Message from the Chair

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts serves the healthcare needs of women and families of Central Massachusetts, provides excellent educational opportunities for students, residents, and fellows, and performs clinical research to advance women’s health. Our clinician-educators include 33 full-time faculty, with 27 physicians and six nurse practitioners/nurse midwives, and 28 community  physicians. The department is fortunate to have 20 exceptional OB/GYN residents and two gifted fellows in Urogynecology/Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. Our expanding clinical research team includes two experienced research coordinators, a gyn-oncology research nurse and data coordinator, statistician/data analyst, and research project assistant focused on computer and technology-related initiatives.

The department consists of six excellent academic divisions. The Research Division, overseen by Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas, is involved in clinical and translational research including collaboration with the Departments of Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Family Medicine, and Quantitative Health Sciences. Dr. Mark Manning, as Director of the Generalist Division oversees twelve distinguished faculty members. The leaders in our generalist division include our clerkship director, ambulatory physician leaders, associate residency director, assistant residency director, OB/Gyn quality officer, and a pediatric/ adolescent specialist. Our Perinatology/Maternal Fetal Medicine team, with five experienced clinicians, is overseen by Dr. Ellen Delpapa and includes our residency director, Dr. Petra Belady. Gynecologic Oncology, with six excellent faculty members, is overseen by Dr. Susan Zweizig and participates in research with the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Dr. Shaila Chauhan is the clinical division director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Overseeing our FPMRS Fellowship Program and Urogynecology Division is Dr. Michael Flynn who is joined by three superb faculty members.

The mission of our residency program is to train outstanding obstetrician-gynecologists and impart the skills for lifelong learning. We accomplish this through evidence-based and technologically focused curricula. Our residents are well prepared as generalists to provide excellent and compassionate care, in an academic or private practice, or to proceed to subspecialty training. The fellowship program offers superb research and clinical training and prepares the fellows to be academic leaders. Residents, fellows, and faculty are committed to training medical students in our highly rated clerkship program, fourth-year electives, and research programs.

The Department is fully committed to caring for women and families, both within our community as well as internationally. Our mission of advancing women’s healthcare is achieved through numerous outreach programs including the UMass Be Well program, March of Dimes educational programs, Worcester free clinics, and community groups. Lectures and interactive sessions are offered to the women of central Massachusetts throughout the year. Faculty is actively involved in international health programs, including medical missions to Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Kenya and an educational program in Ghana. Residents and students join the faculty in serving the Worcester and international communities.

Please feel free to learn more about our clinical, educational, research, and community programs within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School by exploring our website. As Chair, I encourage you to contact my office for more information at 508-334-5369.

Sincerely, 
Julia V. Johnson, MD 
Professor & Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology