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We have a multidisciplinary approach to placental health.

Clinicians

Our expert team is composed of a lead maternal fetal medicine specialist Dr A. Gruslin and of affiliated expert Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinicians, Drs Bonin, Jones and Moretti. Our team also includes the invaluable assistance of a perinatal pathologist, Dr D. Grynspan. Dr Gruslin is a clinician scientist whose career has been focused on understanding and managing placental mediated diseases.

Dr Bonin brings her extensive expertise and expert clinical judgement but also her leadership, administrative and educational skills to the team. As Director of Medical Education for The Ottawa Hospital, she facilitates this important aspect of our clinic.

Dr Jones is the Medical Director of the OBS GYN ultrasound unit and provides advice and guidance not only in the area of Maternal Fetal Medicine but in particular in the application of ultrasound in the evaluation of fetuses and their placentae.

Dr Moretti, also a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist offers his international experience, clinical knowledge and education skills.

Dr Grynspan is a perinatal pathologist whose contributions cover our clinical, educational and research services. He provides expert opinion on abnormal placentae, which in turn, helps understand the disease better and establish a management plan for future pregnancies.

Nursing Staff

An advanced practice nurse, Mrs D. Kaye assists our team in the coordination of services, delivery of care and management planning. She will often be a first contact on the phone to help direct you appropriately and answer your questions.

A team of expert nurses is present to conduct our various clinical services and to help educate parents. They provide assistance and friendly advice to our patients while offering targeted nursing care in the context of placental health.

Receptionists

These professionals will welcome you with a smile and help you coordinating and planning your appointments both for ultrasound and clinic.

Ultrasonographers

Our OBS GYN ultrasound unit is a very busy referral center for all complex perinatal cases in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec and Baffin Islands. Our sonographers (the professionals who perform the ultrasound exam) are highly trained to assess the anatomy of your baby (to see whether there are anomalies) and to evaluate how well your baby is via various tests such as the use of “Doppler” where we measure blood flow in various blood vessels or by performing a “biophysical profile” which assesses your baby’s activity inside your uterus. In addition, they are also highly qualified to examine your placenta for anomalies and for blood flow problems. They provide high quality examinations which are then reviewed and interpreted by the clinicians of the Placenta Health Clinic or one of the other Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Specialists of our division. The MFM will then make recommendations regarding your care as indicated.

Clinical Health Psychologist

Complicated pregnancies can sometimes bring about feelings of stress, anxiety, and a decrease in mood. Some women also have histories of mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, a history of abuse, and/or major depression that can make coping with complicated pregnancies even more difficult. A clinical health psychologist can work alongside the obstetrical team to help you to prepare and to manage the medical treatments and can help you to better understand and cope with your emotions and experiences. Our clinic offers consultations, as appropriate, with our clinical health psychologist, Dr K. Ritchie who can assist you during your pregnancy. Dr. Ritchie can provide psychological consultation, assessment and diagnosis, as well as individual and couples’ interventions and treatments.

Social Workers

When parents are facing a difficult pregnancy, multiple other problems can affect their outcome. From financial issues to managing transportation, living arrangements, counselling, management of stress and difficult personal and family situations, Sonia Baruzzo or Karen Dryden-Kiser help parents in various ways to facilitate their journey through a complex pregnancy.

Trainees

Since we are a University Hospital, it is likely that you will meet trainees during your visits. Most of the time, you will meet a fellow who is an Obstetrician Gynecologist in training to become a High Risk Specialist ( Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist). These doctors are highly skilled and very knowledgeable and work directly under our supervision.

You may also meet a resident. These doctors are training to become Obstetrician Gynecologists and are also very skilled and knowledgeable.

The Staff physician is always in clinic and after meeting one of our doctor-trainees, you can always ask to meet the staff physician!

Neonatologists

Since there may be complications at the time of delivery or after, our colleagues Neonatologists ( specialized in babies born early, too small or with complications) are an integral part of your care. Depending on the situation, you may need to meet them before the delivery so they can address all your questions.

Geneticists

Occasionally, there may be a genetic reason for which your baby is not growing. In this circumstance, you may be referred to Geneticists at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) who will further discuss this possibility with you and recommend appropriate investigations.

Anaesthesiologists

We have access to anaesthesiologists who are specialized in obstetrics and therefore truly understand the issues related to pregnancies, whether normal or complicated. Again, you may need to meet one of them during your clinic visits or at the time of your delivery.

Labour and Delivery Staff

Since The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus is a tertiary care center, our staff is very familiar with complications such as those which can be present in placental mediated diseases. Their caring, gentle and compassionate approach along with their excellent skills and knowledge will facilitate the birth of your baby.

Last updated on: December 16th, 2020