Current and Ongoing Research

Ongoing and prior research projects, presentations, and publications are listed below and demonstrate the diverse research and academic opportunities within our CBG division.

UConn Health/Saint Francis Hospital FCBG

Presentations

  • Forlenza K, Carter J, Jones J, Paulo D, Ulrich A. Does Percent of Fibroid Enhancement on MRI Impact Intraoperative Blood Loss during Gynecologic Surgery? Virtual Poster Presentation. AAGL's 54th Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Vancouver, British Columbia. November 2025.
  • GiglioAyers P, Pinchman E, Wu R, Luciano D, LaMonica R. The Influence of Social History on Endometriosis Diagnosis: The Roles of Trauma, Tobacco, and Alcohol Use. Virtual poster presentation at American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists 54th Global Congress on MIGS. Vancouver, BC. November 2025.
  • Giglio-Ayers, P, Jones, J, Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. An Uphill Battle: Challenges Faced by the Breastfeeding and Pumping Gynecologic Surgeon. Oral Presentation. 51st Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Rancho Mirage, CA. March 30 - April 2, 2025.
  • Jones, J, Emlein, R, Giglio-Ayers, P, Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. Impact of Pregnancy on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Female Gynecologic Surgeons: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Poster presentation. 51st Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Rancho Mirage, CA. March 30 - April 2, 2025.
  • Carmain, M., Ulrich, A., Tunitsky-Bitton, E. Perfused Cadaver: Augmentation of Cadaver-Based Surgical Simulation. VideoFest presentation at SGS, Phoenix, AZ, March 23rd, 2026.
  • Buck, S, Surkis, C, Ulrich, A, Shepherd, P, Jones, J. Correlation Between Endometriosis Protocol MRI Findings and Endometriosis Symptoms Including Infertility. E-poster. 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Phoenix, AZ. March 22-25, 2026.
  • DiPiazza, M, Hla, A, GiglioAyers, P, Shepherd, J, Ulrich, A. "Impact of Transcervical Radiofrequency Ablation of Uterine Fibroids on Operating Room Time and Post-Operative Pain. E-poster. 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Phoenix, AZ. March 22-25, 2026.
  • Hla, A, GiglioAyers, P, DiPiazza, M, Shepherd, J, Ulrich, A. "Concomitant Procedure at the Time of Transcervical Radiofrequency Ablation of Uterine Fibroids: Intra- and Post-Operative Outcomes. E-poster. 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Phoenix, AZ. March 22-25, 2026.
  • Surkis, C, Buck, S, Ulrich, A, Shepherd, P, Jones, J. Implementation of “Benign Tumor Board” to Enhance Multidisciplinary Surgical Management of Endometriosis and Predictors of Colorectal Surgeon Involvement. Rapid oral poster presentation. 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting of SGS. Phoenix, AZ. March 22-25, 2026.
  • GiglioAyers P, Kurchena K, Cronin B. Novel Simulation to Improve Provider Comfort in Caring for Transgender and Gender Diverse Patients. Simulation Café presentation at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 51st Annual Scientific Meeting. Rancho Mirage, California. March 2025.
  • Kowalski, K, Bian, H, Newmark, A, Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. Effect of Location of Minilaparotomy for Morcellation at the Time of Myomectomy and Hysterectomy on Postoperative Pain. Oral presentation. AAGL's 53rd Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. New Orleans, Louisiana. November 18, 2024.
  • Jones, J, Nilsson, W Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. Preliminary Findings after Implementation of a Multidisciplinary “Benign” Tumor Board Conference for Optimizing Surgical Management. Poster presentation. AAGL's 53rd Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. New Orleans, Louisiana. November 16-20, 2024.
  • Forlenza, K, Williams, J, Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. Concomitant Fibroids and Endometriosis: Prevalence and Impact on Surgical Management. Poster presentation. AAGL's 53rd Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. New Orleans, Louisiana. November 16-20, 2024.
  • Jessica Cheung, MD, Amanda Ulrich, MD, Jessie Jones, MD, Wesley Nilsson, MD, Elise Courtois, PhD, Danielle E. Luciano, MD. From or to Bench: Translational Research Using a Modern, Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Approach for Surgeons. Poster presentation. AAGL's 53rd Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. New Orleans, Louisiana. November 16-20, 2024.
  • Gomez, N, Nilsson, W, Ulrich, A. Temporary Uterine Artery Embolization and its Impact on Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes. Poster presentation. ACOG Districts I, V & VI Annual District Meeting. Boston, Massachusetts, September 27-29, 2024.
