Sumer Wallace, MD, MS
QIRC Co-Chair, Director of Gynecology Quality and Safety, Assistant Professor (CHS)Simulation Lab Director
Gynecologic Oncology
| B.S. | Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL |
| M.D. | Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL |
| Residency | University of Colorado, Denver, CO |
| Fellowship | Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN |
| M.S. | Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN |
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Academy for Excellence in Healthcare, Executive Education Course
Society of Gynecologic Oncology Minimally Invasive Surgery Academy
Mayo Quality Fellows Program, Bronze Certification
QIRC Co-Chair
Director of Gynecology Quality and Safety
Simulation Lab Director
Best Poster Award,
Western Association of Gynecologic Oncolgists Annual Meeting
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
American Medical Association
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American Society of Clinical Oncologists
Research Focus: My research focuses on quality improvement, outcomes, and healthcare delivery as well as patient satisfaction.
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!
In a unanimous decision, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health CHS Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee approved the promotion of Sumer Wallace, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, to the rank of Associate Professor (CHS)!
Wallace’s promotion will be effective June 18, 2023. Congratulations, Dr. Wallace!
Each fiscal year, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Development Committee makes available a total of $10,000 for professional development. Faculty may submit applications at any time (until funds are exhausted for the current fiscal year).
Sumer Wallace, MD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, used a Faculty Development Grant to attend the 2022 AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar. Read more about Wallace’s experience with the Faculty Development Funding Program and learn how you can apply for faculty development funds here!
How will your experience with the 2022 AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Leadership Development Seminar support your career development?
This workshop was well timed, providing me with promotion career development guidance in advance of submitting my promotion packet. I learned leadership tools and skills that I am applying to my new leadership roles, as Director of Gynecology Quality and Safety for Ob-Gyn, as Physician Informaticist, Gynecologic Oncology for UW Health, and as co-chair of the Ob-Gyn Quality Improvement Review Committee (QIRC).
What did you learn in the seminar that impacts your work?
This seminar further developed my leadership skills, enhancing my participation in, and eligibility for, various roles in the department and organization. This will further the representation of the Ob-Gyn Department at the institutional level.
How will your experience and what you learned benefit the broader Department of Ob-Gyn?
Given the many early-career women in our division and department, I am able to pass on the guidance and skill learned easily to those already here and those that are hired in the future, including serving as mentor on promotion oversight committees.
As part of the ongoing changes to the UW Department of Ob-Gyn’s Quality and Safety platform, Sumer Wallace, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Katie Sampene, MD, associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, will co-lead the Department of Ob-Gyn’s Quality Improvement Review Committee!
Wallace was appointed the first-ever Director of Gynecology Quality and Safety last fall. She has a dedication to quality improvement and data-driven outcomes that will serve her well in this role. She is a longtime member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Policy, Quality and Outcomes committee, and has served as Director of Clinical Informatics for the Division of Gynecologic Oncology since 2021.
Sampene was recently appointed the Director of Obstetrics Quality and Safety. She has been an active leader in obstetrics quality at UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital for several years: she served as chair of the UPH-Meriter Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2017-2019, during which time she was also a member of the OB Quality Improvement Committee. Sampene is currently an active member of the UPH-Meriter Pregnancy and Childbirth Care Committee. She has ongoing research projects focused on standardized communications practices during unscheduled Cesarean birth, contraceptive counseling within a reproductive justice framework, and quality improvement research on prenatal aspirin recommendations. In addition, Sampene has co-chaired the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee since 2021 with a particular focus on improving patient experience.
In these new roles, Wallace and Sampene will co-lead the Department of Ob-Gyn’s Quality Improvement Review Committee. They will also advise department leadership on quality improvement opportunities in clinical practice, develop data infrastructure to track and monitor quality metrics in all areas of practice, initiate and facilitate educational programs on quality and safety that can benefit trainees, faculty, and clinical providers, and so much more.
Congratulations to Dr. Wallace and Dr. Sampene!
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!
Our congratulations to Sumer Wallace, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Wallace recently accepted the role of Director of Clinical Informatics for the division.
Wallace has led the division’s initiative to improve Healthlink documentation of staging for patients, as well as driving the use of Notewriter to improve data collection through Healthlink. She is also working closely with the Healthlink analytics teams to better capture data collection for outcomes research.
