Read the latest news about the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
ACOG President-Elect Delivers Grand Rounds on Advocacy
Dr. Camille A. Clare, President-Elect of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to deliver a Grand Rounds lecture focused on physician advocacy.
In her presentation, “Becoming an Advocate,” Dr. Clare shared her personal journey as a physician leader and reflected on the important role obstetrician-gynecologists play in advocating for patients, communities, and the future of women’s health. She encouraged attendees to identify their local legislators and engage in advocacy efforts that directly impact the health of the communities they serve.
Penn OBGYN at CREOG & APGO 2026
Penn OBGYN was proudly represented at the 2026 CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, with faculty, residents, fellows, and medical students presenting innovative work in medical education and women’s health equity.
Topics included trauma-informed care, health equity, clerkship innovation, educational leadership, and trainee engagement in ultrasound and telehealth — reflecting the breadth of our department’s educational scholarship.
We were especially proud to see trainees presenting alongside faculty mentors, highlighting Penn OBGYN’s strong culture of mentorship and leadership development. Congratulations to everyone who represented Penn OBGYN so exceptionally well!
Penn OBGYN Ranked #2 in Research Funding Two Years in a Row
We are thrilled to announce that our OBGYN department has been ranked #2 in NIH funding for two consecutive years in a row!
This remarkable achievement reflects our commitment to groundbreaking research and innovation in women’s health. A huge thank you to our dedicated team of researchers, clinicians, and staff for their hard work and dedication. Together, we are advancing the field of obstetrics and gynecology to improve the lives of women everywhere.
John J. Mikuta, MD Endowed Lectureship in Gynecologic Oncology
The 2026 Mikuta Lecture will be held on April 23 at 8:00am in the Arthur Rubenstein Auditorium of the Smilow Center for Translational Research. This year’s guest speaker is Dr. Jason Wright, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center and an internationally recognized physician-scientist in comparative effectiveness and outcomes research.
Dr. Wright’s research centers on leveraging extensive datasets to evaluate emerging therapies and technologies that ease the impact of disease and guide the development of strategies that enhance patient health. His lecture, entitled Quality in Gynecology: What Do We Measure and Why? will examine how quality is defined and measured in gynecologic surgery, review currently available surgical quality metrics, and explore their role in assessing care.
The John J. Mikuta MD Endowed Lectureship in Gynecologic Oncology was established in 2015 by Dr. Mikuta and his wife, Margaret. Dr. Mikuta was the Franklin Payne Professor Emeritus and served for 30 years as the Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He was highly regarded by his former patients, trainees, colleagues and staff for his compassion, empathy, and integrity. He is considered one of the founding fathers of the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology and was active in women and gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Mikuta helped shape the careers of many gynecologic oncologists and influenced Penn medical students as one of the faculty in the Professionalism and Humanism course.
Celebrating a Lifetime of Impact in Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Samuel Parry, MD, received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), one of the field’s highest honors. The award was presented by SMFM President Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE, who noted that Dr. Parry’s impact is evident not only in the science he has advanced, but also in the many physician-scientists he has mentored and the enduring influence of his work on the field.
A dedicated member of SMFM for decades, Dr. Parry has served in numerous leadership roles within the SMFM Foundation, including Chair of the Scholarly Activities Committee and member of the Foundation Board. His NIH-funded research has advanced understanding of viral infections, placental biology, and preterm birth, including leadership of a March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center and participation in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. Read more here.
He was also recognized in 2025 with the Foundation’s Steven G. Gabbe, MD, Award for Outstanding Contributions, reflecting his longstanding commitment to advancing research and strengthening the field through national leadership and service.
Three Penn OBGYN Faculty Honored with Penn Pearls Teaching Award
Drs. Andrea Roe, Lakeisha Mulugeta-Gordon, and Rebecca Schapiro have been named recipients of the prestigious Penn Pearls Teaching Award, recognizing their exceptional commitment to teaching and mentorship of Penn medical students.
The Penn Pearls Teaching Award honors residents, fellows, and faculty who demonstrate outstanding dedication to clinical education and student support. Particularly meaningful, recipients are nominated and selected by the students themselves.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology proudly congratulates Drs. Roe, Mulugeta-Gordon, and Schapiro for their contributions to medical education and their impact on training future physicians.
