Meet The Faculty

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Faculty members talking at a work station.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, offers comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services for women. There are 50 physicians on the staff of the department. Besides patient care, staff members are also involved in research and medical education.

From the program director

Vanessa Torbenson, M.D. Welcome to the Mayo Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency. Mayo Clinic is an outstanding place for medical graduates to learn and develop their skills.

The goal of the Mayo Clinic Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency is to train physicians who are clinically proficient to either enter practice or their selected fellowship. We strive to engender quality health care delivery with an efficient, compassionate, and evidenced-based approach — not only for today but for the foreseeable future.

Our program offers world-class gynecologic surgical training, alongside a rich experience in both normal and high-risk obstetrics. Residents receive unparalleled support for research through mentorship, dedicated time, and funding. As a result, residents present routinely at national meetings and publish their work in high-impact medical journals.

Mayo's obstetrics and gynecology team has a rich heritage in training residents and fellows in general obstetrics and gynecology, in addition to the subspecialties of maternal-fetal medicine; reproductive endocrinology and infertility; gynecologic oncology; and female pelvic medicine/reconstructive surgery. Our graduates have contributed to the specialty in private practice and academic medicine as clinicians, educators, and researchers.

It is a pleasure to serve as the residency program director within a department that has a strong foundation in education. Since its inception, the Mayo philosophy has been predicated on continued education for new physicians as well as experienced clinical faculty.

As you consider your future in medicine, you are planning not just for a career, but for lifelong learning. The Mayo Clinic setting offers an exceptional opportunity for its trainees to become part of its family of physicians who share in the pursuit of excellence in practice, education, and research.

Vanessa Torbenson, M.D.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program Director

Divisions

Obstetrics offers expert, personalized care for women before, during, and after pregnancy. Staff include obstetric hospitalists, geneticists, and general obstetricians providing comprehensive care.

Maternal and Fetal Medicine specializes in high-risk pregnancies, including preconception care, genetic testing, and integrated care for chronic conditions during pregnancy and obstetrical complications. Fetal surgery and interventional procedures are offered via a multidisciplinary team, using cutting edge techniques.

Gynecology treats disorders of the female reproductive and urinary systems. The division consists of board-certified obstetricians and gynecologists, and includes experts in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Specialty clinics including coposcopy, office hysteroscopy, chronic pelvic pain, and vulvar diseases are offered in the division.

Gynecologic Oncology consists of board-certified gynecologic oncologists who offer an integrated approach to the diagnosis and treatment of women's cancers, including cervical, uterine (endometrial), ovarian, vaginal and vulvar cancer.

Urogynecology is comprised of board-certified urogynecologists who evaluate and diagnose women with pelvic floor conditions such as urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal fistulas, and congenital uterine and vaginal anomalies (absence of a vagina or developmental defects of the uterus).

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility is composed of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists who manage complex problems related to infertility, fertility preservation, recurrent pregnancy loss, amenorrhea, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian disease, premature ovarian failure, and congenital uterine anomalies.

