Dr. Okeoma Mmeje is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Medical School. As a physician-researcher, Dr. Mmeje has expertise in reproductive infectious diseases and general obstetrics and gynecology, with a focus on treating and preventing sexually transmitted infections and recurrent vaginitis. As a researcher, Dr. Mmeje has led academic teams in implementing and evaluating reproductive health programs to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services for historically marginalized communities and populations.
Please describe one or two of your most interesting projects.
The most interesting projects I have conducted to date involve reproduction in HIV-affected couples in Kenya and the evaluation of expedited partner therapy as a treatment and prevention option for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
I worked with a cohort of HIV-serodiscordant couples in Kenya before the widespread availability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, where the woman was living with HIV and the male partner was not. These couples wanted to get pregnant safely without HIV transmission to the male partner or the developing fetus . With close screening, monitoring, and engagement in care, couples were taught to time self-insemination during the fertile window to achieve pregnancy. Once pregnancy was achieved, the woman living with HIV was closely monitored throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Among the couples achieving pregnancy, there were no cases of HIV transmission to the male partner or the child through the postpartum period. This study was particularly meaningful because it highlighted that individuals living with HIV may fulfill their reproductive desires without risking HIV transmission to their partner or child while in engaged in healthcare and receiving clinical and social support.
In 2015, expedited partner therapy (EPT) was enacted in Michigan. EPT allows clinicians to prescribe STI treatment for sexual partners of their patients when they have not been in their care in order to improve access to care and decrease the risk of STI-related morbidity. After EPT was enacted in Michigan, I worked with our Michigan Medicine Health Information and Technology teams to build a smart set in our electronic medical record (EMR). The smartSet allowed clinicians to prescribe medications electronically for sexual partners and provide STI treatment and prevention educational materials through the EMR. We evaluated the clinical experiences of individuals diagnosed with an STI, their sexual partners, and clinicians at Michigan Medicine and our participating school-based health center locations in Washtenaw and Genesee counties. We were able to effectively evaluate and improve our program evaluation of EPT across Michigan Medicine and noted that it decreased the likelihood of recurrent or persistent STIs and was well-received by the people we serve and our clinicians.
How did you end up where you are today? (Your research journey)
My clinical research has been inspired by the individuals I care for and this began when I was in clinical training in Philadelphia where the STI incidence exceeded the national incidence rates and the morbidity in marginalized groups were dire. Witnessing the reproductive harms of STIS in young people from underrepresented groups shaped my career trajectory as a physician scientist committed to improving access to STI screening, treatment, and prevention services. I pursued a clinical research fellowship in Reproductive Infectious Diseases where I obtained training in clinical research . I have engaged in scholarly activity in reproductive infectious diseases across disciplines to improve the reproductive potential and wellbeing of people and communities.
What is the most significant scientific contribution you would like to make?
I would like to be involved in the development and implementation of a reproductive health intervention using artificial intelligence to promote awareness of and access to reproductive healthcare.
What makes you excited about your data science and AI research?
I am excited about the great potential that has yet to be explored to improve the accessibility and availability of reproductive healthcare services.
What are 1-3 interesting facts about yourself?
- I am a committed, lifelong learner.
- I am willing to meet and learn from anyone.
- I appreciate and respect the humanity in everyone.