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| In this issue
» Letter from the Chair
» Funding News
» Department News
» News Bytes
» Clinical Innovations
» Research Spotlight
» Publications
» Culture & Justice
» New Team Members
» Recent Events
» Job Postings
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A message from Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS |
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Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the fall edition of the Fimbria!
The fall season classically marks change and transition, noted, in part, by the beautiful fall colors that mark the season, even in San Diego! Amid this season of transition, our Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences remains steadfast in our quest to advance women's health through innovative research and world class clinical care, while training the next leaders in our field. This edition highlights several exciting initiatives and accomplishments that reflect the breadth of our work and our commitment to improving the health and well-being of women and families.
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In our Research Program Spotlight, we feature Marianna Alperin, MD, MS, and the Alperin Lab, whose research is advancing our understanding of the female pelvic floor and the mechanisms underlying pelvic floor disorders. Their work seeks to translate scientific discoveries into improved prevention and treatment strategies for women affected by these conditions.
Our section on Clinical Innovations highlights Daniel Nassar, DO, MPH, FACOG, of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS)/Complex Benign Gynecology (CBG), for incorporating ultrasound to map endometriosis into his clinical practice at UC San Diego Health. This specialized imaging approach offers a more comprehensive evaluation of the pelvis for signs of endometriosis, with the potential to improve diagnosis and inform individualized patient care.
This issue also features recent faculty publications, department news, new members of our team, and accomplishments from across our academic community. Together, these contributions reflect the dedication and expertise of our faculty, trainees, and staff.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this welcome letter and for getting to know our department. Visit our website to learn more about our divisions, clinical programs, innovative research, and educational offerings. We’ve made some changes to the format, so let us know your thoughts. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Fimbria, and as always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions at Fimbria@ucsd.edu.
Thank you!
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS
Samuel SC Yen Endowed Chair
Department Chair, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences
Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology
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| Clinical Affairs: Cecile Ferrando, MD, MPH
Culture & Justice: Audra Meadows, MD, MPH
Education: Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, MD
Research: Marianna Alperin, MD, MS
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| Academic Specialists in OB/GYN: Jessica Kingston, MD
Complex Family Planning: Sheila Mody, MD, MPH
Gynecologic Oncology: Michael McHale, MD
Hospitalist: Gina Frugoni, MD
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (Interim): Maryam Tarsa, MD, MAS
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery: Shira Varon, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility: Antoni Duleba, MD
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery: Emily Lukacz, MD, MAS
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DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION
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| Administrative Vice Chair: Michael Morales
Communications Manager: Mike Masciadrelli
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OB/GYN & RS Faculty Named 2026 San Diego Top Doctors |
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Nine faculty members from the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences were recognized as 2026 Top Doctors in San Diego Magazine’s annual “Physicians of Exceptional Excellence” survey. Selected by their peers, the honorees are recognized among San Diego County’s leading physicians for their outstanding contributions to patient care.
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, Elected to National Academy of Medicine |
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, Chair of the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine's Class of 2026, one of the highest honors in health and medicine. A nationally recognized leader in maternal-fetal medicine, Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman is celebrated for her contributions to research and clinical care aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
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Charles W. Nager, MD, Receives AUGS Jack Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award
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Charles W. Nager, MD, professor emeritus in the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, received the 2026 Jack Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, on October 5.
The award, AUGS' highest honor, recognizes a lifetime of outstanding contributions to urogynecology and pelvic reconstructive surgery through research, education, leadership, and service.
Dr. Nager previously served as the founding director of UC San Diego's Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery and its fellowship program, and as president of AUGS.
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Congratulations to Our Incoming Fellows! |
We are thrilled to announce our AY 2027–2028 fellowship matches. Welcome to the team! |
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Graciela Caraballo, MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Residency: Stanford University
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| Casey Moffitt, MD
Complex Family Planning
Residency: NYU Langone Health
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| Erica Qiao, MD
Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Residency: Oregon Health and Science University
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Ivonne Verduzco, MD
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Residency: UCSF
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| Shannon Wagner, MD, MPH
Gynecologic Oncology
Residency: Tufts Medical Center
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| Emily Yang, MD
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Residency: UC San Diego
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Class of 2027 Chief Resident Rachel Pacyna, MD, Matches into Inaugural MIGS/CBG Fellowship |
Congratulations to our first Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Complex Benign Gynecology fellow |
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Rachel Pacyna, MD
UC San Diego MIGS/CBG Fellowship
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Class of 2027 Chief Residents Faith Okifo, MD, and Emily Yang, MD, Match into REI Fellowships |
Celebrating their next steps in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility |
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Faith Okifo, MD
UCSF Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) Fellowship
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Emily Yang, MD
UC San Diego Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) Fellowship
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Congratulations to recent awardees on funding for impactful research and scientific discovery |
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Kellie Breen Church, PhD
Grant: Ascending Adrenergic Control of Reproductive Neuroendocrine Circuits
Sponsor: NIH
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Ukachi Emeruwa, MD, MPH
Grant: REACH-BP: Remote Evaluation and Adoption of Care for Hypertension – A Hybrid Type I Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Postpartum Blood Pressure Monitoring Strategies
Sponsor: American Heart Association
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| Kathleen Fisch, PhD
Grant: DNA Repair Mechanisms in Hypoxia-Induced Placental Genomic Instability
Sponsor: NIH/NICHD
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| Molly Huang (UC San Diego Graduate Student)
Grant: Using Genomic Instability and Hypoxia as Predictors of Placental Dysfunction
Sponsor: NCI/NIH
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Louise Laurent, MD, PhD
Grant: BaBiSMRT (Biomarkers and Biosensors for Safer Labor through Maternal-Fetal Real-Time Assessment)
Sponsor: ARPA-H
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| Amanda Lewis, PhD
Grant: Gardnerella glycosidases in carbon acquisition & epithelial interactions in the etiology of BV
Sponsor: NIH/NIAID
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| Sheila Mody, MD
Grant: Abortion Practical Support Grant Application 2026
Sponsor: NCI/NIH
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Irene Su, MD
Grant: Health Insurance Benefit Mandates: Impact of Policy on the Affordability and Utilization of Fertility Preservation Services in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Sponsor: NCI/NIH
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Miles Wilkinson, PhD, and Kun Tan, PhD
Grant: Development of a Non-Invasive Male Infertility Assay for Testicular Sperm Retrieval and Fertility Treatment
Sponsor: NIH
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Celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of our faculty and staff |
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Yvette LaCoursiere, MD, Leads New ACOG Guidance on GLP-1 Medications |
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Yvette LaCoursiere, MD, is the lead author of newly released clinical guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) addressing the use of GLP-1 medications during pregnancy and lactation.
The guidance recommends discontinuing GLP-1 medications before a planned pregnancy and avoiding their use during pregnancy, while outlining considerations for their potential use during breastfeeding.
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, Co-Authors New ACOG Guidance on Obstetric Cerclage |
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, co-authored a new clinical practice guideline from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on obstetric cerclage, published in September 2026 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The guidance provides evidence-based recommendations for the use of cervical cerclage to help prevent preterm birth in patients with cervical insufficiency or other relevant risk factors.
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Alice Sutton, MD, FACOG, Moderates Panel at SASGOG 14th Annual Meeting |
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Alice Sutton, MD, FACOG, moderated a panel titled “Rebalancing the Load: Innovative Workforce Models for a Changing Academic Landscape” at the Society of Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology (SASGOG) 14th Annual Meeting, held Sept. 24 in Atlanta. As chair of the SASGOG Mentorship Committee, Sutton also organized the conference’s mentorship breakfast.
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Amanda Bradshaw, CNM, MSN, RN, Named 2026 Nurse Midwife of the Year |
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Amanda Bradshaw, CNM, MSN, RN, was recognized as Nurse Midwife of the Year as part of UC San Diego Health’s 2026 APP of the Year Awards. The recognition celebrates Bradshaw’s outstanding contributions to patient care and the important role of certified nurse-midwives across UC San Diego Health. Congratulations to Amanda on this well-deserved recognition!
