News - OB/GYN at UCLA

UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology provides cutting edge diagnosis and treatments, and supports a team of renowned physicians, surgeons and researchers. Demonstrating continued excellence in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA OB/GYN is often the subject of stories in newspapers, magazines, and journals. The Department is also the subject of news releases to keep the community informed on the latest developments in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the treatments available at UCLA, and various milestones within the Department. We include here a collection of recent stories, and an archive of older articles, for your further information.


April 12, 2024
Dr. Beth Karlan named NCCN Guidelines Steering Committee Chair - Dr. Beth Karlan, professor of UCLA obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been selected to serve as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines Steering Committee Chair. The NCCN is a non-profit alliance of 33 leading cancer centers in the United States devoted to patient care, research and education. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


April 9, 2024
Acetaminophen use in pregnancy not linked to neurodevelopment disorders, large study findsDr. Yalda Afshar, assistant professor-in-residence of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to CNN.

Additional coverage: WVTM-13NBC-2Yahoo! News, and 27 others. 


April 5, 2024
15 ways to make PCOS weight loss so much easier, according to doctors and dieticiansDr. Daniel Dumesic, professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Women’s Health

Additional coverage: MSN UK


April 2024 
Is sex painful? - Dr. Andrea Rapkin, obstetrician-gynecologist, and director of the Pelvic Pain Clinic at UCLA Health, discusses maintaining vaginal health. Learn more at Health Years Volume 21 Number 4


March 27, 2024
Dr. Richardson on escalating rates and uterine cancer among Asian Americans Dr. Michael Richardson, resident physician of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Oncology Live.


March 27, 2024
HERSTORY: Democratizing cancer genetic testing to reduce healthcare disparities Dr. Beth Karlan, director of Cancer Population Genetics at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor and vice chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Healthprovides expert commentary on the trial the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Institute for Precision Health have just launched. The trial will evaluate and address disparities in access to cancer genetic testing and screenings, especially among historically marginalized populations. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


March 26, 2024
Dr. Konecny on the MIRASOL trial and Mirvetuximab Soravtansine in Fra+ Platinum – resistant ovarian cancer  Dr. Gottfried Konecny, professor in the department of hematology/oncology at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to Oncology Live. 


March 25, 2024
Prenatal testing offers pregnant women more information than ever – but no support to deal with it Dr. Ilina Pluym, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Health Santa Monica, provides expert commentary to Romper.


March 22, 2024
Kate Middleton’s cancer announcement brings messages of concern, supportDr. Beth Karlan, director of Cancer Population Genetics at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor and vice chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Healthprovides expert commentary to The Los Angeles Times

Additional Coverage: TIME, LA Times Q&A


March 21, 2024
She didn’t want to be a statistic. Now she’s raising awareness of the Black maternal health crisisLinkedIn News features Dr. Rashmi Rao, maternal and fetal medicine specialist at Westwood OBGYN and health sciences assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and UCLA Health patient, Anitra MacVeety. 


March 19, 2024
Paid parental leave: impact on maternal mental health and child wellbeingDr. Misty Richards, assistant clinical professor in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, program director of the child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, and associate medical director of the perinatal program at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, provides expert commentary to MDEdge.


March 18, 2024
‘Beer for My Horses’ forever: Toby Keith inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame after brave stomach cancer battle - Dr. Dana Chase, gynecologic cancer physician and surgeon at UCLA Health and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of gynecologic oncology, provides expert commentary to SurvivorNet.


March 16, 2024
Mirvetuximab Soravtansine associated with improved HRQOL in FRα+ ovarian cancer Dr. Gottfried Konecny, professor in the department of hematology/oncology at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to OncLive.

Additional coverage: Cancer Network


March 13, 2024
Not all in your head: women googled cancer symptoms a year before diagnosis, says new study - Dr. Beth Karlan, professor and vice chair of women’s health research and director of cancer population genetics at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to SurvivorNet


March 12, 2024
You can eat carbs with gestational diabetes & 5 other myths, debunkedDr. Christina Han, associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and division director of maternal-fetal medicine at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to Romper.


March 7, 2024
The billion dollar question in ovarian cancer: therapies for maintenance and recurrenceDr. Ritu Salani, director of gynecologic oncology at UCLA and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary OncLive.


