Stringer, now a physician-researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, spent more than a decade working in settings where access to prenatal imaging was limited or nonexistent. Without ultrasound, clinicians were left to estimate gestational age, assess fetal growth, and rule out complications using incomplete information — decisions that shape outcomes for both mothers and babies.

The full scope of the problem became clear through research. While analyzing data from an ongoing clinical trial, Stringer and his team noticed what appeared to be an implausibly high preterm birth rate. The numbers raised immediate concern. After deeper analysis, they realized the issue was not that women were delivering early, but that pregnancies were being dated inaccurately. “We realized the root cause was not that the preterm birth rate was that high,” Stringer explained, “but that it only seemed high because inaccurate gestational dating due to lack of ultrasound.” That single gap in information propagated across nearly every aspect of care.

Modern prenatal medicine depends on timing. Screenings, interventions, and clinical decisions follow a carefully sequenced schedule tied directly to gestational age. “If gestational age is wrong, care is mistimed,” Stringer said, “which directly compromises maternal and fetal outcomes.” Without ultrasound, clinicians are forced to make high-stakes decisions without the clarity that modern care assumes.

Dr. Saidi Friday (far right) with the Stringers at FIGO. Dr. Jeff Stringer (Pictured 2nd) is the Division Director for Global Women’s Health at UNC.

We are proud to share that Dr. Friday Saidi, Research Assistant Professor in our Department, attended the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Congress in Cape Town as a representative of the Association of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Malawi (AOGM), which like ACOG, is a member organization of FIGO.

At FIGO, Dr. Saidi presented a research poster titled: Performance of different sample types for high-risk human papillomavirus testing and genotyping using AmpFire® Assay for detection of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
Authors included Dr. Jennifer Tang, Dr. Chibwesha, and Dr. Chinula from our Global Women’s Health Division, alongside collaborators from Malawi (Chagomerana MB, Mkochi T, Msowoya L, Jawadu S, Ndovie M., Smith JS).

In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Saidi achieved a significant leadership milestone: he was elected President of AOGM, following his service as AOGM Treasurer.

Dr. Saidi (on the right) with Dr. Gladys Gadama, who is the outgoing AOGM President

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Drs. Erin Carey, Shawn Hingtgen, and Elizabeth Geller have secured full funding for their Translational Research Grant proposal from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. The project, titled “Developing a Vulvar Film Applicator for Precision Drug Delivery in Vestibulodynia,” provides critical support for advancing technology in women’s health.

The initiative is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Shawn Hingtgen, Professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, with Dr. Elizabeth Geller serving as co-investigator. Dr. Carey, an inventor on the project, contributed to the grant writing and will consult on early implementation efforts.

Dr. Erin Carey is the current Division Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at the UNC School of Medicine and UNC Health. She has served on the national Fellowship Board of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS) and the interdisciplinary board of the International Pelvic Pain Society. She is a NIH funded clinical scientist, and her long-term goal is to develop personalized mechanism-based treatment strategies for patients with complex gynecologic conditions.

The program will train physicians to offer high-quality care in a rural setting, as well as improve access for women in North Carolina’s maternity care deserts, according to a press release.

“More than half of the women in rural North Carolina live more than 30 minutes away from a birthing hospital. That’s more than twice the distance compared to urban areas in the state,” Kavita Arora, MD, MBE, MS, the director of the UNC Rural Obstetrics and Gynecology Fellowship, said in the release. “Our new OB/GYN fellowship is a big step in the right direction to close that gap.”

The UNC School of Medicine will accept applications for the new fellowship through March 31, 2026.

Healio spoke with Arora to learn about the fellowship, what makes it unique and more.

It’s important to be mindful about what you put in your body because your baby is exposed to everything you consume. But you’re still a human being who may need to take medication for short-term or chronic illnesses.

“When we are pregnant, we naturally want to do what’s best for our child,” says UNC Health maternal-fetal medicine specialist Ebony B. Carter, MD, MPH. “A key part of my role as a high-risk OB-GYN is helping parents understand that maintaining their own health—including managing chronic conditions and addressing medical concerns—is essential to supporting a healthy pregnancy.”

Dr. Carter offers this advice for thinking about medication during pregnancy.

Unlike most cancers, both incidence and mortality rates for endometrial cancer are rising. It also represents a significant health disparity, with Black women having a five-year survival rate of 63%, compared with 84% for white women.

To better understand and improve outcomes for people with endometrial cancer, the National Cancer Institute has awarded a five-year, $11.2 million Cancer Health Disparities Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Endometrial Cancer grant to Victoria Bae-Jump, MD, PhD, and Hazel Nichols, PhD, at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

UNC Gynecologic Oncology has been recognized with a FY25 Carolina Care Award for outstanding patient experience. The clinic was named one of the Top 5 clinics across UNC Health and recognized as one of the most improved in patient experience systemwide.

This award reflects the Gynecologic Oncology team’s continued commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centered care. Thank you to the patients who share their feedback and help us improve every day.

The department of General Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Midwifery faculty, fellows, alumni, and learners contributed across presentations and sessions at the Society of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology (SASGOG) Annual Meeting, held September 11–12, 2025, at the Curtis Denver in Colorado.

Fellowship Alumni

• Meredith Wise, MD, MSCR – Named SASGOG Green Journal Editorial Fellow

• Austin Johnson, MD – Awarded Best Paper from a conference presentation

• Dani Tsevat, MD, MSCR – Presented a poster featuring fellowship research

Faculty

• Andrea Knittel, MD, PhD – Presented on Research Mentorship

• Kavita Arora, MD, MBE, MS – Presented on Building the Academic Generalist Workforce

Current Fellows

• Paige Anderson, MD – Poster presentation

• Grace Trompeter, MD, MSPH – Poster presentation

Medical Student

• Reagan Ford (UNC) – Poster presentation