Ob/Gyn Inside Story - University of Rochester Medical Center

Ob/Gyn Inside Story
Chair’s Corner
A New Chapter
June 6, 2013 Volume 5, Issue 1
This is my last quarterly Chair’s letter. In
June, I will step down from this privileged
position after eleven years to re-enter
medicine full time, joining Henry Hess as
part of a Gyn practice within our Department
focused on the midlife issues of women.
Perhaps it is a product of age or perhaps
nostalgia, but it seems appropriate to look
back at some of the key events that have
transpired since I first relocated to Rochester
in 1986 that trace the history of this
Department.
I apologize to those I may have inadvertently
overlooked as I look back at our collective
history. Many of these events were built
on the broad shoulders and accomplishments of Henry Thiede, who served as
Chair until his retirement in 1995, David Guzick, who chaired this department
from 1995-2002 before becoming our Dean, and whatever part I was able to
play as Chair from 2002 to the present.
Let me start by thanking all the nurses, nurse practitioners and social workers
who have made my life, and that of the entire faculty, such an enriched
experience. Names such as Sue Zigrossi, Ann Dozier, Deb Phillips, Pat Allen,
and Mardy Sandler come to mind, all dedicated to a common goal, the best
and safest care for our patients.
Our success as a clinical program committed to advancing our specialty could
not have occurred without the dedication, and often unsung efforts, of our
support staff, many of whom have been with us for decades. As I look around,
I see faces of those who throughout the years have been steadfastly loyal to
our goals and passionate about their part in that process.
(continued on page 2)
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Chair’s Corner 1 - 5
Love Letters 6
Peri-FACTS Authors 6
Ob/Gyn Service Council 6
Congratulations 7 - 8
Lean on L&D 8
ORA Flash: NIAID Updates 8
New Statue at Lattimore 9
Lattimore Anniversary 9
Resident Research Day 10
30 Years of IVF at URMC 11
A Note from Beth Cooper 12
PIVOT for Grant Funding 12
CARE After Cancer 13
New Grant Awards 13
Meet the New Interns 14
Community Updates 15 - 16
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1

Chair’s Corner (Continued)
I accepted the job of Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine in 1984, but
because I was writing my first book on Communication in Medicine, Dr. Thiede
agreed to wait until the summer of 1986 for my arrival. That year our epidural rate
was 10%. Today, in contrast, it is over 60%.
Upon arrival at URMC, the MFM division was in transition. Jules Moodley had just
left for Cleveland and, within a year, Yogesh Shah would join him. Steve Sanko
had just finished his MFM fellowship and joined us; Jeanne Cullinan was already in
the division; David Graham was both MFM and Radiology (ultrasound), and Larry
Dolkart was our first MFM fellow.
Within a few short years, Graham would relocate, Cullinan would move to
Philadelphia to run a women’s imaging center (but sadly would later die of cancer),
Sanko would join a private group (RGOA), and Dolkart would return to a successful
MFM career in Elmira, New York.
With only David Sherer and Howard Thompson as my MFM fellows, and no other
faculty but me, it was a relief when Jacques Abramowicz joined the division,
followed by Richard Jaffe. Together, we guided the expansion of Ob and Gyn
ultrasound outside the hospital. Today, under Eva Pressman, we provide an
amazing network across the city.
In time, MFM expanded. Ruth Anne and John Queenan joined us from South
Carolina where John was running a successful REI program. Eva Pressman relocated
from Johns Hopkins and later would become a great MFM Division Director.
During those early years, the program was growing and changing constantly,
but some components provided stability. Marvin Amstey was Chief of Ob/Gyn at
Highland Hospital, devoting time to medical student and resident teaching. Bob
Tatelbaum headed up Genesee Hospital and Phyllis Leppert chaired Rochester
General Hospital. Phyllis and I were fierce competitors. However, at one annual
ACOG meeting we danced together and we were good! At Strong, I recall Al Jones
mentoring resident care in our small outpatient hallway while posting the “case of
the week” to challenge our residents. He would later become the Chief of Ob/Gyn
at Unity Health Systems.
In those early years, the clinical divisions were also changing. Gyn Oncology was
initially directed by Jack Beecham, with Cindy Angel and Brent DuBeshter finishing
their fellowships. Jack would depart to Vermont, leaving the growth of the division
to Cindy and Brent. It ultimately grew, with some speed bumps as other Gyn
Oncologists came and then departed. Today this group of four is the busiest group
of Gyn Oncologists in New York State.
The Reproductive Endocrinology Division had a more circuitous path of growth.
When I arrived in 1986, Eberhard Muechler and Ko-En Huang were conducting
IVF and Grace Centola was coordinating the sperm bank. Eb would later leave the
University to join another health system and Ko-En would become a senior leader
2
(continued on page 3)

