Faculty and Leadership

Leadership

	Joseph C. L. Merola, MD, MPH Chairman  Dr. Merola, MD, MPH,is the full-time chair of the department. His areas of expertise include system-based medicine (health care systems, public health issues, cost effective evidence-based medicine, etc). Dr. Merola provides didactic, interactive teaching for the residents on these issues during weekly sessions.
	James Anasti, MD Program Director   Dr. Anasti is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist with extensive clinical and bench research experience. He is a full-time program director who allows for easy resident access to discuss clinical and residency issues.

Faculty

St. Luke’s Hospital – Bethlehem Campus

Generalists – Seven board-certified and recertified obstetricians and gynecologists, who have been carefully chosen because of their teaching and mentoring abilities, are actively involved in resident teaching. The members of this group have varying interests and individual skills, ranging from higher-risk general obstetrics, to management of the menopause, operative endoscopy and vaginal surgery, chronic pelvic pain and ethics. In addition, there are currently 12 other private board-certified or eligible generalists who give ongoing didactic and technical teaching time on behalf of the program in Bethlehem.

Perinatology (Maternal and Fetal Medicine) – Four full-time, board-certified maternal/fetal medicine specialists are responsible for the day-to-day teaching and coverage of the delivery suite unit and High-Risk Obstetrical Clinic.

Reproductive Endocrinology (REI) and Infertility – The program director, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility subspecialist, is responsible for providing the majority of the cognitive reproductive endocrine education, REI Clinic supervision and surgical coverage for the Resident REI cases. Furthermore, a recent formal partnership has been formed between the hospital and a second community-based subspecialty-boarded REI physician, who will serve as a part-time employed section chief, making her a more closely integrated provider of additional clinical experience in reproductive endocrinology, embryology and especially IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies at St. Luke's Hospital and in her private office settings.

Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstruction (Urogyn) – An incumbent fellowship-trained and fully employed section chief on the Bethlehem Campus heads the St. Luke's Center for Pelvic Health, and is responsible for didactic teaching, urogynecologic rotation and urogynecologic clinic/operating room coverage. Also, he has a fellowship-trained partner.

Gynecologic oncology (Gyn-onc) – Six board-certified gynecologic oncologists provide a diverse educational opportunity for the residents. Three provide both private and clinic inpatient surgical experience for the residents. Three others, from the Section of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania, provide cognitive education, Gynecologic Oncology Clinic supervision, as well as moderate the department-wide Tumor Board conferences.

Neonatology – Four board-certified and full-time employed neonatologists are responsible for management of our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Bethlehem and Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Allentown. They provide didactic teaching and clinical instruction during our NICU rotation.

Clinical Psychology – A doctoral level psychotherapist and counselor, as a part-time departmental employee, is responsible for the residents' adjustment, emotional well-being and professional development.

St. Luke’s Hospital – Allentown Campus

Generalists  – Six board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists comprise the dedicated teaching faculty at St. Luke's Hospital – Allentown Campus.

Perinatology (Maternal and Fetal Medicine) – One of four subspecialists in this discipline spends three days per week at this campus. This is expected to expand to four to five days per week within the academic year. In addition to being available to the attending physicians in the outpatient Perinatal Center at the Allentown campus, they also conduct a weekly high-risk obstetric/neonatal case conference regarding the management of specific Allentown campus patients.

Reproductive Endocrinology (REI) and Infertility – The same subspecialists as described for the Bethlehem campus are available to the Allentown-based attending physicians and residents for both outpatient referral and inpatient consultation and education.

Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstruction (Urogyn) – The previously mentioned section chief conducts regular sessions at the Continence Management Program's office at the Allentown campus. The Allentown campus, with its advanced surgical suite, is the mainstay of our urogynecologic service.

Neonatology – One of the four network neonatologists has been appointed section chief of neonatology for the Allentown campus, and is the physician administrator for its Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. All neonatologists participate in clinical care, neonatal resuscitation and bedside teaching there, as well as participate in the weekly High-risk Obstetric/ Neonatal Case Conference.