Kaljo co-authors article in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Kristina Kaljo, PhD, associate professor in the UW Dept. of Ob-Gyn, recently co-authored an article published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Co-authors from the Medical College of Wisconsin include Monet Lane, MD; Morgan Briggs, MD; Christine Pando, MD; Susan Duyar-Ayerdi, MD, MA; and Kathryn Dielentheis, MD. 

In “Perspectives of OB-GYN Residents and Faculty on Resident Simulation Curricula: A Mixed-Methods Study,” the authors aimed to obtain resident and faculty perspectives on simulation criteria. Simulation training facilitates skill development in low-risk environments and is increasingly widespread in residency programs, but key stakeholders’ (i.e. residents and faculty) perspectives should be obtained before implementation.

This study used convergent-parallel mixed methods; electronics surveys were completed by ob-gyn residents and faculty, followed by the formation of two focus groups, one with residents and one with faculty. The authors found that:

“Both groups endorsed key ideas, including the need for a structured and standardized curriculum. Currently, no simulation curriculum standards exist. Findings demonstrate the importance of communication between residents and faculty to create an effective training curriculum that addresses the unique needs and barriers of both trainers and trainees.”

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya

Bharucha, Kaljo, Hanks co-author study in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Members of the UW Department recently authored an article published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Authors include ob-gyn resident Kharmen Bharucha, MD,PGY-4; Kristina Kaljo, PhD, associate professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn; Laura Hanks, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn; and Tess Jewell, MD, MPH.

In “The Physician’s Duty to Care for Others: Resistance Against Evidence-Based Gender-Affirming Care Among Physician Trainees,” the authors explored first-year resident physician attitudes toward gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care (GAC) is an evidence-based form of medicine but is increasingly under threat across the country. First-year residents in obstetrics and gynecology, urology, plastic surgery, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics in the United States were invited to participate in a survey and qualitative responses to an open-text question were analyzed inductively to identify themes. The authors found that:

“... some residents hold biases that could negatively impact the care provided to [transgender and gender-diverse] patients. Some questioned the philosophical foundations of gender, others doubted the evidence base for GAC, and one disapproved based on religious beliefs. Prior research based on patient perspectives has demonstrated the need for clinician education on TGD health. Our findings echo this need and build upon this literature by incorporating the perspectives of physicians in training. Taken together, both patients and clinicians identify TGD health as an essential educational topic.”

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya

Alaniz, Kaljo, Hoppe co-author article in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Krissy Alaniz, PhD, MPH, clinical research manager in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, Kristina Kaljo, PhD, associate professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, and Kara Hoppe, DO, PhD, professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recently co-authored an article published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. 

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal morbidity, especially among Black, Indigenous, and rural birthing individuals. In “Empowering Birth Workers to Address Maternal Hypertension: Evaluation of a Community-Based Training in Wisconsin,” this multidisciplinary team developed and evaluated a community-based training for birth workers to enhance knowledge and response to maternal hypertension. The study suggest that:

“...targeted training for birth workers is feasible, impactful, and supports their critical role in addressing hypertensive disorder disparities. Ongoing sessions will integrate skill-building and deeper community engagement.”

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya

Knickerbocker, Kaljo, Hanks co-author study in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Members of the UW Department have recently authored an article published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Authors include PGY-3 Resident Abbey Knickerbocker, MD; Nathan R. Jones, PhD, Senior Project Director at the UW Survey Center; Kristina Kaljo, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Ob-Gyn; and Laura Hanks, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn. 

In “Transformative Impact: Advancing Resident Competence and Confidence in Gender-Affirming Care Through a Multimodal Transgender Health Curriculum,” the authors sought to evaluate the impact of a longitudinal multimodal educational intervention on obstetrics and gynecology residents’ knowledge, confidence, and comfort in providing gender-affirming care. An educational transgender and gender-diverse curriculum incorporating didactics, clinical experiences, and surgical exposure was implemented within the obstetrics and gynecology residency program at a single academic medical center over 1 year. The authors found that:

“Residents demonstrated substantial improvements across multiple domains of transgender and gender-diverse care, including understanding of transgender care, confidence in counseling for gender-affirming surgery, comfort with hormone therapy management, and comfort describing hormone effects. Qualitative analysis identified themes of enhanced clinical awareness, shifts in professional identity through transformative learning, and awareness of systemic barriers that may impact provision of care.”

Read the whole article here. 

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya

Department of Ob-Gyn presentations at 2026 APGO Faculty Development Seminar

Members of the UW-Madison Department of Ob-Gyn presented at the Association of Professors of Gynecology & Obstetrics (APGO) Martin L. Stone, MD, Faculty Development Seminar (FDS). The seminar was held January 10-13, 2026, on Amelia Island, Florida. 

Their impressive presentations include:

Workshop – Mitigating Cohort Effects: Group Advising for More Equitable Residency Signaling – Sarah Hutto, MD; Laura Jacques, MD; Keenan Yanit, MD

Round Table – Proctor-Partner-Coach: Supporting a Successful Transition from Residency to Academic Ob-Gyn Surgeon – Amy Domeyer-Klenske, MD

Innovation Fest – Equity TankRx: A “Shark Tank” Interprofessional Workshop Enhancing Innovation and Communication in Women’s Health – Kristina Kaljo, PhD

Congratulations to the presenters!

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Melis Baskaya