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Pratibha S. Binder, MD, receives Medical Staff Physician Professionalism Award |
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Pratibha S. Binder, MD, received the September Medical Staff Physician Professionalism Award in recognition of her commitment to professionalism and excellence in patient care. The recognition marks Binder’s fifth nomination for the award—the most nominations received by any nominee.
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Recent news featuring the Department of OB/GYN & RS |
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Gladys (Sandy) Ramos, MD, shares her journey to becoming a perinatologist with Frank Silva, host of UCTV’s Mi Camino Latinx/Chicanx Speaker Series.
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OB/GYN & RS state-of-the-art programs advance patient care |
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Endometriosis Mapping Ultrasound: Advancing Diagnosis and Patient Care |
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Daniel Nassar, DO, MPH, FACOG, of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, is helping advance endometriosis care at UC San Diego Health by incorporating Endometriosis Mapping Ultrasound (EMU) into his specialized clinical practice. Unlike routine pelvic ultrasound, this specialized examination systematically evaluates multiple areas of the pelvis for signs of endometriosis, offering an additional diagnostic approach for appropriate patients. By integrating advanced imaging with clinical and surgical expertise, EMU has the potential to improve diagnosis, guide individualized treatment decisions and help patients receive more timely, coordinated care.
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Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Division Faculty
L-R: David Klein, MD; Shira Varon, MD, MIGS Division Director; Daniel Nassar, DO, MPH, FACOG; and Jorge Alvarado, MD.
| Research Program Spotlight |
Featuring OB/GYN & RS Groundbreaking Research Endeavors |
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From Injury to Regeneration: The Alperin Lab Advances Pelvic Health Research |
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Project Scientist Francesca Boscolo Sesillo, PhD, and Laboratory Assistant John Rudell, PhD, at work in the Alperin Lab.
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Led by Marianna Alperin, MD, MS, Professor and Vice Chair for Research, the Alperin Lab is advancing our understanding of how pregnancy, childbirth, menopause and aging affect female pelvic floor and lower urinary tract tissues. Through NIH- and CIRM-funded research, the team investigates the biological mechanisms that influence tissue injury, recovery and regeneration. Its work spans pelvic muscle stem cell biology, postpartum recovery and the development of regenerative biomaterials, with the goal of informing new strategies to prevent and treat pelvic floor disorders and improve women's health across the lifespan.
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Recent publications of outstanding work featuring UC San Diego OB/GYN & RS members |
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Pamela A Moalli, Jeffrey R Morgan, Vivian Sung, Hannah Grace Johnson, Katerina St Angelo, Abigail Shaffer, Madeleine Marx, Vera C Fonseca, John Murphy Iii, Gabrielle Elizabeth King, Temara Stransky, Jonathan P Vande Geest, Katrina M Knight, Marianna Alperin, David D Rahn, Holly E Richter, Ariana Smith, Alison Weidner, Marie Gantz, Donna Mazloomdoost
Scalable Subunit-Based Strategy to Fabricate Autologous Vaginal Tissue Grafts | Biofabrication | August 2026
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Ankita Gupta, Cara L. Grimes, Gopal Badlani, Maria A. T. Bortolini, Anna Rosamilia, Dudley Robinson, Victor Nitti, Anne Cameron, Jan Deprest, Amy Sisson, Yu Hwee Tan, Howard B. Goldman, Geoffrey W. Cundiff, Marianna Alperin, Amr El Haraki, Sarah Collins, Aparne Hegde, Hnin Yee Kyaw, Reut Rotem, Lieschen Quiroz, Eric Sokol, Erin A. Brennand, Katherine Woodburn, Marine Lallemant, Cecile Ferrando, Hugo Van Eijndhoven, Jan Baekelandt, Sarah Ashmore, Kimberly Kenton, Kaidi Kang, Catherine A. Matthews, U-POP Consortium
A Global Consensus Conference on Surgical Management of Primary Uterovaginal Prolapse and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Combining Evidence with Expert Opinion | International Urogynecology Journal | July 2026
