Our ObGyn Resident Speakers with Dr. Neal-Perry and Dr. Swisher

Faculty and residents from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine 鈥� Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, attended and presented at the 40th Annual William Droegemueller Departmental Research Day on May 14th, 2025.听

The School of Medicine had seven resident speakers present inside Kenan Center at Kenan-Flagler Business School:

• Lauren Ahlschlager, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Exploring Urogyn Deserts: A Geostatistical Analysis of Access to Urogynecology Care in the U.S.
• Janina Baldino, MD
  • ABSTRACT- DRAGS – Patient Perspectives on Fertility Counseling in Gender-Affirming
• Tressa Ellett, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Short interpregnancy interval birth rates and Title X clinic access: A North Carolina county analysis
• Ayanna Garland, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Factors Associated with Perceived Medical Discrimination amongst Pregnant Black Patients
• Leslie Peralta, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Pre-Treatment Albumin as a Predictor of Chemotherapy Disruption among Women with Ovarian Cancer
• Natalie Satterfield, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Umbilical artery doppler and its association with stillbirth: Findings from a Zambian cohort
• Beatriz Vega, MD
  • ABSTRACT- Risk factors for Preterm Birth following Open Myelomeningocele Repair
• Kevin Tam, MD was away and will be presenting his work next year at the 2026 Ob/Gyn Resident Research Day.

The Keynote Speaker for the 2025 Resident Research Day was Dr. Elizabeth Swisher, a clinician scientist, Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, and Adjunct Professor in Medical Genetics at the University of Washington. She is Deputy Director of the Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington/Seattle Children鈥檚 Cancer Consortium and co-leads the Breast and Ovary Cancer Program. The primary focus of Dr. Swisher鈥檚 lab is the molecular genetics of ovarian cancer with a view towards improving both prevention and therapeutics. She has been closely involved in the therapeutic development of PARP inhibitors and has a clinical focus on genetics and clinical trials. She has also focused on improving our understanding of genetic risk of ovarian cancers with a goal to increase access to genetic testing and reducing the number of women who die of hereditary ovarian cancer.

Continuing the theme of academic excellence, a poster session was held, allowing other doctors to showcase the research they have been working on.

• John Chawezi Chapola, PhD Candidate – Crafting Effective HPV Screening Result Short Message Service text: Perspectives and Recommendations from Women in Malawi
• Katie Mollan, PhD Candidate – Effectiveness of Levonorgestrel Implant and Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Injectable for Women Living with HIV on Dolutegravir-based Antiretroviral Therapy
• Cordelia Muir, MD Candidate – Crisis Pregnancy Centers in North Carolina: Geographic Distribution, Social Media Presence, and Access to Care
• Hannaneh Mirmozaffari, MD Candidate – Defining Phenotype of Severe Preeclampsia

Dr. Katherine Tucker, Associate Vice Chair of Wellness and Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, proudly represented the 黑料网 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2025 Annual Wellness Meeting. Held in Seattle, this premier conference brought together leading experts from across the country to advance the field through research, education, wellness, and collaboration.

Kat Tucker at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2025 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.

Dr. Kat Tucker’s participation underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of gynecologic oncology and contributing to the ongoing dialogue shaping patient care and outcomes.鈥�

To learn more about the highlights from the meeting, including wellness initiatives and key presentations, visit the SGO’s official recap:听

Dr. Vanessa Miller, an epidemiologist and research instructor who also teaches Biostatistics for Healthcare Professionals at the 黑料网 Gillings School of Global Public Health

Now in its second year, the course includes six afternoon seminars spread over eight months. Topics range from basic statistical principles to advanced techniques such as linear and logistic regression and time-to-event analysis using Stata. The curriculum combines foundational instruction with hands-on workshops that allow participants to immediately apply new concepts to real-world OBGYN datasets.

Assignments throughout the course are designed to help learners build toward a complete abstract and, ultimately, a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. Originally focused on OBGYN fellows, the program has expanded to include Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), broadening its impact across the department. Participants are encouraged to collaborate with departmental research mentors to develop research questions, manage datasets, perform analyses, and effectively communicate their findings. To support these efforts, the department provides access to statistical software licenses and relevant textbooks.

The inaugural cohort completed the course in June 2024, with seven fellows fulfilling all requirements. Several have since presented their work at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. The current cohort shared interim results in April and is preparing to submit final capstone papers in May for faculty review.

Paige Anderson	Maternal postpartum cardiovascular and hypertension screening at newborn visits & Its impact on postpartum outcomes and care utilization	听
Glenn Boyles	Trends in utilization of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced stage endometrial cancer in the United States	听
Adam Elwood	Partner support of abortion in unwanted pregnancies	听
Bertie Geng	Assessing Patient Understanding of Prolapse Handout at Different Reading Levels	听
Claire Jensen	Metformin use in pregnancy decreases neonatal fat free mass	听
Rachel Jensen	Long-acting reversible contraception and permanent contraception following Federal and State abortion policy changes	听
Caroline Kwon	Myofascial pelvic pain: prevalence and treatment trends in a tertiary pelvic pain clinic	听
Grace Trompeter	Association between unexpected pregnancy outcomes and postpartum contraceptive method choice and utilization	听
Chelsey Cranes	Oncologic and obstetric outcomes in patients receiving fertility sparing treatment for endometrial intraepithelial hyperplasia and low-grade endometrial cancer	听

The course is led by Dr. Vanessa Miller, an epidemiologist and research instructor who also teaches Biostatistics for Healthcare Professionals at the 黑料网 Gillings School of Global Public Health. In addition to teaching, she provides statistical consulting and supports departmental research through involvement in study design, data analysis, and results communication.

