Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a dynamic and growing academic division balancing excellence in teaching, clinical care, and research in the setting of a world-class university. The clinical obstetrical facilities for the University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are housed at Meriter Hospital, which is the primary site for UW high-risk obstetrics. The Center for Perinatal Care has been a joint program of the UW and Meriter Hospital for almost three decades, and provides services to a large number of patients from Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians train the next generation of physicians through UW Ob-Gyn’s ABOG-approved ob-gyn residency and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship. Currently, the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) has seven faculty members and three fellows, and plans to continue to grow.

Our Clinical Program

Our clinical program offers the wide range of MFM services, including comprehensive management of high-risk pregnancies and a full complement of prenatal diagnostic services.

Center for Perinatal Care

The Center for Perinatal Care is a tertiary center for maternal and neonatal transports and provides intensive perinatal care for a full spectrum of medical conditions. The Diabetes in Pregnancy Program provides diabetes care and education from preconception to post-delivery. The Meriter Diabetes Self-Management Education Program has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education. A multidisciplinary-team approach is used for complex conditions affecting the mother and fetus. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Meriter Hospital is the University's exclusive tertiary-care unit for sick newborns. A full-complement of UW pediatric subspecialists, including pediatric surgeons, offers the comprehensive spectrum of care for these infants.

Our Prenatal Diagnosis

Our Prenatal Diagnosis unit is a state-of-the-art unit, the only facility in the region that is that is accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). In addition to the MFM subspecialists and fellows, the unit is staffed with 14 sonographers and four genetic counselors. We have three 3D/4D-capable diagnostic rooms. We can offer invasive diagnostic procedures including chorionic villus sampling, fetal blood sampling, and transfusion. We also provide first trimester screening, advanced targeted sonography, personalized preconception genetic risk assessments, genetic sonograms, genetic counseling, and teratogen information. Our specialists assess fetal well-being through fetal monitoring, fetal biophysical profiles, and Doppler assessment of maternal uterine, umbilical, and other fetal vessels. In collaboration with UW Pediatric Cardiology, fetal echocardiography services are also available.

Hoppe discusses preeclampsia and Promise Walk on WKOW

Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, associate professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, joined WKOW for a recent story about Madison’s Promise Walk for Preeclampsia.In “Madison Promise Walk supports mission of Preeclampsia Foundation,” Hoppe sat down with Britney Paffel, a preeclampsia survivor, and Kristin Hildebrandt, a lead p... more

Welcome John Soehl, MD, to the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

John Soehl, MD, has accepted an offer to join the UW Department of Ob-Gyn as an assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine starting October 2025, once he has completed his maternal-fetal medicine fellowship. Soehl (formerly Dr. Poehlmann) received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Case ... more

Bailey to present on panel at Wisconsin ACOG Annual Meeting

Erin Bailey, MD, MS, assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, will present on a panel at the 2024 Wisconsin Section ACOG Annual Meeting, held September 13-14 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Bailey will join the Placenta Accreta Spectrum Panel & Fetal Surgery session on Friday, September 13. Incredible w... more