Portrait

Amy Godecker, PhD, MS
Epidemiologist/Research Scientist II
Administration


godecker@wisc.edu
(608) 417-4251
Secondary Phone:
(608) 515-2039

Office Address
McConnell Hall, 4th Floor, Room: 441
1010 Mound Street
Madison, WI, 53715

Bio

Amy Godecker, PhD, MS, is a Reproductive Health Research Scientist working to enhance research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her work includes consulting and collaborating with residents, fellows, and faculty with research design, data collection, data analysis, and publication. Dr. Godecker completed her graduate work in Sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with an emphasis in social demography and health. Research areas of interest include reproductive health, maternal and child health, public health, and health equity. Prior to joining Ob-Gyn, Dr. Godecker worked for over 16 years as an epidemiologist, researcher, and evaluator for universities and state and local governments in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. At UW–Madison, she has been Director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Outcomes Data (C-POD) Shared Resource and an evaluator with the UW Population Health Institute, where she was the lead evaluator for the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF). 


Education

1991 BA with Honors Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1996 MS Sociology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
2002 PhD Sociology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

An online alternative: a qualitative study of virtual abortion values clarification workshops

Margaret Williams, Elise S Cowley, Taryn M Valley, Alma Farooque, Zoey Shultz, Amy Godecker, Jacquelyn Askins, Laura Jacques

Published Date: September, 2023 - pmid:37722670 - Medical education online


Leveraging quality improvement to promote health equity: standardization of prenatal aspirin recommendations

Maya E Gross, Amy Godecker, Ainsley Hughes, Katherine Sampene

Published Date: September, 2023 - pmid:37684606 - BMC pregnancy and childbirth


"We had to put ourselves in their shoes": Experiences of Medical Students and ObGyn Residents with a Values Clarification Workshop on Abortion

Taryn M Valley, Elise S Cowley, Alma Farooque, Zoey B Shultz, Margaret Williams, Jacquelyn Askins, Amy Godecker, Laura Jacques

Published Date: February, 2023 - pmid:36824897 - medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences


Evaluation of a Structured Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Resident Rotation Curriculum

Brenna Funfar, Amy Godecker, Ryan J Spencer, Dobie L Giles, Christine A Heisler

Published Date: February, 2023 - pmid:36730694 - Urogynecology (Philadelphia, Pa.)


Racial disparities in post-operative pain experience and treatment following cesarean birth

John R Poehlmann, Gabrielle Avery, Kathleen M Antony, Aimee Teo Broman, Amy Godecker, Tiffany L Green

Published Date: October, 2022 - pmid:36195464 - The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians


Shift work and sleep duration are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in a predominantly Latinx population with high rates of obesity

Jeannette M Larson, Mihaela H Bazalakova, Amy Godecker, Melanie DelBeccaro, Kjersti M Aagaard, Kathleen M Antony

Published Date: August, 2022 - pmid:35925932 - PloS one


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

Connor C Wang, Amy Godecker, Stephen L Rose

Published Date: June, 2022 - pmid:35711729 - Gynecologic oncology reports


When we open and close: Postoperative outcomes after aborted primary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer

Connor C Wang, Matthew K Wagar, Amy Godecker, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, David M Kushner

Published Date: April, 2022 - pmid:35478695 - Gynecologic oncology reports


Documented β-Lactam Allergy and Risk for Cesarean Surgical Site Infection

Courtney Johnston, Amy Godecker, Daniel Shirley, Kathleen M Antony

Published Date: March, 2022 - pmid:35281850 - Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology


Racial and ethnic enrollment disparities in clinical trials of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for gynecologic cancers

Matthew K Wagar, Rachel P Mojdehbakhsh, Amy Godecker, Laurel W Rice, Lisa Barroilhet

Published Date: February, 2022 - pmid:35144798 - Gynecologic oncology


The impact of preexisting maternal anxiety on pain and opioid use following cesarean delivery: a retrospective cohort study

John R Poehlmann, Zachary N Stowe, Amy Godecker, Pa Ta Xiong, Aimee Teo Broman, Kathleen M Antony

Published Date: February, 2022 - pmid:35114423 - American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM


Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women: 2015-2018 National Population-Based Survey Data

Ushma J Patel, Amy L Godecker, Dobie L Giles, Heidi W Brown

Published Date: January, 2022 - pmid:35030139 - Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery


Professional Address during Obstetrics and Gynecology Grand Rounds Introductions: Setting the Stage, Setting the Standard

Renee T Sullender, Melissa F Meyer, Emily M Buttigieg, Zachary R Dunton, Amy Godecker, Narjust Duma, Sarah M Temkin, Christine A Heisler

Published Date: July, 2021 - pmid:34294570 - Journal of surgical education


Are Wisconsin resident physicians trained in immediate postpartum long acting reversible contraception?

