Gynecologic Oncology

Welcome Bailey Pfander, PA, to Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Bailey Pfander, PA, joined the Division of Gynecologic Oncology on November 17, 2025. Bailey will work as an inpatient PA, providing collaborative care to gynecologic oncology patients. Please help us welcome Bailey to the department! What was your professional background before joining the UW Department of Ob-Gyn? Before joining the gynecologic oncology team as a physician ... more
Gynecologic Oncology

Kushner and Codispoti co-author a study featured on cover of International Journal of Gynecologic Pathology

David Kushner, MD, professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Nicolette Codispoti, MD, MS, MPH, PGY-3 resident, recently co-authored a study featured on the cover of the International Journal of Gynecologic Pathology. Additional authors include Jin Xu, MD, MS; Lauren Montemorano, MD; Elizabeth Sadowski, MD; and Paul Weisman, MD. In “A Case of CDKN2C/CIC Null Epit... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Publication Research Residency David Kushner

Barroilhet, Patankar receive UW Carbone Cancer Center pilot grant

Congratulations to Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Manish Patankar, PhD, director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences! They recently received pilot funding from the UW Carbone Cancer Center to study new immunotherapeutic agent for ovarian cancer. The project "Investigating fusokine IL-6/1 as a novel immunotherapeutic agent ... more
Gynecologic Oncology Reproductive Sciences Research Patankar Research Team Lisa Barroilhet Manish Patankar

Resident presentations at HAGO 2025 Conference

UW Department of Ob-Gyn residents Rusha Bajpai, MD, PGY-4, and Nicolette Codispoti, MD, MS, MPH, PGY-3, presented their research at the 2025 Heartland Association of Gynecologic Oncology Conference in Iowa City, IA, from September 18-19, 2025. Their impressive presentations include: Poster: Trends Between ACOG Referral Criteria, Age and Surgical Histopathology – Rusha Bajpai... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Research Residency

Gynecologic Oncology researchers publish study in Green Journal

Physicians and researchers in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn recently published an article in Obstetrics & Gynecology. Matthew Wagar, MD, the 2025 graduate of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology fellowship, is lead author on the publication; co-authors include Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD, MS; Eric Reetz, MD; Dandi Huang, MD; Mary Kao, MD; Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD; Natalia G... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Publication Research Fellowship Rachel Mojdehbakhsh Lisa Barroilhet

Welcome incoming Gynecologic Oncology fellow Taylor Stewart, MD

The Division of Gynecologic Oncology is pleased to share that Taylor Paige Stewart, MD, will join the gynecologic oncology fellowship program as a fellow in August 2026. Stewart completed medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, followed by obstetrics and gynecology residency at the Mass General Brigham Combined OB/GYN Residency, wh... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Barroilhet serves as research mentor for SGO Bridges program

In late July 2025, the SGO/GOG-F BRIDGES 2.0 Research Initiative convened at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., for a milestone gathering that brought early-career scholars face-to-face with leading experts in gynecologic oncology clinical trials. Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, served as a Translat... more
Gynecologic Oncology Lisa Barroilhet

Barroilhet, Sampene co-author study on endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Katherine Sampene, MD, clinical professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, recently co-authored a publication published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Matthew Wagar, MD, a recent graduate of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology fellowship, i... more
Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Gynecologic Oncology Publication Research Education Fellowship Katherine Sampene Lisa Barroilhet

Women’s Healthcast: Health and Aging: Gynecologic Cancer, featuring Catherine Zhang

For the next few months, the Women’s Healthcast will dive into all aspects of aging and women’s health, through conversations with experts in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and beyond. Since September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Catherine Zhang, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined the Women’s Healthcast to h... more
Gynecologic Oncology Outreach Podcast Catherine Zhang Jacquelyn Askins Rob Garza

Hartenbach appointed as senior UW SMPH representative on AAMC Council on Faculty and Academic Societies

