S4E1: Congenital Syphilis: Connecting the Dots from Screening to Treatment 

S4E1: Congenital Syphilis: Connecting the Dots from Screening to Treatment 

Author: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists April 10, 2025 Duration: 45:22
Congenital syphilis is on the rise, making early detection and treatment more critical than ever. This episode equips obstetric care professionals with guidance on implementing syphilis screening, the latest updates on at-home testing, and managing infants with syphilis exposure. The conversation also explores how to collaborate with public health departments for improved syphilis diagnosis and data insights and best practices for working with the neonatal intensive care unit to manage congenital syphilis cases. Kimberly Stanford, MD, MPH, associate professor at the University of Chicago and director of HIV and sexually transmitted infection screening at the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, and Ina Park, MD, MS, professor in the departments of family and community medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at UCSF School of Medicine and medical consultant with the CDC Division of STD Prevention, join Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to discuss best practices for implementing syphilis screening.

Special commentary provided by Victoria Mobley, MD, MPH, at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health, and Christopher Golden, MD, FAAP, at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Veronica “Vero” Pimentel brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to the conversation in Labor of Love: Supporting Maternal Well-Being in a Complex World. As a practicing OB-GYN, a dedicated vaccine expert, and a mother who navigated parenting during a pandemic, she guides each discussion with both professional expertise and lived experience. This podcast moves beyond simple advice, creating a space where honest dialogue about maternal and postpartum health can flourish. Vero sits down with a range of health care professionals and specialists, unpacking everything from the critical importance of maternal immunization to other emerging and often overlooked issues affecting new parents. These conversations aim to demystify the latest research, address contemporary challenges, and highlight meaningful breakthroughs in care. Created with support from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the series offers a trusted, nuanced resource for anyone interested in the multifaceted journey of motherhood. Listeners will find a blend of science, compassion, and practical insight, all focused on supporting well-being through the profound transition into parenthood. Each episode feels like a thoughtful conversation with a knowledgeable friend who understands the complexities of keeping both parent and child healthy in today's world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 24

Labor of Love: Supporting Maternal Well-Being in a Complex World
Podcast Episodes
S3E2: Syphilis Surge: A Rising Concern in Pregnancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:42
In the early 2000s syphilis rates in the United States started to increase, raising growing concerns about public health and the effects of syphilis rates on pregnant people. Kate Miele, MD, MA, FACOG, from Emory Univers…
S3E1: The Latest on RSV Prevention and Vaccination [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
The new maternal RSV vaccine serves as a major step toward preventing RSV in infants after birth. However, the vaccine’s rollout has come with challenges, including cost and access issues. Brenna Hughes, MD, MSc, FACOG,…
S2E5: Building Workforce Capacity in Obstetric Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the obstetric care workforce to its limit, creating unprecedented pressures on health care professionals’ mental health. Rachael F. Morris, MD, MS, FACOG, associate professor of maternal–…
S2E4: Championing Health Equity in Obstetric Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:24
The COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the ongoing crisis of health inequity, which continues today, especially among pregnant people in the Black community. Naima Joseph, MD, MPH, FACOG, assistant professor at Harvard…
S2E3: Building Patient Trust in Uncertain Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:41
Rising misinformation and vaccine skepticism triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic have created unique challenges for obstetric care professionals to gain patient trust. In this episode, Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel…
S2E1: How Mental Health Is Taking Center Stage in Obstetric Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
Obstetric care professionals take on tremendous responsibility when working with pregnant patients, and that work can weigh heavily on their own mental health, especially during a pandemic. ACOG President Iffath Abbasi H…
Season 2 Trailer: Stories From the Heart of Obstetric Care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04
In its upcoming second season, Stories from the Heart of Obstetric Care, the podcast will shift from focusing on the pandemic experience of new mothers to the pandemic experience of obstetric care professionals. This tim…
S1E5: The Mental Health Toll of COVID-19 and Looking to the Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:30
Our last episode features an important conversation with Katie Pederson about her experience surviving COVID-19 while pregnant and the effect it has had on her mental health. We will then be joined by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin,…
S1E4: Dismantling Myths about COVID-19 Maternal Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:41
Ankita Rao was initially hesitant to get vaccinated while pregnant early in the pandemic. Ankita is the Editor at the Guardian US and discusses her experience of gathering credible information and guidance surrounding va…