  • Williams, J, Forlenza, K, Swede, H, Luciano, D, Ulrich, A. Vitamin D Deficiency in black women with uterine fibroids. Poster presentation. Society of Gynecologic Surgeons conference. Orlando, FL. March 24-27, 2024.
  • L. Roth MD, W. Nilsson MD, MBA, A. Newmark MD, J. Shepherd MD. Why does the gonad matter? Evaluating treatment delays in ovarian and testicular torsions. SGS 50th conference. 2024.
  • K. Koniares MD; W. Nilsson MD, MBA; D. Luciano MD, D. Schmidt MD. Chronic Ectopic Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Poster presentation. Midwest reproductive symposium. 2024.
  • W. Nilsson MD, MBA; Pooja Prasad MS, D. Luciano MD. Does an endometriosis care plan help patients and providers more thoroughly understand their disease? Poster: ACOG Districts I, V & VI Annual District Meeting. 2024.
  • W. Nilsson MD, MBA; A. Ulrich MD, Nicole Gomez MS, Temporary Uterine Artery Embolization and its Impact on Fertility and Pregnancy Outcomes. Poster. ACOG. 2024.
  • Newmark, A, Ulrich, A, Luciano, D. Laparoscopic Transverse Abdominis Plane Block versus Port Site Local Anesthetic Infiltration for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Gynecologic Surgery. Poster presentation. SGS Soc of Gynecologic Surgeons 2023 in Tucson, AZ, March 19-22, 2023
  • Nilsson, W, Ulrich, A. Resection of a Cavitated Non-Communicating Uterine Horn with a Unicornuate Uterus. Video presentation. SGS Soc of Gynecologic Surgeons 2023 in Tucson, AZ, March 19-22, 2023
  • Nilsson, W, Ulrich, A. Surgically complicated Isthmocele Resection. Finalist in the AAGL SurgeryU Best Picture Award. AAGL's 51st Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. December 2022.
  • Nilsson, W, Ulrich, A. Surgical surprise during isthmocele resection. Video presentation. SLS Annual meeting 2022 in New Orleans, September 2022.
  • Purtell, H, Ulrich, A, Luciano, D, Morosky, C. Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery for Senior Medical Students Entering Surgical Residency. Virtual poster presentation. AAGL's 51st Global Congress on Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. December 2022.
  • Adrienne Schmidt, MD, Danielle Luciano, MD, Amanda Ulrich, MD. (2021). Combined Hysteroscopic and Laparoscopic Approach to a Complicated Case of Asherman’s Syndrome. Video presentation. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.
  • Alexis Newmark, MD, Danielle Luciano, MD, Anthony Luciano, MD, Amanda Ulrich, MD. (2021).Laparoscopic Tubal Reanastomosis. Video presentation. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology.
  • Comparing Postoperative Pain with Laparoscopic versus Robotic Sacrocolpopexy. Schmidt M, Turner L, Bradley M, Shepherd J. Poster Presentation AAGL 48th Global Congress Vancouver Nov. 2019.
  • Correlation Between Ultrasound Classification of Adenomyosis and Surgical Staging of Endometriosis. Ditrio L, Schmidt M, Morosky C, Luciano DE. Oral Presentation at
  • American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Congress, March 2020. Done Virtually due to COVID.
  • Identification of Juvenile Cystic Adenomyoma using 3D Ultrasound: A report of two cases. Wilcox A. Schmidt M. Luciano DE. Oral Presentation at American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine Annual Congress, March 2020. Done virtually due to COVID.
  • Management of a Utero-Paravaginal Fistula: A Case Report. Megan F Schmidt, M.D., Alexandre M. West, M.D., Anthony A. Luciano, M.D., Poster Presentation AAGL 2020 Virtual Global Congress on MIGS, November 2020.
  • Preparing OB/GYN Residents for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Exam Megan F Schmidt, M.D., Alexis Newmark, M.D., Rachel LaMonica, D.O., Jonathan Shepherd, M.D., Danielle E. Luciano, M.D. Poster Presentation at AAGL 2020 Virtual Global Congress on MIGS, November 2020.
  • Cellular Phenotyping of Endometriosis at the Single Cell Level Highlights Complex Heterogeneity. Danielle E. Luciano, M.D., Oral Presentation AAGL 2020 Virtual Global Congress on MIGS, November 2020. (Clinical PI Study done with Jackson Laboratories, grant from the Department of Defense Cellular Phenotyping of Endometriosis-Towards Biomarker Discovery and a Mechanistic Understanding of Disease).
  • Rapid Referral for Iron Infusion in Gynecological Patients. Amanda Paige Ulrich, M.D.1, Arielle Katcher, M.D.2, Lizelle Comfort, M.D.2, Melissa Plummer, BS3, Xianhong Xie, Ph.D.4, Melissa Fazzari, Ph.D., M.S.4, Mark Chaitowitz, MD5 and Holly K. Yettaw Luts, M.D.6 Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY. Oral Presentation AAGL 2020 Virtual Global Conference on MIGS, November 2020.
  • Removal of Essure Contraceptive Device. Moona Arabkhazaeli, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology, Amanda Paige Ulrich, M.D., Kari M. Plewniak, M.D., BS, OB/GYN (Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery), Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Poster Presentation AAGL Virtual Global Conference on MIGS, November 2020.