Kali Rivas, Nicholas B Schmuhl, Mireya Taboada, Amy Godecker, Heidi Brown

Published Date: June, 2021 - pmid:34081975 - Contraception


Postpartum Salpingectomy Compared With Standard Tubal Ligation After Vaginal Delivery

Matthew K Wagar, Amy Godecker, Maria V Landeros, Makeba Williams

Published Date: February, 2021 - pmid:33595245 - Obstetrics and gynecology


Racial and ethnic differences in patterns of long-acting reversible contraceptive use in the United States, 2011-2015

Renee D Kramer, Jenny A Higgins, Amy L Godecker, Deborah B Ehrenthal

Published Date: January, 2018 - pmid:29355492 - Contraception


Addressing perinatal depression in a group of underserved urban women: a focus group study

Nancy C Raymond, Rebekah J Pratt, Amy Godecker, Patricia A Harrison, Helen Kim, Jesse Kuendig, Jennifer M O'Brien

Published Date: September, 2014 - pmid:25261279 - BMC pregnancy and childbirth


Determinants of cesarean delivery in the US: a lifecourse approach

Whitney P Witt, Lauren E Wisk, Erika R Cheng, Kara Mandell, Debanjana Chatterjee, Fathima Wakeel, Amy L Godecker, Dakota Zarak

Published Date: April, 2014 - pmid:24770955 - Maternal and child health journal


Nurse versus community health worker identification of psychosocial risks in pregnancy through a structured interview

Amy L Godecker, Patricia A Harrison, Abbey C Sidebottom

Published Date: November, 2013 - pmid:24185153 - Journal of health care for the poor and underserved


Posttraumatic stress disorder among women receiving prenatal care at three federally qualified health care centers

Helen G Kim, Patricia A Harrison, Amy L Godecker, Charlene N Muzyka

Published Date: August, 2013 - pmid:23912314 - Maternal and child health journal


Response to letter from Coronado-Montoya et al

Abbey C Sidebottom, Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Helen Kim

Published Date: April, 2013 - pmid:23558947 - Archives of women's mental health


Validity of the prenatal risk overview for detecting drug use disorders in pregnancy

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey Sidebottom

Published Date: October, 2012 - pmid:23078427 - Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.)


Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 for prenatal depression screening

Abbey C Sidebottom, Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Helen Kim

Published Date: September, 2012 - pmid:22983357 - Archives of women's mental health


Validation of the alcohol use module from a multidimensional prenatal psychosocial risk screening instrument

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey C Sidebottom

Published Date: November, 2011 - pmid:22120427 - Maternal and child health journal


Psychosocial risk screening during pregnancy: additional risks identified during a second interview

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey C Sidebottom

Published Date: November, 2011 - pmid:22080714 - Journal of health care for the poor and underserved


Union status, marital history and female contraceptive sterilization in the United States

A L Godecker, E Thomson, L L Bumpass

Published Date: March, 2001 - pmid:11271545 - Family planning perspectives


Women, men, and contraceptive sterilization

L L Bumpass, E Thomson, A L Godecker

Published Date: April, 2000 - pmid:10785218 - Fertility and sterility


Posters, presentations, and awards at the 2024 Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine conference

 
Faculty, trainees, researchers, and more from the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology brought posters and presentations to the 2024 Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, this February. Read on for some of their exciting accomplishments!  

Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow Jackie Powell, MD, earned the Best Poster of Poster Session 3 with the poster “Improving participation in postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring collaborating with community doulas for Black women”. Associate Professor Kara Hoppe, DO, MS, is senior author on the poster. Co-authors include Tia Murray, BS, Uchenna Jones, RN, Erin Bailey, MD, MS, Kristin Hildebrandt, MSN, RN, Megan Knutson Sinaise, MS. 

