Sarahn M Wheeler | Scholars@Duke

Sarahn M Wheeler
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

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 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 Research Interests

Race disparities in preterm birth
Health disparities in ob/gyn outcomes
Community engaged/participatory research

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2021

Contact Information

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine Subspecialty Certification, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2019 - 2021
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Certification, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2016 - 2021
- Fellow - Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obgyn Division Of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine 2013 - 2016
- ResidencyTraining Program, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 2009 - 2013
- M.D., The University of Chicago 2009
- A.B., Harvard University 2003
Medical Licensure
- 2013-01250. North Carolina. 2021
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2016 - 2020
- Clinical Associate in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology 2016
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Director, Diversity and Inclusion
  Director, Duke Prematurity Prevention Program
Recognition
In the News
- JAN 13, 2020 School of Medicine
  
  Better Health Starts With Stronger Communities
Awards & Honors
Expertise
Subject Headings
Research
Selected Grants
- Duke CTSA (KL2) awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2023
- A Comparison of Intramuscular and Subcutaneous Administration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC) awarded by University of Pittsburgh 2021 - 2023
- Population Health Research Support - Study of Pregnancy and Neonatal Health (SPAN) Task A awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2022
- TIME Aim of the Study of Pregnancy and Neonatal Health (SPAN) Task Order A awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2021
- TREETOP awarded by Sera Prognostics 2017 - 2020
Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Duke University School of Medicine CTSI KL2 Career Development Award awarded by Duke University School of Medicine 2019
- Reach Equity Career Development Award awarded by Duke Reach Equity Center 2018 - 2019
- Duke Population Health Improvement Award awarded by Duke CTSI 2018 - 2019
- Duke Population Health Improvement Award awarded by Duke CTSI 2017 - 2018
- Josiah Trent Memorial Foundation Grant awarded by Duke Josiah Trent Memorial Foundation 2016 - 2017
- NIH/NMA Travel Grant awarded by NIDDK/NMA 2015
- Charles B Hammond Fund Grant awarded by Duke OB/GYN Charles B Hammond Fund 2015 - 2016
- Charles B Hammond Fund Grant awarded by Duke OB/GYN Charles B Hammond Fund 2014 - 2015
- Loan Repayment Grant awarded by NIH 2014 - 2016
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Dotters-Katz, Sarah K., Hailey Harris, Sarahn M. Wheeler, Geeta K. Swamy, and Brenna L. Hughes. “Specialized prenatal care delivery for coronavirus disease 2019-exposed or -infected pregnant women.” Am J Obstet Gynecol 224, no. 3 (March 2021): 325–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.11.025.
    Full Text Link to Item
  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Kelley E. C. Massengale, Konyin Adewumi, Thelma A. Fitzgerald, Carrie B. Dombeck, Teresa Swezey, Geeta K. Swamy, and Amy Corneli. “Pregnancy vs. paycheck: a qualitative study of patient's experience with employment during pregnancy at high risk for preterm birth.” Bmc Pregnancy Childbirth 20, no. 1 (September 25, 2020): 565. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03246-7.
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  - Mueller, Collin W., Carlos D. Tavares, Geeta K. Swamy, Haywood L. Brown, and Sarahn M. Wheeler. “OB/GYN Providers' Knowledge of Racial and Ethnic Reproductive Health Disparities.” J Natl Med Assoc 112, no. 3 (June 2020): 275–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.03.009.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Anna DeNoble, Clara Wynn, Kristin Weaver, Geeta Swamy, Mark Janko, and Paul Lantos. “Beyond the Window: Patient Characteristics and Geographic Locations Associated with Late Prenatal Care in Women Eligible for 17-P Preterm Birth Prevention.” J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 6, no. 3 (June 2019): 563–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-00555-8.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Kelley E. C. Massengale, Katelyn P. Blanchard, Thelma A. Fitzgerald, Teresa Swezey, Geeta K. Swamy, and Amy Corneli. “Improving Uptake and Adherence to 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate in Non-Hispanic Black Women: A Mixed Methods Study of Potential Interventions from the Patient Perspective.” Biores Open Access 8, no. 1 (2019): 155–61. https://doi.org/10.1089/biores.2019.0010.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Pamela Maxson, Tracy Truong, and Geeta Swamy. “Psychosocial Stress and Preterm Birth: The Impact of Parity and Race.” Matern Child Health J 22, no. 10 (October 2018): 1430–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-018-2523-0.
