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| In this issue
» Letter from the Chair
» Awards & Recognitions
» Funding News
» Publications & Newsbytes
» Clinical Innovations
» Research Spotlight
» Culture & Justice
» Graduating Residents
» Graduating Fellows
» New Residents
» New Team Members
» Recent Events
» Job Postings
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Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the summer edition of the Fimbria!
Summer is always a bittersweet season of transition in an academic medical center, as we bid farewell to our graduating trainees and welcome a new group into our department family. This year, that sense of change is matched by some wonderful news: U.S. News & World Report has ranked our department #8 in the nation and #1 in California for Obstetrics and Gynecology — the only California program to place in the national top 10.
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This recognition reflects what continues to define us, an unwavering commitment to advance excellence in clinical care, research, education, and community partnerships. As we move through our busiest clinical season, that commitment is especially present. I am continually inspired by the dedication and innovation of our faculty, trainees, and staff as we work together to improve the health and wellbeing of women and families.
In this issue, we highlight several outstanding examples of the work taking place across our department. Our Clinical Innovations feature spotlights the new Rapid Access Clinic (RAC), designed to provide timely access for urgent obstetric and gynecologic care through an innovative model by streamlining referrals, reducing wait times, and connecting patients with the right care when they need it most. In Research Program Spotlight, we feature Dr. Sarah Averbach whose research is advancing evidence-based family planning care, postpartum contraception, and equitable access to reproductive health services both nationally and globally.
This issue also showcases recent faculty publications, departmental news, and the accomplishments of our faculty, trainees, and staff. We celebrate our graduates and welcome new interns and fellows. Whether through advancing scientific discovery, delivering exceptional patient care, mentoring the next generation of clinicians and researchers, or contributing to our academic community, our department continues to make meaningful contributions that improve women's health locally and beyond.
Thank you for being part of our extended community and for all you do to advance women’s health.
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Visit our website to learn more about our divisions, clinical programs, innovative research, and educational offerings. I hope you enjoy this issue of Fimbria. As always, we welcome your feedback 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 Obstetrics & Gynecology: 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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| Administrative Vice Chair: Michael Morales
Communications Manager: Mike Masciadrelli
Contact us at: Fimbria@ucsd.edu
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Honoring Departmental & Individual Achievements |
Ms3 & Ms4 UC San Diego School of Medicine Kaiser Teaching Awards both go to OB/GYN & RS Faculty Recipients! Congratulations to David Klein, MD, and Sara McKinney, MD |
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Trainee Research Awards: Rebecca Kolodner, MD, and Molly Huang |
Minhazur Sarker, MD, selected as an editorial board member for the American Journal of Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine (AJOG MFM) |
Congratulations to Our Faculty who Received Awards During Residency/Fellow Graduation | Congratulations to recent awardees on funding for impactful research and scientific discovery |
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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 | JULY 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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Lori M. Gawron, Andrea H. Roe, Anita L. Nelson, Caitlin Bernard, Paula M. Castaño, Carrie Cwiak, Mary Jo Schriefeis, Kevin Peters, Kelly R. Culwell, Elizabeth Gray, David K. Turok
Five-Year Phase 3 Efficacy and Safety Outcomes With a Low-Dose Copper Intrauterine Device | Obstetrics & Gynecology | MAY 2026
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Renata Urban, Tara Castellano, Kemi Doll, Deborah DeLair, Jason Wright, Ramez Eskander, Shannon Westin, Matthew Powell, Amaranta Craig, Whitfield Growdon, Fernanda Musa, Marilyn Huang
Endometrial cancer: A Society of Gynecologic Oncology evidence-based review and recommendations: Part I | Gynecologic Oncology | JUNE 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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Ramez N Eskander, Bradley Corr, David Cibula, David S P Tan, Noelle Cloven, Eva Guerra, Kosei Hasegawa, Tashanna Myers, Benoit You, Vicky Makker, Flora Zagouri, Lilian T Gien, Michele Bartoletti, Adrianne Mallen, Linn Woelber, Simonetta Mocci, Kimberly Komatsubara, Long Ma, Nicoletta Colombo
A randomized, phase III study of sacituzumab govitecan versus treatment of the physician's choice in patients with endometrial cancer after platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy: the ASCENT-GYN-01 study (GOG-3104/ENGOT-en26/APGOT-EN2) | International Journal of Gynecological Cancer | JUNE 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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Sanjita Ravishankar, Francois Cady, Chrystalle Katte Carreon, Eumenia Castro, Virginia E Duncan, Philip J Katzman, Drucilla J Roberts, Karen K Mestan, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Heather Florescue, Lindsey Wimmer, Alicia A Loehlein, Mana Parast
Standardized Placental Pathology Reporting: Improving Quality and Clinical Utility Recommendations From the Society for Pediatric Pathology Placental Pathology Reporting Task Force | Pediatric and Developmental Pathology | MAY 2026
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Clapp, Mark A., Li, Siguo, Melamed, Alexander, Reiff, Emily, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Kaimal, Anjali J.