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Gottfried E Konecny, Peter C Lim, Alessandro D Santin, Lucy Gilbert, Angeles Alvarez Secord, Paul Bessette, Ursula A Matulonis, Jayita Sen, Jaehyung Hong, Grace E Lytle, Emariola Bako, Sheri L Spunt, Diane Provencher, Ainhoa Madariaga, Susana Banerjee, Ramez N Eskander, Jose Alejandro Perez-Fidalgo, Dario Roque, Ana Oaknin
Carboplatin Plus Mirvetuximab Soravtansine In Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer: A Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial | Clinical Cancer Research | October 2026
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Evelyn Cantillo, Vivek Podder, Natalie Danziger, Dale Lobo, Douglas I. Lin, Ryon P. Graf, Robert L. Coleman, Bhavana Pothuri, Ramez N. Eskander, Thomas J. Herzog, Brian M. Slomovitz
Endometrial Cancer by ERBB2 Amplification (ERBB2amp) Status: Differences in Molecular Subtypes, Ancestry, and Real-World Outcomes | JCO Precision Oncology | July 2026
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Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Jessica A. de Voest, Alan T. N. Tita, Sean C. Blackwell, Monica Longo, Rebecca G. Clifton, T. Michael O'Shea, Sabine Z. Bousleiman, Felecia Ortiz, Dwight J. Rouse, Torri D. Metz, George R. Saade, Kara M. Rood, Kent D. Heyborne, John M. Thorp, Geeta K. Swamy, William A. Grobman, Kelly S. Gibson, Yasser Y. El-Sayed, George A. Macones
Child Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Late Preterm Hypoglycemia | Obstetrics & Gynecology | July 2026
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Anna Palatnik, Jessica A de Voest, Alan T N Tita, Sean C Blackwell, Monica Longo, T Michael O'Shea, Dwight J Rouse, Torri D Metz, George R Saade, Kara M Rood, Kent D Heyborne, John M Thorp Jr, Geeta K Swamy, Kelly S Gibson, Yasser Y El-Sayed, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
Association between breastfeeding and neurodevelopmental outcomes after late preterm birth | Pregnancy | September 2026
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Antonio F Saad, Paula L McGee, Samuel Parry, John M Thorp Jr, Monica Longo, Alan T N Tita, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Suneet P Chauhan, Torri D Metz, Kara Rood, Dwight J Rouse, Jennifer L Bailit, William A Grobman, Hyagriv N Simhan, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network
Predictors of Infection after Cesarean Delivery | American Journal of Perinatology | October 2026
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Brenna L Hughes, Cora MacPherson, Dwight J Rouse, George R Saade, Mara J Dinsmoor, Uma M Reddy, Robert Pass, Donna Allard, Gail Mallett, Rebecca G Clifton, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Michael W Varner, William H Goodnight, Alan T N Tita, Maged M Costantine, Geeta K Swamy, Kent D Heyborne, Edward K Chien, Suneet P Chauhan, Yasser Y El-Sayed, Brian M Casey, Samuel Parry, Hyagriv N Simhan, Peter G Napolitano, George A Macones; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network
Maternal Cytomegalovirus Serology Results by Geographic Region in a Large Multicenter US Study | Journal of Infectious Diseases | October 2026
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Christine Field, Jessica A DE Voest, Robert A Wise, Alan T N Tita, Sharon A McGrath-Morrow, Elizabeth C Matsui, Sean C Blackwell, Monica Longo, Dwight J Rouse, Torri D Metz, George R Saade, William A Grobman, Kent D Heyborne, John M Thorp Jr, Kelly S Gibson, Geeta K Swamy, Yasser Y El-Sayed, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
Cesarean delivery and childhood respiratory outcomes | American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM | October 2026
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Harmonie Strohl, Nguyen Do, Howon Ryu, Olumayowa Dayo, Emily Ho, Jacey Hu, Alexander Kauffman, Ina Stelzer, Ariel Lang, Kellie Church, Jingjing Zou, H. Irene Su
Association of daily perceived stress with fertility outcomes in natural and controlled ovarian stimulation cycles: a feasibility study | Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics | July 2026