Chair’s Corner (Continued)
in Taiwan. Grace would leave URMC for a private blood banking company. The
next division faculty was John Mattox who held the division together until he
departed for Arizona. Shortly thereafter, we were led to the real deal. Vivian Lewis
had just moved to San Francisco when we notified her of the opening of this
leadership position. Because circumstances had delayed her establishing a base in
San Francisco, she accepted our invitation, and the rest is history. A great division
now headed by Kathy Hoeger has five faculty and one of the longest-running and
most successful IVF programs in New York State.
Urogynecology also took a winding path. Our initial faculty member, Hillary
Cholhan, departed for Rochester General Hospital, and Gunhilde Buchsbaum took
charge, building the division to three before one, Mike Flynn, moved to head the
Division of Urogynecology at the University of Massachusetts. By this fall, the
division will be back to three, and is the go-to group for significant pelvic floor
disorders.
Our Nurse Midwives have always been part of our foundation. Begun by Beth
Cooper under the wise leadership of Dr. Thiede, they rapidly grew to be not only
an integrated part of our clinical enterprise but also of our educational programs.
Skills learned by a medical student or younger resident under the watchful eye of a
midwife have provided a lifetime foundation for compassionate care.
What about the generalists in the Department? Under David Guzick, David Foster
and Fred Howard expanded their expertise in vulvar disease and laparoscopic
surgery respectively to address the question “who teaches our residents general
Ob/Gyn care?” From an early departmental need developed what is now one of our
largest divisions. Sireesha Reddy served initially as Division Director. Subsequently
Adrienne Bonham, the current Division Director, took a strong hand in establishing
an academic orientation for each of the division members. Out of that group have
emerged experts in family planning, pediatric gynecology, midlife women’s health,
pelvic pain management, and vulvar disease.
Despite all the good that was happening, dark clouds were on the horizon. In time,
the residency that had expanded to include all four hospitals would be brought
back to Strong, Highland, and Genesee. Later, Genesee Hospital would close.
Our research program has always been oriented toward bringing the clinician and
the scientist closer. Early on, we made our mark through Rich Miller’s placental
perfusion model, my cocaine studies in pregnant sheep, and Patty Rodier’s autism
research (aided by Chris Stodgell). Later, Ron Wood would advance Urogynecology
in the mouse model, Shanna Swan would expand environmental chemical effects
in pregnancy, Shawn Murphy would champion studies of placental infections, and
others focused on lead exposure, vulvodynia, and polycystic ovarian disease. With
this commitment to research, one year we ranked number one nationally among
Ob/Gyn departments for NIH research dollars in environmental chemical studies,
(continued on page 4)
3

