Dr. Barbara Levy

Career Highlights

• Recognized by Modern Healthcare magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives and Leaders, 2015
• Lifetime achievement recognition by OBG Management, 2013
• First female president of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, 1994-1995
• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American Urogynecologic Society, consultant to and member of the US Food and Drug Administration OB-GYN Devices Panel
• Certified with Accreditation Council for gynecologic endoscopy with specialities in advance operative laparoscopy and advanced operative hysteroscopy
• Served as a reviewer and editor for several medical journals, including Obstetrics & Gynecology, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JAMA, JMIG, and Fertility and Sterility
• Published over 85 studies and articles in peer-reviewed journals

Education

• Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR, 1979–1983
• Degree in Medicine from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, 1979
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Princeton University, NJ, 1974, graduated magna cum laude

Featured Publications

• “Path to leadership in medicine: Advocacy and evidence-based medicine.” Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, vol. 49, no. 2, Feb 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101680
• “Vaginal Hysterectomy: Historical Footnote or Viable Route?” Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 136, no. 2, Aug 2020, doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000004018
• “National Partnership for Maternal Safety: Consensus Bundle on Venous Thromboembolism.” Anesthesia & Analgesia, vol. 123, no. 4, Oct 2016, doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001569
• “Modern management of uterine fibroids.” Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, vol. 87, no. 8, 2008, doi: 10.1080/00016340802146912

My Journey in Medicine

I was originally planning to study family medicine, but early in medical school I was fortunate enough to be paired with an incredible mentor who gently convinced me that women need women physicians to be able to care for them comprehensively. She pointed out that primary care physicians in the US generally don't follow their patients through major medical events such as pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and surgery. I spent time watching her dynamic practice and realized that I loved the diversity of obstetrics and gynecology as a profession and the privilege of caring for women throughout their lives.

My main research interests include minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and optimizing care for women with chronic pelvic pain, and I’ve had the opportunity to expand literature on many gynecological topics through various articles and studies.

After spending over 30 years practicing comprehensive women's health and caring for one patient at a time, I joined the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to devote my time to improving equity, disrupting systems that disenfranchise women, and building real-world evidence to improve and update health care guidelines. Working in health policy enabled me to make a real difference on a larger scale.

My passion to enhance access to and quality of women’s health care drives me in my day-to-day work. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and multiple other media outlets to speak up for women’s health. As vice-president of health policy at the ACOG, I focused on reducing maternal mortality and improving inequalities that exist in maternal health care around the world. I also grew the organization’s commitment to access to contraception and managing menopause. Serving in the leadership of the American Medical Association, I worked to improve the payment policy for OB-GYNs and safety initiatives for women’s care.

Throughout my entire career, I have been committed to promoting quality health care for women, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue doing so as an OB-GYN consultant for Flo.

Flo Advisory Board of 100+ Doctors, Scientists, and Health Experts

We break down complex medical topics into accessible and digestible information that empowers readers to take action and prioritize their own well-being. Our team of Medical and Scientific Advisors is made up of over 100 certified health experts from a variety of disciplines who ensure that every piece of content we release is medically accurate, understandable, and up-to-date with the latest scientific findings. We rely on medical guidelines from international health organizations and get information from academic institutions and peer-reviewed articles, which is fully described in our Flo Editorial Process and Standards.