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Christy M Nguyen, Leandro M Velez, Youngseo Cheon, Cimone L Jackson, Casey D Johnson, Ian Tamburini, Mingqi Zhou, Erik Alvstad, Isoo Yoon, Farheen Dustagheer, Marie Li, Tvisha Gujjarlapudi, Kaitlene Ofilan, Neha Mishra, Evan G Williams, Danica Kwan, Carlos H Viesi, Naveena Ujagar, David G Ashbrook, Alistair Senior, Marin E Nelson, Nicholas R Pannunzio, Selma Masri, Evgeny Z Kvon, Grant MacGregor, Cholsoon Jang, Vittorio Sebastiano, Minji Byun, Changrui Xiao, Alexander S Kauffman, Robert W Williams, David E James, Ivan Marazzi, Dequina Nicholas, Marcus Seldin
Systems genetics approaches model the heritable architecture of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome| The Journal of Clinical Investigation | August 2026
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Parham Hadikhani, Xiting Yan, Geoffrey Chupp, Ga Young Ban, Shraddha Piparia, Michael McGeachie, Rinku Sharma, Scott T Weiss, Louise C Laurent, Alvin T Kho, Kelan G Tantisira
Asthma Exacerbations: Integrative Analysis of miRNA Activity Using Single-Cell Transcriptomics | bioRxiv (Preprint) | August 2026
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Biancamaria Pierri, Gabriela L. Jackson, Olesia Gololobova, Fang Wang, Erez Eitan, Olga Volpert, Vrinda Kalia, Gissette Reyes-Soffer, Louise C. Laurent, Kenneth W. Witwer, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Haotian Wu Immunoaffinity-Based Protocol to Enrich Nervous System Cell-, Lung Alveolar Cell-, and Hepatocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles From Human Plasma | Journal of Extracellular Biology | July 2026
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Abbas Hakim, Jennifer N Chousal, Srimeenakshi Srinivasan, Anelizze Castro-Martinez, Basant ElGhayati, Marina Mochizuki, Tyler Ostrander, Cassandra Wauer, Peter De Hoff, Priyadarshini Pantham, Louise C Laurent
A high-throughput, end-to-end pipeline for extracellular miRNA biomarker discovery from human biofluids | Cell Reports Methods | August 2026
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Melanie R Meister, Colleen M Fitzgerald, Kimberly A Kenton, Lisa K Low, Emily S Lukacz, Gerald McGwin, Alayne D Markland, Diane K Newman, Sara Putnam, Siobhan Sutcliffe, Jerry L Lowder
Pelvic Floor Myofascial Pain With Palpation and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms | Urogynecology | October 2026
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Ana E Rodríguez-Soto, Christopher Conlin, Jingjing Zou, Sheida Ebrahimi, Alexandra Besser, Stephan Jordan, Alexandra Schlein, Elin Lundström, Joshua Kuperman, Anders Dale, Tyler Seibert, Michael Hahn, Cynthia S Santillan, Christopher R Weil, Gaiane M Rauch, Jyoti Mayadev, Michael McHale, Rebecca Rakow-Penner
Development and evaluation of a cervical cancer-specific restriction spectrum imaging (RSI) model | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | September 2026
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Jennifer Chin, Monika Sarkar, Amalia S Magaret, Chialing Hsu, Natalie West, Patricia Walker, Elinor Langfelder-Schwind, Jennifer L Taylor-Cousar, Sigrid Ladores-Barrett, Denis Hadijiliadis, Andrea H Roe, Ahmet Uluer, Sheila Mody, Raksha Jain, Leigh Ann Bray Dayton, Emily M Godfrey
Liver cirrhosis among females with cystic fibrosis using hormonal contraception | Contraception |
September 2026
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Priyadarshini Pantham, Elina Aleksejeva-Zagura, Karina Barreiro, Dylan Burger, Lindsey A Burnett, Molly Fisher, Janne Leivo, Elena Martens, Monica Suet Ying Ng, John P Nolan, Per Svenningsen, Inge Varik, Agne Velthut-Meikas, Joshua Welsh, Uta Erdbrügger, Maija Puhka
Sex differences in urinary extracellular vesicles originating from the genitourinary system in health and disease | American Journal of Physiology | October 2026
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Marjaana Ojalill, Terrance J Haanen 3rd, Safir Ullah Khan, Yichi Zhang, Antonia Boyer, Xiao Lei Chen, Ujjwal Suwal, Pekka Rappu, Jyrki Heino, Michael T McHale, Dwayne G Stupack, David D Schlaepfer
Tumor FAK supports fibrillar collagen expression in ovarian cancer ascites | Matrix Biology | September 2026
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Daniella Rogerson, Marni Jacobs, Minhazur Sarker, Kim Boggess, Ashley N Battarbee, Jerrie Refuerzo, Noelia Zork, Gayle Olson, Celeste Durnwald, Kjersti Aagaard, Kedra Wallace, Christina Scifres, Todd Rosen, Sherri Longo, Gladys A Ramos, MOMPOD Study Consortium