Chair’s Corner (Continued)
and second overall for Ob/Gyn department for total NIH research dollars. Moreover
while these investigators have contributed much scientifically, the development
of the Office of Research Administration, now led by Emily Barrett and Rebecca
Rowley, has provided a platform supporting investigators to develop grants and
manage budgets, and for young investigators to find their footing.
Critical to our success as a Department has always been the strong commitment
from our community physicians. Many of us recall fondly Tichell, Clay, Choate,
Fullerton, and many others. Their patients, and the education these physicians
offered our residents, were part of the backbone of our Department. Later Warner,
Stookey, and others would carry the banner. What a great group to be so dedicated
to our program.
The brick and mortar footprint of our Department’s outpatient services significantly
changed over the years. In the mid-1990s, REI and MFM initially moved offsite
but later relocated back into the ambulatory building of Strong Memorial. General
Gyn and Urogyn also moved offsite, recognizing the need for a single subspecialty
facility. So in 2007, our 21,000 square foot subspecialty building, consisting of
REI, MFM, Gyn Specialties, and Urogynecology, was opened at Red Creek near
Marketplace Mall. Shortly thereafter, we began our search for a similar site closer
to Strong Memorial Hospital to provide comprehensive general Ob/Gyn care. After
two false starts, in 2012 we opened our new Lattimore Women’s Center, also
a 21,000 square foot center just four blocks from Strong. This step left Strong
Hospital as an inpatient-only facility and placed all of our outpatient services
offsite, providing patients with free parking and easy access. Tara Gellasch became
our first official Medical Director for the Women’s Health Practice at Lattimore
Women’s Center.
Education has always remained one of our highest priorities and over the decades,
we engaged in several different educational models. Our first regional Perinatal
Conference was held in 1987 at the Holiday Inn. Starting with 70 participants, it
would run for over 25 years and grow to engage 400 physicians and nurses. The
first Friday combined perinatal-neonatal weekly conference also began in 1987,
later to be referred to as “Shark Rounds” although I do not know why. Along the
way, to promote women’s health, we ran a golf tournament for two years, and
for the past five years we have coordinated an annual Women’s Health Screening
Fair at the Rochester Public Market, screening over 400 women during a four hour
period on a Saturday in September.
Who would have ever thought back in 1991, when we first initiated Peri-FACTS
(called Peri-FACTS then because of the limited technology), that today that
educational journal would reach over 30,000 nurses, physicians and students in
Obstetrics and Gynecology?
4
(continued on page 5)

Chair’s Corner (Continued)
Early on, David Baram and Tony Labrum provided the psychosocial Ob/Gyn teaching
to residents and students, Diane Hartmann marshaled the residents, and our
Maternal Fetal Fellowship continued to be productive. Diane’s resident director role
would shift to Ruth Anne Queenan as Diane took a more national role in education.
Later Ruth Anne would pass the residency directorship to our current Erin Duecy, as
Ruth Anne became Chief of Ob/Gyn at Highland Hospital.
New fellowships have also been founded. Our long-standing MFM fellowship
would be joined by our Urogynecology fellowship and the Scibetta Minimally
Invasive Fellowship, training academic leaders who will write the next chapters of
their respective clinical fields.
We have been blessed by a long history of outstanding residents. There have been
so many over the years we’ve been together. To name just a few: Polly Rounds,
Steve Dewey, Sandra Stell, John McAndrew, Linda Syiek, Ellen Tourtelot, the
Johnsons, Mary Jo Montanarella, but of course there are far too many to name
them all. But side by side over the decades they worked many hours in the hospital
and always ensured that patients received exceedingly good care.
Finally, it is my personal tribute to the leadership of Henry Thiede, and later David
Guzick, that such a fine Department evolved.
As the torch is now passed to the new Chair, how does it feel? It feels great. This
is a wonderful Department and the success we have enjoyed together is truly
the legacy of all the extraordinary men and women who have preceded us. I will
always be grateful for the honor and privilege of having been part of this proud
story and I end my term as chair confident that our department’s future is in the
right hands.
5

