COVID-19: Pregnant women’s attitudes towards the illness and vaccines
In partnership with other physicians across the country, faculty and clinicians from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) and Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH) conducted a study evaluating pregnant individuals’ attitudes toward COVID-19 illness and vaccination from Aug. 2020 to Dec. 2020 – just before the vaccine was available in the United States.
The study, titled “Attitudes toward COVID-19 illness and COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women: a cross-sectional multicenter study during August-December 2020” surveyed a cross-section of pregnant people in the cities of Salt Lake City, New York, and Birmingham, Ala.
Read moreUAB designated as 2020 SOAP Center of Excellence
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has been named a 2020 Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) Center of Excellence (COE).
This designation is received by institutions and obstetric anesthesia programs that demonstrate excellence in obstetric anesthesia care.
“It is truly gratifying for our Labor and Delivery Unit to be recognized by the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology for excellence in anesthesia care. It is another testament to the outstanding care that our team of nurses, technicians, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists routinely provide to our patients every day," says Brian Casey, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The desingation is the result of unmatched teamwork among multiple areas within UAB.
"This was a collaborative effort through multiple departments, including Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nursing, and Pediatrics," said Mark Powell, M.D., medical director of the obstetric anesthesia section.
2020 designees were named in March 2021 with designation remaining valid for four years.
Huh named NRG Oncology Cancer Prevention and Control Committee Chair
Warner K. Huh, M.D., FACOG, FACS, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, has been named chair of the NRG Oncology Cancer Prevention and Control Committee, effective immediately.
NRG Oncology seeks to improve the lives of cancer patients by conducting practice-changing, multi-institutional clinical and translational research with emphases on gender-specific malignancies including gynecologic, breast, and prostate cancers as well as localized or locally advanced cancers of all types.
In addition to this new role, Dr. Huh will assume responsibility for the the clinical trial titled “A Non-randomized Prospective Clinical Trial Comparing the Non-inferiority of Salpingectomy to Salpingo-oophorectomy to Reduce the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Among BRCA1 Carriers [SOROCk].”
UAB medical professionals play key role in Alabama’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee
Rachel Sinkey, M.D., Assistant Professor of UAB OB/GYN & Committee Chair of AL-MMRCThe Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee (AL-MMRC), housed within The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), recently published their first Maternal Mortality Review Report from the newly-convened committee.
Approximately one-third of maternal deaths in Alabama happen during pregnancy, around one-third occur after delivery up to six weeks postpartum, and another third occur between 43 and 365 days after delivery.
The report states that over 700 maternal deaths transpire annually in the U.S., and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black/African American women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women.
In its efforts to increase the health and well-being of all Alabama mothers, the ADPH launched the AL-MMRC in 2018. The committee, which includes multiple medical professionals from UAB, works to review maternal mortality in Alabama and propose solutions to reduce the number of maternal deaths.
When a woman dies, a pregnancy check box must be filled out on the death certificate to indicate whether the decedent was pregnant or up to one year postpartum. These documented deaths are reported to the ADPH Center for Vital Statistics where a list of maternal deaths is generated and sent to the AL-MMRC. The AL-MMRC then requests records, generates a case abstract, and reviews further.
Maternal mortality numbers include women who died while pregnant, during childbirth, or up to one year after delivery. However, the cause of death for these women may not always be due to pregnancy.
“Based on guidance from the CDC, a maternal death is classified as a pregnancy-related death or a pregnancy-associated death,” says Rachel Sinkey, M.D., assistant professor in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and committee chair of the AL-MMRC. “A pregnancy-related death occurs as a result of the pregnancy, while a pregnancy-associated death occurs to a pregnant or postpartum patient that was unrelated to the pregnancy. A motor vehicle accident is an example of a pregnancy-associated death.”
The process to review and report maternal mortality cases is extensive to ensure accuracy. In 2019, the AL-MMRC reviewed cases from 2016 and published their results in the fall of 2020.
The report provides a detailed outline of pregnancy-associated deaths in 2016. Key findings, data, and recommendations, among other vital information, can be found in the report. A supplemental infographic was also created to share a clear call to action.
