funding to study “Long COVID” in women and their children exposed at birth. Theirs was one of two studies selected in the country to understand the impact of COVID-19 on women and children’s health
iana Greene Foster, PhD won the D Population Association of America’s Harriet B. Presser Award for sustained contributions to the study of gender and demography
ASPIRE team was awarded $2.4M from Jack Dorsey’s Start Small Fund to continue their research around how COVID-19 infection affects the health and wellbeing of pregnant people and their babies
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MISSION AREAS
EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS + US News Best Grad Schools ranked our OBGYN program #1 + Ben C. Li, MD and Biftu Mengesha, MD, MAS inducted into the Academy of Medical Educators + Learner Feedback tool (LACE) designed and introduced to improve the quality of
+ Jeannette Lager, MD, MPH and Biftu Mengesha, MD, MAS selected for the 2022 APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program + MFM fellows had 3 oral presentations, 19 posters and 1 moderator role accepted to SMFM’s 41st Annual Pregnancy Meeting
feedback for students
LEADERSHIP UPDATES + Sara Whetstone, MD, Residency Program Director + Biftu Mengesha, MD, MAS, Residency Associate Program Director + Meg Autry, MD, Associate Chair for GME and CME + Katherine Brown, MD, Co-Director of Undergraduate Research Internship + Tania Serna, MD, MPH, PISCES liaison
UCSF Complex Family Planning Fellowship
Biftu Mengesha, MD, MAS, Associate Director of IERH
Innovating Education in Reproductive Health (IERH) IERH offers free and open-source evidence-based family planning curricula and tools about sexual and reproductive health. Their latest video series, “When Abortion is Not Available” is geared towards learners training in states where in-clinic abortion is difficult or impossible to access, or when patients choose to self-manage their abortions. Other video series include “Sex and Gender,” a genderinclusive series designed to show learners how to take the first steps to providing care that addresses the specific needs of LGBTQI+ patients, and “Structures & Self: Advancing Equity and Justice in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare” a justice-informed curriculum designed to teach learners to consider how systems of power and legacies of structural oppression impact their care for patients.
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We are proud to announce that UCSF’s long-standing Family Planning Fellowship is now a nationally recognized subspecialty within obstetrics and gynecology – Complex Family Planning. UCSF received approval as an accredited fellowship site in February of 2021. The Complex Family Planning Fellowship recruits diverse fellows from all over the US and trains them to be experts and leaders in abortion care, contraceptive care, reproductive health research, and advocacy.
MISSION AREAS
FELLOWSHIP NEWS
CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION NEWS
All fellowship programs had successful matches
Participation in the following CME courses including AIM,
including: Urogyn, GynOnc, MFM, REI, Family
What Does the Evidence Tell Us?, and The OB Critical Care
Planning, and Hospitalist fellowships
Course, surpassed all previous attendance records
RESIDENCY NEWS + Residency applications received in 2021 increased by 25% from 2020 and nearly 50% from 2019 Medical Students at work during a clinical skills lab
+ One-third of applications were from individuals who are
MEDICAL STUDENT NEWS MedEd has continued tackling research challenges directly related to COVID-19 restrictions. Nonetheless, research opportunities and outcomes are available and thriving for students. Their ZSFG clerkship integrates direct patient care skills, health systems improvement skills, and interprofessional collaboration skills. Students working with coach Dr. Sara Newmann have embarked upon Quality Improvement projects. Dr. Jeannette Lager has mentored several additional research projects involving medical education, providing mentorship, and improving teaching materials to reflect proper language for Gender and Sexual Minority Patients.