Love Letters - Mentees and Mentors
Love Letters: An Anthology
of Constructive Relationship
Advice Shared Between Junior
Mentees and Their Mentors
In late January, the authors of a recent
article in the Journal of Graduate Medical
Education: “Love Letters: An Anthology
of Constructive Relationship Advice
Shared Between Junior Mentees and
Their Mentors” (click here for article) held
a panel discussion open to all members
of the University. The panel included:
Loralei L. Thornburg, MD, Suzanne M.
Gillespie, MD, RD, Thomas V. Caprio, MD,
MPH, Annette Medina-Walpole, MD, and
Christopher Glantz, M.D., M.P.H.
The event began with the panelists
discussing their own frustrations and good
advice on improving the mentor-mentee
relationship. It was a multidisciplinary
panel and included both mentees and
mentors. A lively and informal group
discussion followed with the participants.
Feedback from the participants was
extremely positive- the overwhelming
majority rated the event as “Very Helpful.”
The comments from the participants
further expressed appreciation for the
breadth of perspectives on mentoring from
the panel, the frank conversation, and the
explanation of the sensitive aspects of
mentoring that were discussed.
6
Ob/Gyn Service
Council
The newest Ob/Gyn Service
Council “Strong Beginnings
Spotlight” is Nancy McKnight,
MD!
Please be sure to stop by and
check it out!
This board is located across
from the triage window near
the red elevators.
This inter-unit staff
recognition project
“spotlights” a staff member
form any discipline across
the service including but not
limited to nursing, residents,
attendings ,secretaries,
environmental service and
technicians.
Enjoy,
The Ob/Gyn Service Council
Peri-FACTS Issues Call for Authors
Dr. Woods wishes to thank all of the faculty and residents who have written articles for
Peri-FACTS in the past couple of years. In total, ten (10) articles have been by residents
with faculty backup. These Ob or Gyn articles have been well written and the feed back
we have received has been very positive. Seventeen (17) articles have been by fellows.
In each case they have been focused and well done. Woods’s reason for passing this
information on is because if any of the residents wish to consider writing with a fellow
or faculty member in the near future, Peri-FACTS have a long list of possible Ob and Gyn
topics from which to choose.
Interested? Contact Woods or just stop into his office to look over the topics to see if any
interest you. While most of the Peri-FACTS readership is in the U.S., the journal is being
read in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Emirates, and on military bases in Europe. After an
article is published, it is posted in a library for any care provider who needs CME credits
and chooses to study the particular topic that the article addresses. This allows outside
care providers beyond our subscribers to access the work.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Papers, Presentations,
and Abstracts
Jen Myers (with mentor Erin Duecy)
presented her resident research as a poster
at APGO/CREOG meeting in Phoenix in
March. Myers’ well-received work is titled
“Half-day vs. Full-day Resident Clinics
and the impact on continuity, provider
satisfaction and inpatient workflow.”
Emily Barrett, Lauren Parlett, Shanna
Swan, and their team published “Prenatal
exposure to stressful life events is
associated with masculinized anogenital
distance (AGD) in female infants” in
Physiology & Behavior.
William Curtin, Nancy L. Stanwood,
and their team (which also includes Erin
Lemcke-Berno) published “Midtrimester
Fetal Herpes Simplex-2 Diagnosis by
Serology, Culture and Quantitative
Polymerase Chain Reaction”in Fetal
Diagnosis and Therapy.
Tom O’Connor, Eva Pressman, and
Emma Robertson-Blackmore, et al
published“Prenatal maternal anxiety
predicts reduced adaptive immunity in
infants” in Brain, behavior, and immunity.
“High-frequency ultrasound in ex vivo
animal lungs in pulmonary edema“ was
published in the Journal of Anesthesiology
& Clinical Science by Jacek Wojtczak and
Ron Wood.
Timothy Byler, Ronald Wood, Edward
Messing, Jay Reeder and their team
presented their abstract, “Valproic acid
reduces tumor growth in a mouse model
of superficial bladder cancer” at the
AUA Meeting in May.
Tristan Nicholson, Ronald Wood, William
Ricke, and their team presented their
abstract “Bisphenol-A induces urinary
voiding dysfunction in adult male mice”
at the AUA Meeting.
Jed-Sian Cheng, Yachao Zhang, Ronald
Wood, and Jay Reeder presented an
abstract titled “Visualization of ureteral
anatomy during surgery using near
infrared fluorescence enhanced by
milk” at the AUA meeting.
Camille Martina, Shanna Swan, and
Bernie Weiss published “Lifestyle
behaviors associated with exposures
to endocrine disruptors” in
Neurotoxicology.
Chris Stodgell, Rich Miller, and their
colleagues published “The effect of
copper deficiency on fetal growth and
liver anti-oxidant capacity in the Cohen
diabetic rat model”in Toxicol. Appl.
Pharmacol.
Scott Gerber, Shawn Murphy, Edith
Lord, and their team published an
article titled “IFN-gamma Mediates the
Antitumor Effects of Radiation Therapy
in a Murine Colon Tumor” in the
American Journal of Pathology.
Shanna Swan, Bernie Weiss, and
the BPA GO Team published, “Sex
specific impact of perinatal Bisphenol
A (BPA) exposure over a range of
orally administered doses on rat
hypothalamic sexual differentiation” in
Neurotoxicology.
Jay Reeder, Ron Wood, David Foster,
and their colleagues published
“Polymorphism in the SCN9A voltagegated
sodium channel gene associated
with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain
syndrome” in Urology.
Ron Wood, et al published “Efficacy
of B cell depletion therapy for murine
joint arthritis flare is associated with
increased lymphatic flow” in Arthritis
and Rheumatism.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Patricia
Jones, who celebrated
40 years of service at the
University of Rochester in
Obstetrics and Gynecology
on March 12th. Jones is
a member of the Billing
department and works closely
with the Labor & Delivery
deck on the third floor. She
states that she feels like it’s
only been 25 years!
Jones is still going strong.
She has fond memories of
working at the hospital and
remembers so many staff,
some of whom have retired
or left the University. The
stories she could tell!!
If you get a chance send an
email of congratulations!
Forty years is a huge
milestone.
7

