Portrait of Katharina Stewart
Katharina Stewart, MD, MS
Professor (CHS), Director of Core Clinical Curriculum, Phase 2 Director
Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Office Address

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

Administrative Assistant

Natalie Duerst

(608) 417-6618

nmwhite@wisc.edu

Foundational to the practice of medicine is the role of educator. Be it teaching our patients, our medical students and residents, or our professional colleagues, we engage each other to push ourselves as we pursue excellence in medical care and expand the breadth and depth of our fields. Integral to that goal is the development of strong educators in our field. I have the expertise, leadership, training, and motivation necessary to successfully carry out the proposed research project designing, implementing and assessing a two-week course that will provide the pedagogical underpinnings for residents to develop their skills as educators. My academic career focus has been undergraduate and, to a lesser extent, graduate medical education. During my tenure at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, I have either led or served on every major medical education office committee and have over the last four years assumed the role of Director for the Core Clinical Curriculum. During my four years, I led the integration and restructuring of our traditional nine clerkships into four longitudinally structured clinical courses which focus on scaffolding clinical practices, professional development and basic science knowledge across our 250-mile statewide campus. The current application builds logically on my prior work in curriculum design, implementation and assessment.

B.S. - Summa Cum Laude Biology University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 1988
M.D. - Magna Cum Laude Medicine Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 1992
Residency Obstetrics & Gynecology Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 1996
Fellowship Maternal-Fetal Medicine Wayne State University School of Medicine/ Mutzel Hospital, Detroit, MI 1998
M.S. Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI 2006

Diplomate, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Accreditation 

Maternal-Fetal Medicine 

National Certification Corporation-Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)

Director of Core Clinical Curriculum  

Phase 2 Director

1998-2005 Assistant Professor (CHS), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

2002-2018 Director, Ob/Gyn Clerkship, UWSMPH, Madison, WI

Frank Brooks Award for Excellence in Research, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 

Roessler Research Scholarship, Ohio State University College of Medicine (OSUCM), Columbus, OH 

Medical Student Teaching Award, OSUCM, Columbus, OH 

Departmental Resident Teaching Award, OSUCM, Columbus, OH 

Outstanding Resident Research Project, OSUCM, Columbus, OH 

Michigan American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) First-Place Research Award, Detroit, MI 

Outstanding Fellow Research Project, Detroit, MI 

Association of Professors in Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Excellence in Teaching Award, APGO National Resident Teaching Award 

Clinical Faculty Teaching Award, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

John M. Anderson Award for Resident Clinical Mentoring, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

Deans’ Teaching Award, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

Henderson Humanism Award, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

The Multispecialty Peer Review Oversight Committee Exemplary Care Award, UWSMPH, Madison, WI 

Madison Magazine, Best of Madison: Top Doctors, from Dane County Physician Survey, Madison, WI 

First Place Poster Award, Session IV, 18th Annual Meeting (1997 Meeting of the Society for Perinatal Obstetricians) 

Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education 

Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) National Faculty Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education

Faculty peer reviewer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UWSMPH 

Director, 4th Year Medical Student Sub-Internship, UWSMPH 

Director, Medical Student Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship 

Resident Didactic Curriculum Focusing on Residents as Teachers 

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Education Committee 

Director of Integrated Clinical Education, Phase 2 workgroup, UWSMPH 

Session leader and planner, Medical Education Day, UWSMPH 

Author, MFM Fellowship Program application for ACGME accreditation 

Forward Clinical Curriculum Committee (FCCC) Member, UW School of Medicine and Public Health 

Student Promotion and Review Committee (SPARC) member, UW SMPH 

Fresh Beginnings Committee (FBC), Unity-Point Meriter 

Department representative, Passport to Success New Faculty orientation and Welcome Event, UW School of Medicine and Public Health 

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Wellness Committee 

Faculty Development Advisory Committee, UWSMPH 

Educational Policy Committee (EPC), UWSMPH 

Curriculum Transformation Committee, UWSMPH 

Neonatal Care Committee, Meriter Hospital and UWSMPH 

Curriculum Transformation Leadership Committee, UWSMPH 

Women’s Health Steering Committee, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Transitional Clerkship, Director Outpatient Setting, UWSMPH 

Student Promotions Committee, UWSMPH 

Meriter Quality Operations Committee, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Obstetrics Quality and Operations Committee, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital   

Palliative Care Committee, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Workgroup, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Chair, Clerkship Curriculum Committee, UWSMPH 

Hypertension Session Leader, Women’s Health Perinatal Summit 2016, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Fetal Heart Tone Session Leader, Women’s Health Perinatal Summit 2016, UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital 

Medical Education Subcommittee, Liaison Committee on Medical Education, UWSMPH 

Curriculum Content Subcommittee, UWSMPH 

Competency Assessment Committee; UWSMPH 

Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care – Perinatal Quality Collaborative on Hypertension 

TRIUMPH Advisory Committee Member, Milwuakee, WI 

Central Group on Educational Affairs (CGEA) Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Innovations in Medical Education, Scientific Reviewer  

AAMC Best Practices in Medical Education Reviewer 

APGO/CREOG Abstract reviewer for Annual meeting

The American Medical Association 

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 

Wisconsin Association for Perinatal Care 

Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics


Weight gain in pregnancy: can metformin steady the scales?

Jacquelyn H Adams, John Poehlmann, Jenna L Racine, J Igor Iruretagoyena, April Eddy, Kara K Hoppe, Katharina Stewart, Janine Rhoades, Kathleen M Antony

CONCLUSIONS: Metformin exposure in pregnancy was associated with less excess weight gain and a higher rate of weight loss. There was no difference in FGR or mean birth weight in metformin exposed neonates. This suggests that metformin may help avoid excess weight gain and its associated comorbidities.

Published: 03/11/2022

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:35272547

First, do no harm: impact of the transition to an integrated curriculum on medical knowledge acquisition of the transitional cohort

Kirstin Nackers, Raquel Tatar, Eileen Cowan, Laura Zakowski, Katharina Stewart, Sarah Ahrens, Laura Jacques, Shobhina Chheda

INTRODUCTION: Many medical schools are moving toward integrated curricula in response to the 2010 Carnegie report. However, there is often apprehension that student performance on standard assessment metrics of medical knowledge acquisition could suffer during the transition period. Therefore, we sought to analyze the impact of curriculum redesign on the medical knowledge acquisition of the transitional cohort, as measured by NBME subject exam scores.

Published: 11/23/2021

Medical education online pmid:34813397

Metformin Exposure and Risk of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Jenna L Racine, Jacquelyn H Adams, Kathleen M Antony, Kara K Hoppe, Jesus I Iruretagoyena, Katharina S Stewart, April Eddy, Janine S Rhoades

CONCLUSION: Metformin exposure was associated with a decreased risk of composite hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in patients with pregestational type 2 diabetes. These data suggest that there may be benefit to metformin administration beyond glycemic control in this patient population.

Published: 05/03/2021

American journal of perinatology pmid:33940652

Patient care, public health, and a pandemic: adapting educational experiences in the clinical years

Kirstin Nackers, Amy Becker, Katharina Stewart, Mark Beamsley, William Aughenbaugh, Shobhina Chheda

The University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and Public Health rapidly adapted its four-year, three-phase medical doctorate clinical curriculum at the onset of the COVID-19 in Spring 2020. Medical students in clinical rotations, our Phase 2 and 3 of the ForWard curriculum, temporarily stopped face to face care of patients, transitioning instead to online learning. For Phase 2 students, this single 12- week interim course included didactic content from all required integrated blocks and...

Published: 12/28/2020

FASEB bioAdvances pmid:33363270

Helping Low Income Pregnant Women Quit Smoking: Improving the First Breath Program

Kristine Alaniz, Bruce Christiansen, Katharina Stewart, Tingting E Sullivan, Lisette Khalil, Michael C Fiore

CONCLUSION: Sustaining a valuable community-based tobacco dependence intervention program serving a vulnerable population requires continuous improvement built on measured outcomes and response to changes in the health care delivery system. First Breath may serve as a model program to aid underserved pregnant women who smoke.

