• Pubmed Publications

Dr. Barroilhet's Research Focus

Dr. Barroilhet's laboratory works on ovarian cancer prevention and early detection. Other projects include novel imaging techniques and identifying circulating biomarkers.

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Barroilhet discusses gynecologic cancer signs and symptoms with WISN

During Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month in September, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined WISN 12 News to share common gynecologic cancer signs and symptoms.

In the interview, Barroilhet outlined the variety of gynecologic cancers, risk factors for developing different types of gynecologic cancers, warning signs or symptoms to look out for, and next steps for people experiencing symptoms.

Watch the whole interview here.

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Barroilhet discusses PARP inhibitors with OncLive

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined OncLive to talk about the role of PARP inhibitors for patients with ovarian cancer.  

In the video, Barroilhet discusses findings from two trials that seem encouraging for PARP inhibitor use: 

“All patients with ovarian cancer displaying somatic or germline BRCA mutations should receive upfront PARP inhibitor maintenance therapy after completing an initial 6 cycles of chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin, Barroilhet says.... 

Patients with ovarian cancer with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) may also benefit from PARP maintenance therapy, according to Barroilhet.” 

Watch the whole video here!   

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Barroilhet publishes editorial in Gynecologic Oncology Reports

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, published an editorial about the intersection of gynecologic cancer care and post-Dobbs restrictions on health care in Gynecologic Oncology Reports. 

In “Editorial on vaginal cancer diagnosed in pregnancy and current abortion law on cancer care in Louisiana”, Barroilhet lays out the ways abortion restrictions can affect treatment options in gynecologic oncology: 

“Current legislation has unique downstream effects for gynecologic oncologists. Cancer complicates 1 in 1000 pregnancies. As our population becomes pregnant later in life, there will be more overlap with cancer diagnoses and pregnancy. The most common cancers diagnosed in pregnancy are breast, lymphoma, colon and gynecologic cancers. Standard of care treatments for these cancers often include chemotherapy and radiation, which can be teratogenic or pregnancy-ending, depending on gestational age. Delays in care can worsen patient outcomes, particularly in cancers that grow quickly, where any delay in systemic chemotherapy adds significant risk to the mother...” 

Barroilhet also discusses impacts on other areas of health care inside and outside ob-gyn, challenges to ob-gyn training programs, and effects on residency applications across specialties. 

Read the whole editorial here.  

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Barroilhet co-authors article in Abdominal Radiology

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, co-authored a new study published in Abdominal Radiology. 

In “Distribution of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on PET-MRI in patients with and without ovarian cancer”, Barroilhet and co-authors outline a proof-of-concept study comparing the results of an imaging protocol in patients with and without ovarian cancer: 

“PET/MR imaging detected PSMA uptake in ovarian cancer, with little to no uptake in benign ovarian findings. These results are encouraging and further studies in a larger patient cohort would be useful to help determine the extent and heterogeneity of PSMA uptake in ovarian cancer patients.” 

Read the whole study here! 

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Leadership transition in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Later this fall, the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology will undergo a leadership transition: Stephen Rose, MD, who has served as Division Director of Gynecologic Oncology since 2017, will step down from that role. Dr. Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS will become the new Division Director on November 13, 2023. Please help us thank Dr. Rose for his steadfast, supportive, and innovative leadership over the last seven years and welcome Dr. Barroilhet to this new position!

Dr. Rose has been an incredible steward of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology during his time in this role. Under his leadership, the division added four faculty and two advanced practice providers and recruited exceptional candidates to the gynecologic oncology fellowship. Dr. Rose cultivated an environment that supported each member of the division in their career goals and aspirations. Faculty in the division have, with Dr. Rose’s support, received R01 grants, taken on prominent leadership roles in our department, institution, and national organizations, and published practice-changing research. His influence is not limited to our department, either – he founded the Heartland Association of Gynecologic Oncology in 2019 to create a space for gynecologic oncology professionals across our region to share research and build connections.

