Department News
Stay connected with the latest updates from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Here, we celebrate the achievements of our faculty, residents, and students—from welcoming new team members to highlighting recent publications, research grants, and awards. You’ll also find announcements about upcoming presentations at local, national, and international conferences, as well as other milestones that showcase our commitment to advancing women’s health and medical education.
Honors, Awards, and Achievements
Dr. Isuzu Meyer Presents Research at Scientific Meeting
03/30/2026 Dr. Isuzu Meyer presented her research at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting, held March 22–24, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. She delivered a podium oral presentation on the use of platelet-rich plasma during transvaginal prolapse surgery and also presented an oral poster examining the microbiome of postmenopausal women and its response to estrogen therapy.
Dr. Isuzu Meyer Awarded Pilot Project Grant
03/30/2026 Dr. Isuzu Meyer has received a pilot project grant from the Dartmouth Center for Implementation Science COBRE to support research focused on reducing cognitive risks associated with anticholinergic medications used to treat overactive bladder in older adults. The project emphasizes safer, evidence‑based alternatives to improve patient outcomes through implementation and de‑implementation strategies.
Kendra Clark, PhD
Kendra Clark, PhD, Selected as Inaugural VA BIRCWH Scholar
03/20/2026 Dr. Kendra Clark, OB-GYN researcher, has been selected as one of four inaugural VA Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (VA BIRCWH) Scholars. As part of this national program, she has been matched with the Magee-Women's Research Institute in Pittsburgh, a leading center for women’s health research. Dr. Clark’s selection reflects the strength and promise of her research trajectory and highlights the department’s growing national impact in women’s health scholarship.
Neil Hamill, MD
New Collaborative Clinic
03/16/2026 Dr. Neil Hamill has announced that the Maternal‑Fetal Medicine Section has a new collaborative clinic entitled Fetal and Neonatal Care Coordination (FNCC) Clinic. This monthly clinic is for patients whose pregnancies are complicated by factors likely to place their neonate in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Laura Cudzilo Announces Continuation of OB-GYN Residency Program Accreditation
02/26/2026 The ACGME OB-GYN Review Committee has performed their annual review of our residency program. They have granted us continued accreditation. Our program remains without citations, and it was noted that we continue to have substantial compliance with ACGME requirements. Thank you to everyone for your dedication to the continued success and growth of our residency program!
Education Team Attends 2026 CREOG & APGO National Conference
02/26/2026 Members of the department’s education team—including Drs. Cudzilo, Said (with son Jack and friend Amanda Schraut), McAlarnen, and Lessman; Jami Monico; Lauren Luger; and resident Dr. Macy Thonen—recently attended the 2026 CREOG & APGO Annual Conference in Seattle, WA. The conference focused on advancing education in obstetrics and gynecology. Hosted by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, it brings together educators, clinicians, and program leaders to share best practices, innovative teaching strategies, and research aimed at improving undergraduate and graduate medical education.
Dr. Lindsey McAlarnen, Jami Monico, and Dr. Macy Thonen
Presentation Highlights Cost Effective Simulation Innovation
02/26/2026 Dr. Lindsey McAlarnen, Jami Monico, and Dr. Macy Thonen presented at the 2026 CREOG & APGO national conference with a discussion den session on simulation education, showcasing innovative and inexpensive approaches to creating task trainers. The session featured a bleeding model designed with a water pump, tubing, and a foam uterus to simulate realistic clinical scenarios. Attendees were given a kit and worksheet and invited to form small groups to design their own gynecologic simulation models. Participants eagerly collaborated on the activity, contributing to a packed room of highly engaged learners and a strong interest in accessible, low-cost simulation solutions.