Congratulations! (Continued)
ORA Flash:
Great Advice
from NIAID
Keep Your eRA Commons
Profile From Becoming
Your Enemy
With so many electronic
systems at NIH, it’s more
important than ever to keep
your eRA Commons profiles
well-maintained and up to
date. Read the full article by
clicking here.
National Media Spotlight
Emily Barrett was interviewed by URMC
Scripts about results from the Rochester
Young Men’s Study (RYMS) which linked
poor semen quality with increased TV
watching. Check it out by clicking here.
Reuters carried a story reporting on the
link new research has revealed between an
epilepsy drug, if taken during pregnancy,
and autism in children. URMC’s Christopher
Stodgell, associate professor of Obstetrics &
Gynecology, who studies autism, weighed
in. Get the story by clicking here.
The Huffington Post carried URMC
Obstetrics & Gynecology professor Kathy
Hoeger’s comments on a study that
suggested a low-carb, high-protein diet
may increase fertility. Hoeger said more
study is needed. Read the article by clicking
here.
Brandy Becker was quoted in Contemporary
OB/Gyn for her research with Sarah
Betstadt on knowledge of the risks of
pregnancy and contraception presented at
ACOG. See the whole article here.
Other Awards
Dr. Miller is the recipient of the 2013
Distinguished Service Award from the
Teratology Society which was given to
him at the annual meeting. This award is
in recognition of Miller’s dedicated years
of service to the Society, from his early
participation and continued leadership
roles to his current involvement.
The Society writes, “Your expertise in
Teratology is well known and respected
internationally and your own research
is exemplary. Your continuouslyfunded
research in environmental and
occupational exposures as well as human
placenta pharmacokinetic studies resulted
in many seminal papers in the field of
teratology. Your continuous mentorship
activities deserve a special recognition.
Many active contributing members to
the Teratology Society have been in your
laboratory. In summary, through these and
other numerous contributions you have
left an indelible mark on The Teratology
Society and the field of birth defects
research at large. You embody perfectly
what this award is meant to recognize.”
Next Step for Ten Steps to a
Winning R01 Application
With the advent of Spring,
NIAID has freshened up their
excellent series Ten Steps to
a Winning R01 Application.
Check out the Ten Steps here
before starting your
next application.
8
Lean Improvements to Labor and Delivery
Until recently, there were different delivery carts for the units 3-1400 and 3-1600.
Attendings and staff had concerns about the difference and brought it to the attention
of leadership. Keri Cockman and Jamie Gallery agreed that the delivery carts within the
units as well across units should be organized in the same way so that anyone using them
would be familiar with the contents.
Dawn Martin and Sarah Chopan took on the challenge of standardizing the 3-1600 Birth
Center carts and have done a great job organizing and simplifying the carts for easier
access. Martin took this challenge on for a project and did a great job!
The carts now contain labels, photographs, and reference charts to indicate where each
item is stored. This will improve stocking of the carts and help ensure no items in the carts
are expired.
In addition, the Birth Center has loaned one of their carts to 3-1400 as a model for
organizing the carts on that unit . Many thanks to the Birth Center for sharing their ideas
and equipment with the 3-1400 unit. It is very much appreciated and as Cockman put it so
nicely, “It’s great that we are able to work together across the service on projects!”

