About

Mission
To improve contraceptive care and abortion services through cutting-edge clinical research studies

Values

Every person has a right to comprehensive family planning services, including contraceptive care and abortion services
Every person has a right to complete and accurate information about all contraceptive options
Every person should have access to a contraceptive method well-suited to their health and lifestyle needs
Reproductive health services should honor individual, religious, and cultural preferences
Advocates, educators, and providers should partner in non-coercive, patient-centered care rooted in principles of autonomy, equity, and justice

Who We Are

Katharine O’Connell White, MD, MPH: katharine.white@bmc.org

Dr. White (she/her/s) is Professor and Chair of the Department of OBGYN at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and is the System Chair of OB/GYN for the Boston Medical Center Health System. She completed her residency in OBGYN at Baystate Medical Center, and her Fellowship in Family Planning at Columbia University (where she also received her masters of public health). Dr. White’s research is focused on contraceptive development and reproductive health shared decision-making. She was the principal investigator for the Partners In Contraceptive Choice and Knowledge (PICCK) program, to improve contraceptive access and quality across Massachusetts birth hospitals. Dr. White has published two books with Mayo Clinic Press, Your Guide to Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss and Your Sexual Health.

Elisabeth Woodhams, MD, MSc: elisabeth.woodhams@bmc.org

Dr. Woodhams (she/her/s) is the Program Director for the Complex Family Planning Fellowship and the Division Director of Family Planning. She is also the Director of Ambulatory Services for the Department of OBGYN, and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at BU School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Arizona in 2007, and completed her residency in OBGYN at BMC in 2011. She then completed a family planning fellowship at the University of Chicago, where she also received her Masters of Science (MSc). During fellowship, she was also a fellow in the Physicians for Reporductive Health Leadership Training Academy, and worked with ACOG on LARC policy implementation. after fellowship, she worked as the Medical Director of Family Planning at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, where she received a Ryan Residency Award, and was the Title X Clinic Director. Dr. Woodhams was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2009, and received several teaching awards for medical student education. Dr. Woodhams’ research interest inclde the intersection of substance use disorder and reproductive health, integration and implementation of family services into non-OBGYN clinical fields, and family planning services access among underserved populations. She co-leads the SFP Special Interest Group in Substance Use Disorders, and received the Best Investigator in Training Award from the Society of Family Planning in 2013 for her original research.

Rachel Cannon, MD, MS: rachel.cannon@bmc.org

Dr. Cannon (she/her/s) is an Attending in the Department of OBGYN and Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Medicine. She completed an undergraduate degree in Human Physiology at Boston University. She then completed her medical degree at University of Massachusetts followed by her residency in OBGYN at Northwestern University. She went on to Family Planning Fellowship at Boston University/Boston Medical Center and received a Master’s in Health Sciences at the BU School of Public Health. Dr. Cannon is the Medical Director of Family Planning and serves as the Ryan Program Director for the OBGYN residency program. Her academic research interests include contraceptive counseling, reproductive coercion, abortion stigma, and reproductive health for people with complex medical problems. She participates in local and national advocacy groups for reproductive health.

Kelly Treder, MD, MPH: kelly.treder@bmc.org

Dr. Treder (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Boston University School of Medicine. She received her medical degree from University of Washington School of Medicine and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Washington School of Public Health. She completed her residency at Northwestern University/Stroger Hospital of Cook County and her fellowship in Family Planning at Boston University. Her research interests include reproductive health inequities and the impact of racism on reproductive health.

Keri Garel, MD: keri-lee.garel@bmc.org

Dr. Garel (she/her/s) is an incoming attending in the Department of OBGYN and Assistant Professor at Boston University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from MIT and her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. After completing her residency at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, she returned to BU and BMC as a fellow in Complex Family Planning. Dr. Garel was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society during medical school. As a resident she received multiple teaching awards, a Ryan Residency Award, and established an ambulatory gynecology clinic in a community health center. During fellowship, she was also a fellow in the Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy. She struggles to choose her favorite part of abortion and contraception care and research, but is particularly interested in the decision-making process for people with complex medical conditions. Outside of the hospital she enjoys collecting too many vinyl records, exploring the city on foot, and developing a detailed mental map of the best lattes in the Boston area.

Anjanique Mariquit Rosete Lu, MD, MPA: AnjaniqueMariquit.Lu@bmc.org

Dr. Rosete Lu (she/her) is a Complex Family Planning fellow at BMC. She completed a combined undergraduate and graduate program at New York University with a BA in Biology and MPA in International Health Policy. She then completed her medical degree at University of Miami followed by residency in OBGYN in New York. She joins the BEACON research team with an interest in diversifying cervical preparation options prior to abortion care as well as streamlining clinical services to improve efficiency in health access for underserved populations. Her previous work includes outpatient cervical preparation prior to induction of term labor. Her hobbies include sewing with vintage (hoarded) fabrics and baking with niche flavors.

Nayna Shah, MD: nayna.shah@bmc.org

Nayna Shah (she/her) is a Complex Family Planning fellow at BMC. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Music Composition and Biology at the University of Miami and earned her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her residency training in OB/GYN at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson in New Jersey. She is thrilled to join the Beacon family and contribute to their mission of anti-racist, equitable, patient-centered reproductive care every day. Her research interests include how crisis pregnancy centers impede reproductive justice and the intersection of social media and abortion care/contraception. When not plotting how to dismantle the patriarchy, Nayna enjoys being both an indoor and outdoor cat (you will just as soon see her scrapbooking or writing poetry as you will hiking in the nearest national park or sprawled out at the beach)!

Alana Martinusen, MPH: alana.martinusen@bmc.org

Alana is the BEACON Program Manager for the BEACON Research Team and the Program Manager for the Complex Family Planning Fellowship at BMC. She completed her Master of Public Health degree at Boston University School of Public Health in 2023. Alana oversees all clinical trials and ongoing studies and provides research support in the Division of Family Planning. She hires, trains and mentors Research Assistants and Practicum students. Since joining BEACON, she has been working as a full spectrum doula in the Boston Area. Alana has a passion for reproductive health, specifically working with communities of color and LGBTQIA+ folks. Outside of BMC, Alana enjoys hiking with her puppy Fezzik and road tripping around New England.

OB/GYN Clinic, Yawkey Ambulatory Care Center, 6th Floor, Boston Medical Center, 850 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
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