About

Abike T. James, M.D., M.P.H., is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She serves as an Attending at Penn Ob/Gyn Associates in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. James also holds the position of Vice Chair of Academic Excellence and Community Engagement within the department. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Mathematics in the Social Sciences from Dartmouth College, an MPH in Public Management and Community Health from Harvard School of Public Health, and an M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine. Her professional expertise encompasses community engagement and health equity, with a focus on improving obstetric and gynecological care, addressing disparities, and promoting health equity. She has contributed to research and publications related to obstetric care, racial disparities in maternal health, and community health initiatives.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Sociology
• Internal medicine
• Pharmacology
• Pathology
• Engineering
• Emergency medicine
• Surgery
• Gender studies
• Intensive care medicine
• Psychology
• Operations management
• Obstetrics

Selected publications

• Clinician Perspectives on Navigating Conversations Around Racial Disparities in Obstetrics

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2025-10-02

  article

  OBJECTIVE: Discussions around racial disparities in obstetrics occur in varied silos including the media, communities, and medical institutions. Yet, whether and how these discussions occur in the context of the patient-clinician relationship is unknown. We sought to explore clinician perspectives on conversations with patients regarding racial disparities in maternal health using a qualitative approach. METHODS: We enrolled perinatal clinicians (N=14) across two hospitals within one academic health system from August 2023 to March 2024, purposively sampled by self-identified race or ethnicity and role until thematic saturation was achieved. Semistructured interviews using the Health Equity Implementation Framework evaluated prior experience with and optimization of disparities counseling, focusing on patient-clinician race concordance, comfort levels, barriers, ideal circumstances, and recommended content for conversations about racial disparities in maternal health. Interviews were coded with a content analysis approach by two coders with high interrater reliability (κ>0.8). RESULTS: Clinicians universally recognized the effect of race, specifically racism, on U.S. maternal outcomes. Conversations about racial disparities most frequently arose 1) when Black patients voiced fears of dying or concerns about bias in their care or 2) in the context of recommending aspirin for preeclampsia risk reduction. Black clinicians felt more comfortable with these discussions, attributed to lived experience and practice. Although most clinicians agreed that conversations with patients about racial disparities are important, they identified barriers such as fear of patient reactions (particularly with discordant race), time constraints, and unclear actionable response. CONCLUSION: Our findings, along with ongoing work on the patient perspective, highlight the need for respectful, informed conversations centering patient experiences. As awareness of racial disparities grows, perinatal clinicians must develop capabilities for discussing race constructively, practicing relationship-centered care, and promoting psychologic safety for Black patients.

  PublisherDOI

• Confronting segregation of care in OBGYN: a national survey of program directors

  Journal of Health Equity · 2025-08-26

  articleOpen access

  The structure of ambulatory care in teaching hospitals may contribute to disparities in reproductive outcomes, particularly when outpatient care is segregated by insurance status and race. To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of separate faculty and resident practices in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN), including payor and racial segregation. Electronic survey administered to OBGYN Residency Program Directors (PDs) from March to September 2023. Ninety-two of 299 PDs responded (31%). Sixty-one programs (66%) reported separate resident and attending practices. Patient assignment was based on appointment availability (77%), patient request (54%), and insurance (37%). Only 30% of programs with separate practices collected data comparing patient demographics, care quality, or outcomes between practices; among these, 72% reported at least one demographic disparity, including differences in race (28%), insurance (67%), and socioeconomic status (61%). A majority reported similar quality of care and patient outcomes between practices, and 64% reported no efforts to integrate. Separate attending and resident ambulatory practices in OBGYN are prevalent and can result in segregated care. National guidance is needed to promote equitable outpatient care while ensuring strong educational experiences. Solutions must be data-driven, locally-tailored, and developed in collaboration with patients, clinicians, educators, and professional organizations.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Integrating Payor-Segregated Outpatient OBGYN Care Models: The Clinician Perspective

