The Monthly
March 2024 | Volume 3 Issue 7
New Faculty Leadership Roles
It's a Match! See Our New Residents
Big News from the Cancer Center
Volunteers Needed: Community Health Fair
Dr. Adhikari Speaks on Conginetal Syphilis
And More!
USNWR Voting Ends Soon
This could be your last chance to vote in the annual
U.S. News & World Report survey for Best Adult Specialty rankings.
Message From the Chair
From Dr. Catherine Spong
Spring is upon us! Congratulations to all on a successful match – we look forward to working with the new class this summer.
Reminder that U.S. News and World Report's survey is open for you to vote – last year we were excited that UT Southwestern was nationally ranked as a hospital as well as for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Your work has been incredibly important for this success.
We appreciate your feedback and will have a revised policy for extra shift/extra service and for the FY25 incentive plan based on your input. Your ideas have been critical for each. 

We look forward to your thoughts for the upcoming visit with our Dean and the UT Southwestern leadership team. 
We are open to your ideas and have created an anonymous Topics/Question Survey so that you all can provide feedback. Please feel free to share your ideas and thoughts. It is recommended to bookmark this link for convenience, but it will also appear in all following editions of The Monthly moving forward.
New Team Members
Welcome our new team members! Make sure you say hello and introduce yourself.
New Academic and Clinical Staff and Faculty
Dana Becker
Genetic Counselor
MFM and Ob/Gyn at POB2, MFM Plano, MFM Irving
Stephanie Harris
GME Program Coordinator I
Education Team
Dr. Richard Kaye
Clinical Associate Professor
Division of General Ob/Gyn - Park Cities
PACT Card Recognitions
PACT cards honor UT Southwestern employees and faculty who demonstrate superior organizational values through quality customer service. Recognition can come from managers, co-workers, internal or external customers, faculty, patients, or visitors.
The PACT program has three pin award levels: Blue (four PACT cards), Silver (eight PACT cards), and Gold (16 PACT cards). Submit a recognition online for UTSW members each time great service is noticed.

Congratulations to all our recipients!
Recent PACT Card Recipients:
Sharon Edwards
GME Program Coordinator I
Blue Pin
Veronica Hernandez
CMOA
Silver Pin
Dawn Wilson
Program Coordinator
Silver Pin
Susan Wright
Administrative Coordinator
Blue Pin
Fan Xia
Accountant II
Blue Pin
‌
Recent PACT Card Recipients:
  • Cindy Arbaiza, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Annette Bacon, Clinical Practice Manager
  • Kortney Campbell, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Jennifer Capps, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Abigail Carranza, CSA III
  • Brenda Castillo, CERT MOA
  • Dr. David Cook, Professor
  • Alana Gomez, Administrative Coordinator
  • Lisa Hernandez, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Bennie Hull, CSA I
  • Dr. Kimberly Kho, Professor
  • Toshia Lee, Education Programs Manager
  • Amy Leng, Clinical Operations Program Coordinator
  • Dr. Paula Lomba, Clinical Assistant Professor
  • Star Mason, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Latrice McMullen, Sr. Administrative Assistant II
  • Marta Mejia De Cate, CERT MOA
  • Karina Miranda, ADV PRAC RN
  • Dr. Jennifer Motley, Assistant Instructor
  • Veronica Parker, AMB RN
  • Natalie Payne, AMB RN
  • LoAn Pittman, Sr. Program Coordinator
  • Monica Rincon, Accountant I
  • Diana Schultz, ADV PRAC RN 
  • Dr. Jessica Shields, Assistant Professor
  • Mary Truong, AMB RN
  • Loretta Ward, AMB RN
  • Sydney Wiggins, CSA I
  • Regina Williams, Education Coordinator
Clinical Highlights
New Faculty Clinical Leadership Roles
We are delighted to announce the appointment of three faculty members to new leadership roles at UT Southwestern and Parkland Health.
Dr. Ashley Zink
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Outreach Leader
Clinical Associate Professor - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Emily Lin
Medical Director, Simulation
Assistant Professor - Gynecology
Dr. Kimberly Spoonts
Medical Director, OGES
Clinical Assistant Professor - General Ob/Gyn
Education Highlights
Faculty, Fellows, and Residents: Complete Your MedHub Evaluations
Dr. Alicia Kiszka: Residency Program Director
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Alicia Kiszka has been promoted to the role of Program Director for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency.