Dr. Rose has long been a sought-after physician and surgeon to patients in our area. He is favored by his patients and referring physicians alike. During his tenure as division director, he implemented clinical changes that better supported patients as well as providers in the department, including enacting sentinel lymph node protocols to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment, and rolling out a new system of call for faculty to improve the division’s efficiency and access. 

In 2022, Dr. Rose became the Medical Director for Regional Oncology Services at UW Health. His responsibilities in that role include providing clinical and professional direction for the program; building relationships with regional leadership teams and referring providers; extending research opportunities to regional partners; and more. In 2023, he won the UW Health Regional Services Physician Excellence Award for this important work. I am so pleased that Dr. Rose will remain in our department while he focuses more of his efforts and expands his responsibilities in a larger regional role for UW Health. 

Dr. Lisa Barroilhet is more than prepared for the challenge of becoming Division Director. She is a beloved clinician, award-winning researcher, highly regarded educator, and relentless advocate for reproductive health. Dr. Barroilhet demonstrated her leadership competence as Interim Chair of the Department of Ob-Gyn in 2022 – her tireless focus and foresight helped us navigate significant changes in the department following the Dobbs decision as smoothly as possible. 

Nationally, Dr. Barroilhet serves in numerous leadership roles, including as Vice Chair and Course Director for Patient Education for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, as NRG Institutional PI and member of the NRG Development Therapeutics Committee and site PI for several national clinical trials, and as Co-Director for the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists Emerging Clinical Trialists Course. 

In addition to her leadership skills, Dr. Barroilhet is a committed researcher with a deep understanding of our institutional and national research platforms. She led the Carbone Cancer Center’s gynecologic oncology disease-oriented team (DOT) for several years, became the Division of Gynecologic Oncology’s director of translational research in 2021, and is principal investigator on several active studies right now. 

Dr. Barroilhet has established a reputation in our institution for her remarkable vision, and her ability to smoothly lead successful transformations improving our healthcare programs and patient care. She will be an exceptional Division Director. 

Please help us thank Dr. Rose for his many years of outstanding service as Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and congratulate Dr. Barroilhet on this exciting opportunity!

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Barroilhet, Wallace co-author review article in Radiology

Associate Professor Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, and Associate Professor Sumer Wallace, MD, MS, co-authored a review article in the journal Radiology.

In “Adnexal Lesion Imaging: Past, Present, and Future”, Barroilhet, Wallace, and co-authors discuss ways imaging has affected treatment of adnexal lesions, current data supporting the use of ultrasound, MRI, and CT imaging to differentiate between benign and cancerous lesions, and the future of imaging in ovarian cancer detection.

Read the whole article here.

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Barroilhet appointed co-DOT leader of Chemoprevention

Congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Barroilhet was appointed co-leader of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Chemoprevention Disease-Oriented Team. She will lead the team alongside Howard Bailey, MD, associate dean for oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and director of the Carbone Cancer Center.

DOTs are research groups embedded in specific UW Carbone Cancer Center Scientific Programs and provide a multidisciplinary translational infrastructure which fosters inter- and intra-programmatic interactions that address programmatic goals and disease specific interests. Each DOT has a designated leader and participants include UWCCC Scientific Program members, research staff and other UW faculty.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Barroilhet!

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Barroilhet selected as 2023-2024 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program fellow

Huge congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Barroilhet was selected as a 2023-24 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) Program fellow!

The ELAM Program, offered by the Drexel University College of Medicine, is a year-long, part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. The program is dedicated to developing the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today's complex health care environment, with special attention to the unique challenges facing women in leadership positions.

The ELAM program is highly selective, choosing only about 60 applicants per year. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Barroilhet!

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Patankar Lab publishes study on endometriosis treatment in Reproduction

According to the World Health Organization, endometriosis affects roughly 10 percent of reproductive-aged women around the world; despite this prevalence, treatment options are limited. In a new study in Reproduction, members of the Patankar Lab describe a novel treatment strategy for the disease.

“Oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors inhibit proliferation of endometriosis cells”, by Arvinder Kapur, PhD, Jose M Ayuso, PhD, Santosh Kumari, PhD, Mildred Felder, Zach Stenerson, Melisa C Skala, PhD, Dave Beebe, PhD, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, and Manish S Patankar, PhD, tests oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) inhibitors curcumin, plumbagin, and atovaquone against an endometriosis cell line:

“The results suggest that all three compounds inhibit proliferation and cause cell death of the endometriotic cells by inhibiting OXPHOS and causing an increase in intracellular oxygen radicals. The oxidative stress mediated by curcumin, plumbagin, and atovaquone causes DNA double-strand breaks as indicated by the elevation of phospho-γH2Ax. Mitochondrial energetics shows a significant decrease in oxygen consumption in 12Z cells.”

Read the study here!

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Barroilhet earns GWIMS Impact Award

Congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Barroilhet earned the 2022 UW School of Medicine and Public Health Group on Women in Medicine and Science Impact Award! The award was presented at a ceremony on November 29, 2022.

The Impact Award recognizes significant contributions with ongoing, substantive impact in areas like advocacy, research, clinical work, education, program development, community involvement, and more. Please help us congratulate Dr. Barroilhet on this well-deserved honor!

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Barroilhet, Giles, Iruretagoyena in Texas as Board Examiners

Three UW Ob-Gyn faculty served as ABOG subspecialty board examiners in Texas this year!

Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Igor Iruretagoyena, MD, MS, professor and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, each served as a board examiner for their respective subspecialties.

It's an exciting department accomplishment to have three faculty serve as subspecialty board examiners. Thank you all for your work supporting the next generation of FPMRS, Gynecologic Oncology, and MFM physicians!  

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UW Ob-Gyn presentations at 2023 Society of Gynecologic Oncology conference

UW Ob-Gyn faculty, advanced practice providers, fellows, and residents prepared an impressive slate of presentations and posters, and served in key leadership roles, for the 2023 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer! Here are just some of their exciting contributions to the conference, which took place March 25-28, 2023 in Tampa, FL:

Associate Proefssor Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS:

Vice Chair of the Patient Education Committee

Professor Ellen Hartenbach, MD:

Poster: “The genomic profile of high-grade serous ovarian cancer and the association with platinum-resistance”

Poster: “Thromboembolic Events in Gynecologic Cancer Patients Treated with Chemotherapy”

Ob-Gyn Resident Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD:

Poster: “Radical hysterectomy case volume and cervical cancer treatment in the era of COVID-19: A multi-institutional analysis” 

Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Lauren Montemorano, MD:

Poster: “Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Recruitment in the Virtual Era: An Evaluation of Program Websites and Survey of Applicant Preferences” (Lauren Montemorano MD, Connor C Wang MD, Ankitha Madde MD, J Stuart Ferriss MD, Bunja J Rungruang MD, Ryan Spencer MD, MS)

Poster: “The genomic profile of high-grade serous ovarian cancer and the association with platinum-resistance” (Lauren Montemorano MD, Jessica D Lang PhD, Zoey Shultz BA, Alma Farooque BA, Meredith Hyun MS, Richard Chappell PhD, Ellen Hartenbach MD)

Poster: “A comparison of early-occurring and late-occurring incisional hernias after trans-umbilical versus circumbilical midline laparotomy in gynecologic oncology patients” (Connor C Wang, Alexandra Andes, Aaditi Naik, Lauren Montemorano, Ahmed Al-Niaimi)

Joanne Rash, PA:

Special Interest Session for Allied Health Professionals: Provider Wellbeing: Hope to be Found

Rash finished her board terms as the first elected APP representative on the SGO board!

Professor Stephen Rose, MD:

Poster: “Radical hysterectomy case volume and cervical cancer treatment in the era of COVID-19: A multi-institutional analysis”

Associate Professor Ryan Spencer, MD, MS:

Spencer was selected to serve as the SGO representative on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ political action committee (Ob-GynPAC).

Spencer received the Congressional Ambassador Award, given annually to SGO members who have worked hard to educate our elected and appointed officials in Washington, DC, to promote health care policy changes and annual federal funding increases to positively impact the field of gynecologic oncology and the women who are impacted with gynecologic cancer malignancies.