Recently, a legislative resolution recognizing the AL-MMRC’s efforts and recommendations was submitted. The resolution specifically recognizes the AL-MMRC’s first Maternal Mortality Review Report and calls for continued funding.
“The committee is vital to understand why maternal deaths occur in our state,” Sinkey says. “I’m grateful for the AL-MMRC leadership including Dr. Grace Thomas, who manages the ever-growing team within the ADPH, to Dr. Susan Baker from the University of South Alabama, who serves as the vice chair and provides meticulous case reviews, and to Evelyn Coronado-Guillaumet, MPH, whose experience coordinating the Texas Maternal Mortality Review was instrumental in shaping the newly formed AL-MMRC.”
The AL-MMRC consists of many UAB medical professionals – all who bring a unique and important perspective to the review of each deceased mother. The committee meets four to six times annually to continue its work and produce future findings and materials.
AL-MMRC leadership from UAB include:
Rachel Sinkey, M.D., FACOG, Committee Chair | UAB Department of OB/GYN
Evelyn Coronado-Guillaumet, MPH, National Liaison | UAB School of Public Health
AL-MMRC members from UAB include:
Paul V. Benson, M.D. | UAB Department of Pathology
Marc G. Cribbs, M.D., FACOG | UAB Department of Medicine and UAB Department of Pediatrics
Blair Danielle Hedges, MSN, CRNP, M.A. | UAB Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Pete Lane, D.O. | UAB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology
Tiffani Maycock, D.O. | UAB Selma Family Medicine Residency
Megan Mileski, MSN, R.N. | 2020 Graduate of UAB’s Applications of Mixed Methods Research Program
Mark Powell, M.D. | UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Lindsay Speros Robbins, M.D., MPH | UAB Department of OB/GYN
Michelle Tubinis, M.D. | UAB Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Jennifer Kendall, M.D. | Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency Program
Lauren Linken, M.D. | Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency Program
UAB establishes uterine transplant program, first in southeast
The University of Alabama at Birmingham and UAB Medicine have established the first uterus transplant program in the Southeast and the fourth such program in the United States. The program, which is a partnership between the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Division of Transplantation and the Comprehensive Transplant Institute, will provide women with uterine factor infertility an innovative option for child-bearing using deceased donor organs.
UAB is the first program in the United States to offer uterus transplantation outside of a clinical research trial and is one of very few centers in the world accepting new patients.
“Our program is the only one in the Southeast and it represents the remarkably strong programs in women’s health and solid organ transplantation at UAB,” said Warner Huh, M.D., chair of the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Patients will receive care from the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, which are all housed within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
“Our patients will receive care from our renowned healthcare providers throughout the entire process,” Huh said. “From preparing for the transplant to the delivery of the child and then removal of the uterus, our physicians and nurses will be with them for every step of the way.”
The Division of Gynecologic Oncology will work with patients who are candidates for the uterine transplant, while those in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Services will work with the patient on embryo generation ahead of the surgery.
After the transplant and once the patient is pregnant, she will be cared for by Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists until birth.
Paige Porrett, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery in the UAB Division of Transplantation and Comprehensive Transplant Institute, will lead the program.
Uterine factor infertility may affect as many as 5 percent of reproductive-age women worldwide and was a previously irreversible form of female infertility. A woman with UFI cannot carry a pregnancy to term either because she was born without a uterus, has had the uterus surgically removed during a hysterectomy, or has a uterus in place that does not function properly. Congenital absence of the uterus is a condition called Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), which affects approximately one out of every 4,500 females, and makes it impossible for a woman to get pregnant.
Most uterus transplants performed to date in the world have been in women with MRKH syndrome. However, women who have undergone a hysterectomy and had the uterus removed surgically are also potential candidates for uterus transplantation.
“We are tremendously excited to announce that UAB is expanding access to uterus transplantation and offering hope to couples unable to get pregnant,” Porrett said. “Our doors are open to both providers and patients anywhere who want to learn more about this exciting new therapy.”
How uterus transplantation works
The process from transplant to successful birth varies from person to person but can take two to five years for many participants. It includes five phases:
1. Embryo generation. Before the uterus transplant surgery, a woman generates embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). During the process of IVF, she is given fertility drugs to produce eggs, which are then removed from her ovaries and fertilized outside of her body. These embryos are then frozen for later use.