Maximizing Benefit From Antenatal Steroid Use While Avoiding Overuse| Obstetrics & Gynecology | JULY 2026
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Kiara Wiggins, Zena Del Mundo, Julio Ayala Angulo, Nandini Naidu, Angelina Saba, Lily Zhou, Christopher Garcia, Christy M Nguyen, Naveena Ujagar, Jamie-Jean De La Torre, Gabriela De Robles, Angie Rivera, Davina Trinh, Roberto Tinoco, Alexander S Kauffman, Varykina G Thackray, Anshu Agrawal, Marcus Seldin, Gabriela Pacheco-Sanchez, Dequina A Nicholas
Toll-like receptor 4 knockout mice are protected against PMOS-like pathogenesis | Reproduction | JULY 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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Bingrui Li, Valerie S. Kalluri, Alissa M. Weaver, Irene Bertolini, John J. S. Cadwell, Ameya Chaudhari, Saumya Das, Zankruti Dave, Jose Francis-Oliveira, Samir El Andaloussi, Brian P. Elcieri, Susanne Gabrielsson, Marta Garcia-Contreras, Bernd Giebel, Tal Gilboa, André Görgens, Steve Gould, Steven J. Greco, Asa B. Gustafsson, Mei He, Mengying Hu, Tony Y. Hu, Keisuke Ito, Hailing Jin, Jennifer C. Jones, Ananth Kumar Kammala, Lucia R. Laguino, Louise C. Laurent, Xiuming Liang, Hongyan Liao, Fei Liu, Mengrui Liu, Jason Lowery, Devika Soundara Manickam, Kathleen M. McAndrews, Ramkumar Menon, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Takahisa Nakamura, Martin Ng, Juliane Nguyen, John Nolan, Heather Pu, Ferdinando Pucci, Robert L. Raffai, Shikha Rani, Vijay A. Rathinam, Susmita Sahoo, Ana Isabel Salazar Puerta, Najla Adel Saleh, Carlos Salomon, Michail Spanos, Loïc Steiner, Yong Tao, Oscar P. B. Wiklander, Junjie Xiao, Yanlian Yang, Wei Ying, John Yu, Li Yu, Janos Zempleni, Mingli Zhu, Zheng Zhuang, Antje Maria Zickler, Ke Cheng, Raghu Kalluri
Advancements in extracellular vesicle research| Extracellular Vesicle | JUNE 2026
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Geonho Park, Yizhou Bian, Hao Huang, Sai Zhou, Siyu Qin, Muyang Lin, Xinyi Yang, Aaron Lee, Anand Ramkumar, Mariana Tome, Jayne Lander, Xiangjun Chen, Shenghan Wang, Pranavi Bheemreddy, Liam Stanton, Ren Sheng, Guihuan Guo, Mabel Shehada, Ruotao Wang, Alexa Roa, Chengchangfeng Lu, Wentong Yue, Ray S. Wu, Xiaoxiang Gao, Hongjie Hu, Amer Yaghi, Mark Liu, Lawrence Impey, Sally L. Collins, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Louise C. Laurent, Keith A. Wear, Antoniya Georgieva, Sheng Xu
Fetal monitoring for high-risk pregnancies using a wearable ultrasound patch| Nature Biotechnology | May 2026
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Julia K Shinnick, Vivian W Sung, Emily S Lukacz, Christopher Chermansky, Heidi S Harvie, David Ellington, Marie Fidela Paraiso, Stephanie Yu, Donna Mazloomdoost, Benjamin Carper, Rebecca G Rogers; NICHD Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
Goal Achievement in Women With Urinary Incontinence After Midurethral Sling | Urogynecology | JUNE 2026
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Peter C Jeppson, Jesse Nodora, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Florencia Gonzalez, Tatiana Sanses, Emily S Lukacz, Holley E Richter, Sarah E S Jeney, Celeste Crenshaw, Mary Zaremba, Vivian W Sung
Community Engagement Methods for an Urgency Urinary Incontinence Trial| Urogynecology • JUNE 2026
