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 Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the OB/GYN department. In this role she leads efforts to ensure an inclusive environment for the diverse patients, faculty, staff and trainees within Duke OB/GYN.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Untrustworthiness, ineffective communication, and discrimination: The real issues behind lower utilization of labor epidural analgesia by Black Americans.
Journal Article Nurs Outlook · July 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Non-Hispanic Black pregnant individuals utilize up to 50% less labor epidural analgesia compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. PURPOSE: This Outlook and Perspectives aims to evaluate the factors contributing to racial differences in the ut ... Full text Link to item CiteMoving the ACR's Reproductive Health Guidelines Into Practice: A Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of a Novel Reproductive Rheumatology ECHO.
Journal Article J Clin Rheumatol · April 23, 2025 BACKGROUND: Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) links experts with community providers through video teleconferences that include both didactics and case discussions. We piloted the first ECHO with a specific focus on reproductive rh ... Full text Link to item CiteNeonatal Outcomes at 2 Years following Expectant Management of Previable Premature Prelabor Rupture of Membranes at a Single Center.
Journal Article Am J Perinatol · April 2025 Previable premature prelabor rupture of membranes (pPPROM) can lead to significant maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Limited literature exists describing long-term outcomes in neonates surviving pPPROM. Our study describes 2-year survival and ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2024 - 2030Duke University Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network Clinical Center
ResearchCollaborating Investigator · Awarded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development · 2023 - 2030Provider Remote ObsTetric-Related Employment Education (PROMOTE) and ObsTetric HEAlth Equity ResearCH Mentoring (TEACH) Equity
Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029View All Grants