Published: 11/05/2019

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin pmid:31682747

Travel During Pregnancy: A Study of Postpartum Women in Madison, Wisconsin

Lauren Melidosian, Elizabeth Evans, Katharina Stewart, Kathleen M Antony

CONCLUSION: This study allowed for an in-depth look at pregnant travelers and their reasons for traveling and for canceling their trips. When travel plans were discussed, in most instances (94.6%), the obstetrician initiated the conversation. As pregnant women travel both domestically and internationally at increasing rates, it is important to discuss risks associated with travel.

Published: 11/05/2019

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin pmid:31682746

Structured Training for Fetal Diagnostic Skills in a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship

Kathleen M Antony, Nauman Khurshid, Barbara Trampe, Vivek K Gupta, J Igor Iruretagoyena, Katharina S Stewart, Dinesh Shah

Objective The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine has described what constitutes a detailed fetal anatomic examination but what comprises an appropriate physician training program has not been described. The purpose of this paper is to describe a highly-structured program developed by our center to train maternal-fetal medicine fellows in a systematic approach to fetal diagnostic imaging. Study Design We describe this approach in three phases. Phase I: Development of Skills as a...

Published: 10/30/2018

AJP reports pmid:30370179

Travel During Pregnancy: Results From an Ultrasound Unit-Based Questionnaire

Kathleen M Antony, Vivek K Gupta, Kara K Hoppe, Tracy Quamme, Nora Feldman, Katharina Stewart

CONCLUSIONS: In the population of women screened by this questionnaire, 5.1% traveled internationally and 39.6% traveled domestically prior to their anatomic ultrasound. Notably, Florida and Texas are common travel destinations among women at this clinic, and both have had active local transmission of Zika virus.

Published: 01/23/2018

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin pmid:29357209

Epidemiologic factors and urogenital infections associated with preterm birth in a midwestern U.S. population

William A Agger, Danish Siddiqui, Steven D Lovrich, Steven M Callister, Andrew J Borgert, Kenneth W Merkitch, Tina C Mason, Dennis J Baumgardner, James K Burmester, Sanjay K Shukla, Joseph D Welter, Katharina S Stewart, M J Washburn, Howard H Bailey

CONCLUSION: These measured differences among sites are consistent with observations that link epidemiologic factors, both environmental and genetic, with minimally pathogenic vaginal bacteria, inducing preterm birth, especially at less than 35 weeks of gestation.

Published: 12/02/2014

Obstetrics and gynecology pmid:25437726

A transcervical chorionic villus sampling model for teaching

J Igor Iruretagoyena, Barbara Trampe, Katharina Stewart, Sabine Droste

We sought to create a transcervical chorionic villus sampling model for teaching that would mimic a lifelike model. A model was created using silicone resembling the maternal interface. A cervix with an endocervical canal able to accommodate a catheter and a vagina was also created. Tap water was used as the amniotic fluid. Chorionic villus sampling was accomplished using this model with the actual ultrasound machines and environment as in the real model. This simulator allowed placental...

Published: 07/27/2013

Journal of ultrasound in medicine : official journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine pmid:23887961

Technical challenges of a term delivery in a separated ischiopagus twin

Jennifer L Krupp, Daniel C Mandel, Katharina S Stewart, Dinesh M Shah

CONCLUSION: Term pregnancy is possible in a previous conjoined twin patient having undergone surgical separation. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach with close evaluation of maternal anatomy to achieve a successful pregnancy outcome while minimizing the risk of complications.

Published: 01/25/2013

Obstetrics and gynecology pmid:23344415

Probable identity of Goltz syndrome and Van Allen-Myhre syndrome: evidence from phenotypic evolution

Susan Hancock, Peter Pryde, Christine Fong, Jane E Brazy, Katharina Stewart, Amy Favour, Richard M Pauli

We describe a girl who was diagnosed with split foot-split hand anomaly prenatally, in whom at birth the diagnosis of Van Allen-Myhre syndrome was made, and who at 8 months of age was recognized to have Goltz syndrome. Based on the evolution of clinical features in this infant, we suggest that our case, as well as that reported by Van Allen and Myhre, is an example of unusually severe Goltz syndrome.

Published: 07/13/2002

American journal of medical genetics pmid:12116212

Color Doppler ultrasonography for distinguishing myomas from uterine contractions in pregnancy

B S Trampe, P G Pryde, K S Stewart, S Droste, S Zieher, H H Kay

CONCLUSION: Color Doppler US is a sensitive and reliable tool for distinguishing uterine myomas from focal myometrial contractions.

Published: 10/05/2001

The Journal of reproductive medicine pmid:11584478

Evans MI, Rodeck CH, Stewart KS, Quintero RA, Yaron Y, Johnson MP. “Multiple gestations: genetic issues, selective termination and fetal reduction” in Principles and Practices of Medical Therapy in Pregnancy: 3rd Edition. Gleisher N, Buttino Jr, L, Elkayamu, Evans MI, Galbraith RM, Gall SA, and Sibai BM, editors. Appleton & Lang Publishing Co.; Norwalk, CT: 1997. 

1997

Stewart KS, et al. Reviewer for Obstetrics and Gynecology, 5th Edition by Beckmann C, Ling FW, Smith RP, Barzansky BM, Herbert WNP, Laube DW. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA, 2006. 

2006

Veitch S, Pryde P, Stewart K. Intussusception following postpartum hysterectomy. J Gyn Techniques. March, 2000; 6(1): 35-36

2000

Stewart elected to UWSMPH Technical Standards and Access to Accommodations Committee

Congratulations to Kathy Stewart, MD, professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine! Stewart was elected to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Technical Standards and Access to Accommodations Committee (TSAAC) for a two-year term.

The TSAAC is appointed and charged with reviewing and maintaining best practices related to medical school technical standards and implementing accommodations in medical school settings. TSAAC responsibilities include, but are not limited to, oversight of language used to describe and communicate technical standards for UW SMPH, and advising for appropriate implementation of approved accommodations at UW SMPH clinical and testing sites.

Stewart has long been a leader in medical student education, including her current role as Director for the Core Clinical Curriculum in the MD program. We are confident her service on the TSAAC Committee will be exemplary!

Grand Rounds: Stewart presents “Will you write me a letter? Teaching, coaching, mentoring and the art of letter writing”

On October 27, 2022, Professor Kathy Stewart, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Will you write me a letter? Teaching, coaching, mentoring and the art of letter writing”.

In the lecture, Stewart explained the history of letters of recommendation, outlined the role of the letter writer, discussed competency domains as a key part of letters, and prepared participants to compose draft letters of recommendation in the future.

Watch the whole lecture 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!

Stewart published in FASEB BioAdvances

Kathy Stewart, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, co-authored a new publication in the journal FASEB BioAdvances about adapting medical school instruction to meet educational needs and maintain safety during a public health emergency.

In the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Stewart is the Director of Core Clinical Curriculum and Phase 2 Director for medical student education. “Patient care, public health, and a pandemic: adapting educational experiences in the clinical years”, which was published in a special issue of FASEB BioAdvances dedicated to managing MD program curricula during the pandemic, describes the UW SMPH approach to adapting clinical curriculum and integration of public health principles for medical students during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic:

“Despite the ongoing stresses maintaining high‐quality medical education throughout the pandemic, this experience has redemonstrated the scope of possibility from work of the committed teams that have built and now adapted the new ForWard curriculum. The initial building of a highly integrated curriculum forced the creation of necessarily collaborative teams. Having centralized so many of our educational processes also streamlined coordination with the healthcare institutions where UWSMPH students train across the state of Wisconsin, allowed for system‐level solutions, rather than each course and department independently working to develop online curriculum and adapted clinical experiences. Without the preexisting collective mindset and dedication of individual faculty and staff of this medical school, these creative yet rapid adaptations may not have been possible.”

Read the whole article here. Congratulations to Dr. Stewart and UWSMPH curriculum leaders for adapting so successfully to the past year’s challenging circumstances!

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