November 2024

OB-GYN

TENI BROWN, MD, RECEIVES RWJ HAROLD AMOS AWARD

Featuring: Teni Brown, MD

​Of the 168 million women living in America, it’s estimated that more than 50 million will experience a pelvic floor disorder (PFD) in their lifetime.

“PFDs are debilitating and associated with significant morbidity and reduction in quality of life as individuals age,” says Teni Brown, MD. “Unfortunately, Black women are underrepresented in PFD research which is something that needs to change.”  

Dr. Brown was awarded funding from the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program and plans to use it to address that disparity. The program is part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and it was created to increase the number of faculty from historically marginalized groups who can achieve senior rank in academic medicine, dentistry or nursing.

As an Amos Scholar, Dr. Brown will receive an annual stipend up to $75,000, complemented by a $30,000 annual grant toward support of her research activities. Her mentor team includes:Melissa Simon, MD, MPH
  • Victoria Handa, MD
  • Elisa Gordon, PhD, MPH
  • Funmi Olopade, MD

“Being named a Harold Amos Scholar is a dream come true, and it’s an honor to be a part of this network of formidable researchers and leaders,” says Dr. Brown.

About Dr. Brown
Dr. Brown is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. She completed an OB-GYN residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, followed by her fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in 2021, also at McGaw Medical Center.

“I realized I wanted to become an investigator during my fellowship where I learned that research is a powerful tool to make impactful changes in clinical care and policy,” says Dr. Brown. She is at the forefront of multiple equity efforts across Northwestern Medicine, including the first DEI director in the OB-GYN Department.

Research Aimed at Addressing Disparities
Dr. Brown’s research focuses on:
  • Disparities in treatment utilization and treatment outcomes for pelvic floor disorders
  • Developing and implementing interventions that mitigate PFD disparities for Black women

She recently published findings that aimed to:
  • Highlight the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders in Black women
  • Evaluate the clinical care they receive
  • Examine barriers they face to equitable care
  • Present a strategic agenda to prioritize the care of Black women with pelvic floor disorders

With support from NUCATS Institute, she will implement an evidence-based intervention to mitigate barriers driven by structural racism that prevent timely care for pelvic floor disorders care.

This article was originally published in the Feinberg School of Medicine NUCATS News & Events.
Teni Brown, MD, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University; Assistant Professor of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and of Medical Education, Northwestern Medicine.

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