U.S. News & World Report 2024-25 ranks Brigham and Women’s Hospital #1 in the nation for Obstetrics and Gynecology. The Brigham is also recognized as a top hospital on the 2024-25 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, with 12 specialties ranked overall.
Intended to help guide patients to the right hospital, these annual U.S. News specialty rankings are calculated based upon factors such as patient outcomes, quality of the patient experience, expert opinion, and if the hospital is adequately staffed.
Nawal Nour, MD, MPH, MBA, chair of the Brigham’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, celebrates the team’s major accomplishment of achieving a #1 national ranking in Obstetrics and Gynecology for the third consecutive year. In this Q&A, Dr. Nour highlights how the Department’s commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and advanced clinical care and research help make the Brigham #1 in the country for Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Q: What are you and the team feeling after ranking #1 in Obstetrics and Gynecology for a third time?
Dr. Nour: We are truly so excited and honored to be ranked number one again this year. This is a major accomplishment, and I applaud every single team member within our Department for all their hard work. This recognition is a testament to our team’s decades of unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our patients. It’s wonderful to see that we are continuing to make a difference.
Q: What makes the Brigham’s OB/GYN team #1 in the U.S.?
Dr. Nour: After overseeing our Department for nearly four years, my understanding of the importance of collaboration has deepened. Successful collaboration happens when diverse, multidisciplinary teams push the work toward not only the betterment of patient care, but also the wellbeing of each team member. Our team makes a conscious effort to communicate across divisions and be transparent with one another about what we need to do better.
This level of collaboration and transparency, combined with our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion for patients and faculty, allows us to provide high quality, inclusive care for our patients. There is a true drive for excellence within this department.
Q: Research has a direct impact on patient care: what new research from the Department are you most excited about?
Dr. Nour: I cannot fully express how proud I am of the research done by each division in our department. The work they do every day drives us toward better addressing individual patient needs across each area of obstetric-gynecological care.
For example, a recent study led by Naoko Sasamoto, MD, PhD, MPH, and Kathryn Terry, ScD, investigated molecular changes associated with different pain subtypes in patients with endometriosis. Currently, endometriosis therapy is similar for all patients and is ineffective for many, so learning more about what causes different types of pain will allow us to develop a more individualized treatment approach.
Andrea Lanes, PhD, Elizabeth Ginsburg, MD, Serene Srouji, MD, and team examined the impact of increasing body mass index (BMI) on in vitro fertilization (IVF), obstetric, and perinatal outcomes, as many patients with obesity who seek IVF treatment experience disappointing outcomes. They found largely similar outcomes among patients at the Brigham with BMIs of 30 to 60. The Brigham’s Center for Infertility and Reproductive Surgery is one of only a few in the U.S. offering IVF for patients with BMI ≥40 kg/m2.
In addition, Thomas McElrath, MD, PhD, Hope Yu, MD, David Cantonwine, PhD, MPH, Daniela Carusi, MD, MSc, and colleagues published groundbreaking research in Scientific Reports that demonstrated circulating microparticles (CMP) may be used to identify placenta accreta spectrum. They report that CMP proteins classify the condition well in advance of delivery, with the potential to significantly improve maternal morbidity and mortality outcomes.
Q: How does this Department continue to inspire you?
Dr. Nour: I am so proud to see our Department recognized as we continue to provide the highest quality, equitable, and comprehensive OB/GYN care possible. It’s been remarkable to witness the level of dedication from everyone in our Department throughout my time at the Brigham. The past few years have brought significant challenges, from COVID-19 to the Dobbs decision, but our team has continued to provide excellent healthcare while advocating for women’s health and reproductive justice. This ranking is truly an honor, and I’m excited to see what’s next from our Department.