Chair, SGO Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee

Co-Lead, Gynecologic Oncology Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE) Task Force

Poster: “Gynecologic oncology fellowship recruitment in the virtual era: an evaluation of program websites and survey of applicant preferences.” (Senior author on this multi-institutional project with Johns Hopkins, Duke, and Medical College of Georgia.)

Presentations during SGO Program Directors Network meeting:

Gynecologic Oncology SLOEs

Updates from the ABOG Reproductive Health Summit

Associate Professor Sumer Wallace, MD, MS:

Serves on Policy, Quality, & Outcomes task force for the Health Policy and Socioeconomic committee

Ob-Gyn Resident Connor Wang, MD:

Poster: “A Comparison of Early-Occuring and Late-Occuring Incisional Hernias After Trans-Umbilical Versus Circumbilical Midline Laparotomy in Gynecologic Oncology Patients”

Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Catherine Zhang, MD, MPH:

Featured Oral Poster Session: “A Quality Improvement Project to Implement Oral Anticoagulant Thromboprophylaxis in Ambulatory Gynecologic Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy”

Congratulations to all on this incredible showing!

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Residency alum Carballo publishes in Scientific Reports

Erica Carballo, MD, UW Ob-Gyn residency graduate in the class of 2021, published a new article in Scientific Reports! Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, is senior author on the article.

In “Surgical outcomes of adnexal masses classified by IOTA ultrasound simple rules”, Carballo and co-authors conducted a retrospective study of cases from two institutions with the goal of assessing whether the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) simple rules inappropriately directed patients to surgery, or more aggressive surgery, than their diagnoses warranted:

“…our analysis suggests that IOTA risk stratification is an effective adjunct in triaging adnexal masses, to conservative or surgical management in a way that does not increase surgical morbidity or delay treatment of malignancy. While there was not statistically significant increase in surgical morbidity of indeterminate masses with our small sample size, isolated cases were identified, making this an area where newer classification systems can provide improved clinical guidance to further improve outcomes.”

Read the whole study here.

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Barroilhet presents keynote speech at Middleton Society event

On September 30, 2022, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, presented the keynote speech at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Middleton Society event.

Barroilhet presented “Women Need Us Now: The Science and Strategy of Cancer Prevention” to an audience of UW SMPH alumni, friends, and supporters. In her talk, she provided an update on the physiology of cancer, stressed the importance of research into screening and prevention, and highlighted opportunities for donors to support research efforts at UW.

The Middleton Society, the philanthropic society of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, honors alumni, faculty and friends who support hope and encourage the scientists, clinicians, teachers and students who translate hope into action.

Incredible work, Dr. Barroilhet!

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Barroilhet joins Crossing the Line podcast to discuss Dobbs’ impact on health care

On a recent episode of the new podcast Crossing the Line, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, discussed Wisconsin’s abortion ban and the challenges of navigating the “life of the mother” exception.

In the episode “A Matter of Life or Death”, Barroilhet talks about the lack of clarity that affects the kinds of health care patients may be offered:

“This is very different than anything we’ve faced before. There’s no roadmap for that….

…It's very clear that it has to be life-saving, so her life, presumably, has to be in somewhat proximate danger. Not theoretical or abstract danger. There’s patients who may have subclinical infections or things that are very likely to progress and get worse…but how far do you let that go? How long do you wait? Very challenging to get that right, it’s a very narrow definition. And the reality is there’s a multitude of health-related reasons why abortions are done in our country every day.”

Listen to the whole episode here!

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Grand Rounds: Barroilhet presents “The Dobbs Decision: Implications for Health Care in Wisconsin”

On October 6, 2022, UW Ob-Gyn Associate Professor Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “The Dobbs Decision: Implications for Health Care in Wisconsin”.

In the lecture, Barroilhet explained current law surrounding abortion care in Wisconsin, outlined some clinical situations where abortion would be legal under today’s law, and discussed access to abortion care for patients with chronic health conditions.

You can watch the whole lecture here!