Statue to Honor Women
At the end of May, a statue was
installed in front of the Lattimore
Road Women’s Center. Following
six years of work, the granite
statue stands as a tribute to the
interconnectedness of women’s
lives. The artist’s statement is on a
plaque near the door:
“Caring
Women are blessed with a strength
that represents the divine because
they create life. The woman
emerges from the stone in an
embrace of mutual caring. Their
arms encircle one another and give
strength and balance.
The essence of the sculpture is flowing. The stone flows with peacefulness that I hope
stimulates the viewer’s [sic] minds to contemplate how much we all need each other.
Everything in the universe follows the cycle of birth, growth, maturity, death, and rebirth.
Understanding this concept brings peace and healing within.”
In the coming weeks bushes will be planted around the sculpture to soften the image.
Women’s Health at
The Lattimore Road
Women’s Center
Celebrates First
Anniversary
The first anniversary of our
space was celebrated during
a luncheon on April 12th. It’s
hard to believe that it has
been a year since the move
into our new home at 125
Lattimore Road.
After all the preparations,
anxiety and anticipation we
are here and have settled
in. The move was a huge
undertaking which was
compounded by going live
with Ambulatory eRecord a
short time afterward.
The fresh colors, ample
windows, and spacious break
room are a welcome change
from our previous space and
the large clinical area allows
us to serve our patients with
excellence.
9

Education Corner: Resident Research Day
Resident Research Day was held this year on April 25.
Seven R3s and one R2 presented their research. The day
kicked-off with a Grand Rounds by Dr. Richard S. Legro,
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health
Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University College
of Medicine, Hershey Medical Center. He spoke about the
challenge of getting, and interpreting, good quality data
and of reproducing those findings, as well as the lack of
publication of negative trials in interpretation of literature,
in a lecture entitled: “First Line Treatment in PCOS: What
have we learned from Clinical Trials.”
The residents this year put together a great group of
research projects, from a wide variety of areas of interest.
They all did a wonderful job, and award winners will be
announced at the banquet.
Topics this year included:
• Do increased peripheral markers of inflammation
predate the occurrence of a short cervical length?
Dr. Olson-Chen with Dr. Hackney
• Early pregnancy iron status and development of
preeclampsia
Dr. Campito with Dr. Ho.
• Cervical length in women with a prior preterm birth:
Does progesterone change the incidence of short
cervix?
Dr. Klosterman with Dr. Seligman
• Prenatal stomach size in cleft lip and/or palate and
subsequent reflux disease
Dr. Burhans with Dr. Thornburg
• Time of Delivery of the Anomalous Fetus - Effects on
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes
Dr. Paivanas with Dr. Thornburg and Dr. Glantz
• Does anogenital distance, a marker of prenatal
androgen exposure, differ in women with polycystic
ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
Dr. Fountaine with Dr. Barrett and Dr. Hoeger
• Timing of Delivery and Maternal and Neonatal
Outcomes
Dr. MacDonald with Dr. Glantz and Dr. Thornburg
• Impact of Delivery Mode on the Pelvic Floor using
Transperineal Imaging
Dr. Vilasagar with Dr. Ozcan
Next year’s research day will be on May 8th, 2014.
Residents have been hard at work with a number of great
projects underway! Some have already been presented
nationally, including one presented as an oral at this year’s
ACOG meeting. Our guest speaker will be Dr. Jeffery
Peipert, whose work on the cost effectiveness of IUDs in
preventing unintended pregnancy in women and teens The
CHOICE Project was recently featured in both the NEJM and
Obstetrics and Gynecology. Please mark your calendars and
block your schedule for what is sure to be a great talk, and
great day of resident projects!
10

