Dr. Palatnik is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She received her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees from Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. She completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Northwestern University. Dr. Palatnik is a clinician-scientist and is the Patrick J. and Margaret G. McMahon Endowed Chair, Vice Chair of Research and an Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a member of the Cardiovascular Center (CVC) at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of Center for Advancing Population Science. Dr. Palatnik’s research focuses on reducing health disparities in preeclampsia and gestational diabetes and improving health outcomes for birthing people during and after pregnancy.
Palatnik, Anna, MD
Associate Professor; The Patrick J. and Margaret G. McMahon Endowed Chair; Vice Chair of Research
Specialty:
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Timothy Akhalu
Project Manager
Amandla Gales, MSN, RN
Research Nurse
Raven Hall
Clinical Research Coordinator
Alyssa Hernandez, DO
Research Project Manager
Wandalee Lutzen
Clinical Research Coordinator
Erica Marion, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Zaira Peterson, RN
Research Nurse
Carlisa Prospere, RN
Research Nurse
Suzette Rosas-Rogers, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Gestational Diabetes and Pharmacotherapy (GAP)
Funded by the National Institute of Health the GAP study is a randomized controlled trial that investigates the optimal glycemic threshold for pharmacotherapy addition to medical nutrition therapy in gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects about 10% of pregnant women, many of whom will require treatment beyond diet and exercise. Despite this high prevalence, there is no consensus due to lack of evidence regarding the glycemic threshold for conversion from diet to medical treatment for GDM. No randomized studies have been performed on how to define failure with diet and exercise. It is important to establish criterion for pharmacotherapy initiation and titration for GDM in pregnancy as GDM under-treatment leads to increased rates of adverse obstetric outcomes associated with poor glycemic control including macrosomia, preeclampsia, cesarean birth, shoulder dystocia, birth trauma, and more. The GAP study will enroll 416 pregnant women with GDM and will compare two different thresholds for initiation of insulin for GDM. The GAP study will promote standardization in gestational diabetes management and will have direct relevance for clinical practice.
For more information contact Zaira Peterson: zpeterson@mcw.edu 414-805-1124
Intensive Postpartum Antihypertensive Treatment (IPAT)
Funded by Advancing Healthier Wisconsin Endowment and the NIH (National Institute of Health), the IPAT study will evaluate the effect of intensive postpartum blood pressure control on risk of chronic hypertension, and on vascular function following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). The IPAT will randomize 60 postpartum patients with HDP at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to intensive blood pressure control or to usual care. Patients enrolled in both arms will undergo education on healthy lifestyle following American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” of tobacco cessation, physical activity, healthy sleep, and healthy diet with detailed overview of DASH eating plan throughout the first year postpartum with monthly virtual educational session delivered by a registered dietician and a life coach. Cardiovascular health score will be assessed at 12 months postpartum in both groups. Participants will also undergo vascular function assessment: endothelial dysfunction with brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD), arterial stiffness with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and measurement of anti-angiogenic and inflammatory cardiac risk biomarker, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1), at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 months postpartum. We are not actively recruiting for this study.
For more information contact Mandi Gales, RN: agales@mcw.edu 414-805-6691
REPAIRÂ
Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the REPAIR study is a randomized controlled trial that studies the effect of tighter blood pressure control on the risk of chronic hypertension and vascular dysfunction following a hypertensive pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, like preeclampsia, complicate 8% of all pregnancies. People who had preeclampsia or gestational hypertension are at increased risk of continued problems with their blood pressure after they are no longer pregnant. It is unknown as to when medications should be used to prevent hypertension postpartum. It is important to establish a standard for starting blood pressure medication in the postpartum period to reduce complications of hypertension and promote recovery after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. The REPAIR study will enroll 618 postpartum women who had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and will compare two different treatment plans for postpartum management of blood pressure.
For more information, contact Alyssa Hernandez: alyhernandez@mcw.edu; 414-805-5285
ASCEND-WI
Funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), ASCEND-WI focuses on improving maternal health through community partnerships and research studies addressing systemic drivers of maternal morbidity and mortality. There are two trials that are supported by ASCEND-WI:Â
Building Trust and Uniting Teams Through Doula Partnership (BUNDLE) aims to determine if access to doula support services may improve birth outcomes for Black and African American pregnant people and their babies. BUNDLE has developed an integrated prenatal care model of medical providers and doulas, and the study will compare this model to standard prenatal care. The BUNDLE study will enroll 412 pregnant women and randomize them to routine prenatal care versus intervention. The intervention includes free community-based doula services. For more information, contact Erica Marion (emarion@mcw.edu)
The Effect of Housing Instability and Neighborhood Deprivation on Maternal Health (HOME) aims to understand how housing instability and neighborhood deprivation impact maternal health, including the impact of stress on the body and pregnancy. The HOME study will enroll 600 pregnant patients who reside in Milwaukee County. This project hopes to better understand how housing impacts maternal health and find ways to improve maternal health and birth outcomes.Â
INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR RESEARCH STUDIES?
Our aim is to improve outcomes and quality of care for mothers and babies. We are looking for research volunteers to participate in our studies and help us improve women’s health. We provide compensation for your time participating in research.
Please reach out to our research team at (414) 805-5285.
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| Principal Investigator | Title of Research Study Awards / Publications / Presentations |
|---|---|
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | Addressing key social-structural risk factors for racial disparities in maternal morbidity in Southeastern Wisconsin (ASCEND WI) *Grant funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) |
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | Reducing the risk of chronic hypertension and improving vascular function following preeclampsia *Grant funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) |
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | Intensive Postpartum Antihypertensive Treatment to Improve Women’s Cardiovascular Health *Grant funded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) |
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | Gestational Diabetes and Pharmacotherapy (GAP) *Grant funded by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) |
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | Food For Healthier Birth Outcomes *Grant funded by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) |
| Palatnik, Anna, MD | A Window to Future Outcomes of Antihypertensive Therapy and Superimposed Preeclampsia for Mothers with Mild Chronic Hypertension (CHAP Maternal Follow-up Study) *Grant funded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) |