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Sarahn M Wheeler

Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine
DUMC 3967, Durham, NC 27710
2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Sarahn M. Wheeler is a practicing maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Wheeler was born and raised in Mt. Laurel, NJ. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University. She completed medical school at the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Wheeler went on to residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Wheeler completed her maternal-fetal medicine sup-specialty training at Duke University in June of 2016.

Dr. Wheeler currently serves as Assistant Professor in the Duke University School of Medicine. In this role, Dr. Wheeler is both a practicing clinician and research faculty. in her clinical role, Dr. Wheeler is the director of Duke's Prematurity Prevention Program, a specialty clinic that is geared for women with risk factors for preterm birth.  In her research role, Dr. Wheeler has published several peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from fetal brain injury to vaccination during pregnancy. Dr. Wheeler’s current research focus is on race disparities in preterm birth. She is actively involved in research to develop interventions to improve utilization of preterm birth prevention therapies.

Dr. Wheeler also serves as the Vice Chair for Culture, Engagement and Impact for the OB/GYN department.  In this role she leads efforts to ensure an inclusive environment for the patients, faculty, staff and trainees within Duke OB/GYN.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2026 - Present Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy · 2026 - Present Sanford School of Public Policy
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2025 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Institutes and Centers

Recent Scholarly Works


Counseling Preferences of Expectant Parents With a Fetal Neurologic Diagnosis: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Journal article J Child Neurol · August 2026 Diagnosis and management of fetal neurologic conditions is evolving rapidly. This scoping review aims to synthesize existing literature characterizing parental preferences for fetal neurologic counseling. A literature search and screening of MEDLINE, Embas ... Full text Link to item Cite

The Impact of a Protocol on Equitable Labor and Delivery Substance Use Screening: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal article Am J Perinatol · July 2026 OBJECTIVE: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) jointly recommend universal substance use screening in pregnancy with a validat ... Full text Link to item Cite

The association between postpartum aspirin use and NT-proBNP levels as a marker for maternal cardiac health: a randomized controlled trial.

Journal article Am J Obstet Gynecol · May 2026 BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, administration of low-dose aspirin 81 mg (LDA) has been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of preeclampsia in at-risk individuals. However, the role of continuation of LDA in the postpartum period and its association with ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


North Carolina Maternal and Early Childhood Initiative

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation · 2026 - 2036

Duke Women's Reproductive Health Research Scholars

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEMentor · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2020 - 2030

Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2024 - 2030

View All Grants

Education


Duke University, School of Medicine · 2022 M.H.S.C.R.
The University of Chicago · 2009 M.D.
Harvard University · 2003 A.B.