A New Leader in Obstetrics

Yasser Y. El-Sayed, MD, appointed recently as obstetrician-in-chief at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, had a very simple response when asked about his new role guiding the hospital’s comprehensive and multidisciplinary obstetric services.

“I feel tremendously honored.”

That honor comes from knowing that Packard Children’s is the Northern California leader in providing preeminent, world-class care to expectant moms and their babies. “We are extremely proud of the fact that we give nearly 5,000 babies a year the strongest possible start in life,” said El-Sayed, who has been part of the Stanford community since arriving in 1990 as an intern. In addition to leading all obstetrics at the hospital’s Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, El-Sayed is professor of obstetrics & gynecology at the Stanford University School of Medicine and now director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Obstetrics.

El-Sayed follows in the footsteps of renowned obstetrician Maurice Druzin, MD, who is stepping down after a 22-year tenure but will continue to care for patients, teach future generations and conduct research. “Maury has been my mentor,” said El-Sayed, “and we affectionately call him the ‘father of Stanford obstetrics’. His influence in the world of maternal-fetal medicine is huge, and he has built a powerful program and legacy.”

That legacy continues through El-Sayed’s leadership and national reputation. Prior to becoming chief, El-Sayed served as associate director of maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics. He is the founder of the Stanford – Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Research Collaboration, and is the co- principal investigator of the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. In addition, he is a past recipient of the prestigious Alwin C. Rambar-James B.D. Mark Award for Excellence in Patient Care, and the Arthur L. Bloomfield Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Clinical Medicine.

“I’m really passionate about what I do,” said El-Sayed, who has led the delivery of thousands of babies at Packard Children’s. “I look forward every day to caring for my patients, working with my colleagues across all disciplines to advance the science and practice of obstetrics, and training a new generation of outstanding obstetricians.”

“Since the opening of Packard Children’s in 1991, Dr. Druzin has steadily established one of America’s finest programs in obstetric care, teaching and research,” said Christopher Dawes, CEO and President. “Dr. El-Sayed is a wonderful choice to continue this tradition, and he is another reason why Packard Children’s is the ideal place for expectant moms and their babies.”