Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship
About the Program
The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is the sole academic tertiary health care center for the State of Iowa. The Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at University of Iowa offers a wide breadth of clinical and research opportunities. Our fellows are here for academic pursuit and development of world-class clinical skills.
The fellowship program is designed to provide advanced training in the care of the pregnant woman and her fetus and in the use of advanced technical instruments and research skills. There is a strong emphasis on ultrasound and genetics, with training in the performance of prenatal diagnosis and other ultrasound-guided procedures.
The purpose of the fellowship program is twofold. First, the graduate of the fellowship program is expected to function as a subspecialist in maternal-fetal medicine. Second, the graduate of the fellowship program is expected to be trained in advanced clinical and/or basic research and, thus, capable of expanding the knowledge base of this subspecialty.
Fellows will receive a minimum of 12 months of clinical training in Maternal and Fetal Medicine and a minimum of 12 months of protected time for research. Additionally, each fellow will be assigned a one-month rotation in the medical intensive care unit and assume the role of supervisor on the labor and delivery unit for a two-month rotation. Finally, nine months of electives focusing on specific clinical rotations or research will also be assigned to each fellow under the direction of the program director.
Clinical Care
Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellows care for patients with high-risk pregnancy needs in University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Approximately 70% of patients delivered at the UI Hospitals & Clinics have medical, surgical, or obstetrical complications of pregnancy. There are almost 500 antepartum admissions per year. We have approximately 2,500 deliveries per year in our hospital.
High-Risk Obstetric Clinic (HROB Clinic)
The High-Risk Obstetric Clinic is scheduled five half days per week. Women are seen for consultations prior to or during pregnancy and for ongoing prenatal care when they need to deliver in our hospital. The indications for care run the spectrum of maternal risk factors.
Each fellow is assigned to a HROB clinic for a half day each week. This is considered a continuity clinic for the fellows. The patients that are seen in clinic will then identify the fellow as their HROB doctor. The patient will be able to form a patient-physician relationship with the fellow. The fellow will then be responsible and held accountable for their patient’s plan of care.
Obstetrical Ultrasound
The fellow’s primary role will be as a sonographer trainee with hands-on ultrasound scanning. The fellow, along with our senior sonographer will perform hands-on scanning with graduated responsibility to proficiently perform full anatomy scans. The patients should primarily be the first trimester dating scans, second trimester screening ultrasounds, and follow-up growth ultrasounds. The selection of patients will change as the fellow’s skill advances throughout the rotation. The goal of this rotation is to learn and be able to identify normal fetal anatomy and fetal anomalies.
Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (FDT) Clinic
Women with suspected or known fetal diagnoses are seen in the FDT Clinic. This clinic is staffed by registered sonographers, registered nurses, certified genetic counselors, and maternal-fetal medicine physicians. The fellows are responsible for the management and clinical care of patients in this specialized clinic under the direct supervision of the MFM physicians.
The fellow is expected to gain experience in counseling women about their ultrasound findings and testing options. The FDT Clinic provides expertise in prenatal diagnosis and ultrasound-guided procedures. The list of procedures performed includes:
- Chorionic villus sampling
- Amniocentesis for genetic and other indications
- Multifetal and selective reduction
- Miscellaneous procedures for drainage of fetal fluid accumulations, placement of shunts, etc.
The fellows will gain experience in performing these procedures. Additionally, the fellows participate in the Perinatal Care Conference for women with complex fetal disorders. This is a multidisciplinary conference with representatives from maternal-fetal medicine, genetic counseling, neonatology, nursing, perinatal palliative care, social work, and other pediatric subspecialties as needed. The pregnant woman and her family are included as well.
Antepartum Service
On this service, the fellows are expected to act as the functional attending staff in evaluating and determining management for the antepartum and postpartum patients. They are fully supervised and given real time feedback from the MFM faculty. They round daily with the MFM attending, antepartum resident, and the antepartum nurse practitioner/hospitalist.
