2025 OB/GYN Research and Graduation Day

It was a whirlwind of activity - including innovative research, memes, and awards (see related link for video) - during Yale Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences' 2025 C. Lee Buxton Day.

After a welcome from Yale Ob/Gyn Vice Chair of Education Catherine Salva, MD, MSEd, the keynote and presentations began.

The 21st Annual Nathan Kase lecturer was Aileen Gariepy, MD, MPH, MHS, presenting on “If We Knew What We Were Doing, It Wouldn't Be Called Research."

Chief resident talks made up the first scientific session:

• Chaarushi Ahuja, MD, “Association Between Severe Maternal Morbidity and Racism In Health Care Documentation: A Case-Control Mixed Methods Study”
• Emily Chang, MD, “Determining the Role Of Omentectomy in High-Grade Uterine Cancer: A Single-Institution Pathology Review and An SGO-Based Survey”
• Rebecca Borneman, MD, “Knowledge, Awareness and Attitudes Of Women’s Health Trainees Towards Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Its Integration with Sexual and Reproductive Health Services”
• Hannah Cunningham, MD, “The Role of Labor: Impact of Delivery Method on Initiation of Breastfeeding During Delivery Hospitalization”
• Jasmin Mahabamunuge, MD, “Associations of Anti-Müllerian Hormone Levels Among Women in Their Mid-30s with Menopausal Symptoms”
• Anabel Starosta, MD, “Association Between Intrapartum Nitrous Oxide for Labor Analgesia and Short-Term Neonatal Outcomes”
• Sarah Wang, MD, “Cumulative Live Birth Rates with Autologous Oocytes Plateau with Fewer Number of Cycles for Each Year Advancing Beyond Age 42: Analysis f 2014-2020 SARTCORS Database”

Residents received the following (see related link for video):

• ASCCP Award, for showing outstanding, academic, and/or clinical potential as a resident: Abdelrahman AlAshqar, MD
• Society of Gynecologic Oncology Award: Ashley Goreshnik, MD
• Joel Silidker Award: Rebecca Borneman, MD
• Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Award: Akailah Mason-Otey, MD
• Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons: Rebecca Borneman, MD
• Ryan Program Resident Award: Hannah Cunningham, MD
• Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Residency Award: Chaarushi Ahuja, MD
• Resident Teaching Award
  • PGY 1, Grace Jarmoc, MD
  • PGY 2, John Biebighauser, MD
  • PGY 3, Ashley Goreshnik, MD
  • PGY 4, Emily Chang, MD
• Excellence in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Award: Tamutenda Chidawanyika, MD, PhD
• American Association of Gyn Laparoscopists Award: Finn Pebley, MD
• Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Outstanding Resident Award: Katarina Braun, MD, and Khadija Alshowaikh, MD
• Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology Award: Anabel Starosta, MD
• Peter Grannum Award: Emily Chang, MD
• Resident Quality and Safety Award: Anabel Starosta, MD
• Irving Friedman Award: Hannah Cunningham, MD
• Society of Ob/Gyn Hospitalists Outstanding Resident of the Year Award: Alexa Dzienny, MD

Providers received the following (see related link for video):

• The APGO Excellence in Teaching Award: Mitchell Clark, MD, MPH
• The Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology: Iman Berrahou, MD
• The Lee Buxton Faculty Teaching Award: Ami Acharya, MD, MPH
• The Gynecological Surgical Teaching Award: Catherine Salva, MD, MSEd
• The Debbie Cibelli Award: Laurie McLeod, CNM
• The Nathan Kase Award: Iman Berrahou, MD
• The Joel Silidker Award: Asha Evans, RN
• The Harold Behrman Award: Yong-Hui Jiang, MD, PhD
• The Patricia Johnson Award: Alyssa Hewitt
• The Stanley Lavietes Award: Sindhuja Ranganathan, DO
• The CREOG National Faculty Award: Audrey Merriam, MD
• The APGO Humanism in Teaching Award: Iman Berrahou, MD
• The José Memorial Award: Blair McNamara, MD

The second scientific session featured presentations by fellows:

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow Eesha Dave, MD, “Trends in Tdap and Influenza Vaccination in Pregnancy Relative to the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic”
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow Suzanne Stammler, MD, PhD, “Evolution of Hypertension Stages in Pregnancy and Postpartum from 2013-2022”
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow Lena Sweeney, MD, “Postpartum Readmission Risk: A Comparison Between Stillbirths and Live Births”
• Maternal Fetal-Medicine Fellow Colleen Sinnott, MD, “FGF2 Interferes with EGF/EGFR Pathway in Trophoblasts”
• Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow Victoria Wesevich, MD, “Uterine Glucocorticoid Signaling Regulates Immune Cell Recruitment in the Peri-Implantation Period”
• Gynecology Oncology Fellow Blair McNamara, MD, “Preclinical activity of Datopotamab Deruxtecan, and Antibody-drug Conjugate Targeting Trophoblast Cell-Surface Antigen 2 in Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma”
• Urogynecology Fellow Ashley Huber, MD, “Stress Urinary Incontinence Procedure Outcomes in the <40-year-old Population: A Multicenter Study”
• Obstetrician-Gynecologist Fellow Michelle Ichikawa, MD, “Safety of Palmer’s Point Entry in Patients with a History of Bariatric Surgery”

The 2025 C. Lee Buxton Research Day ended with a banquet where graduating fellows and residents were recognized and celebrated.