Congratulations to Ben Pickus, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology! Pickus was selected to join the inaugural LGBTQ+ Health Equity and Advocacy Leadership (HEAL) Fellowship, convened by GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality.
The HEAL Fellowship is a two-year program supporting early-career LGBTQ+ and BIPOC health professionals to lead systemic change in healthcare policy and practice. Pickus joins a group of 21 other health professionals for education and training on health policy, advocacy skills, justice, and inequity.
“I am excited to be part of the inaugural GLMA Health, Equity, and Advocacy Leadership Fellowship,” Pickus says. “Advocacy and equity have been central tenants of my practice, and I wanted to seek formal training to continue to grow my skill sets. I intend to gain skills and connections that will help me support and serve my patients better both at the bedside and through policy change.”
Incredible work, Dr. Pickus!
On April 3, 2025, Ben Pickus, MD, PGY-4 resident in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Climate Change — How to Think Global and Act Local as an OBGYN.”
In the lecture, Pickus examined the current stage of climate change and how it affects the patient population in regards to obstetrics and gynecology, explained current mitigation plans, current actions, and future steps related to climate change and being an Ob-Gyn.
You can watch the full lecture here.
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson
Members of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn attended the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Districts I, V, and VI Annual District Meeting in Boston September 27-29, 2024. Read on for just a few of their wonderful accomplishments at the meeting!
Ob-Gyn resident Ben Pickus, MD, PGY-4, and Laura Hanks, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, presented the poster “Improving Access to Gender-Affirming Hysterectomy: A Quality Improvement Effort” during the conference.
Amy Domeyer-Klenske, MD, director of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke on the panel “Sharing your Voice through Op-Ed Writing”. During the conference, she also completed her multi-year term as chair of the ACOG Wisconsin Section.
Congratulations to all who attended and participated in the ACOG District VI Annual Meeting!
UW Ob-Gyn faculty and residents learned about effective engagement and visited members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation during the 2023 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Congressional Leadership Conference March 5-7 in Washington, D.C.
UW Ob-Gyn Residency Director and Associate Professor Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, Clerkship Coordinator and Assistant Professor Laura Jacques, MD, resident Benjamin Pickus, MD, PGY-2, and resident Margaret Harrison, MD, PGY-3 attended informational sessions about effective advocacy and met with Wisconsin legislators to discuss health care access and other key issues affecting reproductive health in Wisconsin. Their time in DC included a visit with Senator Tammy Baldwin.
Thank you all for bringing important health issues to Wisconsin legislators’ attention!
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists hosted the 2024 Congressional Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, March 3-5. Many members of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn attended the conference to strengthen their advocacy skills and meet with Wisconsin legislators to discuss issues like Medicare payment and improving maternal mortality. - Amy Domeyer-Klenske, MD – Division of ASOG Director and associate professor
- Laura Hanks, MD – assistant professor, Division of ASOG
- Carley Zeal, MD – assistant professor, Division of ASOG
- Katie O’Brien, MD – soon-to-be assistant professor, Division of ASOG
- Doug Laube, MD – emeritus faculty
- Jackie Powell, MD – Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow
- Ben Pickus, MD - PGY-3 resident
- Margaret Williams, MD - PGY-3 resident
- Laurie Lapp
- Kaitlyn Landry
The Wisconsin Section of ACOG also won the State Legislative Advocacy Award during the conference. Congratulations, all!