  Women s Health Issues · 2025-05-28

  articleOpen access

  PURPOSE: Significant and unacceptable racial disparities in maternal health and gynecologic outcomes exist in the United States, with ambulatory care being a potential contributor. In many academic medical centers (AMCs), publicly insured and uninsured patients receive care in clinics staffed primarily by residents under attending supervision, whereas those with private insurance see attending physicians at a different site. This segregation by payor can translate to de facto racial segregation. This study explores clinician perspectives on payor-segregated care delivery by resident and attending sites in a major AMC and their opinions on integrating these sites. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with attending physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) from both sites. The interview guide focused on: 1) perceived value of the current care model, 2) attitudes toward care integration, and 3) barriers and facilitators to integration. Interviews were conducted from October 2022 to January 2023 until thematic saturation was achieved. Data analysis involved an integrated approach with grounded theory, with 20% of transcripts double-coded (k = .90). RESULTS: We interviewed 15 clinicians (10 attendings, five APPs). Although clinicians recognized some value in the existing segregated system, they supported ending it as a moral imperative to combat inequity. They also highlighted challenges and expressed concerns about feasibility of integration. Concerns encompassed maintaining patient-clinician continuity, acceptance of trainees by privately insured patients, potential erosion of mission-driven care, and the risk of racist interactions if a safe space for a vulnerable community is disrupted. Clinicians stressed the need for resources and small-scale trials before full-scale integration. CONCLUSION: Although clinicians expressed unity around the concept of integrating ambulatory care delivery, a path toward implementing an alternative model of care remains unclear. This study provides initial insights into disparities in ambulatory OBGYN care and may guide health systems considering care integration.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Lift Every Voice: Driving Antiracist Structure, Policy, and Culture Change in the Health Care Workplace

  NEJM Catalyst · 2025-06-18

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Abstract C131: Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention

  Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention · 2025-09-18

  article

  Abstract Over 13,000 women are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer and >4,000 women die from this preventable disease in the United States annually. Black women are 50% more likely to die compared to White women. More than half of all cervical cancer cases occur in women who have never been or are infrequently screened. HPV self-collection may increase access to cervical cancer screening and reduce healthcare disparities. The National Cancer Institute-sponsored ‘Self-collection for HPV testing to Improve Cervical Cancer Prevention’ (SHIP) trial seeks to expand evidence on self-collection-based screening approaches. This study explores acceptability and preferences for HPV self-collection at the University of Pennsylvania site, one of 25 SHIP trial sites in the US. The study included individuals with a cervix, >25 years, and referred for colposcopy and/or LEEP after testing positive for HPV or found to have abnormal cytology within 12 months preceding the referral visit. Exclusion criteria included current pregnancy or delivery in the past 3 months, cervical excisional procedures or ablative therapy to the cervix in the 12 months prior to the referral visit, and history of a complete or partial hysterectomy. After obtaining informed consent and verifying demographic information, an Instructions for Use (IFU) document, detailing how to complete the HPV self-collection using the Rovers Evalyn® Brush for vaginal self-collection, were provided to the study participants. Participants completed the self-collection procedure in an adjoining private bathroom and handed the self-collection device to clinic staff for further processing. Before undergoing other study procedures, participants were offered an optional questionnaire about their experiences of self-collection. Participants received a $50 debit or gift card for reimbursement of time and efforts for involvement in the study. Out of 75 consented participants, 72 (96%) completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 40 years (s.d.12, range 25-70). The majority were Black/African American (64%), with 31% White, 1% Asian, 4% more than one race, and 7% of Hispanic ethnicity. All respondents found the self-collection process easy to perform. Two-thirds (66%) of participants reported no discomfort with self-collection (29% slight and 4% moderate discomfort). All but one participant (99%) found the IFU clear. When asked which method of sample collection they preferred, the majority (60%) indicated self-collection, about one third (34%) had no preference, and only a small fraction (6%) indicated clinician collection1. Among those that prefer self-collection, the top three factors they considered most important when choosing a sample collection method were convenience, ease of use, and accuracy. This is one of the first studies to report HPV self-collection acceptability and preferences among a predominantly Black population. Self-collection for HPV testing is a feasible, acceptable, and a highly preferred approach with the majority of participants finding the IFU to be very clear and reporting no discomfort. Citation Format: Ashley E. Santaniello, Carolina E. Viswanath, Sarah Cohen, Haideliza Soto-Calderon, Lauren Vincent, Joanna Wishnoff, Abike James, Danielle Burkland, Isabella An, Margaret G. House, Vikrant V. Sahasrabuddhe, Carmen E. Guerra. Acceptability of HPV self-collection for cervical cancer prevention [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C131.

