The Emory University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics has been a national and regional leader in sexual and reproductive healthcare service delivery, education, and research for more than 75 years. The department organizes weekly grand rounds where experts, both within Emory and from the global community, present on topics in the field of Gynecology and Obstetrics (Gyn/Ob). The departmental research infrastructure provides support for clinical trials, population health, translational and basic research studies, with a focus on interaction and collaboration between clinical services and researchers.
The department offers a full range of women’s health services. The department consists of approximately 100 faculty members, 50 residents and fellows, and over 250 staff across nine divisions operating in nine sites of care. The Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics includes the Division of Research and eight clinical divisions: General Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, Complex Family Planning, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (Urogynecology), Family Planning, and Gynecologic Specialties. The department provides care across a range of clinical practice locations throughout metro Atlanta, including the Emory Clinic, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Emory University Hospital, Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Atlanta VA Medical Center.
The department includes physicians, medical assistants, nurse clinicians, research coordinators and specialists, midwifes, embryologists, genetic and financial counselors, perinatal sonographers and ultrasound technicians, surgical technicians, and administrative and patient support personnel.
Annually, the Gyn/Ob Department providers engage in > 492,000 patient encounters, performs ~5,400 deliveries, and conducts approximately ~5,320 surgeries.
The Division of Research offices and laboratories are in the Woodruff Memorial Research Building on Emory’s Clifton campus. The laboratory spaces occupy more than 4,250 square feet of wet lab space in which the Division maintains a cell culture facility and dedicated research areas in biochemistry, immunology, molecular biology, and genetics. The department also has ~3,900 square feet of dry lab space across its different practice sites. The research portfolio includes basic, translational, population health, and clinical trials, with a strong focus on social and behavioral determinants of reproductive health. The Division actively collaborates with other departments of the Emory University School of Medicine.
The Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology provides comprehensive well-women's care, in normal and high-risk obstetrical care, and in primary medical and gynecological care for women of all ages. There is a critical focus on maternal care quality, and the Division embraces the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AGOG) endorsed Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Bundles at all delivery sites. The Division plays an active role in clinical studies being conducted at Emory University. Federally sponsored and industry-sponsored projects are integrated into clinical care. Clinical services include general and specialized gynecologic and obstetric care, contraceptives, colposcopy, endometriosis, hysterectomy, PCOS, and STDs including HPV.
The Grady Obstetrics and Gynecology Division provides a full spectrum of surgical and non-surgical services in all the following areas: gynecology, family planning, gynecologic oncology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and minimally invasive surgery. Non-surgical services include but are not limited to, the management of ovarian, cervical, uterine, and breast disease, contraception, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and hormone replacement therapy. These sub-specialists are available to manage specialty patients and respond to emergencies such as surgical complications, ectopic pregnancies, complicated miscarriage, and emergent uterine bleeding issues 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Faculty provide both emergency department and inpatient consultation services.
The Division of Gynecologic Oncology focus is patients with a diagnosis of gynecologic cancer. Clinical research interfaces with patient care, as patients are treated according to investigational protocols for clinical trials or other research efforts. The Division actively collaborates with the Winship Cancer Institute to facilitate access to multiple national clinical trials. Clinical investigation protocols designed by the Division are conducted on a local level. Clinical services include minor and radical surgery for gynecologic cancer, including cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer, fallopian tube cancer, pelvic masses, molar pregnancy/hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and women referred through genetic testing.
The Division of Complex Family Planning has a long history of engagement in seminal research projects, including clinical trials for the contraceptive implant and the patch, quick-start initiation of contraceptive pills, and post-placental placement of IUDs. Currently all faculty and fellows are participating in and receiving funding for research activities. The Division has conducted behavioral and clinical studies of various study designs (e.g., randomized controlled trial, mixed methods, prospective cohort), in domestic and global settings. Clinical services include adolescent and adult basic and complex reproductive healthcare, including contraception, first and second trimester medication and surgical abortion, medication and surgical management of early pregnancy loss, and menstrual disorders.
CFP faculty and fellows provide services and training at The Emory Clinic locations on the Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory University Hospital (Clifton) campuses, The Teen Services Clinic and Family Planning Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital, as well as in partnership with several community organizations. At Emory over the last 5 years, the CFP Division has provided clinical care in nearly 500 surgical encounters and 11,000 outpatient encounters.
The Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine provides services at the Emory Healthcare and Grady Health Systems. The Grady Regional Perinatal Center is the largest in the state. Emory University Hospital Midtown and Emory Decatur Hospital both have robust Emory Perinatal Centers performing more than 10,000 ultrasounds a year. The Division teaches residents and MFM fellows across all sites and provides high-risk obstetric care. A large, computerized database provides prenatal records, laboratory data, antepartum testing data, and obstetrical outcomes for patient care and for research across all our sites. The Grady Memorial Hospital and Emory University Midtown Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) are both part of the Neonatal Research Network. MFM clinical service offerings include pre-conception counseling, genetic counseling, management of pregnancy complicated by preexisting maternal medical conditions, obstetric complications of pregnancy and fetal anomalies. We have state-of-the-art ultrasound machine and perform detailed first trimester and second trimester anatomy scans, Dopplers studies and 3D and 4D ultrasounds. The team also includes multiple skilled genetic counselors to assist with offering the breadth of prenatal genetic testing including non-invasive and invasive testing. Emory MFM sees referrals from across the state for the most complex maternal and fetal conditions and have collaborations across many disciplines at Emory and Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.
The Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility provides a large and rapidly growing center for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and advanced reproductive technologies. The team is currently providing approximately 1,200 cycles per year. Clinical results for this team have consistently ranked among the best in the nation. The faculty have active clinical and basic research projects and collaborations, working to advance knowledge of reproductive disorders and potential interventions. It hosts an ART/ IVF service with an on-site embryologic lab that does intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), Pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), and oocyte cryopreservation. There is a wide variety of surgical interventions, including diagnostic and operative laparoscopy and hysteroscopy and surgery for uterine and vaginal malformation. The Emory Reproductive Center serves as a referral site for reproductive endocrinopathies and oncofertility and assists with LGBTQ family building. Clinical service offerings include donor sperm insemination, known surrogacy, egg donation, fertility preservation, reciprocal IVF, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, intrauterine insemination, PCOS management, pregnancy after tubal ligation, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
The Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Division serves women with pelvic floor disorders through high quality patient care, innovative educational programs, and state-of-art research. The Division provides minimally invasive gynecology for women with endometriosis, uterine fibroids, abnormal bleeding, pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, fecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia, mesh complications and erosion, vulvar disorders, interstitial cystitis/bladder pain, and hysterectomy.
The Division of Gynecologic Specialties aims to provide consultative support for the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology in the areas of vulvar dermatoses, anogenital dysplasia, gynecologic care for breast cancer and breast cancer gene (BRCA) patients, female sexual health, menopause, pediatric and adolescent gynecology, and transgender care. Also included within this Division is the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery team. The team’s procedures treat a wide range of conditions, and they work with women from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and medical histories.
Clinical service offerings include abnormal bleeding, abnormal pap smear, annual exams, biopsy, colposcopy, endometriosis, fibroids, hysterectomy, IUD, general gynecology, laparoscopy, LEEP, menopause, Nexplanon, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, post-menopausal bleeding, and STI management.
The Division of Gynecologic Specialties is the home to the Complex Benign Gynecologic Surgery Program, which engages in patient outcomes research to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and overall impact of their surgical techniques and interventions. Areas of focus and/or collaborative efforts include: (1) Surgical Outcomes - examining the success rates of various minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, and endometriosis surgery and including metrics of complication rates, conversion to open surgery, and reoperation rates; (2) Recovery and Quality of Life - assessing postoperative recovery times, pain levels, and the overall quality of life of patients following surgery through patient-reported outcomes on physical and emotional well-being; (3) Long-term Health Outcomes - tracking long-term health outcomes, including recurrence rates of conditions like fibroids or endometriosis, fertility outcomes, and the need for additional treatments; (4) Cost-Effectiveness - evaluating the cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive procedures compared to traditional open surgeries is another common research focus, including hospital stay durations, readmission rates, and overall healthcare costs; (5) Patient Satisfaction - measuring patient satisfaction with the surgical process, including preoperative counseling, the surgical experience, and postoperative care; and (6) Innovative Techniques and Technologies - exploring the efficacy and safety of new surgical techniques, instruments, and technologies, such as robotic-assisted surgery. Collectively, these research efforts help to continuously improve surgical practices, enhance patient care, and provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical guidelines.