Jessica Illuzzi, MD, MS, FACOG
Biography
Jessica L. Illuzzi, MD, MS, chief of Laborists and Midwifery for Yale Medicine, can pinpoint exactly when she became interested in natural child delivery. Her mother, a doula, participated in a study examining their role in childbirth. At the time, Dr. Illuzzi, a high school student, participated as a research assistant in the study.
“That really showed me the barriers women face in achieving their desired birthing experiences,” says Dr. Illuzzi, who is director of obstetrics at the Vidone Birthing Center at Yale New Haven Health’s Saint Raphael campus. “I went into obstetrics to be a part of the effort to provide women with safe low-intervention, natural birth experiences in the hospital.”
At Vidone, a midwife delivers the baby and an obstetrician is always on hand to help if any complications arise. “Even if a woman develops preeclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy), gestational diabetes or another problem, it will still feel like a natural birth experience and we will help her feel in control,” Dr. Illuzzi says. “I love working with the midwives and families as a team. If we go through a long labor and end up having a vaginal birth, it’s so gratifying. It’s just the midwife and family in the room and I’m out in the hallway, but I hear this invigorating cheer.”
Ultimately, Dr. Iluzzi says her goal is to support women. “If a woman needs an intervention, I don’t want her to feel disappointed or that we pushed her into it,” she says. “Our goal is for women to make educated choices they can feel good about.”
Dr. Illuzzi’s research interest include examining ways to lower the rate of cesarean sections. She is also an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Titles
- Deputy Dean for Education and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
- Chief, Obstetric Specialties & Midwifery
- Medical Director, Obstetrics, Vidone Birthing Center, St. Raphael Campus, YNHH
- Director of Medical Studies, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Director of Electives, Yale School of Medicine
Education & Training
- MSYale University (2006)
- ResidentYale-New Haven Hospital (2002)
- MDHarvard Medical School (1998)
- ABHarvard University, Biochemical Sciences (1994)
Additional Information
- Hellman Award: American College of Nurse Midwives (2017)
- Leah Lowenstein Award: Yale School of Medicine (2010)
- Roy M. Pitkin Award: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2010)
- Bohmfalk Award: Yale School of Medicine (2007)
- Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics Teaching Award: Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2006)
- Peter A. Grannum Memorial Award: Yale School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (2004)
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2014 - Present): ACOG Liaison to the Neonatal Rescucitation Program Committee
- American Association of Birth Centers (2009 - 2019): Board of Directors, Chair, Standards Committee
- Yale School of Medicine (2007 - Present): Education Policy and Curriculum Committee
- Lundsberg LS, Main EK, Lee HC, Lin H, Illuzzi JL, Xu X. Low-Interventional Approaches to Intrapartum Care: Hospital Variation in Practice and Associated Factors. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2020, 65:33-44.
- Haidari ES, Lee HC, Illuzzi JL, Lin H, Xu X. Utility of Birth Certificate Data for Evaluating Hospital Variation in Admissions to NICUs. Hospital Pediatrics 2020, 10:190-194.
- McAdow M, Xu X, Lipkind H, Reddy UM, Illuzzi JL. Association of Oxytocin Rest During Labor Induction of Nulliparous Women With Mode of Delivery. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2020, 135:569-575.
- Campbell KH, Tornatore JM, Lawrence KE, Illuzzi JL, Sussman LS, Lipkind HS, Pettker CM. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Among Patients Admitted for Childbirth in Southern Connecticut. JAMA 2020, 323:2520-2522.
- Dombrowski M, Illuzzi JL, Reddy UM, Lipkind HS, Lee HC, Lin H, Lundsberg LS, Xu X. Trial of Labor After Two Prior Cesarean Deliveries: Patient and Hospital Characteristics and Birth Outcomes. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2020, 136:109-117.