  PublisherDOI

• Trends in severe maternal morbidity following an institutional team goal strategy for disparity reduction

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2024-10-18 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Patient Acceptability of Social Needs Screening at an Ambulatory Prenatal Practice [ID 2683516]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2024-05-01

  article

  INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDOH) influence maternal–child health outcomes, but standardized social needs screening for prenatal patients is rare, and obstetric practices lack guidance for implementation and tool selection. Our objective was to evaluate patient acceptability of and preferences for SDOH screening during prenatal care. METHODS: A paper-based patient survey regarding acceptability of SDOH screening was distributed during a pilot of two different validated screening tools at an ambulatory prenatal practice. Pregnant patients were given the survey during prenatal visits. Demographic data were abstracted from chart review. Descriptive analysis was employed to interpret the findings. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were surveyed. Of these, 67% of patients identified as Black or African American, and 84% had Medicaid or emergency medical assistance. Our patients viewed screening favorably: 82% believed that our team would be able to provide helpful resources, 75% would welcome our assistance if faced with social challenges, and 77% would use resources if provided. Only 11% of patients disagreed that social needs screening was relevant to their prenatal visit. Just 15% of patients preferred the questions to be asked verbally compared to self-administered. CONCLUSION: Social needs screening is acceptable to prenatal patients and can be feasibly self-administered. Patients felt that the SDOH questions were relevant to their care and would be open to resources and referrals if they had social needs. Future goals will be to universalize screening in prenatal practices, identify acceptable screening tools, and ensure social needs are addressed effectively once identified.

  PublisherDOI

• Beyond race: embracing epistemic justice in addressing antiblack racism as a cardiovascular risk factor in pregnancy

  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM · 2024-09-12

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• 226 Family separation at birth: impact of marijuana-only positive urine drug screening on the parent-neonatal dyad

  American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2024-01-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Effect of Urine Drug Screening for No Prenatal Care on the Parent–Neonatal Dyad [ID 2683382]

  Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2024-05-01

  articleSenior author

  INTRODUCTION: Urine drug screens (UDS) during pregnancy can perpetuate racial disparities that extend far past medical outcomes and into the autonomy of birthing persons and their family unit. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study compared pregnant patients admitted to the labor floor from September 1, 2020 to June 1, 2022, with UDS collected for no prenatal care (“NPNC”) to those collected for all other indications including altered mental status, use of nonprescribed substances, medications for opioid use disorder, suspicion of abruption, unexplained hypertension, or fetal demise (“Other Cohort”). Chi-squared analysis and Student's t -test were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: Of 7,022 births, 127 (2%) had UDS collected. Patients who identified as Black were significantly more likely to have UDS collected ( P <.0001). Of 127 UDS, 29 were sent for NPNC alone, and 98 were sent for other indications. There was no difference in age, race, or insurance status between the two groups. Among the NPNC cohort, 8 were positive for marijuana alone (28%), 3 (10%) for opioids (two provided by the care team), 1 for benzodiazepine (provided by the care team), and the rest were negative (59%). Significantly more patients were positive for opioids or other substances (not marijuana alone) in the “other cohort” compared to the NPNC cohort ( P =.002). CONCLUSION: The majority of UDS for NPNC were negative, or positive for marijuana alone. Our findings show potential for harm, and no added utility, when using NPNC as an indication for collecting a UDS as reporting marijuana alone to government agencies may have disproportionately negative effects for Black patients.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kurt T. Barnhart

  University of Pennsylvania

  400 shared

• Amy Cohen

  Harvard University

  16 shared

• Michael B. Bracken

  Providence Center

  16 shared

• Ellice Lieberman

  Harvard University

  16 shared

• Audrey F. Saftlas

  University of Iowa

  16 shared

• Sarita Sonalkar

  University of Pennsylvania

  5 shared

• Lakeisha Mulugeta‐Gordon

  University of Pennsylvania Health System

  4 shared

• Marijane A. Krohn

  4 shared

Education

• B.A., Mathematics in the Social Sciences

  Dartmouth College

  1992

• Other, Public Management and Community Health

  Harvard School of Public Health

  1997

• M.D.

  Yale University School of Medicine

  1997