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Siobhan Sutcliffe, Chloe Falke, Kyle D Rudser, Gerald McGwin, Cynthia S Fok, Cecilia Hardacker, Aimee S James, Emily S Lukacz, Julia Maki, Alayne D Markland, Ratna Pakpahan, Sara Putnam, Leslie M Rickey, Jean F Wyman, Linda Brubaker, Ariana L Smith; Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium
Striving for Diversity in Population-Based Research: Strategies and Outcomes in the Rise for Health Study| American Journal of Preventative Medicine| JUNE 2026
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Charles W Nager, Anthony G Visco, Holly E Richter, Charles R Rardin, Kate Meriwether, Heidi S Harvie, Halina M Zyczynski, Marie Fidela R Paraiso, Donna Mazloomdoost, Amaanti Sridhar, Sonia Thomas; Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Pelvic Floor Disorders Network
Sacrospinous Hysteropexy With Mesh vs Vaginal Hysterectomy for Treatment of Uterovaginal Prolapse: 10-Year Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial | JAMA Surgery | JUNE 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 | June 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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Yasin El Abiead, Jeong In Seo, Vincent Charron-Lamoureux, Michael Strobel, Wilhan Donizete Gonçalves Nunes, Haoqi Nina Zhao, Kine Eide Kvitne, Simone Zuffa, Helena Mannochio-Russo, Harsha Gouda, Cristina Bez, Abubaker Patan, Shipei Xing, Jasmine Zemlin, Ipsita Mohany, Julius Agongo, Andres Mauricio Caraballo Rodriguez, Lindsey A. Burnett, Victoria Deleray, Abzer K. Pakkir Shah, Jarmo-Charles Kalinski, Daniel Petras, Nikiforos Alygizakis, Jeremy Carver, Ozgur Yurekten, Thomas Payne, Eoin Fahy, Shankar Subramaniam, Juan Antonio Vizcaíno, Mingxun Wang, Pieter C. Dorrestein
Structure-centric searching enables global mapping of the public metabolome | Nature Biotechnology | April 2026
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Recent News Featuring the Department of OB/GYN & RS |
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OB/GYN & RS State-of-the-Art Programs Advance Patient Care |
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Rapid Access Clinic: Improving Access to Timely OB/GYN Care |
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Addressing a Critical Gap in Access to Care
Timely access to urgent obstetric and gynecologic (OB/GYN) care remains a persistent challenge, particularly for patients whose concerns require prompt evaluation but do not always require emergency department care or hospital admission. Before the development of the Rapid Access Clinic (RAC), patients with urgent needs could face delays in specialty evaluation, placing additional strain on existing care pathways and potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment.
To address this gap, the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences established the Rapid Access Clinic (RAC), an innovative care model designed to expedite evaluation and treatment for current UCSD patients with urgent OB/GYN concerns. Initially developed as a pilot program internal referrals for established UCSD patients, tied to the opening of a new clinic space, RAC was created to improve access for both obstetric and gynecologic patients who may otherwise experience delays accessing specialty care or require evaluation through already-burdened care settings.