Association between Neonatal Hypoglycemia and 30-Day Breastfeeding Outcomes among Gravidas with Type 2 Diabetes | American Journal of Perinatology | October 2026
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Omar Lujano-Olazaba, Mikella Robinson, Gregory J. Jordan, Sofia Howe, Anna Platen, Cassidy Lucht, Dishant Vandra, Cecilia Gallo, Mena Shammas, Katelyn Shelby, Nathan Wong, Ingrid R. Niesman, David D. Schlaepfer, David A. Cheresh, Christina M. Annunziata, Carrie D. House
RelB drives integrin-mediated stress tolerance and relapse in high-grade serous ovarian cancer | Cell Reports | July 2026
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Markos Kassahun, Alireza Tayarani, Kyle Freedman, Sebastian Gastelum, Rakesh Nemmani, Jacob Andrew, Meryem H Soylu, Katie E Frizzi, Angela Hansen, Paul Fernyhough, Corinne G Jolivalt, Dwayne G Stupack, Nigel A Calcutt
Pirenzepine Reverses Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice | Pharmaceutics | September 2026
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Katherine S Brito, Michael Schembri, Ram Parvataneni, Shira Varon, Naghmeh Salamat-Saberi, Craig J Sobolewski, Soyini Hawkins, Nicole Williams, Shawn Tassone, Antoinette Allen, Vanessa L Jacoby, L Elaine Waetjen
Treatment Failure After Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation Compared With Myomectomy | Obstetrics & Gynecology | October 2026
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OB/GYN & RS Culture and Justice Quorum (CJQ) spearheads inclusive excellence |
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Advancing Maternal Health Through Community Doula Partnerships |
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Expanding access to diverse, culturally responsive doula support is an important part of our Culture and Justice commitment to improving the birthing experience for all families.
With support from the CVS Health Foundation, the March of Dimes Expanding Equitable Access to Doula Services Action Learning Community brought together community-based organizations and hospital partners to strengthen doula services and collaboration. Over the past year, our department's Culture, Justice, and Quorum (CJQ) team collaborated with the UC San Diego Health Hearts & Hands Volunteer Doula Program, led by April Ricotta, RN, and For The Village, a San Diego community-based doula organization, as part of the initiative's 2025–2026 cohort. Together, our teams engaged in collaborative learning, shared best practices, and explored opportunities to strengthen the integration of community-based doulas into maternity care.
As we wrap up this year of collaborative work, we celebrate the time, expertise, and shared commitment of our partners and colleagues. This initiative exemplifies CJQ's commitment to strengthening community partnerships, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration, and creating alignment around opportunities to advance respectful, equitable maternity care.
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Welcome Our New Team Members |
Welcome to the Department of OB/GYN & RS. We're delighted to have you join the team! |
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Sharlay Butler, MD
Academic Specialist
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| Daisy Cruz
Business Office Admin
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| Emilia Norlin, MD
Hospitalist Physician
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Allison Rajan, MD
Hospitalist Physician
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| Minhazur Sarker, MD
MFM Physician
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| Tanya Walter
Nurse Practitioner
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OB/GYN & RS events, member gatherings, and community engagement |
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OB/GYN & RS Faculty Presented at the ACOG Annual District Meeting for Districts VIII and IX
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The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences had a strong presence at the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual District Meeting, held September 18-20 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. The meeting brings together OB/GYN clinicians from across the region to share expertise, exchange ideas and advance the field of women’s health.