under-represented in medicine + Among those residents who applied for fellowship, 100% matched in their subspecialty of choice including Dr. Nicole Tantoco, who will be the inaugural fellow in the OB Addiction Medicine Fellowship here at UCSF + 65% of our residents identify as under-represented in medicine, and 90% of our interns identify as underrepresented in medicine and over 25% of our residents identify as LGBTQ+
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MISSION AREAS
ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHTS + The Department’s Advocacy Strategy Committee engaged with Berkeley Media Studies Group to offer media advocacy training to our Department members + Cynthia Gutierrez (HIVE) & Solaire Spellen (PTBi) were named “Emerging Activists” by National Women’s Health Network + Ana Delgado, CNM, RN served on the American College of Nurse Midwife’s “Truth & Reconciliation Task Force” that helped inform the “Truth and Reconciliation Apology and Resolution” issued by ACNM Board of Directors + Monica McLemore, RN, PhD (Bixby) received the 2021 Maternal Child Health Section Outstanding Leadership Advocacy Award from the American Public Health Association + Chief Resident Erinma Ukoha’s opinion piece “Abolish the Sheriff’s Department from SF General Hospital” was published by the San Francisco Chronicle + The Resident Class of 2024 led a faculty-matched fundraising effort supporting abortion providers in Texas and nationally
Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) In keeping with its mission to advance reproductive well-being, ANSIRH’s research was central to passing new rules in New Jersey to expand abortion provision; overturning a parental notification of abortion law in Illinois (on track to be approved by the Governor); and striking down abortion restrictions in Oklahoma. ANSIRH also co-led an amicus brief of 100 social scientists for the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case on abortion, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization; and submitted evidence to the U.S. FDA on the safety of pharmacist dispensing and telehealth abortion, to remove restrictions on mifepristone for greater access to medication abortion.
+ PRHE’s Science & Policy Team drafted recommendations
+ With Peggy Reynolds, PRHE was awarded phase one
to ensure EPA prioritizes health and science that caught the
funding from a $14 million National Cancer Institute grant
attention of the Biden Transition Team
to explore how 200 environmental chemicals increase
+ On behalf of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, PRHE founder Linda Giudice and Tracey J. Woodruff were among the co-authors of a special article on how the climate crisis threatens human reproduction
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cancer risk for pregnant women and their children, especially for Latinas affected by pesticides in California’s Central Valley
MISSION AREAS
PRETERM BIRTH INITIATIVE: ADVOCATING FOR BIRTH JUSTICE + The Voices for Birth Justice Instagram campaign overseen by Loren Newman has grown the channel to 4K through live chats with birth justice advocates + Monthly virtual Collaboratory events receive 400 RSVPs and around 200 attendees + Collaboratory success has grown the listserve to 5.5k subscribers, a 35% increase from the previous year
A Note from the Bixby Center’s Director We’re facing the biggest threat to abortion access this country has seen in decades. While Roe was already an empty promise for many—especially people of color and those with low incomes—an unprecedented year of new restrictions brings us to a turning point. The Bixby Center is responding to the fallout from Texas’ extreme ban and preparing for a direct challenge to Roe at the Supreme Court with cutting edge research, compassionate clinical care, essential training, and advocacy to promote access to abortion care. As we step up to deal with this crisis, we have brought on Jasmine Powell as our full-time Equity and Justice Specialist to work to make our equity, inclusion, and structural change efforts concrete, meaningful and enforceable. These projects are inextricably linked—we must fight for equity both for our own community and for the patients around the country seeking compassionate, safe abortion care. With your support, we can think boldly and work toward a future with dignity and health for all. Jody Steinauer, MD, PhD The Bixby Center + Fighting abortion bans + Expanding abortion coverage + Preparing abortion care providers + Innovating new models of care
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MISSION AREAS
EQUITY, INCLUSION & STRUCTURAL CHANGE
EISC CHAMPIONS
Vice Chair of Equity, Inclusion & Structural Change Updates
+ Ana Delgado, RN, CNM, MS received the Chancellor’s Award for Diversity: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award + LaMisha Hill, PhD received the Chancellor’s Award for Exceptional Service + Hilary Bunlert, MA was awarded the Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Volunteerism and Community Service + Judy Young, MPH was selected as a Staff Equity Advisor by the Office of Diversity & Outreach and reappointed as a member of the Chancellor’s Council on Campus Climate, Culture & Inclusion (4CI).
ZSFG - Commitment to Equity & Justice This spring, the ZSFG Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, in collaboration with the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, created a new leadership role focusing on equity and justice. Jasmine Powell was hired as the Division’s new Equity & Justice Specialist, with a charge to oversee work to advance anti-racism, equity, inclusion, and structural change (AEISC) in clinical care, research, education, and advocacy. With support from the Division and the Bixby community, Jasmine’s top priorities include rebuilding community relationships; patientcentered care; skill-building in communicating across differences; creating clear measures for accountability; and improving hiring and retention of existing employees, especially BIPOC individuals.
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In 2019, the Vice Chair of Equity, Inclusion, and Structural Change role was created to advance our Department’s priority to cultivate an equitable and inclusive professional and clinical environment. Sara Whetstone, MD & LaMisha Hill, PhD currently serve as interim leaders in the faculty/staff dyad. This year’s focus centered on collecting and examining new and past data to establish a clear picture of the Department’s current DEI landscape. This survey data laid the foundation for future action. First steps included re-envisioning the Department’s Diversity Committee. The committee, established in 2012, has long served as an informal mechanism for education, training, and lectures with membership historically relying on volunteers. The new iteration of the Diversity Committee seeks to represent our Department more broadly with appointed members from all divisions, and across faculty, staff, and learner populations. Division directors have strategized with Drs. Whetstone and Hill to develop a new framework where accountability can be measured. Recruitment for permanent Vice Chairs is currently underway.
MISSION AREAS
Malini Nijagal, MD, MPH, UCSF Program Lead for Pregnancy Pop-Up Village
Katherine Brown, MD, MAS
Expecting Justice’s Leading the way in…
Pregnancy Pop-Up Village Pregnancy Pop-Up Village (PV) is a collaboration between UCSF, SF city agencies and community organizations to provide a monthly “one-stopshop” in the Bayview District. Developed in partnership with community members, PV aims to reduce inequities in care access, experience, and outcomes by delivering the services and offerings that families need to thrive during pregnancy and beyond, in a supportive and uplifting space.
+ Race and culturally concordant reproductive health care for black people -K atherine Brown, MD, MAS and Sheri Foote, CNM + Transgender reproductive health - Mitzi Hawkins, MD, MAS + Advanced techniques in gender affirming surgery - Gaetan Pettigrew, MD + Integrating implicit bias training into obstetrics simulation programs - Tushani Illangasekare, MD
Family Justice Summit report Families know what they need to thrive. The SF Family Justice Summit, convened by @HIVE_ Online, was a groundbreaking effort of 53 advocates from health care, legal services, social services & community organizations. Family justice recommendations, crafted in part by Ana Delgado, RN, CNM, MS, Cynthia Gutierrez, PTBi, and colleagues were released in a 62-page Family Justice Summit report
Abundant Birth Project The Abundant Birth Project is an anti-racist guaranteed income pilot program for pregnant Black and Pacific Islander women and people in San Francisco, led by Expecting Justice and Physician Director Zea Malawa, MD, MPH. Deborah Karasek, PhD, MPH is co-leading the Abundant Birth Project Evaluation study along with Anu Manchikanti Gomez at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare. The evaluation is supported by a grant from the March of Dimes. Expecting Justice is the collective impact effort for San Francisco, partially funded by PTBi.
W. Kamau Bell partnered with a coalition of Black health care professionals, including Dr. Sara Whetstone, to create “The Conversation: Between Us, About Us,” a comprehensive video series about COVID-19 vaccines created by Black health care workers for Black people
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OB, GYN & RS DEI LANDSCAPE SURVEY STATISTICS + M ost departmental members (87%) reported past involvement in DEI activities during March 2019-March 2020, including 93% of faculty and 84% of staff + About one-quarter are engaged in active DEI initiatives to change hiring/search committee processes (26%), recruitment tactics for attracting new staff (23%), and/or onboarding/ orientation processes (20%) + Ob, Gyn & RS members identified more than 80 colleagues who were leading DEI activities in the department
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SUPPORT
HELP ADVANCE WOMEN'S HEALTH: MAKE A GIFT OF SUPPORT Philanthropic contributions from patients and friends help drive the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences to make even greater strides in developing new treatments and cures that make a difference. Your giving also empowers us to continue attracting and educating the brightest young minds in science. Join us today to ensure that our Department remains a place where patients can count on the very best care. Together, we will make a difference in the lives of women in the Bay Area and worldwide.
HOW TO MAKE A GIFT: + By Mail: Mail a check payable to UCSF Foundation to the address below. Please include instructions on the memo line or attach a note telling us how you would like to designate your gift (e.g. Women’s Health or name a specific program or faculty member). UCSF Foundation PO Box 45339 San Francisco, CA 94145-0339 + Online: Make a gift online using a major credit card at makeagift.ucsf.edu/ womenshealth + By Phone: Please call (877) 499-UCSF (877-499-8273) to give by credit card over the phone. + P ayroll Deduction (for UCSF employees): Learn more about the Employee Giving Program at giving.ucsf.edu/employee-giving
Please contact Cia Glover at Cia.Glover@ucsf.edu with questions or for information on other giving options, including gifts of stock, wire transfers, and planned gifts.
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