    Publications

    • Lerner, Veronica MD; Ulrich, Amanda MD; Chen, Chi Chiung Grace MD, MHS; Baekalandt, Jan MD. Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Obstetrics & Gynecology ():10.1097/AOG.0000000000006198, March 6, 2026.
    • Leigh Kowalski, Madison Buchman, Helen Bian, Kelin Zhong, Chia-Ling Kuo, Alexis Newmark, Danielle Luciano, Amanda Ulrich. Effect of Location of Minilaparotomy for Morcellation at the time of Myomectomy and Hysterectomy on Postoperative Pain, Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, 2026, ISSN 1553-4650, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2026.01.053.
    • Arti Taggar, Amanda Ulrich, Yuliana Tan, Danielle E. Luciano, Melinda Sanders, Elise T. Courtois, Claudio Benadiva. A single biomarker may not yield a reliable binary clinical answer: B cell lymphoma 6 testing and resulting interventions for endometriosis in infertility care, F&S Reports, Volume 7, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 31-37, ISSN 2666-3341, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xfre.2025.11.005.
    • Woron, Felicia, Jones, Jessie, Shreck, Evan, Ulrich, Amanda. Bilateral Obstructive Uropathy From a Large Uterine Fibroid Causing Severe Renal Impairment: A Case Report, Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2026, 5579471, 5 pages, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1155/crog/5579471.
    • GiglioAyers P, Jones J, Hintz EA, Luciano D, Ulrich A. Challenges in Breastfeeding Faced by the Lactating Gynecologic Surgeon. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2025;20(11):831-836. doi:10.1177/15568253251371712.
    • Roth L, Nilsson W, Newmark A, Shepherd J. Torsion Time; A Retrospective Cohort Study to Assess Surgeon Gender Bias for Time to Operating Room with Ovarian Torsion. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2025 Sep 4:S1553-4650(25)00337-1.
    • Nilsson W, Narwold E, Turner L, Shepherd J. Comparing Post-Operative Pain Outcomes in Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery With and Without a Hysterectomy. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Aug;36(8):1649-1654.
    • Morocco E, Lua-Mailland L, Werth A, Carr D, Rabice S, Ashmore S, Duong V, Wilkes M, Nilsson W, Ferzandi T. Are antibiotics necessary? A multi-center prospective cohort study of antibiotic prophylaxis
      versus no prophylaxis in patients receiving onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox ®) for idiopathic overactive bladder. Published (Urogynecology) PMID: 39689227 2025
    • So M, Koniares K, Nilsson W, Schmidt D, Luciano D. Chronic ectopic pregnancy after intrauterine insemination: A case report and review of the literature. J Case Rep Images Obstet Gynecol 2025;11(1):77–82.
    • GiglioAyers P, Zaluski K, Hampton BS, Foley CE. Effect of a Guided Video-Based Coaching Session on Resident Satisfaction, Knowledge, and Confidence: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Gynecologic Surgery. Epub ahead of print, May 2025.
    • GiglioAyers P, Newmark A. Visualization of Adenomyosis in Gynecologic Surgery: A Multi-Modal Approach. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2025 Mar 31:S1553-4650(25)00121-9.
    • GiglioAyers, P, Jones J, Hintz E, Luciano L, Ulrich A. Challenges in breastfeeding faced by the lactating gynecologic surgeon. Breastfeeding Medicine. Volume 00, Number 00, 2025, ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
    • Shepherd JP, Giglio-Ayers P, Iglesia CB, Bradley M. Bladder Distension for Cystoscopy and Urodynamics During Intravenous Fluid Shortages. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Jan 1;31(1):3-6.
    • Forlenza KN, Johansson AR, Onulack KW, McLoughlin RJ, Ulrich AP. Small Bowel Obstruction after Abdominal Myomectomy Involving Barbed Suture: A Case Report and Preventive Measures for Risk Reduction. Clin J Obstet Gynecol. 2024; 7: 034-036.
    • Nilsson W, Schmidt M, Turner L, Shepherd J. Comparing Postoperative Pain With Laparoscopic Versus Robotic Sacrocolpopexy. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2024 Mar;31(3):200-204.
    • Newmark AL, Luciano DE, Ulrich A, Luciano AA. Medical management of endometriosis. Minerva Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Oct;73(5):572-587.
    • Ulrich, Amanda, MD, Arabkhazaeli, Moona, MD, Dellacerra, Gary, DO, Malcher, Flavio, MD and Lerner, Veronica, MD. A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Patient with Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis. Obstet Gynecol Cases Rev. April 2021, 8:196.
    • Lerner V, DeStephano C, Ulrich A, Han ME, Leclaire E, Chen CC. A Systematic Review of Validity Evidence for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Exam in Gynecology. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. 2021 Jul;28(7):1313-1324.
    • Schmidt M, Ditrio L, Shute B, Luciano DE. Surgical management and gynecologic care of the transgender patient. Current Opinion OBGyn 2019; 31(4): 228-34.
    • Wilcox A, Luciano DE, Morosky C. Vaginal Cuff Dehiscence. Topics in Ob Gyn. 2020; 40(13):1-5.
    • Bartels C, Luciano AA, Luciano DE. Rare case of abdominal scar endometriosis by direct communication between fallopian tube and abdominal wall. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders. 2020;12(3-4):120-23.
    • Wilcox A, Schmidt M, Luciano DE. Identification of Juvenile Cystic Adenomyoma Using High-Resolution Imaging. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;136(5):1021-24.