2. Transplantation. A uterus is removed from a donor and surgically placed into the recipient. The recipient begins taking immunosuppressive medications to prevent rejection of the transplant. These medications are taken while the transplant is in place, including during pregnancy.
3. Pregnancy. Several months after the transplant surgery, one of the recipient’s embryos will be thawed and placed directly into the uterus. If implantation is successful, the recipient will become pregnant. The health of both baby and mother is monitored very closely at frequent prenatal care visits with a high-risk obstetrician, known as a maternal fetal medicine specialist.
4. Delivery. The child is born as close to term as is possible via a planned Cesarean section. If the pregnancy has gone well and the recipient and her partner desire a second child, the uterus is left in place and immunosuppression medications are continued. Approximately six months after delivery, another embryo transfer can be attempted.
5. Uterus removal. After childbearing is complete, the transplanted uterus is removed and immunosuppressive medications are stopped.
Am I a candidate?
Candidates for uterine transplants should be generally healthy and without a uterus — either born without one or have had one surgically removed. As part of an intensive evaluation, candidates are educated about the risks of uterus transplantation and counseled about alternatives to uterus transplantation for family building.
To learn more about this program or to find out if you are a candidate, click here or please contact 833-UAB-CTI1.
Women Physicians: Leading the Way
Women physicians are more prevelant now than ever before, despite the continued challenges they face. In 2021, we still see bias, gender pay gaps, and glass ceilings. However, our women physicians are breaking barriers and fighting for the equality of our future women in medicine.
Our women physicians excel in both their professional work and home lives, a misconception when thinking of female doctors. Their balancing skills are not only impressive, but set forth a standard of excellence in achieving work-life balance that all can learn from. Their commitment to education, research, and patient care is admirable and invaluable to our department, UAB, and the world of medicine as a whole. Additionally, our women are able to provide an added level comfort to many of our female patients, an added value that is specific to our department and specialties regarding women's health.
It is vital that we acknowledge the obstacles our women physicians are still facing today. By addressing these challenges, we can bring awareness to the changes that need to be made now and for the future of our female physicians to come.
We asked some of our women faculty about these challenges, why they became a physician, and what changes they hope to see for future women physicians. View their responses below, and then take time to meet all of our women physicians, here.
Audra Williams, M.D.![williams audra](/medicine/obgyn/images/faculty/williams_audra.jpg)
Why did you choose to become a physician?
I became a physician because it was the perfect way to combine my love for science and compassion for helping others. I also loved the educational aspect of being a doctor – being able to teach individuals and communities about health.
What are some continued challenges that women physicians face today? What do you think needs to be done to address and eliminate these challenges?
Women physicians still face the challenge of the glass ceiling in medicine. Though the number of female doctors has increased there has not been an equivalent rise in the number of women in leadership positions. There should be continued efforts to mentor and promote women in leadership at all levels of medicine.
Margaret I. Liang, M.D.![mliang](/medicine/obgyn/images/faculty/mliang.jpg)
What do you think is a common misconception people have regarding women physicians?
That women can't be surgeons, but I'm here to tell you that women can be excellent surgeons while still navigating all the other demands in life that we all face. Not to say it's easy, but like they say... nothing worth doing is easy.
Do you have any advice for other girls or women who desire to become a physician?
Seek out personal and professional relationships with people who will be your champions. My most valuable relationships are a core set of people both in and out of medicine who I trust to work through my most challenging decisions and who are my most vocal supporters during my successes.
Isuzu Meyer, M.D.
Do you have any advice for other girls or women who desire to become a physician?
Career in medicine is extremely rewarding. You impact many lives, directly and indirectly, such as your patients, their family, your trainees, your colleagues, as well as society overall. However, it is also inevitable that you will encounter “a bad day” from time to time. When that happens, it will shake your confidence, it may create doubts in your decision or cause you to wonder why you have chosen medicine as your career. In Japanese, we have an old saying, “Shoshin Wasuru Bekarazu” which means remember your original intention. Remember the day that you decided to pursue a career in medicine, the excitement you felt as you were reciting the Hippocratic Oath during the white coat ceremony as you entered into the medical profession, or the first time someone called you “Doctor.” That has certainly helped me cope with challenges along the way.
