Affiliations:
Brigham and Women’s Hospital,
Department of Pathology, Division of Women’s
and Perinatal Pathology
Signout: Obstetric pathology, fetal pathology,
neonatal autopsies, maternal autopsies, GYN pathology.
Research and Clinical Interests:
The Roberts lab has been interested in pattern formation in vertebrate viscera with emphasis on the GI tract and its derivatives, but is currently not active. I am focusing currently on clinical and humanitarian work.
As the Chief of Perinatal Pathology at the MGH, my clinical interests are focused on perinatal pathology and the biology of histopathologic findings. My interests are in understanding the influences of maternal and fetal pathology on the placenta. The goal is to be able to predict neonatal outcome from the pathology of the placenta. In addition, I have an interest in understanding stillbirth as we still do not understand the cause of death in up to 80% of third trimester stillbirths. Our service is active with approximately 4000 in house deliveries and approximately 300 consult cases per year. The services trains the pathology residents on the OB bench, attends a multidisciplinary Perinatal Conference weekly (with 4 presentations by pathology per year), NICU and PICU M&Ms monthly, genetics conference weekly, and pathology OUTS conference bimonthly. Other conferences we frequently are invited to attend and present include grand rounds for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Pediatric Surgery. We also help train and supervise the Scully Fellow annually.
Additionally I am interested in providing pathology services and education to the developing world, especially sub-Saharan Africa. Currently there are studies I am involved with looking at placental sequestration of malaria, effects of biomass on placental development (cooking fuels), alcohol exposure effects on the placenta, and causes of stillbirth. There are opportunities to participate in these studies by residents on elective.
Humanitarian efforts I am involved with include building, equipping, and sustaining a clinical laboratory with fine needle aspiration services in Adua, Ethiopia. I am also working towards providing surgical pathology CME courses in African countries and offering satellite availability for African pathologists to attend courses from our department in the United States. |
