Sarosh Rana, MD, announced as new OB/GYN chair

Sarosh Rana, MD, has been named the new chair of the UNMC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, effective Aug. 1.

Bradley Britigan, MD, dean of the UNMC College of Medicine, announced the appointment Wednesday.

Dr. Rana serves as section chief of maternal-fetal medicine at UChicago Medicine and a professor in the OB/GYN department at the University of Chicago. A renowned researcher and expert in angiogenic biomarkers and their relation to preeclampsia, she also holds a master’s in public health from Harvard University.

“Dr. Rana is an impressive leader, researcher and clinician,” Dr. Britigan said in making the announcement. “During her discussions with UNMC leaders and stakeholders, her passion and innovative approach impressed, as did her goals for the department. We are excited to welcome her to UNMC.”

UNMC Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, welcomed Dr. Rana to Nebraska.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Rana as the new OB/GYN department chair,” he said. “With her exceptional leadership, research experience and passion for advancing maternal and fetal health, I am confident the area will continue to thrive and innovate under her guidance.”

“I am excited about Dr. Rana joining UNMC and Nebraska Medicine because of her track record of successfully engaging the community,” said James Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Her research on prevention and optimizing maternal outcomes will benefit the Omaha metro and reach statewide. Population health and screening are priorities of Nebraska Medicine, to which she will be a strong contributor.”

Dr. Rana said that when she visited UNMC, she was impressed by the support of leadership and the possibilities to have an impact on maternal-fetal health in the state.

“Once I got there, it became clear that the department can do so much work for rural health,” Dr. Rana said. “I was very impressed by the talented group of health care providers who are dedicated and committed to improving women’s health. The more I learned about Nebraska, the more I felt that together we could transform the landscape of women’s health in the communities that we serve to help women across Nebraska.”

Dr. Rana envisions a program to improve maternal and fetal health across every Nebraska community, as well as building the department’s research portfolio, increasing access and enhancing community engagement.

Dr. Rana said she was drawn to UNMC not just because of the “right geography” (Midwestern – she has been in Chicago for a decade) but inspiring leadership. Her vision for the department includes excellence in patient care, innovative research, top-tier education/training programs and championing equity.

Dr. Rana said she is passionate about education. At the University of Chicago, she created an OB translational fellowship, a one-year GME-approved fellowship for residents who want to pursue careers in translational research.

Her research credentials also are impressive. Throughout her career, she has been funded by the likes of the National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, Gates Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and several industry partners. She also belongs to various national and international scientific organizations and recently was elected secretary for International Society of Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. She is president-elect for ISSHP in 2025.

“UNMC and Nebraska Medicine will be the leader in women’s health and maternal care in the Midwest, delivering accessible, equitable and patient-centered, highest-quality care and setting the standard for excellence in clinical research,” she said.

Dr. Britigan also thanked the search committee, led by Kari Simonsen, MD, for their work. He, Dr. Davies and Dr. Linder also thanked Carl Smith, MD, departing chair, for his work, leadership and accomplishments during his 22 years as chair of the OB/GYN department.

“As a leader in maternal health care, Dr. Smith has always prioritized the needs of our patients and grown the educational opportunities for our students,” Dr. Linder said.