PRESENTATIONS: 

Scientific Forum: Adverse Obstetric Outcomes Among Physicians – Jackie Powell, MD 

POSTERS: 

Breastfeeding rates among Black participants in a remote hypertension monitoring/community-based doula partnership study - Erin Bailey, MD, MS; Megan Knutson Sinaise, MS; Tia Murray, BS; Uchenna Jones, RN; Kathleen Wannemuehler, PhD; Kara Hoppe, DO, MS 

Engaging community doulas with a remote postpartum hypertension program for Black persons: A qualitative study – Elizabeth Albert, MA; Megan Knutson Sinaise, MS; Tia Murray, BS;  Nicole Thomas, BSN; Kathleen Wannemuehler, PhD; Susan Passmore, PhD; Kara Hoppe, DO, MS 

Understanding Fluid Shifts in Hypertension: Postpartum Point-of-Care Ultrasound of the Inferior Vena Cava and Aorta – Awa Sanneh, MD; Jenna Racine, MD; Amy Godecker, PhD; Kara Hoppe, DO, MS; J. Igor Iruretagoyena, MD, MS 

Improving participation in postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring collaborating with community doulas for Black women - Jackie Powell, MD; Tia Murray, BS; Uchenna Jones, RN; Erin Bailey, MD, MS; Kristin Hildebrandt, MSN, RN; Megan Knutson Sinaise, MS; Kara Hoppe, DO, MS 

Congratulations to all!  


Jacques and VCAT team publish in Medical Education Online

Laura Jacques, MD, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is the senior author on a new study about online values clarification workshops in Medical Education Online. Co-authors on the study include Margaret Williams, MD, PGY-3; Elise Cowley; Taryn Valley; Alma Farooque, MD, PGY-1; Zoey Schultz; Amy Godecker, PhD; and Jackie Askins

In “An online alternative: A qualitative study of virtual abortion values clarification workshops”, the authors seek to understand the effectiveness of online values clarification workshops as a tool for medical student and resident education. Over the course of qualitative interviews with 24 medical student participants, 13 ob-gyn resident participants, and five facilitators of virtual values clarification workshops on abortion, the study team found:  

...using an online platform to deliver values clarification workshops on abortion provides both unique advantages and disadvantages to in-person instruction. The original workshop takes steps to create a safe environment for participants by having them participate using an anonymous colleague’s survey responses, rather than their own. Themes from the interviews we conducted with medical trainees highlight how the virtual platform additionally allowed for more comfortable discussion around a stigmatized topic. Participants attributed their feelings of emotional safety during these discussions to the distance between participants created by the virtual format. Additionally, the online format lowered barriers, primarily travel time and effort, to accessing the workshop for both trainees and facilitators.” 

Read the whole study here! 


UW Ob-Gyn brings research, developments to 2021 SMFM Conference

Faculty, residents, fellows, researchers and more brought numerous posters and presentations to the virtual 2021 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Meeting at the end of January! Learn more about the wealth of research shared by our colleagues at the conference:

PRESENTATION:

Racial disparities in post-operative pain experience and treatment following cesarean birth

John Poehlmann; Tiffany Green, Katie Antony, Amy Godecker

POSTERS:

Trouble with the curve: Is an ultrasound growth curve needed to predict SGA infants?

Bradley Bosse; Jacquelyn Adams, Melissa Meyer, John Poehlmann, Janine Rhoades, Igor Iruretagoyena

Obtaining accurate blood pressures: A quality improvement initiative to increase obstetric nursing knowledge and confidence

Matt Wagar; Jacquelyn Adams, Amy Godecker, Katie Antony

Prediction of vaginal delivery utilizing intrapartum transperineal ultrasound

Stephanie Peace; Melissa Meyer, Jacquelyn Adams, Katie Antony; Luther Gaston

Comparing 32-week vs 36-week growth ultrasound for prediction of LGA infants in obese gravidae

John Poehlmann; Jacquelyn Adams, Melissa Meyer, Jenna Racine, Janine Rhoades, Igor Iruretagoyena

Impact of a Standardized Post-Cesarean Analgesia Regimen on Postpartum Opioid Use

Melissa Meyer; Katie Antony

The impact of pre-existing maternal anxiety on pain and opioid use following cesarean birth

John Poehlmann; Amy Godecker, Katie Antony

Blood pressure pattern of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is highly affected by obesity

Narmin Mukhtarova (MFM research intern); Kara Hoppe co-authored

Postpartum blood pressure of Black women is significantly higher compared to non-Black women

Narmin Mukhtarova (MFM research intern); Kara Hoppe co-authored

Did institutional changes and patient behaviors surrounding COVID-19 affect perinatal outcomes?

