Key Facts
- Appointment
- Inaugural Mary Lake Polan Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Effective date
- Immediate
- Term
- 10 years, renewable by the dean of Yale School of Medicine
- Previous role
- Executive vice chair at Yale Ob/Gyn (rejoined earlier this year)
- Publications
- More than 400 peer-reviewed publications
- Honor
- Elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024
Background
Dr. Uma Reddy, an internationally recognized maternal-fetal medicine specialist, has been appointed the inaugural Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, MPH Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine (YSM). The appointment is effective immediately and is for a term of 10 years, renewable by the dean of YSM.
Reddy rejoined YSM's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences earlier this year as executive vice chair, after serving at Columbia University. She had previously been with Yale Ob/Gyn as professor and section chief of maternal-fetal medicine.
The professorship is named for its benefactor, Dr. Mary Lake Polan, a physician-scientist with deep roots at Yale. Polan was the first woman to complete the Yale Ob/Gyn residency program and later served as professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University before returning to Yale as faculty in 2014.
Current Situation
Reddy is a recognized authority in maternal-fetal medicine whose research has advanced the understanding of stillbirth, neonatal morbidity and mortality, and labor management and its impact on maternal outcomes. She has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, many in the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA, and has played a key role in developing national obstetric guidelines through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
During her 15 years at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Reddy oversaw many of the nation's most influential obstetric research initiatives, including the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network. She also served as project scientist for major collaborative studies, including the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network, the Genomics and Proteomics Network for Preterm Birth Research, and the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b).
Reddy joined Yale School of Medicine in 2018 as professor and chief of maternal-fetal medicine, where she led multiple NIH-funded studies, including the GO MOMs study, and was selected for the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program. From 2022 to 2025, she served as the Virgil G. Damon Professor and vice chair of research at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and professor of population and family health at the Mailman School of Public Health.
| Year | Position | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Professor and chief of maternal-fetal medicine | Yale School of Medicine |
| 2022-2025 | Virgil G. Damon Professor and vice chair of research | Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons |
| 2024 | Elected to National Academy of Medicine | National Academy of Medicine |
| 2026 | Executive vice chair | Yale School of Medicine |
| 2026 | Inaugural Mary Lake Polan Professor | Yale School of Medicine |
Impacts
In her new role, Reddy will hold an endowed professorship that supports her continued work in maternal-fetal medicine research and clinical care. Her appointment strengthens Yale's leadership in obstetric research, given her track record of leading NIH-funded initiatives and her role in shaping national guidelines.
Patients with high-risk pregnancies may benefit from Reddy's clinical expertise, which includes management of complications such as prior pregnancy loss, preterm birth, diabetes, hypertension, and other maternal medical conditions. Her research has directly influenced obstetric practices and could continue to shape maternal health outcomes.
The appointment also honors the legacy of Mary Lake Polan, whose work on cytokines and inflammation in reproduction has influenced the field. Reddy's tenure may further Yale's mission in reproductive sciences, though specific future initiatives have not been announced.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If Reddy continues her pattern of leading large collaborative studies, she may expand Yale's involvement in national maternal-fetal medicine research networks. Her experience with the MFMU Network and nuMoM2b could position Yale to attract additional NIH funding.
Should she maintain her focus on stillbirth and preterm birth research, new findings could emerge that further reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, the specific direction of her research under the professorship remains unclear.
Given her election to the National Academy of Medicine in 2024, Reddy may also influence national obstetric policy and guidelines. If she takes on advisory roles, her impact could extend beyond Yale, though no such plans have been disclosed.
Source: miragenews.com