Recognizing Leadership Excellence
Dr. Sarah Kim, Chief of the Gynecologic Oncology Division, was spotlighted by Penn Medicine at the Philadelphia 76ers home game against the Washington Wizards on December 23rd. Dr. Kim exhibits outstanding leadership and a commitment to excellence in clinical education, cancer research, and patient care.
We're proud to celebrate Dr. Kim and the impact she makes every day.
Dr. Rebecca Hamm Receives FOCUS Early Achievement Award
Rebecca F. Hamm, MD, MSCE, received the FOCUS Early Achievement Award for the Advancement of Women in Medicine. Dr. Hamm’s remarkable contributions span leadership, clinical care, research, and mentorship.
Her clinical practice is devoted to caring for patients with high-risk pregnancies, and her research is focused on bridging the gap between evidence and practice in obstetrics, including efforts to reduce racial disparities in maternal outcomes.
Dr. Hamm is deeply committed to mentorship, guiding over 20 trainees since joining Penn in 2020. She organized Penn’s first Research in Maternal Health Equity Symposium in 2025, bringing together stakeholders to tackle disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality.
We celebrate Dr. Hamm’s dedication to advancing women in medicine and improving maternal health outcomes. Her achievements continue to inspire and elevate our academic community.
Penn Medicine Honors Dr. Kurt Barnhart with William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award
Penn Medicine has honored Dr. Kurt Barnhart with the William Osler Patient Oriented Research Award, one of its prestigious Awards of Excellence. This recognition celebrates Dr. Barnhart’s pioneering contributions to reproductive medicine, particularly his research that has advanced care for early pregnancy complications and informed clinical guidelines around the world. Throughout his career, Dr. Barnhart has demonstrated exceptional commitment to research integrity, the highest institutional standards, and the advancement of women’s health through rigorous, patient-centered investigation.
Established in 1996 to honor Dr. William Osler, widely regarded as a “father of clinical medicine” whose work transformed clinical teaching and research, the Osler Award recognizes investigators whose research directly involves and impacts human participants.
Congratulations to Dr. Barnhart on this well-deserved honor!
Celebrating Excellence: OBGYN Shines during 2025 Penn Medicine Experience Week
We're proud to share that several members of our OBGYN Department have been recognized with Advocacy Awards during Penn Medicine Experience (PMX) Week. These awards honor employees who exemplify the PMX standards - Compassion, Presence, Collaboration, Accountability, and Cultural Humility.
Congratulations to our 2025 PMX Advocacy Awards Winners!
PRACTICE CATEGORY
Penn Health for Women Cherry Hill - Urogyn & GYN
Pam Levin, MD (Urogyn), Wanda Ronner, MD (Gyn), Yu-Hsin Wu, MD (Gyn), Dusty Woodworth, MSN, CRNP, WHNP-BC (Urogyn), Kierra Thomas, Alyah Rivera, Catherine Karpowicz, Jennifer Bey, Kimberly Brown, Nicole Sullivan, Terrica Wheeler and Ginger Morgan
TEAM CATEGORY
Maternity Value Process Team
Nichelle Bennett, Andrea Bizzaro, Cara Curley, Erika Demartinis,
Erica Dewispelaere, William Shonk, Michael Snyder, Marianne Smith
and Lindsay Tawney
LEADERSHIP CATEGORY
Lisa R. Jones
Practice Manager
Penn Health for Women University City
RN ADVOCACY CATEGORY
Sarah Berkowitz, RN
Penn Health for Women University City
PEACE
Endowed Lectureship Focuses on Menopause Education and Patient Care
The Ann Honebrink and Ann Steiner Menopause Education and Patient Care Endowed Lecture took place on November 6 at the Penn Museum.
The lecture was given by Makeba Williams, MD, FACOG, MSCP, Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and Clinical Director of the Center for Health, Awareness and Research on Menopause.
Dr. Williams delivered an engaging and thoughtful talk, "From Silence to Strategy: Designing the Future of Mnopause Care", where she highlighted opportunities to strengthen menopause education, improve access to care, address racial disparities in menopause management, and support patients with evidence-based, patient-centered approaches. It was a fantastic morning of learning and conversation for our faculty, trainees, and staff.