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  - Baldwin, Melody A., Geeta K. Swamy, and Sarahn M. Wheeler. “Pregnant Women's Knowledge and Beliefs about the Safety and Outcomes of Delivery at Various Gestational Ages.” Ajp Rep 8, no. 1 (January 2018): e7–12. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0038-1624561.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Katherine Pryor, Brian Antczak, Tracy Truong, Amy Murtha, and Patrick Seed. “The relationship of cervical microbiota diversity with race and disparities in preterm birth.” J Neonatal Perinatal Med 11, no. 3 (2018): 305–10. https://doi.org/10.3233/NPM-17111.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., and Allison S. Bryant. “Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care.” Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am 44, no. 1 (March 2017): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2016.10.001.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Sarah Dotters-Katz, R Phillip Heine, Chad A. Grotegut, and Geeta K. Swamy. “Maternal Effects of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection during Pregnancy.” Emerg Infect Dis 21, no. 11 (November 2015): 1951–55. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2111.150497.
    Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Swamy, Geeta K., and Sarahn M. Wheeler. “Neonatal pertussis, cocooning and maternal immunization.” Expert Rev Vaccines 13, no. 9 (September 2014): 1107–14. https://doi.org/10.1586/14760584.2014.944509.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Melissa Russo, Molly Wilson-Murphy, and Wen Shen. “Gynecologic and surgical complications in type IV Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.” Obstet Gynecol 123, no. 2 Pt 2 Suppl 2 (February 2014): 431–33. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000000001.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., and Jacquelynne P. Corey. “Evaluation of upper airway obstruction—An ENT perspective.” Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 21, no. 3 (June 2008): 433–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pupt.2007.06.008.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Brancusi Flavia, Johnston Michael, Graham Ernest, and Burd Irina. “Peripheral Glucose Levels at Birth and Diagnosis of Periventricular White Matter Injury in Premature Neonates.” Enliven: Pediatrics and Neonatal Biology 03, no. 01 (n.d.). https://doi.org/10.18650/2379-5824.31003.
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- Conference Papers
  - Harris, H. M., S. K. Dotters-Katz, S. Wheeler, G. K. Swamy, and B. Hughes. “Cohorting prenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 223:985–985, 2020.
    Link to Item
  - Hynes, Jenna S., Amanda R. Schwartz, Azza Abdalla, Celia Reynolds, Sarahn M. Wheeler, Tracy Manuck, and Sarah Dotters-Katz. “1164: Cervical length in women with congenital uterine anomalies.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 222:S716–S716. Elsevier BV, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1176.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Kelley Massengale, Konyinsope Adewumi, Thelma Fitzgerald, Carrie Dombeck, Teresa Swezey, Geeta Swamy, and Amy Corneli. “558: Increasing prompt prenatal care after a prior preterm birth: potential interventions from the patient perspective.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 222:S358–59. Elsevier BV, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.574.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Kelley Massengale, Konyinsope Adewumi, Thelma Fitzgerald, Carrie Dombeck, Teresa Swezey, Geeta Swamy, and Amy Corneli. “1014: When work does not support prenatal care: Patient experiences with employers during high risk pregnancy.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 222:S631–32. Elsevier BV, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2019.11.1030.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Tracy Truong, and Haywood L. Brown. “Provider Comfort With Teaching Patients and Learns about Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Ob/Gyn Outcomes [8I].” In Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131:99S-99S. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2018. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000533436.01934.05.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Anna DeNoble, Geeta Swamy, Kristin Weaver, Clara Wynn, and Paul Lantos. “Beyond the window: Determining a geographical target for interventions to decrease late initiation of prenatal care in 17-P eligible pregnant women.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 218:S565–66. MOSBY-ELSEVIER, 2018.
