Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Pregnant people and families facing high-risk pregnancies rely on Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists to care for and guide them through the unique challenges they face. Key to the specialty is its interdisciplinary approach. Valued partnerships with the divisions of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, General Obstetrics & Gynecology, Clinical Genetics, and other subspecialists throughout Northwestern Medicine allow for comprehensive patient care and education of future clinicians and investigators.
In addition to clinical care, the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine is nationally-recognized a as a leader in research and education.
About Our Work
Education
Medical students and residents complete rotations with the division to gain an understanding of the competencies required in the various obstetrical, medical, and surgical complications of pregnancy. The Division of MFM also offers an outstanding fellowship program for one fellow each year. The fellowship incorporates research, education, clinical, and advocacy activities to prepare graduates for successful academic careers. Each fellow has a high-risk continuity clinic throughout their three years and rotates on the inpatient clinical service, in divisions/diagnostic-ultrasound/index, and in Clinical Genetics .
Research
Faculty members, staff, and fellows in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine collaborate on many research projects with investigators around the institution and around the country. We conduct randomized clinical trials, observational studies, and patient-centered outcomes research to benefit pregnant people and their newborns in a wide variety of settings. Since 2001, Northwestern has been a member of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NIHCD-sponsored MFM Units Network, a research network that conducts conduct multi-center clinical trials. Through this work, Northwestern has contributed to many of the landmark trials in obstetrics in the last several decades. We also are currently conducting research in several other major networks, including GO MOMS, nuMoM2b and the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study, PHACS IMPAACT, ECHO, HBCD, and others. Our faculty have additional expertise in areas such as social determinants of health, health disparities, health services, postpartum pain, metabolomics, obesity, reproductive infectious diseases, and many other areas.
Patient Care
The clinical program is based at Prentice Women’s Hospital, the Obstetrics & Gynecology pavilion of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which is the primary teaching affiliate of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Our diverse and large (over 12,000 deliveries annually) patient population provides excellent opportunities for challenging clinical care. We provide consultative services, total obstetric care and ultrasonography for high-risk pregnancies throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