- Haidari ES, Lee HC, Illuzzi JL, Phibbs CS, Lin H, Xu X. Hospital variation in admissions to neonatal intensive care units by diagnosis severity and category. Journal Of Perinatology : Official Journal Of The California Perinatal Association 2020.
- Campbell KH, Illuzzi JL, Lee HC, Lin H, Lipkind HS, Lundsberg LS, Pettker CM, Xu X. Optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes and associated hospital characteristics. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.) 2019, 46:289-299.
- Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H, Lundsberg LS, Campbell KH, Lipkind HS, Pettker CM, Illuzzi JL. Hospital variation in utilization and success of trial of labor after a prior cesarean. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2019, 220:98.e1-98.e14.
- Shorten A, Shorten B, Fagerlin A, Illuzzi J, Kennedy HP, Pettker C, Raju D, Whittemore R. A Study to Assess the Feasibility of Implementing a Web-Based Decision Aid for Birth after Cesarean to Increase Opportunities for Shared Decision Making in Ethnically Diverse Settings. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2019, 64:78-87.
- Duzyj CM, Cooper A, Mhatre M, Han CS, Paidas MJ, Illuzzi JL, Sfakianaki AK. Placenta Accreta: A Spectrum of Predictable Risk, Diagnosis, and Morbidity. American Journal Of Perinatology 2019, 36:1031-1038.
- Severe cardiovascular morbidity in women with hypertensive diseases during delivery hospitalization.Ackerman CM, Platner MH, Spatz ES, Illuzzi JL, Xu X, Campbell KH, Smith GN, Paidas MJ, Lipkind HS. Severe cardiovascular morbidity in women with hypertensive diseases during delivery hospitalization. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2019, 220:582.e1-582.e11.
- Platner MH, Ackerman C, Howland RE, Xu X, Pettker CM, Illuzzi JL, Reddy UM, Chung S, Lipkind HS. Gestational Weight Gain and Severe Maternal Morbidity at Delivery Hospitalization. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2019, 133:515-524.
- Feinberg J, Shaw S, Kashyap N, Illuzzi J, Campbell K, Hsiao AL, Pettker CM. Evaluating the Impact of a New Smartphone Texting Tool on Patient Care in Obstetrics, an Emergent Healthcare Setting. Applied Clinical Informatics 2019, 10:879-887.
- Wasden SW, Chasen ST, Perlman JM, Illuzzi JL, Chervenak FA, Grunebaum A, Lipkind HS. Clarification of the methods and statistics in the study "Planned home birth and the association with neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy". Journal Of Perinatal Medicine 2018, 46:227-228.
- Lundsberg LS, Lee HC, Dueñas GV, Gregory KD, Grossetta Nardini HK, Pettker CM, Illuzzi JL, Xu X. Quality Assurance Practices in Obstetric Care: A Survey of Hospitals in California. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2018, 131:214-223.
- Cyrus KD, Angoff NR, Illuzzi JL, Schwartz ML, Wilkins KM. When patients hurt us. Medical Teacher 2018, 40:1308-1309.
- Oliveira CR, Rock RM, Shapiro ED, Xu X, Lundsberg L, Zhang LB, Gariepy A, Illuzzi JL, Sheth SS. Missed opportunities for HPV immunization among young adult women. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2018, 218:326.e1-326.e7.
- Lawrence A, Morelli E, Simoni M, Illuzzi J. Uterine Incarceration: A Case Study. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2018, 63:352-356.
- Illuzzi JL. Choosing When to Be Born. Journal Of Women's Health (2002) 2018, 27:533-535.
- Illuzzi JL, Greenberg JT, Mancini PA. Epidural Analgesia During the Second Stage of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2018, 131:742.
- Pathy SR, Cron J, Illuzzi JL. Sexual Harassment in Academic Medicine: It Is Time to Break the Silence. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2018, 132:518.
- Xu X, Lee HC, Lin H, Lundsberg LS, Pettker CM, Lipkind HS, Illuzzi JL. Hospital variation in cost of childbirth and contributing factors: a cross-sectional study. BJOG : An International Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology 2018, 125:829-839.
