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Dr. Ronald Wapner Appointed Chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine Division
World-Renowned Expert in Prenatal Diagnostic and Screening Techniques Comes to NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center
NEW YORK (Oct 4, 2005)
A world-renowned expert in prenatal diagnostic and screening techniques, Dr. Ronald J. Wapner has been appointed chief of the division of maternal fetal medicine in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. He has also been named professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons.
Dr. Wapner comes to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center from Drexel University College of Medicine, where he was professor and chairman of obstetrics and gynecology and director of reproductive genetics. Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, maternal fetal medicine, and clinical genetics, Dr. Wapner was instrumental in the development of chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a prenatal diagnostic test to assess the health of the fetus. And, as the principal investigator of a multicenter NICHD study group, he helped identify a first trimester screening method for Down's Syndrome, significantly changing the way prenatal genetic disorders are evaluated.
"I am thrilled to welcome such a highly capable clinician-scientist as Dr. Wapner," says Dr. Mary D'Alton, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology and Willard C. Rappleye Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. "Dr. Wapner will put cutting-edge research within reach of patients. Through his exceptional vision and energy, our maternal fetal medicine services – already the largest and most experienced in the region – will be enhanced and expanded to better serve patients and educate future leaders in medicine."
"I am very excited to join what is already one of the best divisions of maternal fetal medicine in the country. It will be a pleasure to help guide the division into continued success," says Dr. Wapner. "We are particularly interested in developing programs in prenatal genetic diagnosis and evaluation, and research in the area of high-risk pregnancy."
Dr. Wapner received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed his internship and residency training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. He received fellowship training at Jefferson Medical College (JMC) and was certified by the subspecialty American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He subsequently completed a fellowship in genetics and is board certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics. He was a full-time academic faculty member and director of the division of maternal-fetal medicine for 22 years at Thomas Jefferson University prior to his recent move to Drexel University College of Medicine.
Dr. Wapner served as the principal investigator for the Philadelphia Center in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network for the past eight years, where he was principal investigator of a study of antenatal corticosteroid regimens to improve neonatal health. He was also co-principal investigator of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)-sponsored trial investigating the retrieval of fetal cells from the maternal circulation, and co-principal investigator of the Early Amniocentesis and Late Transabdominal chorionic villi sampling (CVS) (EATA) trial.
The division of maternal fetal medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia has also recruited Dr. Todd Rosen, who will concentrate in perinatal research and is appointed as an assistant clinical professor. Dr. Rosen's clinical interests are in prenatal diagnosis, and invasive ultrasound-guided procedures in pregnancy including CVS and multi-fetal reductions, care of multiple gestations, and pre-term labor. Additional recruits to the division include: Dr. Kirsten Cleary, from The University of Pennsylvania, appointed as the director of Antepartum Service; Dr. Jane Goldman, from Columbia University; Dr. Cynthia Gyamfi from Mt. Sinai; Dr. Geeta Sharma, from Cornell University; and Dr. Dorothy Smok from Columbia University. All are assistant clinical professors.
