The Cornell Maternal Health Symposium brings together researchers across our Cornell Ithaca, Weill Cornell, and Cornell Tech campuses - from bench to bedside to populations - to improve maternal health across the lifecycle, from preconception, pregnancy, the postpartum period (the "fourth trimester"), and beyond.

Featured Keynote:

Elizabeth Howell, MD, MPP

Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 
Keynote: Racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality

Program

Day 1: Monday, October 21, 2024

Arrival Check in and Lunch | 11:30am

Welcome and Introductions |12:00pm
Chairs: Lauren M. Osborne, MD and Julia Finkelstein, ScD MPH

Session 1: Preconception |12:15pm
Chairs: Julia Finkelstein, ScD MPH and Paula Cohen, PhD

  • Paula Cohen, PhD
    Professor of Genetics, Director, Center for Reproductive Genomics, Associate Vice Provost for Life Sciences, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, Cornell University

  • Marianna Wolfner, PhD
    Goldwin Smith Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University

  • Marla Lujan PhD
    Associate Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

Early Career Lightning Talks

  • Erin Sley, PhD MPH
    NICHD T32 Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
    Vitamin B12 and One-Carbon Metabolism Biomarkers and Population-Based Risk of Neural Tube Defects

  • Suraj Rajendran
    PhD Student, Computational Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine
    Enhancing Preconception Care: A Foundation Model for Improved Embryo Selection and Maternal Outcomes

Coffee Break

Session 2: Pregnancy | 2:15pm
Chairs: Lauren M. Osborne, MD and Kimberly O’Brien, PhD

  • Heidi Stuhlmann, PhD
    Acting Chair of Biochemistry, Professor & Acting Chair of Cell & Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Moeun Son, MD MSCI
    Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Eva Pressman, MD
    Adjunct Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Professor University of Rochester

  • Kimberly O’Brien, PhD
    Professor, Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

  • Andrea Temkin-Yu, PsyD
    Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine

Early Career Lightning Talks

  • Jyoti Mathad, MD MS
    Associate Professor of Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Center for Global Health, Weill Cornell Medicine
    Transcriptional Analysis for Tuberculosis in Pregnant Women From the PRegnancy Associated Changes In Tuberculosis Immunology (PRACHITi) Study

  • Munisha Mumingjiang, MD PhD
    Druckenmiller Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University
    Sex and parent of origin dependent impact of genomic instability on mammalian placenta development


Panel 1: Multifaceted Approaches to Enhancing Reproductive Health | 4:00pm
This panel brings together experts in molecular biology, nutrition, and immunology to explore multifaceted approaches to enhancing reproductive health. The panel examines the integration of diverse perspectives and discusses challenges, opportunities, and future directions in reproductive health research. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, the panel aims to advance understanding and improve outcomes in reproductive health care, including the latest developments shaping the future of maternal and fetal well-being, foster collaboration across diverse fields, and drive forward research and practice in this critical area of healthcare.

Panelists:

  • Laura Riley, MD
    Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine, Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center

  • Paula Cohen, PhD
    Professor of Genetics, Director, Center for Reproductive Genomics, Associate Vice Provost for Life Sciences, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, Cornell University

  • Lauren M. Osborne, MD
    Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and Vice Chair for Clinical Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Julia Finkelstein, ScD MPH
    Associate Professor and Director of the Maternal and Child Nutrition Training Program
    Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

Break

Poster Session and Wine and Cheese | 5:30pm
This poster session features our graduate, NIH T32, postdoctoral, and early career scientists, highlighting their research in each of the symposium theme areas (preconception, pregnancy, postpartum), with wine and cheese and light refreshments. Certain abstract submissions were also selected for oral presentations and lightning talks during the symposium.

Dinner and Keynote | 7:30pm

Keynote Speaker

Elizabeth Howell, MD, MPP

Chair, Department of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania 
“Racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality”

Day 2: Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Breakfast | 7:30am

Session 3: Postpartum and Beyond | 8:30am
Chairs: Heather Lipkind MD MS and Tanzeem Choudhury PhD

Early Career Lightning Talks

  • Joanna Lee
    Weill Cornell Medicine
    Resident led quality improvement project to improve postpartum depression screening and referrals for high risk mothers in an urban pediatricprimary care clinic

  • Priscilla Liang, MS
    Health Data Scientist, Weill Cornell Medicine
    Association of Perinatal Depression with Postpartum Acute Care Utilization Among New York City Mothers, 2010-2018

Panel 2: Beyond Birth: Pioneering Approaches to Postpartum Well-being | 10:30am
Panelists explore the forefront of postpartum health research, integrating technology, biology, and medicine to enhance maternal and infant well-being. This panel offers a comprehensive exploration of innovative approaches and cutting-edge research shaping the future of postpartum care.

Panelists:

  • Jyoti Pathak, PhD FACMI
    Professor of Medical Informatics; Vice Chair, Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Tanzeem Choudhury, PhD
    Professor in Computing and Information Sciences, Roger and Joelle Burnell Chair in Integrated Health and Technology, Cornell Tech

  • Cori Green, MD MSc
    Vice Chair of Behavioral Health, Department of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Christina Pardo, MD MPH
    Divisional Director, Women’s Health Practice, Weill Cornell Medicine

  • Alexander T Adams, PhD
    Assistant Professor in the School of Interactive computing at the Georgia institute of Technology and the Director of Uncommon Sense Labs

Breakouts on Collaborative Funding Opportunities

Lunch | Breakout Groups on Funding Opportunities in Maternal Health | 12:00pm

Summary, Concluding Remarks, and Next Steps, Symposium Chairs | 2:00pm
 Lauren M. Osborne, MD and Julia L. Finkelstein, ScD MPH

Symposium Chairs: Lauren Osborne and Julia Finkelstein

Organizing Team:

Lauren M. Osborne, MD
Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Vice Chair for Clinical Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine

 

Julia L. Finkelstein, ScD MPH
Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition
Director, Maternal and Child Nutrition Training Program
Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University

 

Heather S. Lipkind, MD, MS
Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Weill Cornell Medicine

 

Kimberly O. O’Brien, PhD
Professor of Nutritional Sciences
Division of Nutritional Sciences
Cornell University

 

Tanzeem Choudhury, PhD
Professor in Computing and Information Sciences
Roger and Joelle Burnell Chair in Integrated Health and Technology
Cornell University