Jenna Racine; Igor Iruretagoyena, Kara Hoppe

Distance matters. The effect of distance to the hospital on estimated blood loss.

Kara Hoppe; Alexa Lowry

Blood pressure pattern pre-pregnancy through 42-day postpartum of women with preeclampsia, gestational, and chronic hypertension

Narmin Mukhtarova (MFM research intern); Kara Hoppe


UW Ob-Gyn research and presentations at 2022 ACOG Annual Meeting

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists held the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in San Diego May 6-8, 2022. Faculty, fellows and residents in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought many exciting presentations and projects to the conference. Read more about some of their awesome accomplishments:

Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn Director Makeba Williams, MD gave the Morton and Diane Stenchever Lecture “The Women’s Health Initiative: Controversy, Confusion, Consensus” at the opening of the day on May 8: 

“In 2022, is hormone therapy safe? Have we reached a point of consensus? The Women’s Health Initiative hormone therapy trial preliminary results were released summer 2002, completely altering the practice of prescribing hormone therapy to midlife and menopausal women. Controversy and confusion immediately ensued. Attend this thought-provoking session to better understand current recommendations, management strategies and treatment options for menopausal patients.”

Division of Gynecologic Oncology Director Stephen Rose, MD, presented “A Revised Markov Model Evaluating Oophorectomy at the Time of Hysterectomy for Benign Indication”, co-authored by Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Shannon Rush, MD, during a late-breaking abstracts session on May 8.

More posters and presentations:

Black Women With Low Numeracy Fare Worse in Diabetic Pregnancies - Jennifer Jacobson, MD; Amy Godecker, PhD; Jennifer Janik, MD; April Eddy, MS; Jacquelyn Adams, MD

Assessment of In-Hospital Pain Control After Childbirth and Its Correlation With Anxiety in the Postpartum Period – Clara Olson, BS; John Poehlmann, MD; Zachary Stowe, MD; Kathleen Antony, MD

Clinical Application of a Previously Validated Pregnancy-Specific Screening Tool for Sleep Apnea – Kathleen Antony, MD

Operationalizing Aspirin to Reduce Preeclampsia Risk and Related Morbidity and Mortality – Maya Gross, MD; Katherine Sampene, MD

Leveraging Quality Improvement to Promote Health Equity: Prenatal Aspirin Recommendations by Race - Maya Gross, MD; Katherine Sampene, MD

In the Eye of the Beholder: Perspectives of Fellowship Applicants on Virtual Interviews - Christine Heisler, MD

Cost-Effectiveness of Opportunistic Salpingectomy Following Vaginal Delivery for Ovarian Cancer Prevention – Matthew Wagar, MD; Makeba Williams, MD

Incredible work, all!


Green published in Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine

A new article in the journal Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine examines racial/ethnic differences in post-operative pain experience and opioid medication use in the first day after C-section delivery! Tiffany Green, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, is senior author on the article. UW Ob-Gyn residency graduate John Poehlmann, MD, is first author; co-authors include resident Gabrielle Avery, MD, PGY-3, MFM Associate Professor Katie Antony, MD, and Amy Godecker, PhD.

Racial disparities in post-operative pain experience and treatment following cesarean birth”, a single-center retrospective study of patients who gave birth via C-section over two years, compares patients’ self-reported pain scores and amount of oral morphine given with patients’ race:

“Despite reporting higher mean pain scores, non-Hispanic Black birthing persons did not receive higher quantities of morphine milligram equivalent. Non-Hispanic Asian birthing persons received lower quantities of morphine milligram equivalent despite reporting similar pain scores to non-Hispanic White birthing persons.”

Read the whole study here!


