This spring, an enthusiastic alumna from the Class of 2002 returned to her alma mater as interim chair of the newly-developed, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine's OB/GYN department in Reno.

Neda Etezadi-Amoli, M.D., is excited to help create a department that achieves excellence in training future physicians in obstetrics and gynecology while supporting the community's needs pertaining to women's health.

"The components for building a strong department are all here," Etezadi-Amoli said. "We have a medical school committed to its learners and the community, and research in women's health is already underway. The possibility of excelling and expanding is great. Northern Nevada has the unique opportunity of developing something that benefits everyone."

The educational mission of the department began in February 2016 when Etezadi-Amoli and Charles Jonson, M.D., began the Reno-based third-year medical student clerkship for OB/GYN.

"Dr. Johnson was instrumental in this process. He is a dedicated and compassionate visionary," Etezadi-Amoli said.

She also recognized others who have shown amazing commitment to education. Peter Lim, M.D., Nathan Slotnick, M.D., Myron Bethel, M.D., The Pregnancy Center physicians at Renown Health and those at St. Mary's Medical Group all have been generous in allowing students to have consistent and well-rounded experiences each block of the clerkship. Physicians in private practice have also been welcome to instructing students in the operating rooms. The experience is unique for students in that they are directly interacting with attending physicians in clinical settings and receiving one-to-one teaching.

At its core, Etezadi-Amoli said the strength of the School of Medicine's OB/GYN clerkship and department are its faculty-physicians who have been practicing in Reno and providing quality and compassionate health care in northern Nevada.

"Our community-based faculty are a strong group of clinicians, many of whom are alumni," she said. "They are committed to education and graciously teach our future physicians. We recognize these faculty and will work with them to strengthen this relationship."

Her plan is to work on expanding research and collaboration, providing OB/GYN faculty opportunities for enrichment, while continuing to provide a strong educational environment for students.

The potential for the future of OB/GYN in Reno is great.

"We have the goal of eventually becoming robust enough to sponsor residencies and fellowships and having a strong clinical and translational research program. And if we do this right, those who once trained here, will have even more reason to return to practice here," Etezadi-Amoli said.

Prior to being selected for the OB/GYN steering committee and becoming co-director of the OB/GYN clerkship in Reno, Etezadi-Amoli was in private practice at OB GYN Associates in Reno. Before returning to Nevada in 2009, she was assistant professor of OB/GYN at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, where she also completed her residency training.

She is active in several professional societies including Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics.