Duke Alumni in Inaugural SGO BRIDGES Cohort
In 2023, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) announced the inaugural cohort of the BRIDGES Research Initiative Scholars, comprised of early-career professionals selected through a competitive application process to participate in a year-long clinical trials development program. BRIDGES scholars include gynecologic, medical and radiation oncologists, as well as fellows-in-training from the U.S. and Canada who come from academic and community hospital backgrounds.
They plan to develop trial concepts spanning from Phase I/II treatment trials to interventional, surgical and prevention studies under the guidance of expert mentors.
Inaugural cohort scholars included Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship alumni Lauren Cobb, MD (Class of 2017); Allison Puechl, MD (Class of 2020; Residency Class of 2017); and faculty Leah McNally, MD, MHS, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship director.
New Residency Program Leadership
Brittany Davidson, MD (Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Class of 2016), was appointed residency program director as of July 2023. She previously was the program’s associate director. Latoya Patterson, MD, MPH (Residency Class of 2016), continues her role as associate program director, along with Anne West Honart, MD, MPhil. Under the leadership of Beverly Gray, MD, who led the program for eight years, the program continued as one of the top training programs in the country and is now ranked number six in the country by Doximity.
Complex Family Planning in the News
Media Coverage Highlight
Clayton Alfonso, MD (Residency Class of 2017), was interviewed for the article “As states toughen abortion laws, early prenatal testing is more common,” which was one of Duke Health’s most impactful stories in the first quarter of 2024, and Duke Ob/Gyn’s in the last six months.
- ABC News coverage (with affiliates) — estimated 6.8 million impressions (the number of times the story reached viewers)
- Associated Press coverage (with affiliates*) — estimated 5.3 million impressions *This includes Time magazine and U.S. News & World Report
- Scripps stations (with affiliates) — 800,000 impressions
- Additional coverage: Yahoo News, MSN News, AOL.com
New Fellowships at Duke Ob/Gyn
The Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) fellowship began in fall 2023. Stephanie Lim, MD (Residency Class of 2023), is the first trainee match for the program. Hear more from Dr. Lim and about the fellowship experience at Duke.
The Department of Ob/Gyn has been approved for fellowship training in Complex Family Planning by the ACGME. The inaugural two-year fellowship program will begin in the 2024-2025 academic year. Hear more about the program from Director Beverly Gray, MD, and Associate Director Jonas Swartz, MD, MPH.
Education Spotlights
Erica Odukoya, MD, MPH
Resident Dr. Odukoya is the recipient of the 2024 Golden Apple Award. The Golden Apple Award is the highest teaching award presented by the Duke University School of Medicine student body to recognize outstanding dedication to medical student education. Only one resident award is given each year across all Duke residency programs. This honor is a proud testament to the dedication Duke Ob/Gyn residents, faculty and advanced practice providers have toward educating our medical students.
Dr. Odukoya was presented with this prestigious award during the annual Duke School of Medicine Student-Faculty show, for which Duke was a Gold sponsor.
Latoya Patterson, MD, MPH
In addition to her role as associate residency program director, Dr. Patterson is Duke Ob/Gyn’s associate director of diversity, inclusion and community engagement. She is highlighted in this video about her commitment to community service.
Ravyn Njagu, MD
Resident Dr. Njagu participated in Duke Ob/Gyn’s Global Health elective program, a four- to six-week clinical experience at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. She shares her story.
Learn more about the Global Health Elective Program
"I applied to residency the summer Roe v. Wade was overturned and it was deeply important to me to match at a program that valued my efforts and passion for abortion advocacy. Despite the obstacles we face politically in North Carolina, I continue to feel the full weight of my program’s support in my desire to provide comprehensive, evidence-based reproductive health care to my patients." — Shelby Davis-Cooper, MD, Residency Class of 2027