The RAC clinic currently supports patients presenting with urgent concerns such as abnormal uterine bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, pelvic pain, bleeding in early pregnancy, postoperative complications, or concerning examination findings who may require timely specialty assessment to determine the appropriate next steps in care. RAC provides a dedicated pathway to care, improving access to timely evaluation while supporting continuity within the health system.
The clinic is supported by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and providers across the department, including a pool of physicians who participate in evaluating and caring for patients with urgent needs. The addition of point-of-care ultrasound, slated to start this fall, will further streamline processes for our patients. Through this collaborative model, RAC provides patients with a dedicated pathway for timely assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Expanding Access and Clinical Impact
Since implementation, RAC has become an important component of ambulatory women's health services. Through a standardized triage process and dedicated appointment capacity, the clinic has enabled more efficient evaluation of patients who might otherwise face prolonged wait times for specialty care, such that we are hoping to expand this access.
The clinical impact has been significant. During the pilot phase, the clinic facilitated the identification of multiple OB/GYN malignancies identified through expedited visits for abnormal bleeding, allowing patients to enter appropriate treatment pathways without unnecessary delays. The program has also streamlined access to diagnostic procedures, including endometrial biopsy, enabling patients to receive definitive evaluation more efficiently. In addition, RAC has provided timely assessment and management of postoperative concerns, reduced avoidable emergency department utilization, and improved continuity of care.
Growing Demand and Operational Innovation
Demand for the service has continued to grow, and RAC has become a trusted referral resource for providers across the health system. The clinic currently supports approximately 70 urgent access appointment slots each month, reflecting the ongoing need for timely specialty evaluation.
A notable feature of RAC is its nurse-led triage and scheduling workflow, which leverages clinical expertise to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate level of care as efficiently as possible. This approach is supported by collaboration among physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and staff across the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.
The clinic's multidisciplinary staffing model allows providers from across the department to contribute their expertise in caring for patients with urgent needs. As RAC continues to evolve, the department is focused on expanding its ability to serve both obstetric and gynecologic patients, inclusive of ultrasound evaluation, while maintaining a strong commitment to patient safety, equitable access, and high-quality care.
Advancing Patient-Centered and Equitable Care
Beyond improving access, RAC exemplifies the department's commitment to innovation, quality, and health equity. By reducing barriers to specialty evaluation and accelerating diagnosis and treatment, the clinic has enhanced the patient experience while supporting more effective utilization of healthcare resources.
As the demand for timely women's health services continues to grow, RAC continues to evolve as a multidisciplinary model designed to connect patients with the right care at the right time. Through collaboration across the department, the clinic demonstrates how thoughtful redesign of care pathways can improve access, enhance quality, and deliver meaningful benefits for patients across the community.
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Research Program Spotlight |
Featuring OB/GYN & RS Groundbreaking Research Endeavors |
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Sarah H. Averbach, MD, MAS: Advancing Access to Family Planning |
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Sarah H. Averbach, MD, MAS, is a Professor in the UC San Diego Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences. She is the Program Director for the Fellowship in Complex Family Planning, the Director of the Global Health Academic Concentration for the School of Medicine, and the Co-Director of the Clinical & Translational Research Hub in the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Innovation (CORI). She serves on the steering committee for the Fogarty GloCal Health Fellowship—a career development fellowship sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Center.
Dr. Averbach's research program is dedicated to expanding equitable access to family planning locally and globally, using implementation science methods to address the gap between evidence-based contraception and abortion care and the people who need these services. Her work focuses on three central questions:
• When can family planning care be safely provided—for example, immediately postpartum rather than weeks later?
• Where can that care be delivered—in hospitals and clinics, community settings, or pharmacies?
• Who can safely provide care—physicians, pharmacists, or advanced practice clinicians?
The goal is to design and test interventions that remove barriers to contraception and abortion care while ensuring safety and effectiveness so that evidence-based methods reach the people who want and need them. By combining rigorous trial design with person-centered outcome measures, Dr. Averbach's team works to translate research findings directly into clinical practice and health policy.
Featured Research Projects
Expanding Access to Postpartum Contraception
Unintended pregnancy, along with maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, can be reduced by making long-acting reversible contraception—implants and IUDs—available earlier in the postpartum period. Dr. Averbach led a randomized controlled trial in Kampala, Uganda, showing that offering contraceptive implants immediately after delivery increased use at six months postpartum without harming infant growth or lactation. Building on this work through a Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) K12 award, she led a multicenter U.S. trial of more than 400 participants demonstrating that IUD placement two to three weeks postpartum is as safe as the standard six-to-eight-week interval. That study, published in JAMA, is now driving national practice change and was cited by the CDC in its 2024 contraceptive guidelines.
She serves on the Research Committee for the Society of Family Planning and consults for ACOG's Postpartum Contraceptive Access Initiative and the Gates Foundation Global Family Planning Program. She was the senior author of the Cochrane review on immediate versus delayed postpartum insertion of contraceptive implants and IUDs. Her passion for caring for patients during the postpartum period inspired her to co-found the innovative 4th Trimester Program with Dr. Emeruwa in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. The program links postpartum visits with infant care visits early in the postpartum period and emphasizes care navigation.
Expanding Who Can Provide Medication Abortion Care
Abortion restrictions increase geographic and financial barriers to care, so Dr. Averbach's team is examining new models for delivering medication abortion safely and effectively. Her research has demonstrated that pharmacist dispensing of mifepristone is safe and acceptable in both the United States and Nepal, evidence that helped support the FDA's 2023 decision allowing the medication to be dispensed at retail pharmacies for the first time. She is now studying pharmacist prescribing of medication abortion and conducted the first U.S. pilot trial of this model, which drew national media attention.
She is leading a Society of Family Planning-funded study evaluating the safety of medication abortion provided by advanced practice clinicians (APCs; i.e., nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and physician associates), a workforce increasingly essential to preserving access. Currently, many state laws restrict APCs from providing abortion care despite the lack of high-quality evidence supporting those restrictions.
Training the Next Generation of Scientists and Clinicians
Mentorship is central to Dr. Averbach's work. As Program Director for the Complex Family Planning Fellowship and Director of the Global Health Academic Concentration, she mentors trainees at every stage, including medical students, residents, doctoral students, fellows, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty, through all phases of clinical research—from study design to data analysis, dissemination, and publication.
She has mentored trainees from UC San Diego as well as India. Trainees in her group gain direct experience designing and conducting clinical trials, implementation science studies, and analyses of observational cohorts. They also participate in collaborations spanning UC San Diego, institutions across the United States, and international partners in Botswana and India through sustainable, bidirectional partnerships.
Collaborators
Dr. Averbach's current collaborators include Dr. Mahesh Puri at the Center for Research and Environmental Health (CREHPA) in Nepal; Dr. Shahina Begum at the National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH) in India; and faculty across UC San Diego Health in the Departments of Pediatrics, Mathematics, Public Health/Implementation Science, and Medicine/Global Public Health (Center for Gender Equity and Health).
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Dr. Averbach with collaborator Dr. Tlamelo Setshwaelo and the BSRHI (Botswana Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative) clinical study team in Gabarone, Botswana. Photo taken in June 2026.
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OBGYN & RS Culture and Justice Quorum (CJQ) Spearheads Inclusive Excellence |
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Pictured Above (L-R): Audra Meadows, MD & Samantha Williams, FNP, CEO of JIREH Providers; Attendees in line at Jackie Robinson YMCA; Gifts at registration tables; Field space for families at event; Iris Payne (Black Infant Health), Samantha Williams (JIREH Providers), Kelly O. Elmore (KOE Medical), Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, Selam Ghebrendrias, MD, Audra Meadows, MD (speaking); Volunteers, Grace Hur, Domi Santiago, and Langa Sibanda at Raffle and Donations Station.
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San Diego Family Health Fair & Community Baby Shower |
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On June 14, 2026 UC San Diego OB/GYN joined community partners to host the Second Annual San Diego Family Health Fair & Community Baby Shower at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA. Together with families, community organizations, healthcare professionals, volunteers, and local leaders, we created a welcoming space focused on education, support, connection, and celebration.
While this was our second Family Health Fair, it felt in many ways like an inaugural event. In 2025, we partnered with the national Thrive Tour to bring resources and support to families in our community. This year, however, the event was built entirely through local partnerships and community collaboration. Community organizations helped shape the vision, recruit participants, provide resources, and create an experience that reflected the strengths and needs of San Diego families.
Community partnership is a critical component of advancing health equity. By meeting families where they are, listening to community priorities, and working alongside trusted organizations, we strengthen relationships that support maternal, infant, and family health beyond the walls of our clinics and hospitals.
The success of this year's event demonstrates what is possible when healthcare organizations move beyond outreach and engage in authentic partnership with the communities they serve.
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More than 300 community members attended the event, accessing health education, wellness activities, family-centered programming, and maternal health resources. Attendees received services including blood pressure and A1C screenings, free produce distribution, obstetric ultrasounds, lactation consultations, and connections to more than 40 community organizations offering ongoing support for children and families.
A special highlight of the event was the extraordinary generosity demonstrated through our community donation drive. Thanks to the support of UC San Diego faculty and staff, community partners, and individual donors, hundreds of essential baby items were distributed to families, including diapers, wipes, infant formula, strollers, cribs, and other newborn necessities. These contributions helped reduce barriers to care for many families while reinforcing the spirit of compassion and community that defined the event. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed through our donation drive and wishlist.
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We are especially grateful to JIREH Providers and All Saints Church for their exceptional generosity and partnership in providing baby shower gifts, family resources, and meaningful support to participating families. We also thank the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, Global Communities, San Diego County Maternal, Child & Family Health Services, Black Infant Health, KOE Medical Consulting, REEL Teens, UC San Diego Health, and the many community organizations, exhibitors, volunteers, faculty, staff, and students whose collaboration and dedication made this event possible.
Events such as the San Diego Family Health Fair & Community Baby Shower demonstrate how meaningful community partnerships can advance health equity, build trust, and improve access to resources for families across our region. As we continue to strengthen these relationships, we look forward to expanding this annual initiative and welcoming even more families at our next San Diego Family Health Fair & Community Baby Shower in 2027.
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Pictured Above (Left to Right): UC San Diego Midwives, Hope Gunther, Erica Vu-Hill, and Hearts & Hands Doula Lily Martinez; Baby essentials at the Raffle and Donations Station; Global Communities Partners, Yuli Smith, Emaree Nickerson-Wright, Anissa Cornelius; UC San Diego Medical Students Mo Oni and Jane Frances-Uches representing OB/GYN & RS
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Congratulations to Our Resident Graduates |
Congratulations to Our Fellow Graduates |
Welcome to UC San Diego Health! |
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| Anika Ashcraft
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Undergraduate School: Stanford University
Medical School: UC San Diego School of Medicine
Career Interests: Exercise in pregnancy, Patient education, Cancer screening and prevention
Anika grew up in Seattle and attended Stanford University, where she competed on the Women’s Rowing Team while studying Human Biology. After graduation, she worked on breast cancer clinical trials at UCSF before heading south to UC San Diego for medical school. There, she took on multiple mentorship roles and discovered her passion for obstetrics and gynecology, with particular interests in exercise in pregnancy and patient education. She met her husband, now a UCSD emergency medicine resident, at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Outside of medicine, Anika enjoys spending time in the mountains, practicing yoga, running, and baking treats for her team!
