Lexington Campus

Maternal Fetal Medicine

John O'Brien, MD

Welcome from the Division Director

The UK College of Medicine Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine is dedicated to the care of women with high risk pregnancies. We represent a group of professionals with special interests within our field and have physicians listed in Best Doctors in America. We have established programs to provide pregnant women and health care providers throughout central and eastern Kentucky unique opportunities to obtain access to our specialized services.

Sincerely,
John O'Brien, MD
Division Director and Professor

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Kentucky Angels Program

This program provides telemedicine services to 11 sites around central and eastern Kentucky. The program continues to grow, providing high risk pregnancy care closer to home. All faculty see pregnant women through secure computer interfaces which extend across the region.

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Diabetes Program

The care of women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes often requires a dedicated specialist who is aware of the latest approaches and technical innovations for the care of pregnant women with this disease. Dr. Karen Playforth has over a decade’s experience focusing on this group of women.

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Preterm Birth Prevention

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists coordinate with neonatologists to provide advanced care in the prevention and management of women at risk for preterm birth. At UK, patients have access to cutting-edge research and protocols aimed to avoid complications when a pregnancy ends too early.

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PATHways Program

This program brings multispecialty services to pregnant women who require assistance for opioid use and other substances. Our goal is to provide an effective, transdisciplinary team to focus on each patient in a non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing environment.

Genetics and Fetal Care

Many fetal abnormalities can be diagnosed by ultrasound, providing an important opportunity to plan optimal care strategies during pregnancy and after delivery. At our Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, located at 123 East Maxwell on the campus of Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington, we offer advanced sonographic evaluation and comprehensive prenatal diagnostic services. Our team includes a dedicated perinatal genetic counselor who provides consultation and counseling for a wide range of genetic conditions affecting pregnancy. We also offer multidisciplinary care for pregnancies complicated by fetal abnormalities that may require intervention before or after birth. This team includes high-risk pregnancy specialists, radiologists, genetic counselors, pediatric surgeons, and neonatologists, working collaboratively to provide coordinated, patient-centered care. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists partner closely with pediatric subspecialists including neonatology, surgery, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, urology, and nephrology to ensure access to advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options, including fetal MRI.

Research Program

Advancing care for pregnant women and their families is a central priority of the division of maternal-fetal medicine. Our research initiatives span a wide range of areas, including developmental programming, gene expression in response to environmental exposures, substance use treatment, and the prevention of preterm birth complications. We participate in a broad spectrum of research approaches, including basic science, translational research, clinical trials, and epidemiology. Our faculty collaborate across disciplines and colleges, as well as with clinical and population health partners, to improve outcomes for pregnant individuals and newborns throughout the Commonwealth and beyond.

We are committed to generating knowledge that advances care today while improving the health of future generations.