Sarah Catherine Ellestad
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The focus of my career has centered on prenatal diagnosis, ultrasound imaging and ultrasound guided procedures. As an active member of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine I participate in clinical research efforts through recruitment of patients to trials within the division and in coordination with the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I am also the Program Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2021
Contact Information
- DUMC 3967, Durham, NC 27710
- Pavilion East at Lakeview, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27705
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sarah.ellestad@duke.edu
(919) 681-5220
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obgyn, Duke University 2003 - 2006
- Clinical Associate, Ob/Gyn, Tufts University 1999 - 2003
- Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ob/Gyn, Baystate Medical Center 1999 - 2003
- M.D., State University of New York Upstate Medical University 1999
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Medical Licensure
- 200300778. North Carolina. 2003
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Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2017 - 2020
- Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2006 - 2017
- Clinical Associate in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2003 - 2006
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Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
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Program Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program 2020- present
Associate Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program 2019-2020
Medical Director, Duke Perinatal, Burlington 2010-2021
Co-Director, Duke Fetal Diagnostic Center, Durham 2006-present
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Program Director of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program 2020- present
- Research
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Selected Grants
- Coherence-Based Fetal Ultrasonic Imaging awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2026
- PRO-101-Samples awarded by Progenity, Inc. 2016 - 2019
- PRO-102-Enigma awarded by Progenity, Inc. 2016 - 2018
- PRO-111-Healthy awarded by Progenity, Inc. 2016 - 2018
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Selected Publications
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Academic Articles
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Flint, Katelyn M., Emily C. Barre, Matthew T. Huber, Patricia J. McNally, Sarah C. Ellestad, and Gregg E. Trahey. “An Automated Region-Selection Method for Adaptive ALARA Ultrasound Imaging.” Ieee Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 69, no. 7 (July 2022): 2257–69. https://doi.org/10.1109/TUFFC.2022.3172690.Full Text Link to Item
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Freeman, Sarah W., Annalies Denoble, Jeffrey A. Kuller, Sarah Ellestad, and Sarah Dotters-Katz. “Management of Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes in the Late Preterm Period.” Obstet Gynecol Surv 77, no. 5 (May 2022): 283–92. https://doi.org/10.1097/OGX.0000000000001024.Full Text Link to Item
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Rent, Sharla, Monica E. Lemmon, Sarah Ellestad, and Margarita Bidegain. “The Role of Perinatal Palliative Care in Fetal Neurology.” Am J Perinatol, December 2, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1682-2798.Full Text Link to Item
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Salinaro, Julia R., Patricia J. McNally, Joao R. Nickenig Vissoci, Sarah C. Ellestad, Brian Nelson, and Joshua S. Broder. “A prospective blinded comparison of second trimester fetal measurements by expert and novice readers using low-cost novice-acquired 3D volumetric ultrasound.” J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 34, no. 11 (June 2021): 1805–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2019.1649390.Full Text Link to Item
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Flint, Katelyn, Nick Bottenus, David Bradway, Patricia McNally, Sarah Ellestad, and Gregg Trahey. “An Automated ALARA Method for Ultrasound: An Obstetric Ultrasound Feasibility Study.” J Ultrasound Med, December 2, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15570.Full Text Link to Item
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Farrell, Amanda S., Jeffrey A. Kuller, Brita K. Boyd, Sarah C. Ellestad, Matthew R. Grace, Katie A. Propst, and Sarah K. Dotters-Katz. “Resident confidence with obstetrical ultrasound-are we meeting Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology objectives and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education milestones?” Am J Obstet Gynecol Mfm 2, no. 4 (November 2020): 100241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2020.100241.Full Text Link to Item
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Pinto, Nelangi M., Kevin A. Henry, William A. Grobman, Amen Ness, Stephen Miller, Sarah Ellestad, Nina Gotteiner, et al. “Physician Barriers and Facilitators for Screening for Congenital Heart Disease With Routine Obstetric Ultrasound: A National United States Survey.” J Ultrasound Med 39, no. 6 (June 2020): 1143–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.15199.Full Text Link to Item