March 2024
CT-guided ablation proves to be safe and effective for treating recurrent gynecologic cancers A recently published study led by scientists in the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found treating people diagnosed with recurrent oligometastatic gynecologic cancers with CT-guided high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy ablation was safe and effective, with few side effects. Read the study in Brachytherapy. UCLA Health Lab Notes


February 16, 2024
Decoding the mysteries of ovaries - Dr. Beth Karlan, Dr. Daniel Dumesic and Dr. Sandra Orsulic, are pioneering research on greater insights into fertility, cancer and environmental impacts on reproduction. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


February 12, 2024
Antibody drug conjugates make strides in ovarian cancer with recent FDA approval Dr. Gottfried Konecny, professor of hematology/oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, along with the Women's cancer research group at UCLA Health, enrolled the highest number of participants in the U.S. in a pioneering clinical trial that led to the approval of a new targeted therapy. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


February 9, 2024
Why period poops are so different, according to MDs Dr. Aparna Sridhar, obstetrician gynecologist at UCLA Health and associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to POPSUGAR


February 6, 2024
What to know about PCOS and the newfound link to cognitive decline - Dr. Daniel Dumesic, professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to the Washington Post


January 31, 2024
Common menopause symptoms and how to treat themDr. Rajita Patil, assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology, and director of the Comprehensive Menopause Program at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to AARP


January 31, 2024
Genetic and cellular changes pinpointed in placenta accretaDr. Deborah Krakow, professor and chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA, and Dr. Yalda Afshar, assistant professor-in-residence of obstetrics and gynecology in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UCLA Health, discuss the diagnosing and treating of placenta accreta. Coverage of study by Technology Works.

Additional coverage: ScienceDailyMirage News, UCLA Health Newsroom


January 29, 2024
New minimally invasive gynecologic procedures offer patients more options, greater benefitsDr. Kathryn Goldrath, assistant clinical professor of OB-GYN, stresses how important advances in fibroid treatment are. Learn more at the UCLA Health Vital Signs Winter 2024.


January 29, 2024
De-escalation of therapy in gynecologic oncologyDr. Ritu Salani, director of gynecologic oncology at UCLA and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to Oncology Live


January 24, 2024
Infants born to COVID-infected mothers have triple the risk of developing respiratory distress, UCLA-led research suggests Dr. Thalia Mok and Dr. Rashmi Rao, maternal-fetal medicine specialists at UCLA, co-authored a study on vaccinating mothers before infection significantly reduced the risk for full-term infants developing a breathing disorder that most often strikes premature newborns. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


January 24, 2024
Complex surgery heralds a happy new year for patient and child - Dr. Ilina Pluym, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Health Santa Monica, and a multidisciplinary team of UCLA Health physicians assembled to perform a rare operation called an ex-utero intrapartum treatment, or EXIT. It was the first successful EXIT procedure performed at UCLA. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom


January 22, 2024
Pregnancy Fatigue: Why You're Exhausted—and What to Do About ItDr. Leena Nathan, obstetrician/gynecologist at Westlake Village OBGYN, provides expert commentary to The Bump.


January 18, 2024
Mya Hendrix Overcomes Adversity Towards Motherhood – Dr. Ilina Pluym, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Health Santa Monica, provides expert commentary to LA Sentinel. 


January 18, 2024
HPV and Cervical Cancer: A Patient Guide - Dr. Tiffany Lai, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA Health, discusses HPV and Cervical Cancer. Learn more at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA


January 17, 2024
RSV: Clinicians Discuss Strategies to Deal with Vaccine Resistance - Dr. Neil Silverman, professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Infections in Pregnancy Program at UCLA, provides expert commentary to DrugTopics


January 15, 2024,
ADHD and PCOS: What's the Connection? Dr. Misty Richards, the founder and medical director of the Maternal Outpatient Mental health Services (MOMS) Clinic at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Rescripted.


January 15, 2024
Remembering Coretta Scott King and the Impact Ovarian Cancer Left on Her Children - Her Fierce Love - Dr. Beth Karlan, professor and vice chair of women's health research and director of cancer population genetics at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to SurvivorNet


January 8, 2024
IUDS – worthy contraceptive or painful hassle? – Dr. Leena Nathan, obstetrician/gynecologist at Westlake Village OBGYN, provides expert commentary to KPCC


January 5, 2024
The clinical takeaways of the RSV immunizations Dr. Neil Silverman, professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Infections in Pregnancy Program at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Contagion Live.