Throughout her tenure at UT Southwestern,
Dr. Kiszka has been dedicated to medical education, as evidenced by her leadership roles in department programs including the Transition to Residency Boot Camp and Women's Ambulatory Health Care courses.

Her exceptional teaching abilities have been recognized with the 2021 Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Excellence in Teaching Award and multiple MS3 Teaching Commendations by
UT Southwestern.
Welcome, Residency Class of 2028
Upcoming Event: 3rd Annual Research Symposium
Our 3rd Annual Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Symposium will be held on Wednesday, April 10. Hot breakfast will be available starting at 7:30 a.m.

The deadline to submit abstracts has passed.

We hope to see you there!
Email Toshia Lee with questions.
Upcoming Event: 29th Annual Texas Forum for Reproductive Sciences
The 29th Annual Texas Forum for Reproductive Sciences will be April 18-19, 2024, hosted by the
UT Southwestern Medical Center Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology clinicians are invited to submit abstracts and attend.

Visit the website for more information, including schedule, plenary speakers, and registration.
Event details:
  • Date: April 18-19, 2024
  • Location: T. Boone Pickens Medical Education & Conference Center (NG3.112)
  • 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, TX 75235
  • Registration: $50 (can be covered by faculty development funds)
  • Includes t-shirt and meals for the two-day conference
  • Questions: Email Katie Guhin
Recent and Upcoming Conference Presentations: Residents and Fellows
Congratulations, Alpha Omega Alpha Inductees
The Gamma Chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society's annual banquet and induction ceremony was held at the Faculty Club on Thursday, March 14.

Dr. Catherine Spong was the keynote speaker for the event and three of our team members were inducted.
Dr. Marlene Corton
Professor
Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. Anjali Nambiar
Assistant instructor
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow

Dr. Christina Curtin
Resident
Class of 2024
Research Highlights
News release: Simmons Cancer Center awarded nearly $19 million in CPRIT funding
Nine scientists and physicians in the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center have been awarded nearly $13 million in grants from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support research and prevention efforts on a wide range of cancer issues.

Dr. Lee Kraus, Professor and Director of the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pharmacology, and Assistant Dean for Research Development, was awarded $1,049,743 to study the molecular underpinnings of ovarian cancer. The proposal aims to discover new insights for the use of PARP-16 inhibitors in cancers with enhanced PARP-16 activity.
Grant awarded: Dr. Anjali Nambiar
Congrats to Dr. Anjali Nambiar, Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellow, on the receipt of a 2023 Garite Mini-Sabbatical Grant from the Foundation for SMFM.

Dr. Nambiar was selected for her project, “Advanced Training in Complex Family Planning for High-Risk Pregnancies.”

She will engage in a 4-week rotation at the University of Michigan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Planning Division, and will be mentored by Dr. Charisse Loder.
According to the Foundation for SMFM, this grant will allow Dr. Nambiar to receive advanced training in complex family planning management techniques and counseling for high-risk pregnancies to ultimately help her continue her path as a lifelong advocate for full-spectrum reproductive care.
Recent Published Research
Dr. David Nelson, Dr. Yevgenia Fomina: "Challenges in Using Progestin to Prevent Singleton Preterm Births: Current Knowledge and Clinical Advice" in the International Journal of Women's Health.
Dr. Emily Adhikari: "Optimal Delivery Management for the Prevention of Early Neonatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" in the American Journal of Perinatology.
Dr. David Nelson: "Development of a Prediction Model for Surgery or Early Mortality at the Time of Initial Assessment for Necrotizing Enterocolitis" in the American Journal of Perinatology.
Dr. Kimberly Kho: "Pregnancy Outcomes After Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation of Uterine Leiomyomas Compared With Myomectomy" in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. David Rahn: "Trial Design for Mixed Urinary Incontinence: Midurethral Sling Versus Botulinum Toxin A" in Urogynecology.
Upcoming Opportunities
If you have questions about funding opportunities or would like to discuss your research interests and goals, please email Nicole Beckley or Jessica Hook.
From the UTSW CTSA Program
Funding Opportunities:
Team Science Grants are sponsored by the CTSA Program at UT Southwestern are a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary teams developing proposals to submit for extramural support (NIH or equivalent).