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Barroilhet joins WPR to talk about impacts of Wisconsin abortion laws

During her time as interim chair of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, Associate Professor Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio on two occasions about the impacts of Wisconsin’s 1849 law restricting the availability of abortion care in the state.

In Wisconsin, what are my options if genetic testing shows the fetus isn't viable? – WHYsconsin

In this listener-question-driven segment, Barroilhet shared UW Health’s institutional understanding of whether fetal anomalies would affect availability of abortion care:

“"In the absence of any maternal illness, genetic abnormalities in the fetus — including those that would not allow the fetus to survive outside the womb — do not constitute a life-threatening condition for the mother," Dr. Lisa Barroilhet, interim chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, said in a written statement. "Because the abortion is not being performed to save of the life of the mother, it would not be legal in Wisconsin per the 1849 statute."”

Read the whole article here.

How Wisconsin's near-total abortion ban is impacting people with pregnancy complications, miscarriages – Central Time

In this interview, Barroilhet discussed what navigating the uncertainty has been like for patients and medical professionals. Listen to the whole interview here.

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Barroilhet discusses challenges of post-Dobbs health care with Wisconsin Watch

In a new article, media outlet Wisconsin Watch highlights the effects of Wisconsin’s 173-year-old abortion ban law on patient care. In the article, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, weighed in about the challenges of interpreting the law’s exception for “therapeutic abortions”:

““It’s really important to understand there’s never going to be like a checklist,” says Dr. Lisa Barroilhet, a gynecologic oncologist and the interim chair of obstetrics and gynecology for the UW. “Even before there were particular concerns about the legal ramifications, these situations are always incredibly individualized and nuanced.”" 

Read the whole article “Wisconsin’s 173-year-old ban allows only life-saving ‘therapeutic abortions.’ No one knows what that means.”

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Barroilhet and Patankar publish in Cancers

A new study co-authored by Lisa Barroilhet, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Division of Reproductive Sciences Director Manish Patankar, PhD was published in the journal Cancers!

“Atovaquone: An Inhibitor of Oxidative Phosphorylation as Studied in Gynecologic Cancers” outlines the Barroilhet and Patankar Labs’ research of the FDA-approved antimalarial drug atovaquone and its potential impact on gynecologic cancer:

“Our laboratory studied the anti-cancer properties of atovaquone in gynecologic cancers. We found that atovaquone slowed ovarian cancer growth in both cell lines and mouse models. Additional anti-cancer effects were seen, such as the reduced proliferation of cancer stem cells and spheroids implanted in mice. Atovaquone inhibited oxygen consumption and ATP production. Metabolic studies showed that atovaquone shifted glycolysis, electronic transport and the citric acid cycle. Our studies provided the mechanistic understanding and preclinical data to support the further investigation of atovaquone’s potential as a cancer therapy for gynecologic cancers.”

Read the whole study here. Congratulations to the Barroilhet and Patankar research groups on this exciting development!

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Barroilhet/Patankar Labs celebrate graduates

The research labs of interim department chair Lisa Barriolhet, MD, MS and Division of Reproductive Sciences Director Manish Patankar, PhD celebrated some amazing graduates in May!

Please help us congratulate Lojain Ibrahim Aljohani, MS and Kristal Gant, PhD, who graduated from the UW-Madison Endocrinology & Reproductive Physiology program, and Shannon Rush, MD, graduating UW Ob-Gyn gynecologic oncology fellow!

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UW Ob-Gyn presentations at 2022 Society of Gynecologic Oncology conference

Members of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, fellows and residents prepared an impressive slate of posters and presentations for the 2022 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer! Take a look at just some of the research brought to the hybrid conference, as well as the variety of service and leadership roles held by members of our department:

Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD:

Master Class: Optimize and Operate: Enhancing Perioperative Quality, Safety, Experience, and Outcomes

Master Class: Debulk and Deliver: A Virtual Live-Streamed Master Class with Optional Hands-On Cytoreductive Surgery Lab 

Oral Plenary Presentation: Mechanical bowel preparation and post-operative renal dysfunction in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS:

Distillation: On-Demand Oral Featured Posters: Novel Therapies, PROs, and Disparities in Care