Faculty

	Vanessa Torbenson, M.D. Residency Program Director Subspecialty: OB hospitalist Hometown: Coral Springs, Florida Things I do in my free time: I enjoy running and have done several marathons and Ragnar team races. I enjoy reading and love getting together with my book group to discuss the books we have picked, especially the ones that I would not have read otherwise. Fun fact: I learned to downhill ski at the age of 40, and now it's one of my favorite winter activities. Why Mayo: A big secret is that I have the best job in the world. I enjoy my clinical practice and the people I work with; here, the needs of the patient really do come first.
	Adela Cope, M.D. Associate Program Director Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Springville, Iowa Things I do in my free time: Live music including concerts and festivals, traveling, hiking, happy hours with friends, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, board games, gardening and plant care Why Mayo: I was drawn to Mayo Clinic because of my excellent experience as a resident and fellow here. I love the people that I work with and feel well-supported to reach all of my goals in both my personal life and career. The surgical opportunities are strong and varied, the support for research is unmatched, and the sense of community I share with my colleagues brings me joy.
	Alicia Bestland, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Pine Island now; I grew up between Austin and Blooming Prairie, Minnesota Things I do in my free time: Bike, hike, and spend time with my family and friends Why Mayo: Mayo took care of my grandma and aunt when they each had cancer. I spent a lot of time observing the nurses. I wanted to be able to take care of people the way those nurses cared for my family.
	Daniel Breitkopf, M.D. Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Teaneck, New Jersey Things I do in my free time: Cycling, cross-country skiing, spending time with my wife and our two dogs, Bert and JB Why Mayo: The teamwork and commitment to excellence make practicing here so enjoyable and fulfilling. Everyone is focused on the same thing and has the same goals. Our residents and fellows are also key to the excellence of our practice and inspire us with their commitment to learning.
	Tatnai Burnett, M.D. Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Toronto, Canada Things I do in my free time: Snowboarding, road cycling, gravel cycling, cuddling with my cat Why Mayo: Because people are nice
	Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics, global women's health Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia; Lansing, Michigan Things I do in my free time: Peloton cycling and biking, outdoor biking, running, traveling, playing with my toddler son Why Mayo: The unparalleled mentorship and research opportunities, being at the forefront of innovation, and the collegiality and trustworthiness
	Leslie Carranza, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: Born in Paris, grew up in Margarita Island (Venezuela) and Miami, Florida Things I do in my free time: When not tending to patients, I love to spend quality time with my family, garden in the summer, lift weights at 5 a.m., and indulge in occasional afternoon naps whenever possible. Why Mayo: Mayo is inspiring and pushes you to get better. My OB Division colleagues are collaborative, supportive, and fun. Finally, our residents — the best in the country!
	Kylie Cooper, M.D. Subspecialty: Maternal-fetal medicine Hometown: Ankeny, Iowa Things I do in my free time: Spending time with my family, gardening and landscaping my yard. In the summer, spending time on our boat and fishing. Why Mayo: I have the support and time I need to provide patients with the compassionate, attentive care they deserve. I also love having the opportunity to teach and mentor learners at all levels of medical education.
	Felecia Fick, P.A.-C. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Sheboygan, Wisconsin Things I do in my free time: Spending time with family Why Mayo: Mayo is the best.
	John Gebhart, M.D. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Manvel, North Dakota Things I do in my free time: Spending time outdoors — yardwork, fishing, hunting Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic is a great place to train. Come enjoy experiencing southern Minnesota and all that it has to offer.
	Gretchen Glaser, M.D. Subspecialty: Gynecologic oncology Hometown: Little Silver, New Jersey Things I do in my free time: I love spending time with my husband (Simon), daughters (Mabel and Dorothy), and cat (Bella). I also enjoy doing Pure Barre, working out on my Peloton, and practicing yoga — one (or more) of the three every day. I also have some hands-on hobbies like knitting and sewing, and love to read both novels and self-improvement. Fun fact: I am Jewish and often read Torah in Hebrew at my synagogue! Why Mayo: Several times a week when I go to see my post-op patients, they whole-heartedly volunteer that from the moment they scheduled their surgery, through every single step of the process, they feel they have had exemplary care from every single person they encountered. This, combined with cutting-edge education, innovation, and research at the #1 hospital and gynecology department in the country makes working at Mayo just a superb and exciting experience every day. Add to that the natural camaraderie of everyone who works here, and you have an unparalleled work environment!
	Isabel Green, M.D. Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: It’s complicated (born in Ecuador, then grew up outside Washington D.C. I was an East Coast “lifer” until Mayo, and now I’m a die-hard Minnesotan) Things I do in my free time: Get silly with my kids, snuggle my dog, explore new food and recipes, renovate my historic home, connect with my friends, bike to Little Thistle Brewery. I took up tennis in my 40s which has been humbling. Why Mayo: I feel like I have all the tools and support to be the type of doctor I went into medicine to be — I have time to listen and support patients, and incredible residents and colleagues.
	Zaraq Khan, M.B.B.S. Subspecialty: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Peshawar, Pakistan, and London, UK Things I do in my free time: I enjoy traveling in general and hiking in remote areas of the world in particular, and creating/mixing music and curating craft cocktails. Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic continues to be an amazing place to practice medicine. The collaborative nature of work and living up to its motto of the “needs of the patient comes first” makes this a truly remarkable place to learn and practice medicine.
	Amanika Kumar, M.D. Subspecialty: Gynecologic oncology Hometown: Allentown, Pennsylvania Things I do in my free time: Cooking, cocktail making, Peloton, spending time with my wife and toddler Why Mayo: It’s an incredible place to work with a focus on the needs of the patient — here I get to be the kind of doctor I want to be.
	Julie Lamppa, APRN, CNM Subspecialty: Midwifery Hometown: Embarrass, Minnesota (yes, you read that right) Things I do in my free time: Watch hockey, soak up the sun, head to the lakes of northern Minnesota, enjoy my adult boys Why Mayo: The professional growth, the resources, camaraderie, APRNs are respected, the stability of a large organization, the day to day variety (you surely will never be bored), it’s MAYO CLINIC
	Carrie Langstraat, M.D. Subspecialty: Gynecologic oncology Hometown: I was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but consider Eagan, Minnesota, as my hometown. Things I do in my free time: I enjoy time with my family and friends. I spend time on the weekends running, road and mountain biking, hiking, and gardening. Our new adventure this year has been to go RVing. We purchased our first RV to help survive COVID and we absolutely love it. We have explored a number of National Parks and are looking forward to enjoying more. Why Mayo: When I matched at Mayo for Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship, I was nervous and not sure what to expect. My family lived in Rochester when I matched and I looked forward to being back close to them and back in Minnesota. In my first year doing research, I was impressed by mentorship and the willingness of complete strangers to invest time in me and help me with any question I had. This support continued as I began taking care of patients in my second year. The team approach to patient care allows you to be the best physician you can be. The institution really believes the needs of the patient come first. I have worked at other institutions and I know that all institutions value and care for their patients, but I really feel there is something different/special at Mayo. There are so many opportunities here and so much support you can really do anything you are interested in.
	Alyssa Larish, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: Minnetonka, Minnesota Things I do in my free time: Competitive cycling, strength training, high altitude mountaineering, traveling Why Mayo: I was excited to stay at Mayo after my experience training here. I love the opportunities to continue teaching residents and medical students, exceptional research support, as well as the relationships I have with my colleagues. The culture at Mayo is unique, patient-centered and growth minded.
	Margaret Long, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics and gynecology Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Things I do in my free time: International and domestic travel, gourmet cooking, gardening, art museums Why Mayo: The collaborative and collegial environment, “There is no place like Mayo.” I enjoy spending time doing things I want rather than sitting in traffic (2.5+ hours per week).
	Leah McCoy, APRN, CNM Subspecialty: Midwifery Hometown: Waupaca, Wisconsin Things I do in my free time: I love to spend time with my family, watching the Green Bay Packers play, working in my garden, reading, hunting, and fishing. Why Mayo: The collaborative environment and opportunity to grow as a midwife. I enjoy the variety of outpatient and inpatient care, working with the midwife fellows and students, and teaching and learning from the OB and family medicine residents. This job is never boring and rewarding in ways I never imagined!
	John Occhino, M.D., M.S. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Akron, Ohio Things I do in my free time: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, especially outdoors. I enjoy camping, hunting, and skiing. Why Mayo: The collaboration for patient care within and outside the department is unparalleled and the support for research and scholarly activity is strong.
	Sarah Rassier, M.D., M.P.H. Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Richmond Virginia, but more recently Boston, Massachusetts Things I do in my free time: Traveling is my number one favorite thing to do, especially if we can combine it with spending time in nature and hiking (and wine!). Some recent favorite trips were Vietnam, Portugal, and Norway. My husband and I also love entertaining friends and family, and spending time with our monster puppy. Why Mayo: The underlying ethos of the Mayo brothers truly is palpable and underscores everything we do.
	Tina Rauenhorst, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: Morristown, Minnesota Things I do in my free time: I spend my free time with my husband and kids, watching the kids' sporting events and taking them to practice, and spending time on our hobby farm, riding our horses, walking sheep, gardening and canning. There is always something that needs to be done! Why Mayo: During my 15 years working at Mayo Clinic Health System, the Mayo RICH TIES values were evident and prioritized, particularly in the Rochester practice, setting Mayo apart from other health systems. The opportunity to join the laborist group in Rochester has been a great fit for me and has allowed me to work with learners and a wonderful group of colleagues and focus my practice on obstetrics.
	Enid Rivera-Chiauzzi, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, but have spent most of my adult life in New York City. Things I do in my free time: I enjoy playing with my children, running, practicing yoga, meditating, listening to podcasts, hiking, and FaceTiming with family. Why Mayo: I chose to join Mayo Clinic because of the exceptional laborist program. The schedule allows me to focus exclusively on labor and delivery, which is my passion. The teamwork here is patient-centered, and I have ample time to pursue my research and educational interests. Additionally, Rochester is the ideal place to raise a family. As someone who identifies as Latinx and Puerto Rican, I have also found a supportive Latino community here through Somos Latinos.
	Janelle Santos, M.D. Subspecialty: Maternal-fetal medicine Hometown: Key Largo, Florida Things I do in my free time: Spending time with family and friends, travel, golf, read, cook Why Mayo: I stayed on after fellowship because Mayo Clinic was truly invested in me. We have a great team and I enjoy everyone I work with. The resources to expand your career here are unmatched.
	Mauro Schenone, M.D. Subspecialty: Maternal fetal medicine and surgery Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela Things I do in my free time: Family and outdoors Why Mayo: It's the best place for medicine
	Chandra Paff Shenoy, M.D. Subspecialty: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility Hometown: Lawrence, Kansas (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!) Things I do in my free time: I love to cook, hike, travel, explore, adventure, practice yoga, invest in my local community, and play with new technology Why Mayo: I stayed at Mayo after completing my fellowship here because it felt like more than a job. The people here were truly invested in helping to shape me, not only as a Reproductive Endocrinologist, but as an internationally known expert, teacher, and researcher. The mentorship has been incredible as a trainee and into my faculty years.
	Rebecca Smith, CNM, Ph.D., R.N. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: Austin, Minnesota (home of SPAM!) Things I do in my free time: Explore old cemeteries, read lots of books, genealogy research, true crime podcasts Why Mayo: Mayo is where you can DO things. Whatever you’ve dreamed of building, changing, discovering, or improving, Mayo has the people, resources, and expertise are here to make it possible. Its not easy. Excellence is our baseline, not our goal. But at Mayo, an idea can become something real, and that idea may be how you impact the world!
	Ebbie Stewart, M.D. Subspecialty: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina Things I do in my free time: Traveling, gardening, cooking, and reading Why Mayo: Unparalleled research opportunities
	Regan Theiler, M.D., Ph.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: Eau Claire, Wisconsin Things I do in my free time: Goat farming, reading, photography Why Mayo: Who wouldn’t want to work here?
	Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology; Clinical genetics/genomics Hometown: Rochester, Minnesota Things I do in my free time: Watching sports — hockey is my favorite, hiking Minnesota state parks and trails and the Maine coast, yoga, gardening, walking doodle dogs, climbing stairs (I once got “trapped” in a Mayo stairwell while on call); listening to classic rock; spending time with family (especially the granddaughter). Why Mayo: I have been at Mayo for all of my training and nearly all of my career. Mayo is supportive, collaborative, and a wonderful place to “carve out a niche”! Our family is also pretty deeply rooted in Minnesota.
	Jenna Wygant, APRN, C.N.P., D.N.P. Subspecialty: Gynecology, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota Things I do in my free time: I have three little humans that take up most of my non-work time at this phase of life. I read A LOT of books in the romantasy genre primarily. I also am a Napa Valley wine lover and would go annually if I could. Why Mayo: I have now worked here since I was a young nurse on station 54 in gynecology. I wanted to be on the other side of women's health, trying to prevent gynecological cancers if possible.