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| Jaye Boissiere
Hometown: Los Altos Hills, CA
Undergraduate School: Stanford University
Medical School: Duke University
Career Interests: Gynecologic oncology, oncofertility, OB critical care
Jaye is originally from the Bay Area and grew up there with her parents and older brother. She stayed close to home for undergrad at Stanford, where she played on the women’s soccer team. After graduating, Jaye continued playing in Le Havre, France and with the Washington Spirit in the NWSL. Jaye is coming to UCSD from Duke SOM and is interested in all things OB/GYN but is particularly drawn to gynecologic oncology and OB critical care. Both she and her husband are very excited to be moving closer to home and to a city where they have friends and family. In her free time, Jaye enjoys trail running, swimming, reading, and walking dogs at the local shelter.
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| Chase Jablon
Hometown: Washington D.C.
Undergraduate School: Georgetown University
Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine
Career Interests: Gynecologic oncology, critical care, bilingual medicine, health policy, and mental health
Chase is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine. He grew up moving frequently as a Navy brat, living across the U.S., and attended Georgetown University, where he studied biology and Spanish and spent time abroad in Quito, Ecuador. He returned to Nebraska for medical school, having graduate from high school there, and developed interests in caring for refugee and immigrant populations, particularly Spanish-speaking communities. Chase is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy with interests in gynecologic oncology, health policy, and bilingual medicine. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, hiking, trivia, and baking—especially bread. He has family on both coasts but is looking forward to enjoying California & getting out to Hawaii where his parents recently moved.
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| Gabrielle Le
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Texas at Austin
Career Interests: Medical education and mentorship, reproductive justice, gynecologic surgery
Gabrielle was born and raised in Houston, TX before earning her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Society at the University of California, Los Angeles. She attended medical school at the University of Texas at Austin where she also earned her Master’s of Education. Her career interests include reproductive justice and advocacy, improving healthcare accessibility, medical education, and gynecologic surgery. In her free time, Gabby enjoys going to music festivals and concerts, exploring new restaurants, as well as playing volleyball and spikeball. She is extremely excited to serve the population of San Diego and explore all the city and its
community have to offer.
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| Valerie McCallister
Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
Undergraduate School: Xavier University of Louisiana
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Career Interests: Black Maternal Health, teen STI and pregnancy education, global health
Valerie McAllister is originally from Gilbert, Arizona and attended undergrad at Xavier University of Louisiana prior to obtaining her MD at Howard University College of Medicine. She is a blend of American, Mexican, and Panamanian cultures and loves working with diverse patient populations that remind her of her family. She is passionate about educating teens about reproductive health and creating community events to promote maternal health. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors with her two dogs, trying out new restaurants, and reading romance and mystery books.
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| Maggie Roccato
Hometown: Moorestown, New Jersey
Undergraduate School: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Career Interests: Perinatal substance use disorders/addiction medicine, complex contraception, community outreach, and global health
Born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs of New Jersey, Maggie is excited to make the move across the country to begin her OB/GYN residency at UCSD. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, majoring in biochemistry and anthropology, and will graduate from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University this May. Her professional interests include perinatal substance use disorders and addiction medicine, complex contraception, community outreach, and global health. She is passionate about providing high-quality, humanistic, accessible healthcare to her community. In her free time, Maggie enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, practicing yoga, and cheering on Philadelphia sports teams.
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| Koran Sherman
Hometown: Kingston, New Hampshire
Undergraduate School: University of New Mexico
Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Career Interests: Reproductive justice, substance use disorders in pregnancy, medical education, global health
Koran grew up in Kingston, New Hampshire, and El Cajon, California, experiences that shaped her appreciation for diverse communities and perspectives. Koran completed her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and went on to attend medical school at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. She has a strong interest in reproductive justice and is passionate about advocating for equitable access to care while also helping educate and mentor the next generation of medical providers. Outside of medicine, Koran loves unwinding with my dog, Lily, and cat, Bruno, usually with a "romantasy" book in hand. You can also find her relaxing on the beach or challenging herself in a new workout class.
