The Leo J. Dunn Distinguished Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology
M.D.: Yale School of Medicine
Residency: University of California, San Francisco
Most Recent Post: Tufts University, professor and vice chair for research and education in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, program director for the residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Tufts University Affiliated Hospitals, and chair of the Tufts University Health Sciences Campus Institutional Review Board

Taking the post as chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology was a good fit for Chelmow because of his broad interests. “I am a generalist in both my clinical practice and my research interests,” he says. “VCU’s department is built around a large academic generalist group who provide great care and medical student and resident education.”

The department also has strong clinical sections in all of the OB/GYN subspecialties. As a generalist, he feels he can work with each of the specialty sections to further grow their clinical services and expand their academic and research activities. Another goal is collaboration with other departments, for example creating a Continence and Pelvic Floor Center in collaboration with the Division of Urology. “This would give us the opportunity to conduct research together and offer even better multidisciplinary care,” he says.

His research focuses on cesarean delivery techniques, particularly wound closure and the prevention of wound complications. Studies he conducted on using prophylactic antibiotics during cesarean delivery and on incision closure have contributed to widespread changes in practice. He is also the editor-in-chief of the eMedicine OB/GYN online textbook and has authored more than 65 peer-reviewed papers and review articles.