UW Ob-Gyn brings impressive slate of research to 2023 SMFM meeting

​Faculty, residents, and fellows brought an exciting variety of posters and presentations to the 2023 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Annual Pregnancy Meeting February 6-11 in San Francisco! Just some of their incredible accomplishments:

Erin Bailey, MD, MS (MFM fellow) presented “Treatment for mild chronic hypertension during pregnancy: is tighter better?” during an oral plenary session to an audience of more than 3,000 people! The abstract won the Norman F. Gant Award for Best Research in Maternal Medicine.

Scott Infusino, MD (MFM fellow) gave an oral presentation during a Fellow Case session: “Mo' Baby, Mo' Problems” 

Kara Hoppe, DO, MS, presented during a Scientific Forum: “The CHAP trial: clinical implications and recommended practice changes”

The department and the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine were also well-represented during poster sessions throughout the conference: 

Poster: Does excess gestational weight gain increase the risk for neonatal hypoglycemia? (Erin Bailey, Carrie Sibbald, Janine Rhoades, Jacquelyn Adams)

Poster: Evaluation of a cesarean surgical site infection (SSI) prevention protocol on SSI and neonatal hypoglycemia (Gabrielle Avery, Daniel Shirley, Sarah Gnadt, Dolores Krickl, Kelly Parrette, Kathleen Antony)

Poster: Body mass index and persistent hypertension in patients with hypertension disorders of pregnancy one-year postpartum (Kara Hoppe and MCW co-authors)

Poster: Prediction modeling of postpartum blood pressure spikes and investigation of preventive management strategies (Jinxin Tao, Scott Infusino, Yonatan Mintz, Kara Hoppe)

Poster: Is interpreter use an independent risk factor for small for gestational age infants? (Carrie Sibbald, Amy Godecker, Erin Bailey, Janine Rhoades, Jacquelyn Adams)

Huge congratulations to all involved!


Wang published in Gynecologic Oncology Reports

Congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn resident Connor Wang, MD, PGY-3, who is lead author on a new publication in Gynecologic Oncology Reports!

In the article “When we open and close: postoperative outcomes after aborted primary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer”, Wang and co-authors Matt Wagar, MD, PGY-4, Amy Godecker, PhD, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD, and David Kushner, MD aimed to expand available data to help counsel patients about outcomes after aborted primary debulking surgery.

This retrospective study looked at postsurgical morbidity for 43 patients who underwent aborted primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer:

“All patients subsequently underwent ICS, [interval cytoreductive surgery] with 21 (48.8%) achieving no residual macroscopic disease and 21 (48.8%) to ≤1cm of macroscopic disease. After AD [aborted primary debulking], 16 (37.2%) experienced at least one G≥3 event within the first 30 days. The most common complication was gastrointestinal complications. Preoperative albumin was the only significant predictor for G≥3 complication after AD.”

Read the whole study here!


Presentations, posters, and more at the 2022 CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting!

UW Ob-Gyn faculty, residents, and affiliated medical students with interest and expertise in medical education showcased their work at the CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting​! The conference, which was organized around the theme “Together Again, Together Forever: Med Ed Family Reunion”, took place in Orlando, Florida March 9-12. Some of the exciting highlights from our department:

Ryan McDonald, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, graduated from the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program! Read more about his experience in the program and how UW Ob-Gyn Faculty Development Funds supported his training!

Laura Jacques, MD, director of medical student education and assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, presented during the breakout session “Getting the Right Ingredients for Your Sauce: An Innovative Tool for Applicant-Program Compatibility”. (Presenters: Seine Chiang, MD, Jesse Rafel, MD, Jenci Hawthorne, MD, Jennifer Hamm, MD, Laura Jacques, MD, Lauren Holt, Medical Student)

Jacques and Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, residency program director and gynecologic oncology fellowship director and associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, presented during the breakout session “A Crying Shame: A Structured Debriefing Workshop to Reduce Second-Victim Syndrome in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents”. (Presenters: Laura Jacques, MD, Beverly Gray, MD, Samantha Hoffman, MD, Tamika Alexander, MD, Jessica Francis, MD, Ryan Spencer, MD, MS)

Jacques also co-authored the oral abstract “The More Cooks in the Kitchen the Better the Sauce? Impact of an Abortion VCAT Workshop on Medical Students”. (Authors: Elise Cowley, Medical Student, Jessie Chen, MD, Jessika Ralph, MD, MSCI, Allison Linton, MD, MPH, Sarah Hutto, MD, MPH, Laura Jacques, MD)

People in the department also brought many posters to the conference, including one that received second place in the conference poster awards!