Special Interest Session: Curriculum for Emerging Clinical Trialists (Dr. Barroilhet is course director for this session)

Vice-Chair of the Patient Education Committee

Katherine Dryer, MD:

Poster: Outpatient palliative care utilization and aggressiveness of end-of-life care in women with gynecologic cancers (authors Kathryn Dryer MD, Janelle Sobecki MD, Michael Lasarev MS, Lena Law BA, Anna Stecher MD, Ellen Hartenbach MD)

Maya Gross, MD, MPH:

Poster: Risk factors associated with distress among postoperative patients in an academic gynecologic oncology practice

Ellen Hartenbach, MD:

Symposium: Wake to Wellness: Beating Burnout Through Better Patient Communication (Hartenbach presented “Mitigating Burnout Through Effective Communication Techniques”)

Palliative Medicine Committee 

Clinical Practice Committee

David Kushner, MD:

Finance Committee

Wellness Committee (Chair)

Developed two “Wake to Wellness” Sessions based on SGO Wellness Curriculum that was just published:

Managing Priorities 

Moving from Surviving to Thriving (Kushner will present as part of this session)

Senior author on Surgical Innovation presentation “Beneath the Surface: Fluorescein mapping in vulvar Paget’s Disease” given by Gyn Onc fellow Catherine Zhang, MD

Joanne Rash, PA:

Attending the SGO Board meeting (virtually), and will start her board term as the first-ever APP representative on the SGO board

Stephen Rose, MD:

Co-Chair of the Fellowship Program Directors Network and will be leading the annual meeting Thursday night. 

Hosting the UW Fellow Alumni Reception Sunday night

Senior author on Connor Wang’s study: Adaptive and maladaptive humor styles are closely associated with burnout and professional fulfillment in members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Shannon Rush, MD:

Poster: Hormone replacement therapy counseling at prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in high risk patients

Janelle Sobecki, MD:

Poster: Risk factors associated with distress among postoperative patients in an academic gynecologic oncology practice (Maya Gross, Sumer Wallace - Senior)

Poster: Outpatient Palliative Care Utilization and Aggressiveness of End-of-Life Care in Women with Gynecologic Cancers (Kathryn Dryer, Ellen Hartenbach – Senior)

Sumer Wallace, MD:

Serves on Policy, Quality, & Outcomes task force for the Health Policy and Socioeconomic committee

Connor Wang, MD:

Poster: Adaptive and maladaptive humor styles are closely associated with burnout and professional fulfillment in members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology

Catherine Zhang, MD:

Poster: Thromboembolic events in gynecologic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy (authors R. Zhang, MD; T. Stewart, BS; K. Tetreault, MS; R. Alexandridis, PhD; J. Bergsbaken, PharmD;  S. Wallace, MD; D. Kushner, MD;E. Hartenbach, MD)

Farr Nezhat Session Surgical Innovation Session: How Surgical Futurists are Revolutionizing Cancer Care (Zhang presented “Beneath the Surface: Fluorescein mapping in vulvar Paget’s Disease”)

Congratulations to all for these incredible achievements!

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Sobecki published in International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer

Janelle Sobecki, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, is lead author on a new study published in the International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer!

In “Opportunistic osteoporosis screening using routine computed tomography images to identify bone loss in gynecologic cancer survivors”, Sobecki and co-authors (including gynecologic oncology faculty Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, Ellen Hartenbach, MD, and resident India Anderson-Carter, MD, PGY-2) examined bone loss in a retrospective cohort of people who underwent oophorectomy for gynecologic cancer. The total sample of 185 patients showed significant changes in bone mineral density over time:

“Women with gynecologic cancers may experience accelerated cancer treatment-induced bone loss. Routine CT imaging is a convenient screening modality to identify those at highest risk for osteoporosis who warrant further evaluation with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Routine bone mineral density assessments 1 year following oophorectomy for cancer treatment may be warranted in this population.”

Read the whole study here.

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Wagar published in Journal of Ob-Gyn Hospital Medicine

A new article in the latest issue of the Journal of Ob-Gyn Hospital Medicine looks at rates of removal of fallopian tubes during postpartum sterilization procedures.

“Trends in Postpartum Opportunistic Salpingectomy During Vaginal Delivery Admissions”, by UW Ob-Gyn resident Matt Wagar, MD, PGY-4 and co-authors Amy Godecker, PhD, Maria Landeros, Lisa Barroilhet, MD MS, and Makeba Williams, MD, is a retrospective study looking at rates of bilateral salpingectomy before and after the Society of Gynecologic Oncology issued a practice statement recommending patients consider salpingectomy rather than tubal ligation to lower future cancer risk. Their comparison found:

“Patient demographics before and after January 1st, 2014, did not significantly differ between the time periods. In 2014, 5.9% of sterilization procedures were completed as salpingectomies, increasing to 80% by 2019 (p-value for trend <0.001). No differences in postoperative complications or readmissions were noted between the two time periods.”

Read the whole study here!

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Wagar published in Gynecologic Oncology

A new article in the journal Gynecologic Oncology by UW Ob-Gyn resident Matt Wagar, MD, PGY-4 examines whether enrollments in clinical trials for PARP inhibitors reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of people who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

“Racial and ethnic enrollment disparities in clinical trials of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for gynecologic cancers”, by Wagar and co-authors Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD, Amy Godecker, PhD, Laurel Rice, MD, and Lisa Barroilhet, MD, is a retrospective review utilizing data from 15 PARP inhibitor trials on ClinicalTrials.gov. The study found:

“[Non-Hispanic] NH-Black and Hispanic patients are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials evaluating PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancers compared to NH-White cohorts. Phase II/III trials assessing PARP inhibitors for ovarian cancers do not accurately represent the populations diagnosed with these malignancies. Enrollment strategies are needed to increase diversity in PARP inhibitor clinical trials for women's cancers.”

Read the whole study here!

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Barroilhet joins ICTR Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation admissions committee

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was recently invited to join the UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research’s admissions and recruiting subcommittee for the Graduate Program in Clinical Investigation! Her three-year term began on January 1, 2022.

The admissions and recruiting subcommittee makes final, program-level decisions about admissions of new PhD and MS students, as well as evaluates transfer requests into the program from UW-Madison students.

Congratulations, Dr. Barroilhet!

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Barroilhet discusses patient education with Health Professional Radio

On a recent episode of Health Professional Radio, Lisa Barroilhet, MD of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, discussed the launch of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer #MoveTheMessage campaign.

In the interview, Barroilhet talked about the need for greater awareness of gynecologic cancers, the importance of having accessible, inclusive education materials readily available for patients and providers, and why increased research funding is crucial for improving gynecologic cancer outcomes. She also outlined the new #MoveTheMessage campaign from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, a campaign focused on sharing free, inclusive educational materials about several aspects of gynecologic cancer – signs and symptoms, treatments, clinical research, and more.

Listen to Dr. Barroilhet’s whole interview here!

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Barroilhet promoted to Associate Professor (tenure track)

Our congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Barroilhet has been promoted to Associate Professor (Tenure Track). The promotion and track transfer will be effective July 1, 2021. Previously, Barroilhet was an associate professor (CHS track).

Since joining the department in 2012, Barroilhet has earned a distinguished reputation in research and patient care. Just a few incredible accomplishments in recent years: in 2020, she earned an R01 grant from the NIH to study atovaquone and ovarian cancer, and was appointed the first-ever Dolores A. Buchler, MD Professor of Gynecologic Oncology. 

Congratulations, Dr. Barroihet!

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Grand Rounds: Badger Bytes on opioids and women’s health

On Thursday, January 7, a multidisciplinary group presented Badger Bytes Grand Rounds lectures as part of the presentation “The Multiple Dimensions of Opioid Use for Women’s Health.” The session was moderated by UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director Deborah Ehrenthal, MD, MPH.