Evada Palmer, Dr. McAlarnen, Abby Stevens, and Holly Robinson
New EMET Students
01/08/2026 We are excited to welcome three medical students to the Women’s Health Enhanced Medical Education Track: Evada Palmer, Abby Stevens, and Holly Robinson. To support their onboarding, Drs. Lindsey McAlarnen and Rebecca Rimsza met with the students and provided a tour of clinical areas. This experience will help them prepare for upcoming shadowing opportunities with faculty. Dr. Karen Carlson, director of the Women’s Health EMET, is working closely with the students to get them started in the program.
Kendra Clark, PhD
Clark Research Lab Highlights
12/17/2025 Dr. Kendra Clark and team have published three impactful studies on reproductive health and environmental exposures, including research on PFAS and PFDA effects and risks for women in military service. Explore these publications and recent achievements by Dr. Clark and her team.
Karen Carlson, MD and Marcela Pineda, MD
Menopause Society Certified Practitioner
10/23/2025 Dr. Karen Carlson and Dr. Marcela Pineda have earned the Menopause Society Certified Practitioner credential, ensuring patient's receive expert, evidence-based midlife care.
Lynda Harris, PhD
Dr. Harris Recognized with Prestigious Award
08/04/2025 Lynda Harris, PhD, has been awarded the 2025 Andrée Gruslin Award by the International Federation of Placenta Associations (IFPA). This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to placenta research and honors individuals whose work has significantly advanced the field.
Mona Al-Mugotir, PhD
Dr. Al-Mugotir Receives New Research Award
10/01/2025 Mona Al-Mugotir, PhD, instructor and researcher with the Harris Lab, has been awarded a Pediatric Cancer Research Group Award of $66,842 from The Child Health Research Institute to investigate "Placental mechanism of resilience: Knowledge transfer to tumor tissues."
Sarosh Rana, MD, MPH, FACOG
Dr. Rana Nominated as ISSHP President
10/01/2025 Dr. Sarosh Rana, Dept. of OB-GYN Chair, has been nominated as the next president of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP). This nomination reflects Dr. Rana’s leadership and longstanding commitment to advancing care and research in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Alex Hergenrader, MD, resident
Dr. Hergenrader Awarded Best Poster
10/01/2025 Dr. Alex Hergenrader was awarded Best Poster (Clinical Category) at the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP) World Congress, held recently in Chicago. This recognition highlights important clinical research contributions in the field of hypertension in pregnancy and reflects the high caliber of work being presented at the congress.
Neil Hamill, MD
New Maternal-Fetal Medicine Section Chief Effective January 1, 2026
9/18/2025 Written by Dr. Sarosh Rana: I am pleased to announce that Dr. Neil Hamill has agreed to take up the post of Section Chief – Maternal-Fetal Medicine beginning January 1st. I am very thankful for Dr. Teresa Berg’s leadership with the group in my time here and for many years prior to this. She has done a fine job overseeing much growth and success during her time as chief. I am also very thankful for her continued grace and mentorship as we make this transition and look forward to her continued contributions to the section and department. Going forward, Dr. Hamill will be as involved in this role as is possible given his schedule, as we lead up to the official hand-off January 1st. We are very thankful for his willingness to take on this new role as we continue to expand the MFM section.
Lindsey McAlarnen, MD, Zoe Keese, and Sarosh Rana, MD
Medical Student Summer Research Program
8/28/2025 Medical student Zoe Keese participated in the College of Medicine Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSSRP) in 2024 and continued her research under Dr. Lindsey McAlarnen's mentorship, focusing on human papillomavirus and vulvar dysplasia in Nebraska and Western Iowa. She will present her findings at the Heartland Association of Gynecologic Oncology meeting. Building on this work, we are planning quality improvement projects to further advance patient care in this area.
Karen Carlson, MD
Dr. Karen Carlson Named to 2025–2026 Physician Leadership Academy Cohort
8/28/2025 The Physician Leadership Academy (PLA) has selected Dr. Karen Carlson, Professor, Vice-Chair of Education, and general OB-GYN physician, for its 2025–2026 cohort. This prestigious program is designed to cultivate leadership excellence among physicians by enhancing self-awareness, strengthening core leadership skills, and providing practical tools to better support teams and drive positive change. Through a combination of skills training, peer collaboration, and one-on-one coaching, PLA empowers participants to lead with confidence and impact.