What do you hope to see regarding the future of women physicians?
I hope that we continue to live in a world where we embrace an individual for who they are, regardless of their gender or background. I hope that there will be fewer obstacles as one continues to pursue whatever their dream may be. I hope tomorrow is even a better place than it is today.
Akila Subramaniam, M.D., MPH![asubra](/medicine/obgyn/images/faculty/asubra.jpg)
What was a challenge you faced as a woman physician?
I think the biggest challenge women face in medicine is that there is a universal perception that women cannot be "physicians." In other words, that the "doctors" are typically male. This is less challenging in a specialty such as Obstetrics and Gynecology where the number of women entering the specialty is rapidly growing to outnumber men, but this still seems to be the case in many of the OB/GYN subspecialties. In accordance with the theory that "women aren't doctors" is the level of respect accorded to the "female physician" not only by patients, but also other medical practitioners in the system.
What are some continued challenges that women physicians face today? What do you think needs to be done to address and eliminate these challenges?
There are many challenges that women continue to face in medicine today. There are differing sets of standards as to what constitutes good leadership and readiness for promotion between men and women. Also, strong personality behaviors are mislabeled amongst women as opposed to considered the "norm" for others. It is applying this double standard that seems to be the biggest challenge women face today. Eliminating these challenges take time and education. There are various leadership, personality, teaching, and clinical styles, and they are all applicable to various situations. There is no one standard for excellence anymore - and recognizing that each individual adds value, even if different from some illusory norm, is the key to eliminating these barriers. Furthermore, including more women in highly visible positions is key to eliminating these challenges. Knowing there is a female Vice President of this United States now makes it a possibility for women anywhere - whereas previously it was a pipe dream.
Sukhkamal Campbell, M.D.
What was a challenge you faced as a woman physician?
One of the challenges that I have struggled with is my many roles – only one of which is being a physician. I want to be the best reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist to my patients and commit to them in the way they deserve, but that role is also juggled with being a mom of 2 little boys (age 4.5 yrs and 15 months) and a spouse and a daughter caring for elderly patients. I want to give my best in each arena of my life and sometimes that means there is no time for “me” – no time for self-reflection and unwinding. But I have learned, that I have to make and take that time – even it just means a 15 minute walk listening to Spotify or a 30 minute Peloton ride – to clear my mind, refocus on my priorities, and be the best physician / companion to my patients and also the best playmate for my kids and partner to my spouse. I am incredibly thankful for mentorship throughout my early training and career that reminded me that my family and my job would be something I would have to balance delicately and to be sure to take the time to work at that balance early on.
What do you hope to see regarding the future of women physicians?
I hope to see future generations of women physicians supporting each other through medical endeavors as well as personal struggles and strife. Often times women physicians who choose to prioritize their families (at particular times of need) are seen as being “weak” or “not committed to the field,” even by fellow female physicians and colleagues. However, I try to breed a culture of encouragement for my fellow female physician and hope future generations of women would continue to explore the work-life balance and applaud colleagues who have achieved a good balance by taking excellent care of patients while also taking time for themselves and their families – there is nothing wrong with that and it is a skillset that will only allow us to continue to thrive. We should applaud one another for seeking that balance, not shun those who pursue it.
-
Janeen L. Arbuckle, M.D., Ph.D.
-
Rebecca C. Arend, M.D., Ph.D.
-
Ashley N. Battarbee, M.D.
-
Kerri Bevis, M.D.
-
Amy Boone, M.D.
-
Margaret Boozer, M.D.
-
Cynthia Brumfield, M.D.
-
Frances S. Burgan, M.D.
-
Sukhkamal Campbell, M.D.
-
Alice Goepfert, M.D.
-
Deidre Gunn, M.D.
-
Jacqueline Hancock, M.D.
-
Kimberly Hoover, M.D.
-
Sheri Jenkins, M.D.
-
Margaret I. Liang, M.D.
-
Isuzu Meyer, M.D.
-
Shweta N. Patel, M.D.