Strong Fertility Center Marks IVF Program’s 30-Year Anniversary
by Honoring its Founder
Dr. Henry Thiede’s Vision Launched One of New York State’s
Most Successful Programs
Just four short years after the birth of the world’s first “testtube
baby,” Henry A. Thiede, M.D., proposed the creation
of an in vitro fertilization program (IVF), at the University of
Rochester Medical Center. IVF is a process by which eggs are
fertilized in a laboratory and then transferred to a woman’s
uterus in order to implant for pregnancy.
On Friday, May 3, URMC’s Strong Fertility Center celebrated
30 years of helping families grow through IVF by honoring
Thiede. A retired chair of the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology and professor emeritus, Thiede’s vision helped
create one of the first in vitro fertilization programs in New
York state. Thiede’s contributions were highlighted at Strong
Fertility Center’s annual IVF Family Reunion, a private party at
the Rochester Museum and Science Center.
“It is a great privilege to pay tribute to the physician whose
wisdom and vision launched one of the earliest successful
programs for in vitro fertilization and the longest-running
program in upstate New York,” said Strong Fertility Center
director Kathleen M. Hoeger, M.D., professor of Obstetrics
and Gynecology at URMC. “What better way to show our
appreciation than to surround Dr. Thiede with the physicians
and staff he inspired and mentored, and the families who’ve
benefitted from his commitment to providing optimal services
to our community.”
Following Thiede’s proposal in November 1982, physicians
began the first IVF treatment cycle in July 1983, achieving the
first pregnancy on the sixth attempt. The program’s first birth
occurred in July 1984.
Henry Thiede and Kathy Hoeger
“When we reflect on those who have influenced our
professional lives, we turn to individuals dedicated to
improving medicine, public health and community welfare.
Dr. Thiede spent his entire career addressing these three
areas,” said James R. Woods, M.D., professor and chair of
the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology who holds
the professorship in Thiede’s name. “It is his shoulders upon
which the success of our Department rests.”
11

ORA Flash:
Looking for Grant
Opportunities?
Check out PIVOT!
We’re excited to let you know
that the University now has
a new funding opportunities
and profile software product
called Pivot.
Pivot focuses on what matters
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and globally. It combines a
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unique database of 3 million
scholar profiles and growing.
Your GENUIS/SMARTS/
SPIN profile was loaded
into the PIVOT system and
can be used to match you
with colleagues and grant
opportunities.
Click here to claim your
profile and start finding
opportunities: https://pivot.
cos.com/
For assistance in using PIVOT
or to get started with your
application, just send an
email to Rebecca Rowley
at rebecca_rowley@urmc.
rochester.edu.
A Note from Beth Cooper
Dear colleagues:
Effective July 1, I will be stepping down from the
role of Midwifery Division Director to provide time
to pursue leadership opportunities at the state and
national level. It is my intention to maintain some
clinical practice, primarily at the Red Creek office,
assist with some new Department initiatives, and
spend more time with my family.
As many of you know, I have been on the faculty
of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology
since 1975, when Dr. Henry Thiede gave me the
opportunity to become the first nurse-midwife
practicing in upstate New York. For the last 23
years I have had the opportunity to develop,
direct, and provide care in the Midwifery Division’s
practice, first at Strong, and since 2000, at
Highland. Since 1999, I have also served as Director
of RAMP.
Elizabeth M. Cooper, CNM, FACNM, EdD
I am privileged to have dedicated, skilled midwifery colleagues who provide the highest
standard of care to our patients and their families. I know that the Division will continue
to flourish under their leadership. While recruitment is underway for my successor, Michele
Burtner will assume many of my current administrative responsibilities. Helene Thompson-
Scott will continue her leadership in RAMP. I am extremely grateful to them for their
commitment of time and talent.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to my many mentors in midwifery, obstetricsgynecology,
nursing, pediatrics, hospital administration, higher education, and public
health, both in Rochester and in the national midwifery community. Without their guidance
and support, the URMC Midwifery Group would not exist.
12

C.A.R.E. After Cancer Event
The annual C.A.R.E. After Cancer Event and Silent
Auction to benefit cancer survivors was held on
March 1 at Artisan Works. The event raises funds to
assist women with childbearing after recovery from
cancer.
Wendy Vitek, director of the CARE program, and Jim
Woods, Chair of Ob/Gyn, lead the night’s festivities.
ORA Flash:
New Grant Awards
Tara Gellasch and Ellen
Poleshuck were awarded a
grant by the Genesee Valley
Medical Foundation for
“Caring for Growing Families:
A Multidisciplinary Approach
to Group Prenatal Care in a
Community Ob/Gyn Clinic.”
Ellen Poleshuck and her team
(including Tara Gellasch)
were awarded a Patient
Centered Research Outcomes
Institute (PCORI) award to
study effective treatments for
depression in impoverished
women.
Jeanne Marino, Anne Tedrow, Lynda
Kochman, Kathy Hoeger, Chief of the
Division of REI, and Bill Hoeger enjoy the
evening’s events.
Dave Martin and David Gandell put down
their bids.
13

