Portrait of Amy Godecker
Amy Godecker, PhD, MS
Scientist III, Epidemiologist/Research Scientist II
Administration

godecker@wisc.edu

Primary: (608) 417-4251

(608) 515-2039

Office Address

McConnell Hall, 4th Floor
441
1010 Mound St.
Madison, WI, 53715

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). 

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

Association between interpreter use and small for gestational age infants

Carrie A Sibbald, Amy Godecker, Erin J Bailey, Janine S Rhoades, Jacquelyn H Adams

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that use of an interpreter is associated with a lower incidence of small for gestational age when controlling for patient characteristics and social determinants of health. Additional research is required to explore this association, but our results indicate that recognizing demographic risk factors and providing patients with social resources such as access to interpreter services may positively impact obstetric and neonatal outcomes.

Published: 09/16/2024

American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM pmid:39284415

Postoperative urinary retention by void trial methodology following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer

Matthew K Wagar, Ushma J Patel, Kharmen Bharucha, Christine A Heisler, Megan F Peterson, Amy Godecker, Sumer K Wallace, Ryan J Spencer

CONCLUSIONS: Rates of urinary retention following radical hysterectomy do not differ based on postoperative void trial methodology. A backfill void trial following radical hysterectomy may lead to increased rates of resolution of postoperative urinary retention.

Published: 08/21/2024

Gynecologic oncology pmid:39167999

Abortion Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents at Four Midwestern Residency Programs Prior to <em>Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health</em>

Abigail S Cutler, Elise S Cowley, Jessika A Ralph, Jessie Chen, Amy Godecker, Jordan Ward, Sarah Hutto, Laura Jacques

CONCLUSIONS: Prior to the Dobbs decision, ObGyn residents in Minnesota and Wisconsin viewed abortion as important health care and intended to provide this care after graduation.

Published: 07/18/2024

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin pmid:39024142

Incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism in patients with vulvar carcinoma undergoing vulvectomy with or without lymphadenectomy

Matthew K Wagar, Aaditi Naik, Ran Catherine Zhang, Amy Godecker, Ellen M Hartenbach, Janelle N Sobecki, Sumer K Wallace

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative VTE is low in patients undergoing radical vulvar surgery in this national cohort. Inguinofemoral lymph node dissection by any method does not appear to be a risk factor for VTE when compared to radical vulvectomy alone. Further research is needed to determine if extended VTE prophylaxis is beneficial in this population.

Published: 05/25/2024

Gynecologic oncology pmid:38795507

Workplace microaggressions: results of a survey of the American College of Surgeons members

Christine A Heisler, Amy L Godecker, Deborah Verran, Michael S Sinha, Jerome Byam, Pringl Miller

CONCLUSION: Surgeons reporting experience with microaggressions represent a diverse range of surgical specialties and subspecialties. With the continued expansion of surgeon gender and race/ethnicity representation, deliberate efforts to address and eliminate workplace microaggressions could have broad implications for improving recruitment and retention of surgeons.

Published: 05/06/2024

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology pmid:38710272

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

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a virtual platform can be a convenient and effective way to deliver values clarification workshops on abortion, and this technology could be leveraged to expand access to this training in areas without trained facilitators.

Published: 09/18/2023

Medical education online pmid:37722670

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

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

CONCLUSION: It is feasible, sustainable and equitable to standardize screening and implementation of ASA to patients at high risk for preeclampsia. Providers can easily reproduce our processes to improve delivery of equitable and reliable preventative obstetric care.

Published: 09/08/2023

BMC pregnancy and childbirth pmid:37684606

"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

CONCLUSIONS: Medical trainees found values clarification workshops on abortion to be valuable, helping them establish their own beliefs about abortion, contextualize these beliefs among their peers', and practice professionalism. These findings indicate that values clarification workshops can play a key role in helping medical trainees discuss abortion and prepare for their professional future.

Published: 02/24/2023

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences pmid:36824897

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

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a structured curriculum in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery was associated with significant improvement in self-assessed perceived resident knowledge during the subspecialty rotation. This approach could be applied to other rotations and direct education curriculum development.

Published: 02/02/2023

Urogynecology (Philadelphia, Pa.) pmid:36730694

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

CONCLUSION: 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. These differences suggest disparities in post-operative pain management for birthing persons of color in our study population.

Published: 10/04/2022

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 pmid:36195464

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

CONCLUSIONS: Shift work and sleep duration are both associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Further research on the impact of sleep disturbance on pregnancy outcomes is warranted.

Published: 08/04/2022

PloS one pmid:35925932

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

Differences in individual humor styles (adaptive: affiliative, self-enhancing; maladaptive: aggressive, self-defeating) are associated with various wellness measures. This study examines the association of humor styles with professional fulfillment (PF) and burnout (BO) among Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) members. SGO members were surveyed in 11/2020. The survey included 64 questions (32-item Humor Styles Questionnaire, 16-item Professional Fulfillment Index, and 16-item demographic and...

Published: 06/17/2022

Gynecologic oncology reports pmid:35711729

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

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of patients will experience at least one G ≥ 3 complications after AD. Complications may be anticipated by low preoperative albumin. Patients can be counseled that, after AD, proceeding to subsequent NACT and ICS and achieving optimal debulking is common.

Published: 04/28/2022

Gynecologic oncology reports pmid:35478695

Documented <em>β</em>-Lactam Allergy and Risk for Cesarean Surgical Site Infection

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

CONCLUSION: The presence of a β-lactam allergy is associated with increased odds of developing a CD SSI after controlling for possible confounders, including the type of perioperative antibiotic received.

Published: 03/14/2022

Infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology pmid:35281850

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

CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Published: 02/11/2022

Gynecologic oncology pmid:35144798

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

CONCLUSION: Patients with preexisting anxiety diagnoses reported higher average pain scores and opioid pain medication use in the first 24 hours following cesarean delivery.

Published: 02/03/2022

American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM pmid:35114423

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

CONCLUSIONS: More than 60% of community-dwelling adult women in the United States experience any UI and an increase from prior estimates (38%-49%) using NHANES data from 1999 to 2004; more than 20% experience moderate or more severe UI. Increases in UI prevalence may be related to population aging and increasing obesity prevalence. Age greater than 70 years, body mass index >40, and vaginal birth had the strongest association with UI in multivariate modeling.

Published: 01/14/2022

Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery pmid:35030139

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

CONCLUSIONS: Use of professional address was associated with academic rank, but not gender. Men endorsed and received more descriptors emphasizing accomplishments, highlighting qualifications as an expert. Given the professional environment, all Grand Rounds presenters should be introduced using professional titles.

Published: 07/23/2021

Journal of surgical education pmid:34294570

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

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

CONCLUSIONS: 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.

Published: 06/03/2021

Contraception pmid:34081975

Postpartum Salpingectomy Compared With Standard Tubal Ligation After Vaginal Delivery

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

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

Published: 02/17/2021

Obstetrics and gynecology pmid:33595245

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

CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of the experience of unintended pregnancy, findings from this large, nationally representative sample of women suggest similar patterns in LARC use by race-ethnicity.

Published: 01/23/2018

Contraception pmid:29355492

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

CONCLUSIONS: Participants wanted access to a greater range of supports for mental health than were currently available to them, including peer support, and wanted assistance in addressing social and economic needs. These findings offer a challenge to further broaden the types of services offered to women, and demonstrate that those services need to be responsive to the challenging contexts of women's lives. Integrating women's views and experiences into the development of services may help to...

Published: 09/28/2014

BMC pregnancy and childbirth pmid:25261279

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

This study takes a lifecourse approach to understanding the factors contributing to delivery methods in the US by identifying preconception and pregnancy-related determinants of medically indicated and non-medically indicated cesarean section (C-section) deliveries. Data are from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort, a nationally representative, population-based survey of women delivering a live baby in 2001 (n = 9,350). Three delivery methods were examined: (1) vaginal delivery...

Published: 04/29/2014

Maternal and child health journal pmid:24770955

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

Amy L Godecker, Patricia A Harrison, Abbey C Sidebottom

A structured psychosocial risk screening interview, the Prenatal Risk Overview, was administered to 733 women in prenatal care. Either a community health worker (CHW) or a registered nurse (RN) conducted the interview based on day of the week. A comparison of identified risk factors found no significant differences between study samples for six of 13 domains. For CHW interviews, significantly more participants were classified as Moderate/ High Risk for Depression, Lack of Telephone Access, Food...

Published: 11/05/2013

Journal of health care for the poor and underserved pmid:24185153

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

This study assessed the prevalence and interrelationships of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), antecedent trauma, and psychosocial risk factors among pregnant women served at three urban Federally Qualified Health Care Centers. This analysis was part of a validation study of the prenatal risk overview, a structured psychosocial risk screening interview. The study sample included 745 prenatal patients at three clinics who also were administered the major depression, PTSD, alcohol, and drug...