Congratulations to Ellen Hartenbach, MD, chair of the Department of Ob-Gyn and professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Hartenbach was appointed by UW School of Medicine and Public Health Dean Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA to be the senior representative from the SMPH on the American Association of Medical Colleges Council on Faculty and Academic Societies (AAMC-CFAS). The a... more
Gynecologic Oncology Ellen Hartenbach

Sobecki receives grant from University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Palliative and Supportive Care DOT pilot program

Congratulations to Janelle Sobecki, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! Sobecki received a two-year grant from the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center Palliative and Supportive Care DOT pilot program. The grant will support Sobecki’s ongoing research into bone loss and gynecologic cancer treatment. She will collaborate with Neil Binkley... more
Gynecologic Oncology Research Janelle Sobecki

Huffman becomes associate director of Gynecologic Oncology fellowship program

Congratulations to Laura Huffman, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! On July 1, 2025, she became the new associate director of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship, joining fellowship director Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, in leading the program.Huffman joined the UW Department Ob-Gyn for gynecologic oncology fellowship in 2014 an... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Grand Rounds: Sampene and Wallace present “Quality Improvement Update”

On July 17, 2025, Katie Sampene, MD, clinical professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn and Director of Obstetric Quality & Safety, and Sumer Wallace, MD, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Director of Gynecology Quality & Safety, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Quality Improvement Update”.In the lecture, Sampene and Wallace... more
Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Gynecologic Oncology Grand Rounds Sumer Wallace Katherine Sampene

Green, Sobecki celebrated at SMPH Faculty Investiture Ceremony

The UW School of Medicine and Public Health hosted the 2025 SMPH Faculty Investiture Celebration on June 18. Two faculty in the Department of Ob-Gyn with recent appointments to endowed professorships and fellowships were celebrated during the ceremony.Tiffany Green, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, became the Gloria E. Sarto MD,... more
Gynecologic Oncology Reproductive and Population Health Janelle Sobecki Tiffany Green

Sobecki publishes study in Osteoporosis International

Janelle Sobecki, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, published a new article published in Osteoporosis International. Co-authors include Diane Krueger; Perry Pickhardt, MD; Neil Binkley, MD; and Paul Anderson, MD. In “Optimizing region of interest size and placement for clinical opportunistic CT trabecular bone Hounsfield unit measurements”, Sobe... more
Gynecologic Oncology Research Publication Janelle Sobecki

Research and leadership at the AcademyHealth 2025 Annual Research Meeting

Faculty, scholars, and staff from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought research and provided leadership at the AcademyHealth 2025 Annual Research Meeting. AcademyHealth hosted the event in Minneapolis June 7-10, 2025. Podium presentations: Partnering with Community and Applying Evidence to Advance Reproductive Health - Tiffany Green, PhD, associate professor in the Division o... more
Reproductive and Population Health Gynecologic Oncology Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Tiffany Green

Wagar shares what's next after Gynecologic Oncology fellowship

After three years of intense fellowship training in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Matthew Wagar, MD, is preparing to graduate. Wagar shares what’s next after fellowship, the important lessons learned during training, and messages of gratitude for people who shaped his time in fellowship.Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?I w... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Wallace accepted into 2025 UW Health Physician Leadership Development Program cohort

Sumer Wallace, MD, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was accepted into the UW Health Physician Leadership Development Program’s 2025-26 cohort! Wallace is one of just 24 selected from a highly competitive pool. The Physician Leadership Development Program (PLDP)is a UW Health initiative designed to equip physicians with the leadership skills necess... more
Gynecologic Oncology Sumer Wallace

Patankar brings research to World Congress on Endometriosis

Manish Patankar, PhD, professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences, brought an oral presentation and poster to the 16th World Congress on Endometriosis 2025, hosted in Sydney, Australia May 21-24, 2025. At the conference, Patankar presented as part of the seminar session Benefits and Bugbears of Modeling Endometriosis Outside of the Human Body: Mediobasal... more
Reproductive Sciences Research Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Gynecologic Oncology Manish Patankar

Grand Rounds: Wagar presents Advances in Gynecologic Malignancies: Mitigating Care Disparities in Novel Cancer Approaches