Labor and Delivery Supervisor
This rotation is incorporated in the antepartum rotations. The fellow is expected to be the functional attending staff in the evaluation and management of labor and delivery patients. Expectations include acting as primary attending staff on decisions and management of all labor and delivery patients, discussing all management plans with the staff attending labor and delivery, and teaching and supervising residents and medical students also scheduled on labor and delivery.
Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)
During this rotation, the fellows will be trained in critical care. This rotation is typically scheduled in the third year. The goal of this rotation is to give the MFM fellow hands-on experience in the medical management of critically ill patients.
Elective Rotations
We offer several elective rotations which include advanced obstetric ultrasound, endocrinology, infectious disease, blood bank medicine, medical genetics, fetal echo/adult congenital heart disease, family planning, and research. The fellow can choose among these electives or consult with the program director to design an elective in a specific clinical area of interest.
Research
The second full year of the MFM Fellowship is dedicated to research. During this year, the fellow takes graduate courses and focuses on their research interests. Two graduate courses are required in statistics and epidemiology. While on research, the fellow will have 10% clinical time with a half day clinic.
Education and Conferences
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Departmental Education
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference is held on Tuesday mornings. During this time, cases from the preceding week are presented by the residents and discussed by the department. The fellows are encouraged to participate in this learning experience.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Grand Rounds follows the M & M conference. Grand Rounds consists of speakers from within the department, as well as invited guests from other medical institutions. The second-year and third-year fellows are expected to present one Grand Rounds conference per year. The third-year fellow typically presents his/her research thesis.
Fellows Didactic Sessions
Didactic sessions are held on Mondays to systematically review all basic science and clinical aspects of maternal-fetal medicine as described in the Guide to Learning. The format varies and includes traditional lectures, journal clubs, and maternal case review. Lecturers include faculty from the division and department and invited guests from other departments.
The fellows are encouraged to attend the Critical Care Fellowship Didactic Conference when the topics are relevant to MFM.
Departmental Quality and Safety Conferences
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In compliance with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) requirements, fellows are expected to participate in quality and safety activities. The third-year fellow participates in the Severe Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Review Conference which entails case review and discussion.
University Lectures
Numerous outstanding University of Iowa and Carver College of Medicine lectures are scheduled throughout the year and fellows are encouraged to attend when possible.
Program Accreditation
The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Information specific to program requirements for a maternal fetal medicine fellowship training program and milestones for fellow performance are available with ACGME’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Review Committee (RC).
Board Certification
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies obstetricians and gynecologists in the United State. Visit their website for information on board certification requirements.
Education and Conferences
Departmental Education
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference is held on Tuesday mornings. During this time, cases from the preceding week are presented by the residents and discussed by the department. The fellows are encouraged to participate in this learning experience.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Grand Rounds follows the Morbidity and Mortality conference. Grand Rounds consists of speakers from within the department, as well as invited guests from other medical institutions. Each fellow presents at one Grand Rounds conference per year.
Didactic Sessions
Didactic sessions are held on Mondays to systematically review all basic science and clinical aspects of maternal-fetal medicine as described in the Guide to Learning. These include lectures by the faculty, fellows, and invited guests from other departments.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Journal Club
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Journal Club is a conference where faculty members and fellows collaborate on the presentation of articles.
University Lectures
Numerous outstanding University and College of Medicine lectures are available and fellows are encouraged to attend when possible. Opportunities include other departmental grand rounds and invited speakers.
Program Accreditation
Program Accreditation
The Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Information specific to program requirements for a maternal fetal medicine fellowship training program and milestones for fellow performance may be found at the ACGME’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Review Committee (RC).
Board Certification
The ABOG-American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an independent, non-profit organization that certifies obstetricians and gynecologists in the United State. Visit the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology for information on board certification requirements.