Erin Nacev, MD/MPH student in the UW SMPH started off with “Prenatal Opioid Use Disorder and Birth Outcomes in Wisconsin". In her presentation, Nacev examined the prevalence of prenatal opioid use disorder and uptake of medication-assisted treatment among Medicaid-covered births in Wisconsin, and discussed future directions for research on OUD and pregnancy.

Next, UW Ob-Gyn resident Emily Buttigieg, MD, PGY-4 presented "Gynecologic Surgery Postoperative Narcotic Use". In the presentation, Buttigieg examined prescribing patterns for opioids after gynecologic surgery at a large academic medical center, and estimated ideal prescription size to reduce unused opioids after procedures.

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology presented the last lecture “Opioids, Cancer and the Immune System: Untangling a Complicated Relationship". Barroilhet outlined some ways opioids affect cancer treatments, options for pain control while limiting opioids, and areas for further study.

Watch the whole Badger Bytes presentation here!

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First HAGO Conference was a great success!

On September 10-11, the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology hosted the first-ever Heartland Association of Gynecologic Oncology (HAGO) meeting. More than 70 gynecologic oncology professionals tuned in for the virtual conference, which included two keynote presentations and 21 research abstract presentations.

HAGO was founded in 2020 by UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gyn Onc Director Stephen Rose, MD, and the program committee included Ryan Spencer, MD and UW Ob-Gyn Gyn Onc fellowship graduates Andrea O’Shea, MD and Shitanshu Uppal, MD.

Of the 21 abstracts selected for presentation, five were from our department (Matthew Wagar, MD with mentor Sumer Wallace, MD; Wagar with mentor Makeba Williams, MD; Shannon Rush, MD with mentor Steve Rose, MD; Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD with mentor Ryan Spencer, MD; and Connor Wang, MD with mentor Spencer).

UW Ob-Gyn Gyn Onc fellow Shannon Rush, MD earned the first Award for Clinical Research for her abstract “65 Revisited: A Revised Markov Model for Evaluating Oophorectomy at the Time of Hysterectomy for Benign Disease”!

Lisa Barroilhet, MD was also an invited distillation presenter and UW Ob-Gyn Department Chair Laurel Rice, MD gave a keynote address and received the inaugural HAGO Award for Service and Leadership.

Our congratulations to everyone involved in planning and preparing the HAGO Conference – incredible work!

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Barroilhet named first-ever Dolores A. Buchler, MD, Professor in Gynecologic Oncology

A special congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, as she is officially appointed the first Dolores A. Buchler, MD Professor of Gynecologic Oncology. 

It is only once or twice a lifetime that you come across a doctor like Dolores “Dee” Buchler. 

Dee joined the University of Wisconsin in 1969 after finishing her residency at University of Kansas where she trained in Ob-Gyn and the emerging fields of gynecologic oncology and radiation oncology—an extremely rare combination, and especially notable for a woman at that time.  Her prowess in radiation techniques and her unparalleled surgical skills combined were truly a rare commodity.  She was a pioneer in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies and a true innovator in the field, developing techniques for women’s cancers which now serve as the national model. 

Dee also was a leader in the department, beloved by learners, patients and colleagues alike. Dr. Buchler retired in 1995 as a professor in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Human Oncology, leaving behind a legacy of impactful education, innovation, and care. 

In 2015, Dee established the Dolores Buchler Faculty Fellowship of Gynecologic Oncology to support a young surgeon with a passion for research and educating a new generation of doctors.  This year, Dee doubled down on her legacy by transforming her Fellowship to a Professorship, taking advantage of a unique match opportunity provided by John and Tashia Morgridge.

We are thrilled to add Dr. Lisa Barroilhet, the Dolores A. Buchler Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, to our growing list of endowed professors in Obstetrics and Gynecology. The funding provided by Dr. Buchler will protect Dr. Barroilhet’s time and provide discretionary funding to advance her research.

Dr. Buchler’s generosity and vision continue to inspire our department and work, and we will be forever grateful as her professorship moves the needle on women’s cancers forever. 

To learn more about professorships and endowed funds to support Ob-Gyn research, faculty, and training, contact Lily Johnson at 608-354-4918 or lily.johnson@supportuw.org

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