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.

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.

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

Faculty

	Vanessa Torbenson, M.D. Residency Program Director Subspecialty: OB hospitalist Hometown: Coral Springs, FL Things I do in my free time: I enjoy running and have done several marathons and Ragnar team races. I hope to run in the Boston Marathon someday. 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, IA 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.
	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 5:00 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-best in the country!
	Daniel Breitkopf, M.D. Subspecialty: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery Hometown: Teaneck, NJ 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
	William Cliby, M.D. Subspecialty: Gynecologic oncology Hometown: Watertown, NY Things I do in my free time: Family, dog, bicycling, car racing, and generally trying to be a better person Why Mayo: The mission statement is alive and well — the needs of the patient comes first. It extends throughout the Mayo team, up and down the hierarchy. It is what most distinguishes our center and allows us to take the best care of patients.
	Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics, global women's health Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia; Lansing, MI 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.
	Felecia Fick, P.A.-C. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Sheboygan, WI 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, ND Things I do in my free time: Spend time outdoors — yardwork, fishing, hunting Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic is a great place to train. Come enjoy experiencing southern MN and all that it has to offer.
	Gretchen Glaser, M.D. Subspecialty: Gynecologic oncology Hometown: Little Silver, NJ 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 40’s 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. 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, PA Things I do in my free time: Cook, 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, MN (yes, you read that right) Things I do in my free time: Watch hockey, soak up the sun, head to the lakes of Northern MN, 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, SD, but consider Eagan, MN, 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 MN. 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.
	Margaret Long, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics and gynecology Hometown: Atlanta, GA Things I do in my free time: International and domestic travel, gourmet cooking, gardening, art museums Why Mayo: Collaborative and collegial environment, “There is no place like Mayo.” Enjoy spending time doing things I want rather than sitting in traffic (2.5+ hours per week).
	Mary Marnach, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics and gynecology, gynecologic dermatology Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD Things I do in my free time: Travel, mission work in Guatemala, bike, cook, read. Why Mayo: It’s a great place, we are a wonderful Ob/Gyn team that feels like family — even at work!
	John Occhino, M.D., M.S. Subspecialty: Urogynecology Hometown: Akron, OH 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 VA, but more recently Boston, MA 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
	Enid Rivera-Chiauzzi, M.D. Subspecialty: Obstetrics Hometown: I grew up in Wilmington, DE, 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.
	Chandra Paff Shenoy, M.D. Subspecialty: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility Hometown: Lawrence, KS (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.
	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
	Ebbie Stewart, M.D. Subspecialty: Reproductive endocrinology and infertility Hometown: Spartanburg, SC 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, WI 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, MN (parents moved to Rochester when I was a baby). Parents were teachers in the Rochester schools. Growing up in the shadow of the Mayo Clinic, I became captivated by medicine. …I had dreams of joining the world famous Mayo Clinic! Things I do in my free time: Watching sports - hockey is favorite (hockey mom of high school/college athletes); hiking Minnesota state parks and trails, Maine coast; rollerblading, yoga, gardening, walking doodle dogs, climbing stairs (love to find new stairwells at Mayo); learning to be a grandma Why Mayo: Collegiality, niche for OBGYN genetics, family deeply rooted in MN