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 Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Spontaneous preterm birth following unintended hysterotomy extension during second‐stage labor cesarean delivery
Journal Article Pregnancy · March 2026 AbstractBackgroundUnintended hysterotomy extensions occur frequently during second‐stage cesarean delivery and may result in ut ... Full text CiteThe impact of an obstetric substance use screening and biologic testing protocol on neonatal drug testing.
Journal Article J Perinatol · February 23, 2026 OBJECTIVE: Substance use during pregnancy may affect fetal development and have implications for newborn, childhood, and life-long health. While standardized maternal screening protocols may reduce testing disparities, there are limited data describing the ... Full text Link to item CiteThe Impact of a Protocol on Equitable Labor and Delivery Substance Use Screening: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Journal Article Am J Perinatol · December 29, 2025 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 validated tool. Bi ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
North Carolina Maternal and Early Childhood Initiative
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation · 2026 - 2036Duke 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 - 2030Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill · 2024 - 2030View All Grants