Research Opportunities
Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Research Opportunities for Fellows
Providing outstanding research training is a major objective of this fellowship program with the goal of each fellow completing a thesis that meets the requirements of the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ABOG). The fellow will receive a minimum of 12 months of protected time for research per ABOG and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) guidelines. The first-year fellow has a four-week rotation mid-year to develop areas of interest and identify possible mentors. The goal of this rotation is to choose a project, identify a mentor, develop an outline for the proposed study, and begin an Institutional Review Board (IRB) application.
Research mentors can be within and external to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. An ideal research mentor will provide guidance for the design, completion, and publication of the research thesis. The research mentor will be an established scientist with extensive extramural funding in the form of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants or other large non-University of Iowa sources.
The second year of our fellowship is the designated research year. This year has been designed so that clinical involvement is limited to no more than 10% of the fellow’s time. In the third year, additional months of electives focusing on specific clinical or research areas will also be assigned to each fellow under the direction of the program director.
There are multiple areas of research in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Carver College of Medicine, and the university at large. Perinatal research is being conducted by members of the division and the departments of medicine, pediatrics, anesthesia, genetics, psychiatry, orthopedics, and epidemiology. Most laboratories on campus are open to fellow participation. There are university-wide core facilities to support research.
Reproductive Science Research
Within the department there is the Reproductive Science Research Division. This division is well-funded and houses the Women’s Health Tissue Repository. This bio-repository includes the maternal Fetal Tissue Bank, the Paternal Contributions to Children’s Health Biobank, the Well Woman Bank, the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Biobank, and the Gynecologic Malignancies Biobank. We have ultrasound reporting software and image storage available for ultrasound-based research projects.
Rural Maternal Health Disparities Research
There is an emerging opportunity for UI MFM Fellows to study rural maternal health disparities due to a recent grant award. In September 2019, the MFM Division, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) received a five-year, $10 million grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) to improve maternal health outcomes in the state.
Iowa is one of nine states to receive a State Maternal Health Innovation Program grant from HRSA. The award will be used to create and implement innovative strategies to address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on preventing and reducing maternal death and severe maternal illness. Areas of emphasis include expansion of maternal telehealth programs and the development and implementation of a rural track for the OBGYN residency, the Iowa Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (IMQCC), a mobile simulation unit, and certified nurse-midwifery training program.
Stephen Hunter, MD, PhD, UI professor of obstetrics and gynecology, vice chair for obstetrics and co-director of the Iowa Statewide Perinatal Care Program, is the principal investigator on the grant, and the team includes UI faculty in the departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Epidemiology, and staff at the IDPH.
| Fellow | Mentor | UI Department | Thesis Project |
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| Nicole Masse | Cynthia Wong | Anesthesia | A randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of multimodal prophylactic uterotonics in patients undergoing non-elective cesarean section after a trial of labor |
| Sarah Wernimont | Eric Taylor | Biochemistry | Metabolic control of trophoblast differentiation and transport |
| Jessica Sheng | Mark Santillan | Obstetrics & Gynecology | Endothelin-1 is associated with preeclampsia at the time of diagnosis |
| Alexandria Betz | Mark Santillan and Gary Pierce | Obstetrics & Gynecology and Health & Human Physiology | Plasma endothelin-1, arterial stiffness and mean arterial pressure in the first trimester are predictive of the diagnosis of preeclampsia |
