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Leslee Subak, MD is the Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor and Chair of the Stanford OB/GYN Department and, by courtesy, of Urology, and Director of the Stanford Women’s Health Program and LGBTQ+ Health Program. She provides urogynecology and gynecology clinical care at Stanford Medicine. Dr. Subak was one of the first UCSF WRHR K12 Scholars (2000-2003), was Research Co-Director for the UCSF WRHR (2006-2017), Senior Mentor for the UCSF BIRCWH, KURE, and CTSA KL2 and K12 programs, and received an NIDDK Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient Oriented Research award (K24) and renewal to support mentoring (2008-2020). Dr. Subak runs a thriving research program and has helped develop trainees and scholars interested in epidemiology, clinical research, clinical trials, economic, and translational research. She was Director for the UCSF Women’s Health Clinical Research Center (2014-2017), Director of the UCSF/SFVAMC Women’s Health Clinical Research Fellowship, and was on the team that developed the CTSI-sponsored UCSF Mentor Development Program for Mid-level Faculty. She has mentored more than 75 students, fellows, administrators, and faculty including 32 postdoctoral fellows and faculty.

Virginia D. Winn, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of OB/GYN, is a physician-scientist with deep expertise in placental biology. She is Director of Perinatal Biology at Stanford with an extensive research background in biochemistry, molecular biology, prostaglandin regulation, trophoblast biology, gene expression profiling, preeclampsia, and human placental development. Dr. Winn was recruited to Stanford University to build the Perinatal Biology Research Program in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department. Part of the mission of this position is to establish collaborations with the wider Stanford University community to capitalize on the tremendous scientific environment to accelerate advances in maternal and neonatal health. Our WRHR program is an extension of this transdisciplinary initiative. Dr. Winn was both a Research Scientist Development Program (RSDP 2001-2006) and WRHR (2007-2010) K12 scholar. She has mentored both BIRCWH and RSDP scholars who are now on faculty at University of Colorado. She has mentored 5 junior faculty, 4 graduate students, 3 postdoctoral fellows, 6 MFM fellows as well as numerous medical, undergraduate, and high school students in research. Dr. Winn has had continuous funding from foundations and NIH since 2001 and is currently the multi-PI on a large NIH grant examining the link between preeclampsia and subsequent cardiovascular disease (midlife and older). She leads this effort with Mark Hlatky, MD, which is a collaboration between 8 departments, including 5 WRHR mentors and advisors (Drs. Quake, Shaw, Snyder, Stefanick, and Stevenson). As a physician-scientist running a basic and translational research program while still continuing to practice Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Dr. Winn provides career development guidance for our basic science physician-scientist WRHRS Scholars.

Paul Blumenthal, MD, MPH, is Professor of OB/GYN, Emeritus. He directs the Stanford Program for International Reproductive Education and Services (SPIRES), an initiative providing technical assistance and training to family planning programs in a wide variety of countries across Africa, Asia, and Central America. He served as the Global Medical Director for Population Services International from 2008-2020. For over 35 years, Dr. Blumenthal has been an advisor to multiple international agencies such as Gynuity Health Projects, Ipas, Pathfinder, EngenderHealth, Family Health International, Path, Jhpiego, and the World Health Organization and served as the Special Advisor to Minister of Health and Family Planning of the Republic of Madagascar. He currently serves on the International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Among other things, Dr. Blumenthal is currently involved in studies of menstrual blood for clinical and diagnostic purposes, post-partum IUD insertion, “single visit” approaches to the prevention of cervical cancer through innovation and simplification,  and demedicalization of contraceptive delivery systems. Dr. Blumenthal is committed to the development and implementation of novel approaches to reproductive health issues in both the domestic and international arenas. He has mentored dozens of predoctoral students (both undergraduate and graduate/medical school), residents, fellows (approximately 25 to date), and colleagues over the decades.

Advisory Committee

The internal Advisory Committee members are:

REI and Stem Cell Biology

The Division of Reproductive, Stem Cell and Perinatal Biology is the home for outstanding basic and translational science within the Department of OB/GYN complementing the Divisions of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Current faculty study germ cells, ovarian hormonal regulation, pluripotent stem cells, pre-implantation development, placental development, and related reproductive and obstetrical complications.

Gynecologic Health Across the Lifespan

Gynecologic health across the lifespan is supported by many focus areas in the Division of Gynecology: pediatric and adolescent gynecology, academic generalist OB/GYN, family planning, minimally invasive surgery, female pelvic medicine and reproductive surgery, and menopause and healthy aging.  The Division of Gynecology participates in several national clinical trials involving new hormonal therapies for contraception and menopausal replacement as well as studies on vaginal infections. Clinical research focuses on studying pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and LUTS, genitourinary syndrome of menopause and overactive bladder. We are involved in large, multi-center trials throughout the U.S. as well as physician-initiated trials. Family Planning Services and Research is actively engaged in research relating both to development of new contraceptive methods and innovations in contraceptive programs that will improve access and patient-level success. Research ranges from basic science assessments of reproductive biology to programmatic and population-level assessments of contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Gynecologic Oncology

The Gynecologic Oncology division offers a comprehensive program of basic science, clinical, and translational research in gynecologic cancer, education and outstanding patient care. Laboratory research focuses primarily on ovarian cancer while the clinical and translational research includes the use of new drugs and innovative new therapies, including vaccines and immunotherapy. Collaborative research is ongoing in stem cell biology, new imaging techniques for screening and monitoring disease, and studies of new biomarkers to determine prognosis.

Perinatal Biology

This focus area has a strong group of basic and translational mentors that explore the underlying pathogenesis of preterm birth, preeclampsia, and placenta accreta, as well as investigate the normal physiology of pregnancy focusing on placental development and the immune system. Translational aspects of perinatal genetics are also well represented.

Innovative Technology and Precision Health

Stanford Medicine is dedicated to the advancement of precision health through application of innovative discovery. Stanford fosters a “can do” environment that fosters creativity and out of the box thinking. Mentors in this focus area bring cutting edge innovation and greatly enhance the WRHR Program.