Grace Trompeter, MD, MSPH, a first-year General Ob/Gyn Research Fellow, was awarded a scholarship to present her research at the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice and Health (ACCJH), held March 17鈥�19 in Austin, TX. Dr. Trompeter presented findings on postpartum permanent contraception during incarceration, representing a 黑料网-based research team led by Drs. Andrea Knittel and Kavita Arora.

The Academic and Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health, hosted by ACCJH and supported by ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School, is an annual peer-reviewed conference that highlights emerging research and policy across the criminal legal field and supports the ACCJH mission to improve evidence-based practices and policies to improve the health of justice-involved populations,” according to the . 听The three-day conference draws participants from more than 150 academic institutions, correctional, healthcare, and policy agencies from around the world.听

Also representing the General Ob/Gyn Research Fellowship program was second-year fellow Bianca Hall, MD, MSCR, who received an ACCJH scholarship in the previous year. Dr. Hall presented her ongoing research on pre-pregnancy medical conditions and postpartum contraception among individuals receiving prenatal care in a prison clinic.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.听鈥� Two 黑料网 Health Hospitals have been named to Newsweek鈥檚 鈥溾€� list:

• 黑料网 Hospitals听(Chapel Hill, NC)
• 黑料网 Health Rex听(Raleigh, NC)

All Conquer Cancer research grants are reviewed and evaluated using consistent criteria across all applicants, with the committee selecting only the most competitive applications. Dr. Mungo expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this recognition from ASCO, particularly given the highly competitive nature of the award process. This accolade not only affirms my dedication as a physician-scientist but also underscores the importance of the work my research team is doing to improve secondary prevention of cervical cancer in low-resource settings鈥攑laces where the majority of cervical cancer cases occur.”

Dr. Mungo’s journey began in rural Kenya, where poverty and fragile health systems often make cancer care unattainable. She has remained committed to empowering women and communities with resource-appropriate, patient-centered tools. Her research on self-administered vaginal therapies for HPV and cervical precancer seeks to fill critical gaps in cancer prevention and protect millions of women from this preventable disease. “Receiving the ASCO Career Development Award is a meaningful testament to this mission and to the urgency of ensuring that effective, accessible solutions are available for all women in need,” she said.

Dr. Chemtai Mungo in Kenya on World Cancer Day, February 4th, 2025.

The goal of Dr. Mungo’s research is to investigate the feasibility of self-administered therapies for cervical precancer to increase access to treatment, particularly in low-resource settings. “By developing and testing resource-appropriate, patient-centered tools,” said Dr. Mungo, “I aim to more equitably prevent cervical cancer both here in the United States and around the world. Ultimately, my work is driven by the belief that effective, accessible prevention strategies should be available to every woman鈥攏o matter where she lives.”

Dr. Chemtai Mungo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at 黑料网 Chapel Hill, with joint appointments in the Divisions of General Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Women鈥檚 Health. Her research focuses on developing patient-centered, innovative, and accessible methods for secondary prevention of cervical cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). As Principal Investigator, she leads clinical trials in collaboration with colleagues at 黑料网 Chapel Hill, Maseno University School of Medicine in Kenya, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, investigating the feasibility of self-administered intravaginal treatment for HPV and cervical precancer in LMICs, where 90% of global cervical cancer deaths occur.

Dr. Mungo is also an Affiliate Faculty member in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of the 黑料网 Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and the 黑料网 Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID). She was named an Early Career Scientist by the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention in 2023 and was appointed to serve on the Board of the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) in 2024.

The 2nd Annual 黑料网 OB/GYN Medical Education Symposium, held every March, once again brought together experts, educators, and innovators in OB/GYN medical education. This regional conference has become a hallmark event, dedicated to showcasing excellence and pushing the boundaries of what鈥檚 possible in medical training.

This year鈥檚 symposium was nothing short of extraordinary, filled with invaluable networking opportunities, insightful discussions, and the sharing of groundbreaking ideas that are shaping the future of OB/GYN education.

We were fortunate to hear from three distinguished keynote speakers, each of whom delivered thought-provoking presentations on current trends and innovations in OB/GYN medical education. Huge thanks to our featured keynote speakers who delivered insightful addresses on innovative approaches in medical education:

• Dr. Erika Banks (NYU – Langone Health) on the “Hot Topics in Residency Education”
• Dr. Jen Occhipinti Howell (Duke) on “Bridging the Gap: Transforming Your Experience in Medical Education”
• Dr. Nadine Katz (Albert Einstein) on “Navigating a Career in Academic Medical Education”听

The symposium also highlighted the contributions of seven outstanding poster presentations, each sparking meaningful discussions on innovative research and practical applications in OB/GYN education.

1. Spot the Surgical Tool! – Lily Bender
2. Transforming Embryology Education: Innovative Approaches to interactive Medical Instruction – Danielle Kapustin
3. Development and Implementation of a Junior faculty/APP development program – Dr. Sarah Katz-Dotter
4. Osteopathic Focused OB/GYN Clinical Clerkship Preparation at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine: A Curriculum Review – Dr. Kelly Holder
5. Impact of student knowledge/skill progression over the academic year on preceptor burden – Brooke Schroeder
6. Determining Threshold Concepts in Obstetrics and Gynecology – Dr. Steven Dudick
7. Available Educational Models for Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries Laceration Repair – Dr. Ayanna Garland听

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with leaders in the field and expand our knowledge!

View the 黑料网 OBGYN MedEd Symposium Abstracts Booklet 3-2025听

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) is a nonprofit organization that brings together professionals dedicated to advancing the care of women with gynecologic cancers. The SGO promotes research, education, and collaboration to improve outcomes for women worldwide. This prestigious award highlights individuals like Dr. Fowler who play a vital role in these efforts.