On May 22, 2025, UW Department of Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Matt Wagar, MD, presented the Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds lecture Advances in Gynecologic Malignancies: Mitigating Care Disparities in Novel Cancer Approaches. In the lecture, Wagar described new advances in treatment, evaluation, and surgical management of gynecologic malignancies; discussed how advances in cancer... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship Grand Rounds

Department of Ob-Gyn brings research to 2025 American Association for Cancer Research annual conference

Researchers from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences and Division of Gynecologic Oncology brought posters to the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, held in Chicago April 25-30, 2025. The AACR published conference proceedings, including abstracts, in a supplemental issue of Cancer Research. Each abstract is also linked belo... more
Gynecologic Oncology Reproductive Sciences Research Lisa Barroilhet Manish Patankar

Betancourt Ponce graduates from Barroilhet Lab

Congratulations to Mayra Betancourt Ponce, PhD, first-ever PhD graduate from the Barroilhet Lab in the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology! She graduated in May 2025 with the thesis project “Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition in Solid Tumors.” After finishing her PhD, Betancourt Ponce will complete her final year of medical school at the UW School of Medicine and Pu... more
Gynecologic Oncology Reproductive Sciences Education Research

Presentations at Department Research Day 2025

On May 15, 2025, the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology hosted Department Research Day, an annual presentation of graduating fellows’ thesis projects, research from members of the Department of Ob-Gyn, and posters showcasing a variety of ob-gyn and reproductive health research.Margareta Pisarska, MD, director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertil... more
Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Gynecologic Oncology Maternal-Fetal Medicine Reproductive and Population Health Reproductive Sciences Education Research Fellowship Events Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Stanic-Kostic Research Team Abigail Cutler

Barroilhet talks about rare cancer case with state and national media

Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, recently spoke with various media channels about a patient’s experience with an extremely rare cancer after childbirth.In early May 2025, UW Health published the story Rare cancer disrupts Lydia's newborn baby bliss, covering a local patient’s experience with choriocarcinoma, an uncommon diagnosis. In... more
Gynecologic Oncology Lisa Barroilhet

Wagar shares thoughts on phenotype testing for endometrial cancer with OncLive

Matt Wagar, MD, a gynecologic oncologic fellow in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, spoke with OncLive for a recent story about endometrial cancer and potential treatments and tests for it.In “Dr. Wagar on the Use of T-DXd in Patients With HER2+ Endometrial Cancer,” Wagar recommended that healthcare providers testing or working with endometrial cancer should use HER2 tes... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Spencer talks about postpartum Medicaid and rural maternal health with PBS Wisconsin

Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined PBS Wisconsin for a recent story about recent issues with maternal care coverage in rural areas.In “Maternal health care in Wisconsin and the future of Medicaid,” Spencer talked about challenges with rural maternal care in Wisconsin, disparities in pregnancy risk across the state, and m... more
Gynecologic Oncology Ryan Spencer

Department of Ob-Gyn brings research, leadership to the 2025 ACOG Annual Meeting

Faculty and trainees in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought research and leadership to the 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in Minneapolis. ACOG hosted the conference May 16-18, 2025. Just some of their exciting accomplishments: Amy Domeyer-Klenske, MD, director of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, ... more
Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Gynecologic Oncology Residency Education Fellowship

Spencer talks about rural obstetrics closures with Insight

Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, joined Insight for a recent story about the current state of rural labor and delivery departments in Wisconsin.In “Changing direction: More rural hospitals ending labor and delivery services,” Spencer discussed the variety of reasons why labor and delivery services in more rural parts of the s... more
Gynecologic Oncology Ryan Spencer

Gelissen selected as IJGC Editorial Fellow

Congratulations to Julia Gelissen, MD, fellow in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, who was selected as an editorial fellow for the International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer! As an editorial fellow, Gelissen will learn about journal operations, work on projects with international colleagues, and learn and share the latest findings in gynecologic oncology through the IJG... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Department of Ob-Gyn brings research and leadership to 2025 UW Carbone Cancer Research Retreat

