In observance of Women's History Month, the 推荐杏吧原创 School of Medicine (UNR Med) recognizes the leadership and impact of women advancing the field of obstetrics and gynecology, improving access to care across Northern Nevada. Through its strategic partnership with Renown Health, UNR Med’s emphasis on research and academic excellence remains central to its mission. This year, several notable achievements within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology highlight that ongoing commitment.
An exciting development for the region is the recent accreditation of UNR Med’s OB-GYN residency program, which will welcome its inaugural cohort of three residents in July 2027. The program will expand graduate medical education opportunities in Northern Nevada while strengthening the academic and clinical environment for women’s health care.
As the program grows, faculty research from the department is also gaining national recognition. Angela Dao, M.D., assistant professor of OB-GYN and a urogynecologist, recently received the Pitkin Award from “Obstetrics & Gynecology,” the leading journal in the specialty. Her study, which explored the , was selected as one of only four Pitkin Award recipients from several hundred research papers published annually. With an acceptance rate of just 5%, publication in the journal is a significant achievement for Dr. Dao.
“Not only is it an incredible honor, but it is also exciting and encouraging for this type of research to be recognized,” Dao said. “I hope this research inspires more focus on chronic pain and women's health.”
Assistant Professor Paige Kendall, M.D., was recently selected for the through UNR Med’s Office of Clinical Research and in partnership with the University of Utah Clinical & Translational Science Institute. The competitive program supports early-career investigators as they develop skills in clinical and translational research, fostering collaboration and mentorship across institutions.
The department will soon welcome Kimen Balhotra, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine specialist whose research recently received national recognition at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Her work was selected for one of the meeting’s plenary sessions — reserved for just 16 of approximately 2,200 research submissions — and was later recognized as the best presentation within her session.
Together, these accomplishments not only reflect continued growth and momentum within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology but also highlight the impact of women leading advances in clinical care, research and medical education. With continued progress in the department and advances in clinical care, UNR Med furthers its commitment to improve women’s health in Nevada and beyond – not just for Women’s History Month.