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OB/GYN & RS faculty members shared their expertise at the ACOG Annual District Meeting.
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Top row (L-R): Chair Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS; Alice Sutton, MD; Scott Harvey, MD
Bottom row (L-R): Kathryn Macaulay, MD; Yvette Lacoursiere, MD; and Jorge Alvarado, MD.
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OB/GYN & RS faculty gathered for a group photo at the ACOG Annual District Meeting.
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Back row (L-R): Julia Cormano, MD; Selam Ghebrendrias, MD; Audra Meadows, MD; Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD; Danielle Vachon, MD; and a medical student.
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Front row (L-R): Diana Ha, MD (former resident); Pratima Gupta, MD; and Rafa Ifthikhar, MD (former resident).
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OB/GYN & RS Faculty Presented at the AUGS 47th Annual Meeting
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UC San Diego faculty joined urogynecology experts from across the country at the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) 47th Annual Meeting, held Oct. 4–7 in Denver. Faculty from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences participated in discussions highlighting emerging research, innovative surgical approaches and evidence-based practices aimed at advancing urogynecologic and reconstructive pelvic care.
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AUGS President Emily “Mimi” Lukacz, MD, director of the Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Division, delivers the presidential address.
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Advancing Midwifery Care at California Safety Net Institute Convening
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Anne Cooper, CNM, recently represented the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at a California Health Care Safety Net Institute convening in Oakland, Calif., where she presented on building and strengthening midwifery care. She shared insights and experiences from the UC San Diego team, offering guidance to health systems working to improve and sustain midwifery care.
Participants highlighted the value of learning about the impact of CNM and midwifery services, as well as practical strategies they could bring back to their own health systems.
Cooper was joined at the convening by April Ricotta, RN, CNM, MSW, from the UC San Diego Doula Program and Segen Zaray, MA, from the UC San Diego Center for Community Health, creating a strong UC San Diego presence at the event.
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Anne Cooper, CNM, presents at the California Health Care Safety Net Institute Convening.
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NICHD Stillbirth Consortium
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UC San Diego faculty recently participated in a meeting of the NICHD Stillbirth Consortium for the ROADMAPS study, as one of 4 centers nationally engaged in an ongoing effort to advance stillbirth research. The meeting brought together study PI s and other experts working to strengthen research and collaboration in this important area of maternal and fetal health.
Representing UC San Diego were Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Marni Jacobs, PhD; and Mana Parast, MD, PhD, of the Department of Pathology.
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Attendees gather for a group photo at the NICHD Stillbirth Consortium meeting.
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OB/GYN & RS Faculty Present at SMFM Global Congress 2026
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Faculty from our department participated in the SMFM 2026 Global Congress, held October 7–10 in Utrecht, Netherlands. The international meeting brought together leaders in maternal-fetal medicine to share research and innovative approaches to pregnancy care.
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Chair Cynthia Gyamfi–Bannerman, MD, MS, speaking at the SMFM 2026 Global Congress.
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| Nicole Teal, MD, MPH, with her research poster titled, "Co-Creating Strategies to Improve Low-Dose Aspirin Uptake for Preeclampsia Risk Reduction."
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Explore current faculty opportunities with the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences |
Career Development Faculty Positions in OB/GYN Research
Assistant Professor (Adjunct) — JPF04604
Apply Now
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Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Associate or Full Professor (Ladder Rank/In-Residence) — JPF04596
Apply Now
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Faculty Positions in Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (HS Clinical, Clinical X, In-Residence, Adjunct) — JPF04562
Apply Now
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Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Faculty Position
Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (HS Clinical, Clinical X) — JPF04543
Apply Now
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Maternal-Fetal Medicine Faculty Position
Assistant, Associate or Full Professor (HS Clinical, Clinical X) — JPF04540
Apply Now
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