News Archive

• Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Judson on her promotion to Associate Professor with tenure effective on the beginning date of her 2008-2009 appointment.  Dr. Judson received this promotion based on her merits in research, teaching and service to the University.  She serves the University in her role as Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program, as well as teaching medical students, residents and fellows.  Dr. Judson is a well-respected clinician and has been selected as one of the Top Doctors for Women (Minnesota Monthly, 2006 and 2007), Best Doctors in America (2007 and 2008) and America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2004 and 2005).

• Congratulations to Dr. Judson for winning a two year Sime Research Fellowship through the Center for Spirituality and Healing to study Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Patients with Gynecologic Cancers.

• The division of OB/GYN is happy to welcome our new staff doctor Jane van Dis.  Dr. van Dis completed medical school in South Dakota and completed her residency at UCLA.  She has spent the last year at Kaiser Permanente in LA and is excited to join our academic program and looks forward to teaching medical students and residents and providing care to the university patient population.

• Thalidomide Now Offers Hope to Women With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
  Levi Downs Jr., M.D., led the study that examined thalidomide as a treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer.
  Learn More

• Best Doctors for Women 2008 Survey Recognizes OB/GYN and Women's Health Physicians
  Learn More

• MFM Physicians Participate in Birth of Como Zoo's Newest Baby Orangutan
  Learn More

• Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Judson on her promotion to Associate Professor with tenure effective on the beginning date of her 2008-2009 appointment.  Dr. Judson received this promotion based on her merits in research, teaching and service to the University.  She serves the University in her role as Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program, as well as teaching medical students, residents and fellows.  Dr. Judson is a well-respected clinician and has been selected as one of the Top Doctors for Women (Minnesota Monthly, 2006 and 2007), Best Doctors in America (2007 and 2008) and America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2004 and 2005).

• Congratulations to Dr. Rahel Ghebre for being awarded a position as scholar on the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) grant from the Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health.
  
  
• Dr. Melissa Geller has received an award in the amount of $30,000 from the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund to explore clinical associations between genetic profiles and drug resistance testing in ovarian cancer.
  
  
• Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Geller for receiving a University of Minnesota Graduate School Grant-in-Aid entitled "The Predictive Value of the Extreme Drug Resistance Assay and Gene Expression Signature of Chemoresistant and Chemosensitive Ovarian Cancer."

• Congratulations to the 2008-2009 APGO/SOLVAY Pharmaceuticals Educational Scholars:

• June LaValleur, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
  and

  Philip Rauk, M.D.

Read more about the APGP/SOLVAY Scholars:
10/31/07 Press Release. 

• June LaValleur, MD, reviews Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause for Minnesota Medicine
  
  

• Division of Gynecologic Oncology welcomes Amy Jonson, MD
  
  

•  Melissa Geller, MD, awarded $25,000 through MOCA's Agency of Dinstinction-Eleven Who Care Research Grant Award 
  (May 31, 2007) KARE-11 provided MOCA with the funds to offer the award.  Geller's grant project is "Phase II Study of 852A Administered Subcutaneously in Patients with Metastatic Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma."  
  
  
• Kirk Ramin, MD, appears on Minnesota Public Radio
  (May 15, 2007)  Dr. Ramin was a guest on "Midmorning" with Kerri Miller, where he discussed fertility treatments and managing multiple births.  Click the link above to read more and to listen to the recorded segment.
   
  
• Levi Downs, MD, named Interim Director of Gynecologic Oncology
  (April 24, 2007)  Dr. Downs will lead the division’s 5-year strategic plan and provide additional mentorship for faculty, fellows, and residents.
  
  
• Patricia Judson, MD, named Fellowship Director
  (March 30, 2007)  The Department congratulates Dr. Judson, who has been appointed by ABOG as the director of the fellowship in gynecologic oncology.  As Program Director, Dr. Judson will oversee the education of the four fellows enrolled in the program.
  
  
• Department celebrates Match Day 2007
  (March 15, 2007)
  The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health filled all available spaces for first-year residents beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year.
  
  
• June LaValleur, MD receives Martin L. Stone Award
  (March 9, 2007) Dr. LaValleur's proposal, "Development of the First Departmental Division of Education at the University of Minnesota Medical School," was selected for the Martin L. Stone Award for the Advancement of Medical Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology.   The award will be presented on March 9 at the CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.
  

• Melissa Geller produces award-winning patient education video        
  (December 13, 2006) Dr. Geller initatied production of the video, "Living with Ovarian Cancer," that won a Gold Aster Award and was a finalist for the 2006 International Health and Medical Media Awards.      
  
  
• OB/GYN Faculty receive "Partners in Excellence Award" from HealthPartners
  (October 25, 2006) OB/GYN faculty were among the physicians and providers in 39 medical groups in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin that received bonuses for meeting goals to improve patient care and safety in 2005.  Providers earn the Partners in Excellence awards for delivering superior or excellent care for areas including diabetes and coronary artery disease, preventive services, tobacco cessation counseling and support, generic drug use and patient satisfaction.  The awards were announced at a dinner at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.
  

• Theodore Nagel receives Fairview's 2006 Clinical Care Award
  (October 2006)  Dr. Nagel has been honored with this award for superior patient care and for modeling the Fairview ideals of dignity, integrity, service, and compassion.    To view a video about Dr. Nagel and the outstanding care he provides for his patients,    click here.
  

• OB/GYN Faculty named to Minnesota Monthly Top Doctors for Women
  (March 2006)  The following faculty members from the Department of OB/GYN and Women's Health have been honored in this month's edition of Minnesota Monthly: 
  Peter A. Argenta, MD, Oncology: Gynecological
  Linda F. Carson, MD, Oncology: Gynecological
  Patricia L. Judson, MD, Oncology: Gynecological
  June LaValleur, MD, Menopause Specialist
  Theodore C. Nagel, MD, Infertility/Reproductive Endocrinology Preston P. Williams, MD, Maternal/Fetal Medicine
  

• NCI Issues Clinical Announcement for Preferred Method of Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
  (January 3, 2006) The University of Minnesota participated in the clinical trial.