-
Holly Richter, M.D., Ph.D.
-
Rachel Sinkey, M.D.
-
Haller J. Smith, M.D.
-
Chere' Leberte Stewart, M.D.
-
Akila Subramaniam, M.D., MPH
-
Carolyn Webster, M.D.
-
Luisa Wetta, M.D.
-
Audra R. Williams, M.D.
-
Ashley Wright, M.D.
Residents: |
Fellows: |
Macie Champion, M.D. Gabriella Cozzi, M.D. Meredith Gray, M.D. Michelle Lu, M.D. Sarah Beebe, M.D. Sofia Buenaventura, M.D. Sarah Dunk, M.D. Kelsey Lipking, M.D. Mythreyi Mahalingam, M.D. Tullia Rushton, M.D. Francie O'Hea Ruzic, M.D. Victoria Wheeler, M.D. Allison Davis, M.D. Kaitlyn Kincaid, M.D. Claire McIlwraith, M.D. Sara Beth Norton, M.D. Lindsay Rucker, M.D. Rebecca Fleenor, M.D. Tavonna Kako, M.D. Bessie Orfanakos, M.D. Margaret Page, M.D. |
Teresa L. Boitano, M.D. Elisa T. Bushman, M.D. Jhalak Dholakia, M.D. Whitney Goldsberry, M.D. Rubymel Knupp, M.D. Ayamo Oben, M.D. Lindsay S. Robbins, M.D. Angela R. Seasely, M.D. Jaclyn Arquiette Wall, M.D. |
Tidwell named APP manager
![tidwell bethany 1790197937](/medicine/obgyn/images/faculty/tidwell-bethany-1790197937.jpg)
The creation of this inaugural position was to ensure a seat for an APP representative at the department's leadership table.
The APP manager will effectively manage the daily operation of the advanced practice providers (APP) function in the department and coordinate human resource related responsibilities. In this role, Tidwell will serve as the primary representative of the APP community on department committees and participate actively in department decision-making. She will also be responsible for maintaining high-quality care of patients, managing APP performance, training, and professional development.
The department looks forward to Ms. Tidwell's leadership in this position as it works to further its mission of always ensuring excellent patient care.
Goepfert named chair of Promotion and Tenure Committee for UAB OB/GYN Department
Alice Goepfert, M.D., has been named chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee for the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Goepfert is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology's Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UAB. She currently serves as the associate dean for Graduate Medical Education for the UAB Heersink School of Medicine as well as the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Designated Institutional Official for UAB Hospital.
Mitchell, Davis, Vigee, and Gregory achieve ASRM certification
Casey Mitchell, RN, Lauren Davis, RN, Tabitha Vigee, RN, and Courtney Gregory, CRNP, recently completed the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) certificate course on Assisted Reproductive technology and fertility care. Our entire team of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) nurses are now certified by ASRM.
Zoë Julian, MD, MPH, receives award for 2020 Community Health Scholars proposal
Congratulations to Zoë Julian, MD, MPH, and team on being awarded the full requested amount of $10,000 by the UAB Center for the Study of Community Health (CSCH) for her 2020 Community Health Scholars proposal.
Sinkey awarded CWRH and HRC's pilot grant
Dr. Rachel Sinkey, Assistant Professor in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division, has been awarded the Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH) and the Hypertension Research Center’s (HRC) collaborative University-Wide Interdisciplinary Centers pilot grant program. Dr. Sinkey and Dr. Eric Wallace, Associate Professor of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine, received this award for their collaboration on the project “Validation of a Remote Monitoring Blood Pressure Cuff.”
UAB OB/GYN's 2020 Department Awards
UAB'S Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology held its annual department awards on Friday, June 12, 2020. The awards are normally held in person, but this year the celebration was held via ZOOM to practice social distancing. The department was pleased to present numerous faculty, residents, and fellows with awards.
Akila Subramaniam named 2020 Pittman Scholar
2019-2020 OBGYN CWRH Pilot Research Grant Awardees
The UAB SOM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) is delighted to announce the recipients of the OBGYN Center for Women’s Reproductive Health (CWRH) pilot grant program. The overall mission of the UAB OBGYN department is to provide the most up-to-date and effective care to patients, to advance the scientific understanding of women’s health and to translate this new knowledge into improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, and educating our future. In pursuit of this mission, the goal of the OBGYN CWRH Pilot Grant program is to maintain and grow interdisciplinary research opportunities in women’s reproductive health while investing in our faculty and coinvestigators through the CWRH. The CWRH has 5-functional cores: Clinical research operations and administration, Biostatistics and data management, Laboratory and biorespository, Global health and Information technology and data acquisition.
The department has five divisions: Gynecologic Oncology; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Services; Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery; and Women’s Reproductive Healthcare. A total of $80,000 is awarded as shown below and includes funds set aside for the CWRH EMR Data Extraction initiative. The proposed 12 month projects will begin October 1 and funds will be available upon confirmation of their IRB. Please join in congratulating these investigators and their teams.
OBGYN Division, Gynecologic Oncology
- PI: Haller J Smith MD, Instructor Fellow (https://scholars.uab.edu/4414-haller-smith) $20,000
Collaborators: Drs. Warner Huh, Michael Straughn, and Alan Tita
Project Title: “Optimizing antibiotic prophylaxis for high-risk patients undergoing gynecologic surgery”
OBGYN Division, Maternal Fetal Medicine
- PI: Brian M Casey MD, Professor (https://scholars.uab.edu/6005-brian-casey) $20,000
Collaborators: Dr Mark Powell (Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine)
Project Title: "Decreased Neuraxial Morphine and Adjunctive Peripheral Nerve Blockade to Reduce Severity of Side Effects and Opioid Use after Cesarean Delivery”
- PI: Rachel Sinkey MD, Assistant Professor (https://scholars.uab.edu/5043-rachel-sinkey) $10,000
Collaborators: Drs. David Mauchley, Marc Cribbs, Luz Padilla, and Macie Champion
Project Title: “Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes Following Aortic Valve Replacement”
OBGYN Division, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Services
- PI: Jasmine Lee Chiang MD, Instructor Fellow $9,000
Collaborators: Drs. Keshav Singh (Genetics) and Michael Straughn
Project Title: “Reproductive aging and fertility in an inducible mouse model of mitochondrial”
OBGYN Division, Women’s Reproductive Health
- PI: Janeen Arbuckle MD, Assistant Professor (https://scholars.uab.edu/790-janeen-arbuckle) $10,000
Collaborators: Drs. Julie Wolfson (Hematology) and Jeff Szychowski (BDMC CWRH)
Project Title: "Menstrual Suppression in the Myelosuppressed: A Retrospective Review”
Please direct any questions to CWRH Program Manager, Richard Sarver: rsarver@uabmc.edu or 205.934.6349.
Chronic hypertension in pregnancy: To treat or not to treat?
UAB expanding tele-medicine to North Alabama
Women in Medicine Spotlight: Kerri Bevis
UAB Medicine News
Kerri Bevis, MD, shares advice and reflects on what has inspired and challenged her as a woman in medicine.
What is your name, title, and department at UAB?
I am Kerri Bevis, and I am a gynecologic oncologist and residency program director in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Where did you attend medical school?
I went to medical school here at UAB, which I’m very, very proud of.
Why did you decide to get into medicine?
My ultimate decision to pursue medicine really came from my experience as a patient. When I was in college, I experienced a lower back injury playing soccer, and the road to recovery was much longer than I had anticipated. My appreciation of all the work and care that my physicians and physical therapists provided made my decision to go into medicine easy in the end.
What is your leading charge at UAB?
There are two things that are most exciting for me. The first is being program director for the OB/GYN residents. Being so active in helping these young physicians develop into the best women’s health providers they can be is very challenging yet gratifying. The second thing that really excites me is the opportunity I’ve had to participate in the development of the Advanced Communication Training Institute that UAB is implementing. As an early-career faculty member, I found myself increasingly frustrated because as an oncology provider I would have extremely challenging conversations with patients – challenging emotionally and intellectually – and I just knew there had to be a better way. My efforts to improve my own skills in challenging conversations led me to recognize it as a passion of mine. We don’t often teach physicians how to do it, yet it is integral to everything we do – no matter how much we know or how good we are at diagnosing or treating patients. If we can do all of those things brilliantly but can’t communicate back to the patient effectively, then we dilute the excellent medical care we provide.