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Hansen, Adam W., Mullai Murugan, He Li, Michael M. Khayat, Liwen Wang, Jill Rosenfeld, B Kim Andrews, et al. “A Genocentric Approach to Discovery of Mendelian Disorders.” Am J Hum Genet 105, no. 5 (November 7, 2019): 974–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.09.027.Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Long, Will, Dongwoon Hyun, Kingshuk Roy Choudhury, David Bradway, Patricia McNally, Brita Boyd, Sarah Ellestad, and Gregg E. Trahey. “Clinical Utility of Fetal Short-Lag Spatial Coherence Imaging.” Ultrasound Med Biol 44, no. 4 (April 2018): 794–806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2017.12.006.Full Text Link to Item
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Lee, Paula S., Samantha Kempner, Michael Miller, Jennifer Dominguez, Chad Grotegut, Jessie Ehrisman, Rebecca Previs, et al. “Multidisciplinary approach to manage antenatally suspected placenta percreta: updated algorithm and patient outcomes.” Gynecol Oncol Res Pract 4 (2017): 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40661-017-0049-6.Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Kakkad, Vaibhav, Jeremy Dahl, Sarah Ellestad, and Gregg Trahey. “In vivo application of short-lag spatial coherence and harmonic spatial coherence imaging in fetal ultrasound.” Ultrason Imaging 37, no. 2 (April 2015): 101–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/0161734614547281.Full Text Link to Item
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Cowchock, F. S., S. E. Ellestad, K. G. Meador, H. G. Koenig, E. G. Hooten, and G. K. Swamy. “Religiosity is an important part of coping with grief in pregnancy after a traumatic second trimester loss.” J Relig Health 50, no. 4 (December 2011): 901–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-011-9528-y.Full Text Link to Item
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Lee, Paula S., Ryan Bakelaar, C Brennan Fitpatrick, Sarah C. Ellestad, Laura J. Havrilesky, and Angeles Alvarez Secord. “Medical and surgical treatment of placenta percreta to optimize bladder preservation.” Obstet Gynecol 112, no. 2 Pt 2 (August 2008): 421–24. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e31817e7966.Full Text Link to Item
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Cragun, Janiel M., Sarah C. Ellestad, and Moeen K. Panni. “Amniotic fluid embolism presenting after uterine manipulation under general anesthesia: a case with a positive outcome.” Resuscitation 77, no. 1 (April 2008): 145–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2007.11.011.Full Text Link to Item
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Ellestad, Sarah C., Geeta K. Swamy, Tammy Sinclair, Andra H. James, R Phillips Heine, and Amy P. Murtha. “Preterm premature rupture of membrane management--inpatient versus outpatient: a retrospective review.” Am J Perinatol 25, no. 1 (January 2008): 69–73. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-1004830.Full Text Link to Item
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Ellestad, S. C., S. A. Zimmerman, C. Thornburg, T. E. Mitchell, G. K. Swamy, and A. H. James. “Severe factor V deficiency presenting with intracranial haemorrhage during gestation.” Haemophilia 13, no. 4 (July 2007): 432–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2516.2007.01469.x.Full Text Link to Item
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Ellestad, Sarah C., Steven R. Wells, and Jeffrey A. Kuller. “First trimester screening.” Gynecol Obstet Invest 60, no. 1 (2005): 58–62. https://doi.org/10.1159/000083485.Full Text Link to Item
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Ellestad, Sarah C., Stuart Shelton, and Andra H. James. “Prenatal diagnosis of a trauma-related fetal epidural hematoma.” Obstet Gynecol 104, no. 6 (December 2004): 1298–1300. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.AOG.0000141568.66660.0f.Full Text Link to Item
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Conference Papers
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Huber, M., K. Flint, E. Barre, D. Bradway, P. McNally, S. Ellestad, and G. Trahey. “Mechanisms affecting ALARA MI selected in adaptive ultrasound imaging.” In Ieee International Ultrasonics Symposium, Ius, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/IUS52206.2021.9593860.Full Text
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Flint, K., N. Bottenus, W. Long, D. Bradway, P. McNally, S. Ellestad, and G. Trahey. “Implementation and Clinical Evaluation of a Fetal ALARA Ultrasound System.” In Ieee International Ultrasonics Symposium, Ius, Vol. 2018-October, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2018.8579734.Full Text
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Long, W., D. Hyun, K. Choudhury, D. Bradway, P. McNally, S. Ellestad, and G. Trahey. “Notice of Removal: Translation of fetal short-lag spatial coherence (SLSC) imaging into clinical practice: A pilot study.” In Ieee International Ultrasonics Symposium, Ius, Vol. 0, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1109/ULTSYM.2017.8091968.Full Text
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Cragun, J. M., S. C. Ellestad, and M. K. Panni. “Amniotic fluid embolism under general anesthesia: A positive outcome.” In Anesthesiology, 106:B117–B117. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS, 2007.Link to Item
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- Teaching & Mentoring
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Teaching Activities
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- I work with, supervise and mentor medical students, Ob/Gyn residents and MFM fellows in both outpatient and inpatient settings including the prenatal clinic (which includes prenatal visits and consultations), the Fetal Diagnostic Center (performing prenatal diagnosis and procedures), and on Labor and Delivery and the Antepartum service.
