UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology provides cutting edge diagnosis and treatments, and supports a staff of renowned physicians, surgeons and researchers. Demonstrating continued excellence in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCLA OB/GYN along with its varied Centers of Excellence, is often the subject of stories in newspapers, magazines, and journals. The Department also frequently issues 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.
June 24, 2022
After years of dreading her period and living with pain, Ashleigh Thiel was referred to Dr. Daniel N. Ginn, Clinical Instructor of UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology, who specializes in the treatment of endometriosis, pelvic pain, and other gynecological diseases. After a diagnosis of endometriosis and surgical treatment, Thiel is enjoying life free of pain. Read Ashleigh’s story on UCLA Health Connect >
June 3, 2022
Science Daily reports on UCLA researchers who identify a biomarker panel that could help predict gestational diabetes in early pregnancy. Authors on the study include Dr. Carla Janzen, associate professor, in the department of obstetrics and gynecology, division of maternal-fetal medicine at UCLA.
May 23, 2022
Dr. Aparna Sridhar, an associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has received the Martin-Peterson Scholars Award from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The award was given in recognition of her achievements in global women’s health. UCLA Newsroom >
May 11, 2022
A new UCLA Health Gynecologic Oncology program that includes yoga, meditation and a peer support group is aimed at helping women continue their journey by healing physically, mentally and emotionally, as they move on to their best possible lives as cancer survivors. UCLA Health Connect >
May 8, 2022
Mother’s Day has special meaning for mom who received cancer diagnosis while pregnant. 'I know how to value every day, every hour, every second,' says Christelle Jorda, mom of 21-month-old Cléo. Read Christelle's story on UCLA Health Connect >
April 15, 2022
Medscape Medical News reports on a COVID-19 registry that tracks pregnant women and newborns for which Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of maternal fetal medicine, is the co-principal investigator. "Pregnant women are generally considered healthy, but they are also a vulnerable group, and we currently have no data on COVID-19 in pregnancy," says Dr. Afshar.
March 26, 2022
Lisa Nicholas, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, joined CBS News during Women's History Month to discuss medical education. Dr. Nicholas discussed her mission to end inequity in medicine, and also talked about the importance of having women in the medical field and how crucial the difference they've made so far is on their industry.
March 25, 2022
Michael T. Richardson, MD, obstetrics and gynecology resident at UCLA Health, was interviewed by Cancer Therapy Advisor about sexual orientation and the risk of HPV infection in women. He says,“Historically, in the United States, women who identify as lesbian or bisexual have been less likely to undergo cervical cancer screening, in part, due to assumptions by the public and providers that these patients have a lower risk of HPV and subsequent cervical dysplasia,”
March 18, 2022
Mya Zapata, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, speaks to HealthDay about the topic of how the cost of having a baby puts many U.S. families at 'financial risk'. She notes, "Just because you have a 'good plan' and have not had co-pays for other medical services doesn't mean that you won't for pregnancy and delivery. When it comes to maternity care, your plan may have caveats that lead to higher out-of-pocket costs of up to several thousand dollars."
March 11, 2022
Oncology Nursing News interviewed Lindsay Kroener, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, regarding fertility preservation for patients with breast cancer. She said, "It is really important for us, as health care providers, to address the possibility of infertility and discuss options for fertility preservation with reproductive aged patients.” Dr. Kroener presented her research at the 39th Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference.
March 11, 2022
UCLA Health will soon launch a study using artificial intelligence to nimbly fine-tune treatment for patients with ovarian cancer, in order to minimize medication side effects and improve quality of life. Joshua G. Cohen, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, is the principal investigator. Read more >
March 11, 2022
Endometriosis awareness is on the rise, but the condition is still hard to detect. According to Daniel Ginn, DO, Clinical Instructor of UCLA OBGYN, it still takes years to diagnose. One reason is that a woman may not know the distinction between a normal period and one that isn’t normal. Read more >
February 25, 2022
Jenny Mei, MD, a UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology maternal-fetal medicine fellow, was interviewed by Medscape about new research presented at the annual Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine meeting indicating that members of the LGBTQ community who give birth appear to have a greater risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum hemorrhage. Dr. Mei who attended the presentation but was not involved in the research said the findings were “overall unfortunate but not surprising given the existing studies looking at LGBTQ patients and their poorer health outcomes, largely due to lack of access to health care and discrimination in the health care setting.”
February 16, 2022
Forbes interviewed Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of maternal fetal medicine, about the risks of Covid infection during pregnancy. She warns, “This should shake us and really be a call to action…Vaccination is the clear action item to improve health for pregnant women and their babies.”
February 11, 2022
Christina Han, MD, division director of maternal and fetal medicine at UCLA, was interviewed by HealthDay News regarding a new research study that indicates that pregnant women who aren't vaccinated against COVID-19 are at greater risk for delivering stillborn babies. Additional research is needed.
February 13, 2022
Ritu Salani, MD, MBA, Professor of UCLA OBGYN and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, was quoted in Axios regarding fewer women getting cervical screenings.
January 28, 2022
Aparna Sridhar, MD, associate clinical professor of UCLA OBGYN, discusses the importance of understanding pregnancy’s biological clock. UCLA Health Connect >
January 28, 2022
Lindsay Kroener, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, discusses how egg and embryo freezing are options for women who want to delay pregnancy. UCLA Health Connect >
January 24, 2022
Lindsay Kroener, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of UCLA OBGYN, was interviewed by WebMD regarding infertility amid COVID-19. She said, "Doctors have encouraged people to FaceTime with partners during procedures to keep them involved."
January 21, 2022
Natural Fertility 101: What you need to know when looking to conceive. Getting pregnant isn’t always easy. Couples interested in starting a family often have many questions about how to optimize their fertility and chance of conception, says Aparna Sridhar, MD, associate clinical professor of UCLA OBGYN. UCLA Health Connect >
January 21, 2022
Yalda Afshar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the division of maternal fetal medicine, was quoted in Science regarding a Scottish study indicating that COVID-19 starkly increases pregnancy complications, including stillbirths, among the unvaccinated.
Dr. Beth Karlan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice-Chair of Women's Health Research, joined “The Doctors” TV show to share some of the warning signs of ovarian cancer.
January 17, 2022
Dr. Beth Karlan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice-Chair of Women's Health Research, joined “The Doctors” TV show to share some of the warning signs of ovarian cancer.
January 3, 2022
Dr. Beth Karlan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Cancer Population Genetics at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, working with stem cell researcher Clive N. Svendsen, PhD, has developed what promises to be a game-changing approach in the treatment of ovarian cancer, a silent killer that often goes undetected until its final stages. Lab-grown organoids, mimicking fallopian tubes, could help prevent ovarian cancer, the research shows.
January 1, 2022
Model co-created by Dr. Beth Karlan, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Director of Cancer Population Genetics at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides a platform for scientists to study factors that lead to cancer development in BRCA1 mutation carriers, as reported by UCLA Connect.