| Erin Fricke | Steven McElroy | Pediatrics and Neonatology | Exposure to LPS-induced Maternal Inflammation Induces Direct Placental Injury Without Alteration in Placental Blood Flow |
| Jena Swanson | Andrew Lidral | Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center |
Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Non-Syndromic Oral-Facial Clefting at the 8q24 Locus |
| Nina Moreira | Val C. Sheffield | Medical Genetics | BBS3 Plays a Distinct Role in the Pathogenesis of Congenital Hydrocephalus in a Ciliopathy Mouse Model |
| Jason Picconi | Patrick Brophy | Pediatric Nephrology | Kidney-Specific Expression of GFP by In-Utero Delivery of Pseudotyped Adeno-Associated Virus 9 |
| Chao Li | Christie Thomas | Nephrology | Aspirin Inhibits the Expression and Release of sFLT1 from Primary Human CTBs Induced by Hypoxia, via Cyclo-Oxygenase 1 |
| Jona Conklin | Stephen Hunter | Obstetrics & Gynecology | Naturally Occurring Antibodies to Group B Streptococcus in Pregnant Women |
| Kathy Kyser | Peter Cram | Internal Medicine | The Association Between Hospital Obstetrical Volume and Maternal Postpartum Complications |
| Karishma Rai | Stephen Hunter | Obstetrics & Gynecology | Prevention of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization of multiple GBS serotypes using a novel GBS vaccine |
| Lori Day | Sarah Englund | Physiology | Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the KCNN3 gene associate with preterm birth |
| Mark Santillan | Curt D. Sigmund | Physiology | Pregnant mice lacking indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase exhibit preeclampsia phenotypes |
| Kristi Borowski | Jeff Murray | Pediatrics and Neonatology | Neonatal Genetic Variation in Steroid Metabolism and Key Respiratory Function Genes and Perinatal Outcomes in Single and Multiple Courses of Corticosteroids. |
How to Apply
Information for Applicants
Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).
The 2025 application deadline will be posted on this webpage in early 2026. It is usually early May. Interview dates have not yet been established but will be posted here.
Application and notification schedule recommended by SMFM will also be posted once the information is available.
Eligibility for Fellowship
Prerequisites: Medical Degree, Completion of OB/GYN Residency
Application Requirements
Application via the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) including:
- Three letters of recommendation
- One letter from the Residency Program Director
- Two other letters from people of the candidate's choosing
- Dean’s letter (MSPE)
- Medical school transcript
- Personal statement
- Photograph (optional)
- USMLE/COMLEX scores
Further information can be obtained by contacting the program.
Our People
Welcome
Our people are the heart of our program. From the reception desk to the exam room, from the laboratory to labor and delivery, from the conference room to the library, from administration office to faculty office you will find our people eager to help you become the best maternal-fetal medicine specialist you can be. There is a strong work ethic throughout our program.
At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, researchers and teachers in our profession. We provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals.
In keeping with the institution's tertiary care role, a large proportion of our patients represent complicated or high-risk conditions. We see women with a wide spectrum of maternal complications and fetal anomalies. Our labor-delivery suite is a state-of-the-art facility providing total care for the mother and her newborn. It incorporates both modern technological advances as well as facilities for the family-oriented approach to patient care.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has approved the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Iowa for a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Our fellowship program is designed to provide advanced training in the care of the pregnant woman and her fetus and in the use of advanced technical instruments and research skills. We have a strong emphasis on ultrasound and genetics, as well as an intensive exposure to invasive procedures/fetal therapy/prenatal diagnosis. The purpose of the fellowship program, therefore, is twofold. First, the graduate of the fellowship program is expected to function as a subspecialist in maternal-fetal medicine. Second, the graduate of the fellowship program is expected to be trained in advanced clinical and/or basic research and, thus, capable of expanding the knowledge base of this subspecialty.
Current Maternal-Fetal Medicine Faculty
View a complete listing of the department faculty.