- I also participate in a weekly conference which provides CME credit to providers and sonographers on prenatal diagnosis and fetal ultrasound.
- I have been developing an ultrasound/prenatal diagnosis curriculum for the Duke MFM Fellows which includes a monthly lecture series as well as some simulation exercises. In addition, I have participated in our fellow retreat twice yearly to discuss and help to improve and develop ongoing educational activities for the MFM Fellowship.
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- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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Presentations & Appearances
- What Not to Miss. North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. April 2019 2019
- Antenatal Testing Using Ultrasound. North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. April 2018 2018
- Basics of Obstetrics Imaging. North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. April 2018 2018
- First Trimester Ultrasound in the Day of Cell Free Fetal DNA. North Carolina Obstetrical and Gynecological Society. April 2018 2018
- The Clinical Utility of Short-lag Spatial Coherence Imaging in Obstetric Ultrasound. AIUM. March 2018 2018
- The Who, What, Why, When and Where of Prenatal Diagnosis. Percy Wadman Lecture. Baystate Medical Center. May 2017 2017
- Adnexal Masses in Pregnancy: Who can we follow and who needs surgery now?. Southern Ob/Gyn Society Annual Meeting. July 2016 2016
- Use of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Maternal and Fetal Anatomic Abnormalities Associated with First Trimester (and beyond) Loss. Southern Ob/Gyn Society Annual Meeting. July 2016 2016
- Stuck in a Bad Situation: Evaluation and Management of Abnormal Placentation Disorders. Coastal Women's Healthcare Summit. SEAHEC. 2014 2014
- Sonographic Surveillance for Cervical Length. 50th Anniversay Baystate Medical Center Ob/Gyn Residency Program. October 2011 2011
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Service to the Profession
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Academic & Administrative Activities
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- I have been developing an ultrasound/prenatal diagnosis curriculum for the Duke MFM Fellows which includes a monthly lecture series as well as some simulation exercises. In addition, I have participated in our fellow retreat twice yearly to discuss and help to improve and develop ongoing educational activities for the MFM Fellowship.
- I also serve as Co-Director of the Duke Fetal Diagnostic Center. Both Duke Perinatal Burlington and the FDC serve patients from community physicians and accept state-wide referrals which have helped to provide these practices with a regional reputation for the specialized care we provide for pregnant women who may have complex medical or social issues or fetuses that may have a genetic condition or anomaly requiring neonatal intervention.
- I participate in weekly CME sponsored ultrasound conferences/lectures which is predominantly attended by sonographers, Ob and MFM providers, residents and medical students
- I serve as a reviewer for the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
- I serve on the Ob Peer Review Committee.
- I am Program Director for the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship, overseeing the education and training of 6 fellows a year.
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Clinical Activities
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I am predominantly involved in prenatal diagnosis which includes ultrasound evaluation of fetal abnormalities, diagnosis of aneuploidy or other genetic abnormalities, and consultation regarding ultrasound findings, coordination of care and discussion of management options for the pregnancy. I also participate in in the outpatient care of prenatal patients enrolled in the high risk obstetrics clinic and at Duke Perinatal as well as in inpatient care for antepartum and intrapartum patients.
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