I am a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist and leading expert in the area of fetal diagnosis and therapy. I’ve joined TriHealth and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (No. 3 in U.S. News hospitals) as director of the TriHealth Fetal Center for fetal diagnosis and therapy and director of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fetal Fellowship.
I’m a principal investigator for the satellite unit of Maternal Fetal Medicine, part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), co-chair of the Perinatal Scientific Research Committee at Good Samaritan Hospital, associate professor of surgery at the University of Cincinnati, and the TriHealth Clinical Director of Special Delivery at Cincinnati Children’s.
I take care of high-risk pregnancies, including maternal and fetal conditions. Within my subspecialty, I’m a known expert in fetal diagnosis, in-utero fetal laser therapy for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and in-utero repair of spina bifida.
The innovative approach to fetal diagnosis and the treatment or interruption of in-utero disease progression inspires me. This approach motivates me to provide hope and help beyond expectations. My research focuses on prevention and therapeutic options for fetal disease in pregnancy.
My father and our family values primarily drove my decision to become a doctor. Being part of a profession focused on caring and supporting others, regardless of their circumstances, and changing patients' outcomes is inspiring. I support their decisions and I’m part of their journey. I try to bring a smile to their faces, fill their hearts with satisfaction and happiness, and lead them to a healthier life.
My patient care philosophy is to give hope, treat and work collaboratively with pregnant women. I partner with their family as an essential part of this healthcare process, aiming to change the outcome. We provide all services that are needed to change the outcome and assist in patient decision-making. Recognizing individuals within the healthcare service means understanding, respecting and acknowledging their experiences, hopes and expectations.
I can't imagine a better life reward than this job. My husband and two daughters share and support those values with me. All of that makes a career in medicine a journey worth completing well. It is a lifetime career that I love to do.
I spend most of my free time with my husband and two daughters, doing outdoor activities, such as biking, playing tennis and swimming. I also enjoy cooking, reading and traveling to new places when possible. My joy is being with my family and seeing them happy and smiling.
BS: Biology, American University of Beirut, Beirut Lebanon.
MS: Masters Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Translational Research, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2010.
MD: American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, 1998.
MFM: University of Cincinnati Maternal Fetal Medicine, 2009.
Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS): Natural history, prenatal management strategies, and outcomes at a single comprehensive fetal center. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2019; 54:1153-1158.
Effect of fetal hemodynamics on growth in fetuses with single ventricle or transposition of the great arteries. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2018; 52:479-487.
Hemodynamic adaptation to suboptimal fetal growth in patients with single ventricle physiology. Echocardiography: a journal of cardiovascular ultrasound and allied techniques. 2018; 35:1378-1384.
Antenatal exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of neonatal hypertension. Journal of Clinical Hypertension. 2018; 20:1334-1341.
Perinatal outcomes of single fetal survivor after fetal intervention for complicated monochorionic twins. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2018; 38:511-516.
Fetal somatic growth trajectory differs by type of congenital heart disease. Pediatric Research. 2018; 83:669-676.
Fetal origins of adult cardiac disease: a novel approach to prevent fetal growth restriction induced cardiac dysfunction using insulin like growth factor. (2017) Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 81:919-925.
Use of an Amnioport to Maintain Amniotic Fluid Volume in Fetuses with Oligohydramnios Secondary to Lower Urinary Tract Obstruction or Fetal Renal Anomalies. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy: clinical advances and basic research. 2017; 41:51-57.
Intrauterine fetal demise after prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease: assessment of risk. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2016; 36:142-147.
Sonographic markers associated with adverse neonatal outcomes among fetuses with gastroschisis: an 11-year, single-center review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2016; 214:275.e1-275.e7.