This seed money is meant to assist with preliminary data collection and team activities in preparation for a grant or other funding application submission. The award includes time with our Team Science coach to assist and support the practice of evidence-based, successful collaboration methods throughout the award period.

The Pilot Program is a collaborative effort between UTSW and Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (TAMU-SVMBS), aimed at facilitating cross institutional research partnerships.

The initiative is focused on animals with naturally occurring diseases that recapitulate human conditions of high concern and building clinical trials to help amplify the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics in both species.
Build Effective Teams - Start with TeamMAPPS
Register Now for Virtual Series.

TeamMAPPS (Team Methods to Advance Processes and Performance in Science) is a behavioral skills training program specifically developed to increase collaboration and effectiveness of scientific teams.

The series includes the following sessions. Click the dates below to register for each Wednesday virtual training from 12:00PM-1:00PM
Power in Partnership: A Community Engagement Symposium
Bringing together community leaders, scientists, students, and health equity stakeholders for a day of learning, dialogue, idea-sharing, and collaboration around community health needs and research.

April 11, 2024
9:30AM - 4:30PM
300 Pegasus Park Drive
Dallas, TX 75247

Speakers:
  • Tiffany Danielle Chisolm Pineda, Ph.D.: "Putting REAL in Community REALationships"
  • President, Chisholm Ventures, LLC
  • Board Member and Treasurer, KindsNCapes
  • Monica Ponder, Ph.D., M.S., MSPH: "Public Health Communication as a Tool for Continuous Community Engagement"
  • Assistant Professor of Community Health and Culture, Howard University


If you have questions about any of the CTSA opportunities or information, email the CTSA Program inbox.
Department Announcements
Congratulations to our 2023 Nominated Doctors!
Volunteers Needed: Owenwood Spring Festival
This event is co-sponsored by our department, Parkland Health, Dallas County Health and Human Services, and Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space.

We invite you to join us for a Spring Festival hosted at Owenwood for a majority Spanish speaking community with limited health resources.

The goal is to provide education, immunizations, community resources, and health screenings including education and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Volunteers are welcomed for several areas at the event. Sign up as a volunteer here.
  • Date: Saturday, April 13
  • Time: Event from 11am - 3pm. Volunteer times may differ
  • Place: Owenwood Farm and Neighborhood Space, 1451 John West Road, Dallas, 75228

Join us and connect with this community.

Contact Dr. Emily Adhikari with questions.
Recent Faculty Subspecialty Fellowship Acknowledgements
Dr. Meredith McClure, Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecology, has recently been named a Fellow of the Interntaional Society of the Study of Women's Sexual Health.
Dr. Elysia Moschos, Professor in the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, has recently been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
Save the Date: Inaugural UT System AI Symposium in Healthcare
The University of Texas System is excited to announce the Inaugural UT System AI Symposium in Healthcare, which will showcase the latest advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) across research, education, and clinical care from UT system investigators.
The symposium will serve as a platform to foster strategic collaboration among institutions within the UT System and provide valuable networking opportunities for AI researchers.

Join your colleagues in learning about the latest cutting-edge advancements in AI, foster collaborations and facilitate networking opportunities. More information to come!
Share Your UT Southwestern Pride!
The Talent Acquisition team is looking for employees to spotlight on the institution's social media accounts.

If you love working at UT Southwestern and for our department, share your answers and help us recruit other great team members to join us!


For examples of how these answers may be used, visit the UT Southwestern LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
Schedule Your UT Southwestern Headshot
All department faculty, staff, and trainees:
If you have not taken an official UTSW headshot since 2019, please sign up for your free headshot session.

The department is working on a number of projects for which having updated headshots of the members of our team will be integral.

These projects include staff and faculty listings on our websites and faculty academic and clinical provider profiles.

Pictured: Caroline Mejias, Sr. Database Analyst
Before You Go
In the Media
Our faculty and their work are often referenced by journalists regarding a range of topics. See some examples of recent features below:
MedBlogs
Our faculty have been writing excellent patient-centered information for the MedBlog on
UT Southwestern's patient-facing website.
Get in Touch
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