    Link to Item
  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Katherine Pryor, Brian Antczak, Tracy Truong, Yi-Ju Li, Amy Murtha, and Patrick Seed. “Race and cervical microbiome diversity.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 216:S180–S180. MOSBY-ELSEVIER, 2017.
    Link to Item
  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Richard Sloane, Haywood L. Brown, R Phillips Heine, and Amy Murtha. “Attitude Toward Research and Patient Provider Choice in the Academic Institution.” In Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127:101S-102S. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2016. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000483424.16020.82.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Richard Sloane, R Phillips Heine, Haywood L. Brown, and Amy Murtha. “Patient's Perspective on Research.” In Obstetrics & Gynecology, 127:121S-121S. Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), 2016. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.aog.0000483495.97132.75.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn M., Emily Patel, Maeve Hopkins, Brain Antczak, Chad A. Grotegut, and Geeta K. Swamy. “Influence of Race and BMI on Cytokine Expression After Influenza Vaccination in Pregnancy.” In Reproductive Sciences, 23:194A-194A. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2016.
    Link to Item
  - Pryor, Katherine, Sarahn Wheeler, Regina Whitaker, Liping Feng, and Amy Murtha. “691: Evidence of PGRMC1 expression in cervical and vaginal epithelial cells during pregnancy.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 214:S365–S365. Elsevier BV, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.738.
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  - Wheeler, S., C. Grotegut, and G. Swamy. “3: Aspirin for preeclampsia prevention, latency and chorioamnionitis in preterm premature rupture of membranes.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 213:897–897. Elsevier BV, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2015.09.036.
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  - Desravines, Nerlyne, Sarahn Wheeler, Brian Antczak, Phil Heine, Maragatha Kutchibhatla, Amy Murtha, and Geeta Swamy. “Maternal Inflammatory Biomarkers During Pregnancy in Obese and Non-Obese Subjects.” In Reproductive Sciences, 22:248A-248A. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC, 2015.
    Link to Item
  - Desravines, Nerlyne, Geeta Swamy, Sarahn Wheeler, Brian Antczak, Kent Weinhold, Janet Staats, and Amy Murtha. “369: Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 and fas expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells during pregnancy.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 212:S194–S194. Elsevier BV, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2014.10.415.
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  - Wheeler, Sarahn, Brian Antczak, Homa Ahmadzia, Samantha Thomas, Geeta Swamy, Amy Murtha, and Patrick Seed. “709: Race, latency, and fetal membrane microbiota diversity in preterm premature rupture of membranes.” In American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 212:S346–S346. Elsevier BV, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2014.10.915.
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Teaching & Mentoring
Advising & Mentoring
- 2017- current, mentor Charlotte Paige
  2018- current, coach Tatiana Acosta
  2018 - current, mentor Marquita Kilgore
  2018 - 2019 MS3 Third Year Research Mentor, Megan Smith
  2020 - 2021 MS Third Year Research Mentor, Shauntell Luke
  2020 - 2022 CRTP Master's Candidate Mentor, Sabrena Meyers
Teaching Activities
- 11/2017 - Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow Lecture - Maternal Thyroid Disorder
  6/2018 - Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow Lecture - Genetics for the MFM Written Boards
  6/2019 - Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow Lecture - Genetics for the MFM Written Boards
  2019 - 2020 Resident Diversity and Inclusion Lecture Series (quarterly lectures on D&I topics)
  5/2020 -Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow Lecture- Practical Genetics
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Presentations & Appearances
Service to Duke
- School of Medicine Inclusion Counsel . September 2017 2017
Academic & Administrative Activities
- Director, Diversity and Inclusion Department of OB/GYN
  Duke Advance UP
Clinical Activities
- Director, Duke Prematurity Prevention Program

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Medical Licensure

Duke Appointment History

Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke

In the News

Awards & Honors

Subject Headings

Selected Grants

Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers

Advising & Mentoring

Teaching Activities

Presentations & Appearances

Service to Duke

Academic & Administrative Activities

Clinical Activities