Stephanie Teal MD, MPH Appointed Obstetrician and Gynecologist-in-Chief, University Hospitals

“Dr. Teal is a visionary leader in obstetrics and gynecologic medicine, well-known for her innovative work and research in contraception, adolescent wellness, and reproductive health for disadvantaged women,” says Daniel Simon, MD, President, UH Cleveland Medical Center, and Chief Clinical and Scientific Officer, UH. “We are thrilled to have her join University Hospitals health system and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.”

Dr. Teal has received numerous accolades for teaching, mentorship, clinical care and research. Currently, she is the Principal Investigator of the NICHD Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network at University of Colorado. She is also the co-founder of BC4U, the nationally-recognized Adolescent Family Planning Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and serves as the Medical Consultant for Family Planning for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In these roles, she was a key collaborator in the Colorado Family Planning Initiative, which reduced unintended teen pregnancy statewide by 40 percent over five years.

“Dr. Teal’s compassionate, patient-centered approach matches our mission at University Hospitals, from Ohio’s only hospital dedicated to women, UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, to the one-of-a-kind health center, UH Rainbow Ahuja Center for Women & Children,” says Patti DePompei, RN, MSN, President, UH MacDonald Women’s and Rainbow Babies & Children’s hospitals. “We are pleased to have her expertise and energy as University Hospitals creates a vision for the future of women’s health care.”

Dr. Teal’s clinical and research interests center on pregnancy ambivalence and contraceptive choices, family planning decision-making by adolescents, contraception use by women with complex medical conditions, and contraception delivery by non-OB-GYN and advanced practice clinicians. She has authored numerous publications on contraception and family planning, and is a frequent national and international speaker on the topics.

“Dr. Teal brings a wealth of experience leading efforts in OB-GYN, with particular attention to maternal support in early pregnancy, building and coordinating prenatal care with community support to reduce infant and maternal mortality, and understanding the complexity of community support for pregnant women,” says Stan Gerson, MD, Interim Dean of the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at CWRU. “In our urban-focused community, these skills will leap us forward in support of a healthy community.”

Dr. Teal received her medical degree from University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and completed residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Teal completed her Fellowship in Complex Family Planning and Master’s of Public Health in Epidemiology at Columbia University. She is the immediate past president of the Society of Family Planning, and serves on the Complex Family Planning Division of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Teal will start at UH part time June 1. James Liu, MD, will remain in his role as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UH Cleveland Medical Center until September 1, when Dr. Teal starts full time. During Dr. Liu’s more than 20-year leadership, the department experienced strong growth and achievements in quality initiatives and outcome measures. Dr. Liu will continue to practice in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.