The Ann Honebrink and Ann Steiner Menopause Education and Patient Care Endowed Lectureship was established by donations made in honor of the two long-tenured physicians, Dr. Ann Honebrink and Dr. Ann Steiner, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who specialized in providing care for women experiencing menopause.
Building Healthier Futures through Community Engagement
On September 25, the Penn Medicine Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, together with Women’s Health Nursing, participated in the annual Community Baby Shower at Union Yards.
Sponsored by Penn Medicine, and the Philadelphia Union in partnership with the March of Dimes, the event welcomed birthing people and their families from the Chester community to Subaru Park for a day of resources, education, and celebration.
The OBGYN and nursing teams provided a wide range of support, including educational resources, belly mapping, infant CPR instruction, safe sleep and lactation information, as well as an interactive educational game of Jeopardy. We are proud to recognize the contributions of Dr. Abike James, Aviana Franklin, Candice Segree, and nursing colleagues Kelly McNulty, Bonnie Ohnishi, Maria Disciullo, and Susan Ashley Savage, along with additional volunteers who helped make the day possible.
Generous contributions through the March of Dimes Registry Wish List also ensured that families were able to receive gifts during the event.
The Community Baby Shower reflects Penn Medicine’s ongoing commitment to partnership, community engagement, and advancing health outcomes for families across our region.
Video-Based Surgical Coaching Program Launches at HUP
On September 2, the Department of OBGYN introduced a video-based surgical coaching program at HUP. This innovative initiative - part of our FY26 Strategic Plan - will transform how we support surgical skill development for our residents through real-time video review, structured coaching, and validated assessment tools like GOALS and GEARS.
This innovative program reflects Penn Medicine's ongoing commitment to advancing medical education and promoting surgical excellence.
Penn Medicine OBGYN Faculty Contributes to Groundbreaking Research on Prenatal Therapy for HLHS
Lauren Anton, PhD, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn Medicine, is part of a multidisciplinary team awarded a $660,000 grant from Additional Ventures’ Single Ventricle Research Fund to investigate how progesterone therapy may improve outcomes for fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The project, led by J. William Gaynor, MD, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, builds on prior findings that progesterone treatment during pregnancy may significantly lower the risk of infant mortality in HLHS.
Dr. Anton will contribute to metabolomic, transcriptomic, and genetic analyses of placental and fetal samples to help uncover the mechanisms driving response to progesterone therapy. The research aims to pave the way for precision prenatal treatments that improve survival and health outcomes for babies with congenital heart disease.
Read the full CHOP press release
Congratulations to Dr. Harvie on her Appointment as Division Chief
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We are pleased to announce the appointment of Heidi S. Harvie, MD, MBA, MSCE as Chief of the Division of Urogynecology & Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, effective July 1.
A Penn-trained physician and Wharton graduate, Dr. Harvie brings deep expertise in clinical care, research, and health economics. She has served as Director of Urogynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital, and currently co-leads the Identifying High-Value Health Care Working Group at the Leonard Davis Institute. She also serves as Principal Investigator for the NICHD-sponsored Pelvic Floor Disorders Network.
Her recent publications include a first-author article in JAMA and co-authored research in International Urogynecology Journal, Urogynecology, and Fertility and Sterility.
We thank Dr. Lily Arya for her exceptional leadership for many years and are pleased to share that she will now serve as Residency Research Director. Special thanks to Dr. Courtney Schreiber and the search committee for leading this successful process.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Harvie on this well-deserved appointment!
Celebrating a Milestone in Uterine Transplant Care
Penn Medicine recently hosted a moving Mother's Day brunch for the women who became mothers through its groundbreaking uterine transplant research trial (UNTIL) - a moment of joy, connection, and hope. Read the full story here.
We're proud to share that the UNTIL trial at Penn has concluded its research phase and is now transitioning into a clinical program, offering uterine transplantation as a standard medical service. This marks an exciting step forward in expanding access to care for patients with uterine factor infertility. Learn more about the Uterine Transplant Program.
If you're a healthy woman and interested in helping someone experience pregnancy, apply to be evaluated and learn more about becoming a uterus donor here.
A special congratulations to Kathleen E. O'Neill, MD, MTR and Nawar Latif, MD, MPH, MSCE from our Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. As co-investigators they played a leading role in this effort and continue to collaborate closely with the Penn Transplant Institute to support this extraordinary work.
22nd Annual Resident Research Day & John Rock Lecture
On Friday, May 9th, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology held its Annual Resident Research Day & John Rock Lecture. This yearly event provides a platform for the HUP OBGYN chief residents to showcase their ongoing research projects and share key findings. This is a much-anticipated occasion where we honor the hard work of our residents and recognize the contributions they are making to advancing the field of women's health.
This year, we were honored to welcome Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, FACS, FACOG, CEO of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), as the distinguished John Rock Lecturer. Dr. Brooks delivered an inspiring talk titled ACOG Update: Focused on Our Mission, offering valuable insights into national advocacy, strategic priorities, and the future of women's health. We extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Brooks for sharing her expertise and leadership and for her ongoing commitment to the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
Honoring Excellence in Nursing
Maria Endert, MSN, RNC-OB, FACCE as the winner of this year’s Louisa Tatonetti Borio Award for Nursing Excellence in Ambulatory Women’s Health Care. This departmental award recognizes a nurse who consistently demonstrates compassion, integrity, a positive attitude and teamwork. Please join us in congratulating Maria. Her leadership to the nursing team, dedication to the success of the Dickens Center and commitment to excellence in patient care is inspiring and we are so grateful for all that she does.
We also had the opportunity at the award celebration to highlight the achievements of all 8 nominees: Mary Bane (POGA), Jill Cristiano (GYN ONC), Amanda Emge (GYN ONC), Jaeke Lyn McDonald (Radnor), Bethany Pritchard (MFM), Nicole Sullivan (GYN), and Courtney Walsh (CFP). While we can only select one winner, every nomination is a testament to the incredible work happening within the OBGYN Department.
Department Celebrates New Inductees into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
Drs. Florencia Polite, Abike James, and Divya Shah have been inducted into the prestigious 2025 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. This esteemed recognition honors their outstanding contributions to medical education, leadership, professionalism, and service. Congratulations to these exceptional individuals for their dedication to excellence in the medical field!
A Well-Deserved Recognition
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Kim, Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, on being selected to join the Academy of Master Clinicians. The Academy recognizes and celebrates exceptional clinicians who consistently exemplify the highest standards of patient care, humanism, professionalism and commitment to leadership at Penn Medicine. Membership to the Academy is the highest clinician honor a Penn physician can receive, and all of us in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are so proud to have Dr. Kim awarded this prestigious and well-earned honor.
Dr. Sindhu Srinivas Appointed Executive Director of HUP Cedar Avenue
Sindhu Srinivas, MD, MSCE, has been appointed Executive Director of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) Cedar Avenue. In this role, Dr. Srinivas will oversee all HUP-based hospital services at the Cedar campus, working closely with the HUP Executive Team to enhance care delivery, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity.
Dr. Srinivas brings to the table: a stellar track record in patient care, groundbreaking research, pioneering work in establishing quality benchmarks for OBGYN outpatient care, and innovative strategies that have moved the needle on reducing maternal health risks. Since her arrival to the Cedar leadership circle earlier this year, Dr. Srinivas has already left an indelible mark. Her introduction of a comprehensive trauma-informed care program for the HUP Cedar staff showcases her forward-thinking approach.
We congratulate Dr. Srinivas on her new position and look forward to her continued leadership at HUP Cedar Avenue.
Two OBGYN Faculty Honored with Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence
Abike T. James, MD, MPH, Vice Chair for Academic Excellence and Community Engagement in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology and Courtney A. Schreiber, MD, MPH, Chief of the Division of Family Planning and Stuart and Emily B.H. Mudd Professor in Human Behavior and Reproduction were recently honored with Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence.
Dr. James was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Duncan Van Dusen Professionalism Award for Faculty. This award acknowledges a faculty member whose respectful approach, integrity, self-awareness, and personal accountability are exemplary of the campaign for the ongoing elevation of the culture of Penn and for the promotion of exceptional patient care experiences.
Dr. Courtney A. Schreiber was selected as this year's recipient of the Luigi Mastroianni, Jr. Clinical Innovator Award. This award acknowledges physicians who have made significant contributions toward the invention and development of new techniques, approaches, procedures or devices that change medical practice and are of major benefit to patient care.
The Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence were established in 1996 and are a series of highly competitive awards celebrating Penn's commitment to excellence in scholarship, teaching, innovation, service, leadership, professionalism and patient care. Learn more here.
Addressing Maternal Death Disparities with Text Messaging
Heart Safe Motherhood, the text-based program created by Dr. Sindhu Srinivas and Dr. Adi Hirshberg, allows postpartum patients to monitor their blood pressure at home. The program has nearly eliminated the rate at which postpartum patients are readmitted for blood pressure complications within a week of giving birth, reducing admissions from 5% down to 1%. The Penn Medicine program has yielded impressive results and closed a racial disparity gap in care. Heart Safe Motherhood has been recognized nationally and by the American Heart Association and American Hospital Association among others. And now it is also being used by other hospitals in the Philadelphia area.
You can read the full article about Heart Safe Motherhood in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
The OBGYN Department celebrated the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Deborah Driscoll and Dr. Jerome Strauss along with two newly OBGYN endowed chair appointees; Dr. Anuja Dokras and Dr. Fiona Simpkins.
The Founder's Professorship in Women's Health was established to honor legacy of Dr. Deborah A. Driscoll, the first woman chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Driscoll is the Luigi Mastroianni, Jr. Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Dean for Professional Services at the Perelman School of Medicine. She also serves as the Chief Physician Executive for Penn Medicine Medical Group and Senior Vice President of the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania. Her accomplishments are history making, including becoming the first woman President of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
To acknowledge Dr. Jerome Strauss, a luminary in the field of reproductive medicine, The Jerome F. Strauss, III, PhD, Assistant Professorship of Obstetrics and Gynecology was named in his honor. He served as the founding Director of the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health during his 30 years at Penn and is an Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine.
Dr. Anuja Dokras was the inaugural recipient of the Founder's Professorship in Women's Health. This esteemed professorship symbolizes our commitment to excellence in women's healthcare and acknowledges the outstanding contributions of Dr. Deborah A. Driscoll. It is a deserving honor for Dr. Dokras as an internationally recognized leader in the field of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and the Director of the Women's Health Center for Clinical Innovation, the first of its kind in the country.
Dr. Fiona Simpkins was recognized as the current chair of The Hilarie L. Morgan and Michell L. Morgan President's Distinguished Professorship in Women's Health. Her research regarding ovarian cancer aligns with the mission of the Morgan Professorship, to improve health outcomes for women for generations to come.
Empowering Maternal Health
At Penn Medicine, we are working to improve maternal health and reduce health disparities for new and expectant mothers through a number of programs and initiatives. Join Dr. Elizabeth A. Howell, Dr. Abike James and others as they discuss various initiatives aimed at ensuring every mother receives quality care. Discover insights and actionable steps toward creating a more equitable healthcare system for mothers and their families. Watch the video now and join the conversation for positive change in maternal health, Advancing Maternal Health Equity. This video is part of a new documentary entitled "American Delivery" chronicling glimmers of hope amid the maternal health crisis.
New Faculty
2025 Departmental Awards & Honors
- Dr. Catherine Jennings received the Sharon Youcha Compassionate Patient Care Award for excellent patient care with compassion, empathy and respect, and listens and treats the patient as a whole person.
- Dr. Karampreet Kaur received the Robert R. Rascoe, MD Award for Excellence in Ambulatory Patient Care. This award recognizes a chief resident who has demonstrated compassionate care and concern for our patients. The recipient was selected by the attendings and nursing staff in the Helen O. Dickens Center for Women's Health.
- Dr. Rebekah Russell - Midwife's Intern Award
- Dr. Annie Apple - Midwife's Golden Mitt Award
- Dr. Kira Bromwich - Resident Research Award for Excellence in Research
2025 Teaching Awards
- Dr. Jordan Stone - Fellow Teaching Award for Excellence in Resident Education
- Dr. Karampreet Kaur - Resident Teaching Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education
- Dr. Kirstin Leitner - Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Lisa Fromenko - Collaborative Award for Resident Teaching Excellence
- Dr. Sarah Gutman - APGO Excellence in Teaching Award
- Dr. Khaila Ramey-Collier - Resident Educator Development Award
- Dr. Laura Smith- CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education