Our Fellows
Erica Raff, DO
Residency: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
Expected Graduation: 2025
Emma James, MD
Residency: Southern Illinois University
Expected Graduation: 2026
Sarina Martini, MD
Residency: University of Minnesota
Expected Graduation: 2027
| Graduation Year | Fellow |
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| 2024 | Annemarie Gilley, DO |
| 2023 | Christopher Clark, MD |
| 2022 | Sarah N. Watson, MD |
| 2021 | Nicole Masse, MD |
| 2020 | Sarah Wernimont, MD |
| 2019 | Jessica Sheng, MD |
| 2018 | Alexandria Betz, MD |
| 2017 | Erin Fricke, MD |
| 2016 | Jena Swanson, MD |
| 2015 | Nina Nuangchamnong, MD |
| 2014 | Jason Picconi, MD |
| 2014 | Chao Li, MD |
| 2013 | Jona Conklin, MD |
| 2012 | Kathy Kyser, MD |
| 2011 | Karishma Rai, MD |
| 2010 | Lori Day, MD |
| 2009 | Mark Santillan, MD, PhD |
| 2008 | Kristi Borowski, MD |
| 2004 | Janet Andrews, MD |
| 1996 | Stephen Hunter, MD |
| 1996 | Janice Henderson, MD |
| 1993 | Anthony Gregg, MD |
| 1993 | David Merrill, MD |
Welcome from the Chair and Department Executive Officer
Christian Pettker, MD
Jennifer R. Niebyl, MD Chair and Department Executive Officer
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Welcome to the website of the University of Iowa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. I am proud to lead a talented group of hard-working, creative, and caring faculty and staff that works every day to bring the best healthcare to Iowans and beyond. The field of medicine is faced with considerable challenges today. Our team is rising to these challenges to meet the needs of those we serve, while working also to maintain the joy and meaning of being a healthcare provider. A strength of our department is our interdisciplinary composition, as we comprise a diverse group of physicians, nurse midwives, advanced practice nurses, physician associates, nurses, genetics counselors, sonographers, embryologists, and more. We also have important collaborative relationships with the School of Nursing and the Departments of Family Medicine and Pediatrics.
Our comprehensive medical, surgical, and nursing services provide the full spectrum of care for patients with normal and complicated pregnancies and for gynecology, including cancer, menopause, female pelvic health, and reproductive endocrinology. While our care is primarily focused in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Health Care hospitals, we serve all of Iowa, with telehealth and outreach services at sites across the state. The goal of our department is to serve, educate, and care for Iowans, and exemplify all models of care in women’s and reproductive health for the world to see.
We are a primary care provider for women’s health, serving normal and uncomplicated pregnancies and routine women’s health issues. In keeping with the institution's quaternary care role, a number of our patients represent complicated or high-risk conditions within all spectrums of obstetric and gynecologic care. We serve two labor and deliver suites at our two Iowa City hospitals, incorporating both modern technological advances as well as facilities for the family-oriented approach to patient care. The gynecologic oncology program is an integral unit of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa. Our in vitro fertilization program is a national leader in outcomes and the latest technologies. Additional specialty areas include genetics counseling, infertility, in-vitro fertilization, gynecologic urology, menopause, pelvic pain, prenatal diagnostics, and reproductive care.
Basic and clinical research in reproductive medicine is an important departmental activity and is generously funded by state, federal, and philanthropic support. Our areas of strength in scholarship include obstetric quality and safety, preeclampsia, ovarian and uterine cancer, female pelvic health, fertility/infertility, and rural women’s health. Our internationally-recognized Women’s Health Tissue Repository attracts researchers from across the spectrum of pregnancy and reproductive health and is a particularly unique resource used to answer the more important questions in our field. Important collaborations with state and federal agencies are an critical part of our scholarship and research as well.
We are dedicated to excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, as reflected by a competency-based curriculum that is designed to provide practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and outstanding skills. The clinical and research efforts of trainees are closely mentored and nurtured by a dedicated research team. Our graduates move on to successful careers in clinical practice and academic obstetrics and gynecology. We have four ACGME-accredited fellowship programs in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Gynecologic Oncology, Maternal Fetal Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. We also support an accredited Clinical Nurse Midwife training program.
Whether you are a patient, student/trainee, researcher, physician, midwife, or other provider, we hope you will have a meaningful and rewarding interaction with our department and that we treat you with our unique ‘Iowa nice’ touch.