Education Corner: Welcome the New Intern Class!
Elizabeth Marie Bard
BS, Biology and English,
University of Wisconsin
MD, University of Minnesota
Medical School
Whitney Anne Hanan
BS, Cellular Molecular and
Developmental Biology,
University of Washington
MD, University of Washington School
of Medicine
Lauren L. Coyle
BS, Psychology,
Penn State University
MD, Pennsylvania State University
College of Medicine
Stefanie Joy Hollenbach
BS & MS, Biomedical Engineering
Neuroengineering,
Drexel University
MD, The Commonwealth Medical
College
Beatriz Folch Torres-Aguiar
BS, Biology, Univ. of Puerto Rico
MS, Health Profession Education
U of R Warner School of Education
MD, University of Rochester School
of Medicine and Dentistry
Tessa Lynn Reisinger
BA, Anthropology/Biology,
University of Delaware
MD, Emory University School of
Medicine
Ethan Gable
BS, Psychology with concentration
in Behavioral Neuroscience,
University at Buffalo SUNY
School of Medicine & Biomedical
Sciences
MD, University at Buffalo State
University of New York School of
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Daniel George Terk
BA, Journalism; BS, Chemistry,
University of Massachusetts
MD, University of Massachusetts
Medical School
14

COMMUNITY UPDATES
Faculty Promotions
Jacqueline Nasso, CNM, MS was promoted to Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and
Gynecology effective February 1, 2013.
New Faculty
The following physicians have joined the full-time faculty in Obstetrics and Gynecology at
Highland Hospital:
Brianne Brandt-Griffith, MD was promoted to Assistant Professor effective May 1, 2013.
Joan Chisholm, MD was promoted to Assistant Professor effective February 4, 2013.
Marcy Mulconry, MD was promoted to Assistant Professor effective March 1, 2013.
Departures
Carolyn Leja, CNM, MS will be leaving our Department effective April 30, 2013 to relocate
to Michigan.
Lauren Parlett accepted the position of Senior Research Data Analyst at The Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology starting May 1,
2013. Parlett has been working with Emily Barrett, Rick Stahlhut, and Eva Pressman on a
variety of studies relating to environmental exposures.
New Staff Members
The Strong Fertility Center welcomes Sean Hickey. Dana Prince, Lindsay Azzolina, and
Tammy Steurrys to their team.
Let us know
what you think of
Ob/Gyn Inside Story!
We’ve recently updated our
look and want to know what
you think. Also, if you have
something you’d like to add to
our next edition, a comment,
or a concern, please email
Rebecca Rowley at rebecca_
rowley@urmc.rochester.edu
15

COMMUNITY UPDATES (continued)
New Arrivals
Michele Burtner, CNM and her husband Curtis Burtner, RN welcomed their third child,
Fiona Marian Burtner on December 1,2012. She was assisted by fellow midwife, Rebecca
Skovgaard, CNM.
Mitchell and Laura Linder welcomed their second child Emmett Mark on April 2, 2013. He
weighed 7lbs, 2oz. Big sister Bridget is delighted to have a baby brother.
Tracy and Neil Seligman, and big sister Samantha, welcomed Eliana Sadie on March 19,
2013 at 6:54pm. Eliana weighed
6 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 20
inches long.
Ob/Gyn @ URMC
The Department of Obstetrics
and Gynecology at the
University of Rochester School
of Medicine and Dentistry
is a leader in patient care,
investigative research, and
obstetric education.
The Faculty is dedicated to
promoting excellence in all
areas that support
women’s health.
The Department is proud
to offer care to our patients
by physicians who were
ranked among the
nation’s best in
U.S. News & World Report’s
America’s Best Hospitals list.
Eliana Sadie
#
The faculty and staff of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of
Rochester Medical Center are proud of the work we do in caring for women throughout
the lifespan. Your tax deductible contribution advances our mission of excellence in
patient care, research and education.
Make a secure transaction with your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or AMEX at
http://www.rochester.edu/advancement
Make sure you specify in the comments that you wish you to direct your gift to Ob/Gyn
and the specific program within the Department.
Thank you for your generosity!
Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology
601 Elmwood Avenue
Box 668
Rochester, NY 14642
Phone: 585-275-9306
Fax: 585-275-7366