The UW Carbone Cancer Center hosted their annual Research Retreat on April 10, 2025. Members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Division of Reproductive Sciences shared research and provided leadership for the event. Some of their exciting accomplishments:Janelle Sobecki, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologi... more
Gynecologic Oncology Reproductive Sciences Research Lisa Barroilhet Janelle Sobecki Manish Patankar Irene Ong

Wagar talks about immunotherapy and endometrial cancer with OncLive

Matthew Wagar, MD, a gynecologic oncology fellow in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn’s Division of Gynecologic Oncology, spoke with OncLive for a recent story about treatment for endometrial cancer.In “Immunotherapy Continues to Redefine Treatment Considerations in Advanced/Recurrent Endometrial Cancer,” Wagar talked about how recent advancements in treatment options like immunot... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Fellowship

Bajpai, Rose publish article in Gynecologic Oncology Reports

UW Department of Ob-Gyn resident Rusha Bajpai, MD, PGY-3, and Stephen Rose, MD, professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, co-authored a new study in Gynecologic Oncology Reports. Co-authors include Tammy Mundale, Natalia Gontarczyk Uczkowski, and Amy Godecker, PhD, MS.In “Adnexal mass referral patterns in Gynecologic Oncology,” Bajpai, Rose, and co-authors sought to... more
Gynecologic Oncology Publication Research Residency Education Stephen Rose

Research and leadership at the 2025 SGO Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology hosted the 2025 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer in Seattle March 14-17, 2025. Faculty, fellows, and residents from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn attended the conference, helped shape the agenda, and shared their latest research. Just some of their exciting accomplishments: Focused Forum presentation:Ultrasonography based measurements of end... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Residency Fellowship Rachel Mojdehbakhsh

Huffman receives 2025 UW Health Physician Excellence Rising Star Clinical Educational Award

The UW Department of Ob-Gyn congratulates Laura Huffman, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, for receiving the 2025 UW Health Physician Excellence Rising Star Clinical Educator Award!This award recognizes an outstanding educator working with residents, medical students, as well as other interdisciplinary team members, patients and families. Recip... more
Gynecologic Oncology

Wagar discusses LEAP trial findings with OncLive

Matthew Wagar, MD, fellow in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, spoke with OncLive for a recent story about the phase 3 LEAP-001 trial and what it means for treating patients with advanced endometrial cancer.In “Dr. Wagar on Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab vs. Chemo in First-Line Advanced Endometrial Cancer,” Wagar explained how a mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) population... more
Gynecologic Oncology Research Education Fellowship

Spencer supports gynecologic cancer research with SGO in Washington

In February, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) organized a women’s health research roundtable and congressional outreach event in Washington, D.C. in support of gynecologic cancer research funding. Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, attended the event as part of his role as chair of the SGO Health, Policy, & Socioeconom... more
Gynecologic Oncology Advocacy Ryan Spencer

Spencer promoted to Professor (CHS)

Please join us in congratulating Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology! The UW School of Medicine and Public Health Clinician Teacher Track Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee endorsed the Department of Ob-Gyn’s recommendation that Spencer be promoted to the rank of Professor (CHS), starting June 29, 2025.Spencer received his MD in 2007 with... more
Gynecologic Oncology Ryan Spencer

Welcome Caitlin Cullen, PA, to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Caitlin Cullen, PA, joined the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology as a physician assistant on January 6, 2025! Cullen earned a master of science in physician assistant studies from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She joins the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology after six years in the Department of Emergency Medicine.Cullen ... more
Gynecologic Oncology

Spencer to present on rural ob-gyn training at University Roundtable on February 26

Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, is the featured speaker for an upcoming University Roundtable event! Spencer will present Investing in the Future: the Potential of Rural Training for OB-GYNs on February 26, 2025 at Varsity Hall in Union South.University Roundtable events share interesting programs and scholarship with member... more
Gynecologic Oncology Education Residency Ryan Spencer