As Director of Clinical Informatics, Wallace will continue to serve as the lead for Healthlink upgrades and continuing reviews. Congratulations on this well-deserved appointment!
Congratulations to Sumer Wallace, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Wallace was nominated for the highly competitive UW Health Physician Excellence Rising Star Award.
Rising Star nominees are physicians on an upward career trajectory who “demonstrate exceptional patient and family centered care with a commitment to quality and patient safety.”
Wallace was nominated by colleagues who can see the exceptional path she is on. Congratulations, Dr. Wallace!
A new article in the journal Gynecologic Oncology by Sumer Wallace, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, uses multicenter data to assess outcomes for endometrial cancer patients with low-volume metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes.
“Oncologic outcomes of endometrial cancer in patients with low-volume metastasis in the sentinel lymph nodes: An international multi-institutional study” uses retrospective data from 22 international cancer centers, collected between 2009 and 2018.
Read the whole article here!
Cervical cancer is the third most common type of gynecologic cancer in the United States. On this replay episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Sumer Wallace, MD talks about what causes cervical cancer, how it’s treated, and why the HPV vaccine and regular screenings are important tools to help prevent cervical cancer. Wallace is an assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology.
Listen to Cervical Cancer Prevention, Detection, Treatment now.
Did you know the Women’s Healthcast is available on all your favorite podcast platforms? Whether you like to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!)
On June 24, 2021, the UW Department of Ob-Gyn held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing educational, research and administrative accomplishments throughout the year. The ceremony started by acknowledging a few momentous departures:
Klaus Diem, MD is retiring after many years of service in the department. Diem is a past director of the Division of Gynecology, and served as interim director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility during a transition time.
Jeff Rodzak, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is also retiring. Rodzak will continue to see patients at the VA Hospital.
Cynthie Wautlet, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is headed to Colorado for a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Wautlet!
We also have the great joy of welcoming new arrivals:
Kristina Warner, MD will join us in July as the first-ever Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow. Dr. Warner graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Biology, earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and is currently completing her Ob-Gyn residency at Northwestern University.
Erin Bailey, MD will join the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program. Dr. Bailey received her M.D. from the University of Wisconsin. She is currently completing her Ob-Gyn residency at Washington University.
Lauren Montemorano, MD is the incoming Gynecologic Oncology fellow. Dr. Montemorano earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia and is completing her Ob-Gyn residency at The Ohio State University.
Guadalupe Aguilera, PhD is a new postdoctoral fellow joining the Health Disparities Research Scholars program. Aguilera is finishing her PhD at the University of Utah in the Department of Sociology and will join the HDRS program in September 2021.
And of course, we are thrilled to welcome the Ob-Gyn residency intern class!
MEDICAL STUDENT AWARDS
DR. SAMUEL G. PERLSON SCHOLARSHIP – Erin Nacev, MD (Oregon Health & Science University); Steven Hesse, MD (University of Minnesota)
This award goes out to one or more fourth year medical students planning to pursue a career in Ob-Gyn who have demonstrated outstanding abilities as a scholar and outstanding humanistic qualities.
T.A. LEONARD AWARD – Nicholas Schreiter
The T.A. Leonard Award is given to one or more medical students in recognition of exemplary performance on their third year Ob/Gyn rotation.
MEDICAL STUDENT EDUCATOR AWARD FOR RESIDENT TEACHING – Ramsey Larson, MD
This award is given to a UW-Madison, Obstetrics and Gynecology resident, selected by 3rd and 4th year medical students, who exhibits a high interest in teaching, actively involves students in patient care, teaches at an appropriate level, is respectful, approachable, honest, and is a great role model.
RESIDENCY AWARDS
CHIEF RESIDENT RECOGNITION – Ramsey Larson, MD; Stephanie Peace, MD
For service as the administrative chief resident, academic year 2020-2021
UW HEALTH INTERDISCIPLINARY GLOBAL HEALTH TRACK RECOGNITION – Stephanie Peace, MD
Given to a graduating resident upon the completion of the Global Health Track.
UW HEALTH RURAL TRAINING TRACK RECOGNITION – Laura McDowell, MD
Given to a graduating resident upon the completion of the Rural Training Track.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GYNECOLOGIC LAPAROSCOPISTS (AAGL) AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD
Given to a graduating resident with special excellence in endoscopic procedures.
SOCIETY OF LAPAROENDOSCOPIC SURGEONS (SLS) AWARD – Matt Wagar, MD
Awarded to a PGY3, outstanding laparoendoscopic resident.
RESIDENT CREOG AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD
Awarded for the highest exam score on the annual CREOG In-Training Examination
BEN M. PECKHAM AWARD – Stephanie Peace, MD
Awarded to a senior residents for excellence in the teaching and clinical practice of Ob-Gyn, as voted by the residents.
SOCIETY OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY (SGO) AWARD – Matt Wagar, MD
Awarded to a PGY3 who best exemplifies the qualities of the mission and vision of SGO.
SOCIETY FOR ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS IN GENERAL OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY (SASGOG) AWARD – Emily Buttigieg, MD
Awarded to a PGY4 who has distinguished themselves academically and demonstrates an interest in a career as an Academic Specialist.
AMERICAN UROGYNECOLOGIC SOCIETY (AUGS) AWARD – Ushma Patel, MD
Awarded to a PGY3 resident demonstrating excellence in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, as chosen by the FPMRS faculty.
SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE (SMFM) AWARD – Madeline Wetterhahn, MD, MPH
Awarded to the PGY2 resident who best exemplifies the qualities of the vision of our society to improve pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.
RESEARCH AWARDS
DOUGLAS W. LAUBE BEST TRAINEE PAPER AWARD – Jessica Vazquez, PhD
For the best peer reviewed paper by a graduate student dissertator or medical fellow.
ROLAND K. MEYER GRADUATE TRAINEE AWARD – Amanda Mauro
Awarded to the graduate student dissertator showing the most scientific productivity and scholarly activity.
CHESTER B. MARTIN GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM MENTORSHIP AWARD – María Virumbrales Muñoz, PhD
Awarded to faculty or staff that has had the most impact on graduate student degree-related training.
PHILLIP R. HAMILTON III, MD RESIDENT RESEARCH AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD
Awarded to the senior residents demonstrating the best effort in research.
DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE AWARD
OBGYN SUPPORT STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARD – Amy Williamson, MPP
In recognition of outstanding staff who routinely and regularly exemplify the mission of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology through excellent performance and customer service.
RESIDENT FACULTY AWARDS
JOHN M. ANDERSON, MD MEMORIAL AWARD – Heidi Brown, MD
For demonstrating the traits of Dr. Anderson: patience, integrity and compassion in the care of women.
KIMBERLEY J. MILLER-THORESON COMPASSIONATE COLLEAGUE AWARD – Kristen Sharp, MD
For demonstrating the traits of Dr. Miller-Thoreson showing respect, compassion, dedication and unending support towards their colleagues and trainees.
DOLORES A. BUCHLER AWARD – Jennifer Karnowski, MD
For excellence in instruction at the senior resident level.
KARL A. RUDAT AWARD – Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD
For excellence in surgical teaching at the senior resident level.
FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARDS
OUTSTANDING FELLOW EDUCATOR – Shannon Rush, MD
Given to one fellow in either Gynecologic Oncology or Maternal-Fetal Medicine for excellence in resident education.
ST. MARY’S ADJUNCT FACULTY EDUCATOR AWARD – Ryan Luellwitz, DO
Selected by the residents for excellence in resident education.
MERITER ADJUNCT FACULTY EDUCATOR AWARD – Mary Stoffel, MD (Madison Women’s Health)
Selected by the residents for excellence in resident education.
SOCIETY FOR ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS IN GENERAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (SASGOG) AWARD – Jennifer Karnowski, MD
National faculty award for dedication and commitment to the ideals of being an academic generalist.
SABINE DROSTE AWARD – Ruth Yemane, MD
The Sabine Droste Award is selected by the junior residents for a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in instruction at the junior resident level.
ELLEN HARTENBACH AWARD – Sumer Wallace, MD
Selected by the residents and given annually to the faculty member who has made the greatest contribution in simulation education.
CREOG FACULTY AWARD – Kristen Sharp, MD
National faculty award for excellence in resident education.
Please join us in our sincere congratulations to Sumer Wallace, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Wallace passed the gynecologic oncology oral board examination in April.
Though it was a strange and challenging time to prepare for the exam, we had no doubt Dr. Wallace would be successful!
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!