Meet Dr. Sarosh Rana, new Dept. of OB-GYN Chair
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Sarosh Rana as the new Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Rana is a distinguished clinician, researcher, and educator whose work has transformed care for high-risk pregnancies and improved outcomes for mothers and babies. We are excited for the vision and expertise Dr. Rana brings to our department as we continue to grow and lead in women’s health.
Department Highlights
New Faculty Members
- Dr. Kathleen Moore has joined UNMC in 2026 as a part‑time gynecologic oncologist and serves as Deputy Director and Director of Phase I Clinical Trials at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. In this leadership role, she provides strategic oversight for early‑phase oncology research and works to expand access to innovative clinical trials for patients.
Our department is growing with the addition of new generalists who share our mission to advance women’s health. These physicians provide full-spectrum obstetric and gynecologic care while contributing to education and research that shape the future of health care.
- Dr. Candace Giles is a general OB-GYN physician who joined the department in November 2025. She completed her medical degree at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and most recently practiced at CHI Health in Omaha.
- Dr. Marcela Pineda is a general OB-GYN physician who joined the department in August 2025. She completed her OB-GYN residency at Jamaica Hospital in Queens, New York, and most recently practiced for a health care system in Western Iowa.
- Dr. Nick Jesse is an OB-GYN physician who specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and joined the department in September 2025. He has completed a fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Academic Research
04/02/2026 Dr. Kendra Clark, Rasha Ghorab (PhD student), and Changyong Lee, PhD (postdoctoral fellow) attended the Society of Toxicology (SOT) 65th Annual Meeting and Tox Expo, held March 22–25, 2026, in San Diego, California. This premier international conference highlights cutting-edge advances in toxicological research. The team presented two posters showcasing their work:
- Rasha Ghorab, PhD student, presented “Single-Nucleus RNA-seq Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Transcriptional Alterations in the Ovary Following Adolescent PFAS Mixture Exposure.” She was awarded a UNMC Dean of Graduate Studies Conference Attendance Award in support of her participation.
- Changyong (Paul) Lee, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, presented “From In Silico Prediction to In Vitro Validation: Kaempferol Mitigates Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA)-Induced Granulosa Cell Toxicity.”
03/13/2026 Three of our graduate students, Bunmi Owolabi, Rasha Ghorab and Christianah Aloba were selected to give oral presentations at the Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum on Saturday 7th March at Creighton University.
Their presentations were on the following topics:
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SREBP1/2-mediated metabolic dysfunction in human granulosa cells from poor IVF responders. Bunmi Owolabi, William Synder, Micah Schott, Zelkja Korade, Chittibabu Guda, Jordan Rowley, John Davis, James Dias, Elizabeth Constance, Stephanie Gustin, Michele Plewes.
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Single-Nucleus RNA-seq Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Transcriptional Alterations in the Ovary After Adolescent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Mixture Exposure. Rasha Ghorab, Ben Nolan, Changyong Lee, Jitu W. George, M. Jordan Rowley, Kendra L. Clark
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Can we utilize a placental homing peptide to target the ovarian vasculature? Christianah O. Aloba, Mona H. Al-Mugotir, Isaac O. Adediji, Lynda K. Harris
08/28/2025 Farzaneh Tamanaeifar, a graduate student in the Plewes Research Lab, was awarded a UNMC Graduate Student Fellowship to support her research on the role of LH signaling in activating Hippo signaling pathways.
08/28/2025 Farzaneh Tamanaeifar was also selected to give a platform presentation at the Rocky Mountain Reproductive Sciences Symposium, where she presented her work on Hippo signaling in modulating steroid synthesis in the corpus luteum.
08/28/2025 Bunmi Owolabi, graduate student in the Plewes Research Lab, was accepted into the NIH Summer Course in Clinical and Translational Research.