Published: 08/06/2013

Maternal and child health journal pmid:23912314

Response to letter from Coronado-Montoya et al

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

No abstract

Published: 04/06/2013

Archives of women's mental health pmid:23558947

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

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey Sidebottom

CONCLUSION: The PRO yielded substantial self-reporting of drug use before and after pregnancy awareness with high sensitivity and specificity for detecting Drug Use Disorders. PRO results can inform decisions about appropriate clinical responses.

Published: 10/20/2012

Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.) pmid:23078427

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

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

The study was designed to validate the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression risk identification among pregnant women. Pregnant women were routinely administered the Prenatal Risk Overview, a comprehensive psychosocial screening interview, which included the PHQ-9, at their prenatal intake appointment at three community clinics. Study participants completed the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) at a later appointment. PHQ-9 risk classifications were cross-tabulated...

Published: 09/18/2012

Archives of women's mental health pmid:22983357

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

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey C Sidebottom

The purpose of the study was to validate the Prenatal Risk Overview (PRO) Alcohol use domain against a structured diagnostic interview. The PRO was developed to screen for 13 psychosocial risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes. After clinic staff administered the PRO to prenatal patients, they asked for consent to administration of selected modules of the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV (SCID) by a research assistant. To assess the criterion validity of the PRO, low and...

Published: 11/29/2011

Maternal and child health journal pmid:22120427

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

Patricia A Harrison, Amy Godecker, Abbey C Sidebottom

The Prenatal Risk Overview (PRO) screens for 13 psychosocial risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes. This study assessed the extent to which risk factors unreported during an intake interview were identified during a subsequent interview. A total of 708 pregnant women were screened and re-screened at three urban community health care centers between July 2007 and April 2010. Study participants were predominantly young (mean age 23.5 years), unmarried (75.1%) women of color (92.5%);...

Published: 11/15/2011

Journal of health care for the poor and underserved pmid:22080714

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

A L Godecker, E Thomson, L L Bumpass

CONCLUSIONS: Because women currently spend greater proportions of their lives outside of marriage or in less-stable cohabiting partnerships than they did in the past, they are increasingly likely to make the decision to seek sterilization on their own. As a result, the gender gap in contraceptive sterilization will likely increase. The possibility of partnership change is an important consideration in choosing sterilization as a contraceptive method.

Published: 03/29/2001

Family planning perspectives pmid:11271545

Women, men, and contraceptive sterilization

L L Bumpass, E Thomson, A L Godecker

CONCLUSION(S): Analysis of sterilization decisions must be based on time since the completion of childbearing. The findings call attention to the need for measuring variables that mediate observed associations with sterilization outcomes.

Published: 04/28/2000

Fertility and sterility pmid:10785218

Wagar is lead author on new article in Gynecologic Oncology

Matthew Wagar, MD, Gynecologic Oncology Fellow, is the lead author for a new article published in Gynecologic Oncology. Co-authors include Aaditi Naik, MD; Ran Catherine Zhang, MD, MPH; Amy Godecker, PhD, MS; Ellen M. Hartenbach, MD; Janelle N. Sobecki, MD; and Sumer K. Wallace, MD.

In “Incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism in patients with vulvar carcinoma undergoing vulvectomy with or without lymphadenectomy,” Wagar and co-authors assessed whether the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) differed for radical vulvectomy with or without lymph node assessment for patients who underwent surgery for vulvar carcinoma:

“Inguinofemoral lymph node dissection by any method does not appear to be a risk factor for VTE when compared to radical vulvectomy alone. Further research is needed to determine if extended VTE prophylaxis is beneficial in this population.”

You can read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Heisler co-authors study on microaggressions in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Christine Heisler, MD, MS, associate professor and director of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, co-authored a new article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Co-authors include Amy L. Godecker, PhD, MS, Deborah Verran, Michael S. Sinha, Jerome Byam, and Pringl Miller.

In “Workplace microaggressions: results of a survey of the American College of Surgeons members, Heisler and co-authors evaluated the demographic and occupational characteristics of surgeons across a multi-organizational and gender-inclusive research sample in order to determine who experiences workplace microaggressions and if these experiences affect future decisions to pursue surgery.

The team found that: 

“...surgical trainees who experienced higher levels of microaggressions were less likely to recommend their specialty and more likely to leave medicine or retire early. In fact, 23% of general surgery residents who identify as women leave training before graduation. Full-time physician faculty who are women are less likely to be promoted, less likely to hold leadership positions, and more likely to leave academic medicine than their male colleagues within 7 years.”

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

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!

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