Congratulations to the authors of “Ingredients for teaching confidence: A Fourth-year medical student clinical teaching elective”, which earned second place in the CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting Poster Awards! Authors: Kristen Kreh, John Poehlmann, Katharina Stewart, Amy Godecker, Laura Jacques

Opinions at the Thanksgiving Table: A comparison of medical student and resident attitudes about abortion” – Jessie Chen, Elise Cowley, Jessika Ralph, Amy Godecker, Daniel Pellicer, Laura Jacques

An Educational Program to Implement a Well-Validated Screening Tool for Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy” – Ryan McDonald, Samantha Haefner, Kaley Gyorfi, Heidi Brown

Congratulations to all on an impressive showing at the conference!


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!


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!


Rivas’ resident research published in Contraception

Before graduating from the UW Ob-Gyn residency in 2020, Kali Rivas, MD focused her resident research project on whether resident physicians in Wisconsin are trained in immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Her study is now published in ContraceptionAmy Godecker, PhD, Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, co-authored the article.

In the study “Are Wisconsin resident physicians trained in immediate postpartum long acting reversible contraception?”, Rivas and co-authors surveyed resident physicians in family medicine and ob-gyn training programs about their attitudes and competency regarding family planning services. The study found some important differences in self-reported proficiency between ob-gyn residents and family medicine residents:

“Only 44% of participating family medicine programs provide immediate postpartum LARC training. Two-thirds of obstetrics and gynecology residents report proficiency in immediate postpartum LARC, compared to fewer than half of family medicine residents. Given that many Wisconsin counties do not have a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist, improving immediate postpartum LARC training among family medicine residents is paramount.”

Read the whole publication here!


Wagar published in Green Journal

In a new publication in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, UW Ob-Gyn resident Matt Wagar, MD, PGY-3 compared operative outcomes of postpartum tubal ligation and bilateral salpingectomy. Co-authors on the article include UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists Director Makeba Williams, MD, and Amy Godecker, PhD.

The retrospective study “Postpartum Salpingectomy Compared With Standard Tubal Ligation After Vaginal Delivery” examined 10 years of data for patients who underwent tubal sterilization after vaginal delivery. The primary outcome comparison between the two procedures was operative time, with secondary outcomes of blood loss, complications, and readmission within six weeks. The study found:

“When using electrocautery, bilateral salpingectomy can be completed in the immediate postpartum period after vaginal delivery with equivalent operative times to bilateral tubal ligation.”

Read the whole study here. Incredible work, Dr. Wagar!


FPMRS Division brings posters, presentations to virtual AUGS meeting

The UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery shared research and new developments at the annual American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Meeting October 8-10, 2020! Since the meeting was held virtually (instead of in Vancouver), attendees joined from the wonderful offices within Meriter Hospital.  

Our group presented three oral presentations and two posters.  Heidi Brown, MD and Division Director Dobie Giles, MD also served as moderators for two sessions.

Oral Presentations:

Updating the prevalence of urinary incontinence in adult women using 2015-2016 data from a national population-based survey

U. J. Patel, A. L. Godecker, D. L. Giles, H.W. Brown. 

A randomized control trial evaluating preoperative telephone calls on surgical preparedness in urogynecology

G. E. Halder, A. B. White, H.W. Brown, L. Caldwell, D. L.Giles, C. A. Heisler, D. Bilagi, R. G. Rogers

Is it worth the cost? A cost benefit analysis of postoperative post-void residual bladder scan thresholds

S. M. Jansen, A.Woll, S. E. Swift, C. A. Heisler

Posters:

Is fecal incontinence (FI) associated with urinary tract infection (UTI)?

S. M. Jansen, K. Pellino, H.W.Brown, Q.Zhao, C.A.Heisler

How well does post-void residual by subtraction correlate with objective urinary retention in the postoperative setting?

S. M. Jansen, A.Woll, H.W. Brown, S. E. Swift, Q. Zhao, C.A.Heisler

Congratulations to all  who presented and attended – amazing work!