Do you feel that being a woman helps you in your job?
I am convinced that it does. First of all, as a gynecologist, it kind of gives you “street cred” with patients. That’s not to say that males can’t do just as good a job, but when the patient walks in and feels as if she can identify with her physician, it can make a difference. I think it also helps in my role as a residency program director. That maternal instinct is extremely valuable, guiding them but also helping them establish their own independence.
What would you say to a young woman who aspires to become a physician or surgeon?
I would say go for it. The path is not easy, and certainly there will be challenges, but things worth doing usually are not easy, so that shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your aspirations and reaching for your dreams.
What are some struggles you have faced as a woman in medicine?
I think the absolute biggest struggle in being a female physician is just getting it all done. I don’t think there is anything unique about it. It’s just having a full workload at the hospital and at home and trying to find the energy to be fully present when I am focusing on my patients and residents and equally present when I’m with my kids, my husband, and doing things outside of the hospital. The hours are certainly one component of that, but I think the bigger challenge is just the emotional energy and stamina it takes to really be engaged in those activities. You can spend a lot more time doing something and it is far less rewarding if you’re not able to be emotionally and mentally present. That’s where I think wellness and good habits come in. That’s where your internal barometer for how you’re doing really makes a big difference. It tells you when you need to back off, because your ability to engage is not quite what it needs to be.
Do you have a strong female mentor, and, if so, how has she encouraged you in your practice?
My strongest female influence is Dr. Cheri Canon, who is the chair of the UAB Department of Radiology. She and I met years ago when I was president of the House Staff Council. When I joined the faculty, she really took me under her wing and made sure that several times a year we had the opportunity to sit down and talk about how things were going. She has been a tremendous sounding board and someone I know I can reach out to if I need career advice or just advice on keeping it all together. She has been a tireless champion for women in medicine. I am not one of her faculty and I am not in her department, but I consider myself fortunate to have been able to reap the benefits of her experience, wisdom, and tireless devotion to the advancement of women in medicine.
To watch more of Dr. Bevis’s story and learn what has inspired and challenged her as a woman in medicine, click here.
Deaths from pregnancy and child birth are often preventable; Alabama finally starts to take notice
Tongia Feagins Celebrates 30 Years with UAB
![Tonjia Feagins3](/medicine/obgyn/images/EmployeeRecognition/Tonjia_Feagins3.jpg)
Most faculty and staff in the Department of OB/GYN collaborate with Tongia Feagins, Program Director II in the OB/GYN Chair Office at some point in their career. Tongia has worked in multiple roles in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for over 30 years. She was recently honored as a 30-year employee of UAB at the annual employee service awards luncheon. Tongia started in a student assistant position and became a full-time employee in August 1988. As Program Director II, Tongia assists our faculty with submission of research proposals. In this role, Tongia consistently demonstrates exceptional knowledge, skills, and judgment. She also takes great pride in both UAB and Birmingham community. For many years, Tongia served on the UAB Benevolent Fund board and is a solid advocate for this program. She also actively participates in the Habitat for Humanity program sponsored by UAB. Throughout her career, Tongia has been a valued and exceptional employee. She was selected by her peers as OB/GYN Employee of the Month in August 2014. Please offer congratulations to Tongia for many years of dedicated service to our department.
UAB Medicine Forms Team to Manage C-Section Complications
UAB Medicine News
Cesarean Awareness Month, observed in April each year, aims to raise awareness and educate people about cesarean delivery and reduce the number of these procedures performed. This year’s observation is a perfect time to highlight the success of a new UAB Medicine team created to manage certain medical and surgical complications that may arise from cesarean deliveries.
A cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgery performed to deliver a baby through the mother's lower abdomen, usually when unexpected problems develop during delivery. These problems include how the baby is positioned in the womb (uterus) and signs of distress in the baby, such as an abnormal heart rate. The surgery requires an incision across the belly that also cuts into the womb and the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby. The baby is delivered through this incision.
Read more