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Welcome to the Department of OB/GYN & RS. We're delighted to have you join the team! |
OB/GYN & RS Events, Member Gatherings, and Community Engagement |
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Second Annual UC San Diego Women's Health Symposium Highlights Advances in Women’s Health Research
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, in partnership with the Center for OB/GYN Research Innovation (CORI), hosted its Second Annual Women’s Health Symposium on May 27, bringing together close to 250 researchers, clinicians, trainees, industry leaders and community partners to advance women’s health through interdisciplinary collaboration and team science. Building on the success of the inaugural symposium in 2025, this year’s program expanded in both scale and scientific scope, featuring team science talks, early career flash talks, trainee prize poster pitches, research collaboration and networking roundtables, and the announcement of an inaugural Women’s Health Innovation Cross-Disciplinary Pilot Grant. Key research areas focused on gynecologic conditions from heavy menstrual bleeding to menopause, cancer, aging, perinatal health, novel technology and female pelvic medicine.
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The Women's Health Symposium included several research talks led by industry experts including Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, and Pita Navarro, co-founder and chief science officer of Evvy who participated in the symposium's Keynote Fireside Chat.
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Marianna Alperin, MD; Irene Su, MD; Chancellor Pradeep Khosla; Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD; Vice Chancellor John Carethers, MD, and Louise Laurent, MD, PhD, were all in attendance at the Women’s Health Symposium.
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Trainee Research Day 2026
Trainees from across the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences gathered June 3 at UC San Diego’s Seventh College for Trainee Research Day, an annual event highlighting emerging discoveries in women’s health, reproductive medicine and basic science research.
The event brought together graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, clinical fellows and residents to present original research spanning placental biology, reproductive endocrinology, cancer immunology, fertility preservation, maternal-fetal medicine and urogynecology. The event highlighted the department's commitment to advancing scientific discovery while training the next generation of physician-scientists and researchers.
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Trainee Research Day featured presentations from department scientists, fellows and residents. Research topics ranged from identifying placental genetic signatures associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes to investigating mechanisms of ovarian cancer immunosuppression and examining interventions to improve fertility preservation access for cancer patients.
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The Robert Resnik Distinguished Speaker Keynote Presentation was delivered by Gil Mor, MD, PhD, John. M. Malone Jr. Endowed Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and scientific director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His lecture, "Immunology of Pregnancy: Past, Present, and Future," explored decades of progress in understanding the complex immunological interactions that support healthy pregnancy and outlined future directions for the field.
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UC San Diego hosted the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFH) Hypertension in Pregnancy Learning Collaborative from May 28-29. The above photo includes all of the UCSD members who presented their expertise. This annual event unites clinicians to implement best practices and improve postpartum care.
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Left to right: Tiffany Lentz, Mai Hoang, MD (former faculty member), Maryam Tarsa, MD, MAS, Ayalet Ruppin-Pham, Ukachi Emeruwa, MD, MPH, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, MD, MS, Elizabeth Hughes, Nicole Teal, MD, MPH, Elisha Jaeke, MD (OB/GYN & RS PGY2 Resident)
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The 2026 OB/GYN & RS Chief Resident and Fellowship Graduation took place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at The Birch Aquarium at Scripps. This annual event included a celebratory dinner and a graduation program.
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Back row (left to right): Daniella Rogerson, MD, Kelsey Keverline, MD, Maureen Ries, MD (residency program director), Alice Sutton, MD (residency associate program director), Jorge Alvarado, MD (residency associate program director)
Front row (left to right): Emma Roberts, MD, Jessica Rivas, MD, Sophia Angelides, MD, and Allison Rajan, MD
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UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent hosted a final retirement celebration to honor Thomas Moore, MD. Members of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences attended the celebration in support of Dr. Moore, who has been ranked several times as one of the top obstetricians and gynecologists in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
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OB/GYN & RS Current Job Positions |
Join us on @UCSD_ObGyn X(Twitter), @UCSD_ObGynReproSci Instagram, and LinkedIn for health tips, breaking news, and more!
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