- Wasden SW, Chasen ST, Perlman JM, Illuzzi JL, Chervenak FA, Grunebaum A, Lipkind HS. Planned home birth and the association with neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Journal Of Perinatal Medicine 2017, 45:1055-1060.
- Lundsberg LS, Illuzzi JL, Gariepy AM, Sheth SS, Pettker CM, Lee HC, Lipkind HS, Xu X. Variation in Hospital Intrapartum Practices and Association With Cesarean Rate. Journal Of Obstetric, Gynecologic, And Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN / NAACOG 2017, 46:5-17.
- Kennedy HP, Doig E, Tillman S, Strauss A, Williams B, Pettker C, Illuzzi J. Perspectives on Promoting Hospital Primary Vaginal Birth: A Qualitative Study. Birth (Berkeley, Calif.) 2016, 43:336-345.
- Xu X, Gariepy A, Lundsberg LS, Sheth SS, Pettker CM, Krumholz HM, Illuzzi JL. Wide Variation Found In Hospital Facility Costs For Maternity Stays Involving Low-Risk Childbirth. Health Affairs (Project Hope) 2015, 34:1212-9.
- Shorten A, Fagerlin A, Illuzzi J, Kennedy HP, Lakehomer H, Pettker CM, Saran A, Witteman H, Whittemore R. Developing an Internet-Based Decision Aid for Women Choosing Between Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Planned Repeat Cesarean. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2015, 60:390-400.
- Illuzzi JL, Stapleton SR, Rathbun L. Early and total neonatal mortality in relation to birth setting in the United States, 2006-2009. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2015, 212:250.
- Lundsberg LS, Illuzzi JL, Belanger K, Triche EW, Bracken MB. Low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol consumption and the risk of selected birth outcomes: a prospective cohort study. Annals Of Epidemiology 2015, 25:46-54.e3.
- Gressel GM, Lundsberg LS, Illuzzi JL, Danton CM, Sheth SS, Xu X, Gariepy A. Patient and provider perspectives on Bedsider.org, an online contraceptive information tool, in a low income, racially diverse clinic population. Contraception 2014, 90:588-93.
- Pettker CM, Thung SF, Lipkind HS, Illuzzi JL, Buhimschi CS, Raab CA, Copel JA, Lockwood CJ, Funai EF. A comprehensive obstetric patient safety program reduces liability claims and payments. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2014, 211:319-25.
- Zuckerwise LC, Pettker CM, Illuzzi J, Raab CR, Lipkind HS. Use of a novel visual aid to improve estimation of obstetric blood loss. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2014, 123:982-986.
- Lundsberg LS, Pal L, Gariepy AM, Xu X, Chu MC, Illuzzi JL. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding conception and fertility: a population-based survey among reproductive-age United States women. Fertility And Sterility 2014, 101:767-74.
- Collier CH, Risnes K, Norwitz ER, Bracken MB, Illuzzi JL. Maternal infection in pregnancy and risk of asthma in offspring. Maternal And Child Health Journal 2013, 17:1940-50.
- Belanger K, Buka S, Cherry DC, Dudley DJ, Elliott MR, Hale DE, Hertz-Picciotto I, Illuzzi JL, Paneth N, Robbins JM, Triche EW, Bracken MB. Implementing provider-based sampling for the National Children's Study: opportunities and challenges. Paediatric And Perinatal Epidemiology 2013, 27:20-6.
- Stapleton SR, Osborne C, Illuzzi J. Outcomes of care in birth centers: demonstration of a durable model. Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2013, 58:3-14.
- Illuzzi JL, Lundsberg LS, Bracken MB. Hospital volume, provider volume, and complications after childbirth in U.S. hospitals. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2012, 119:379; author reply 379-80.
- El-Sahwi KS, Illuzzi J, Varughese J, Carusillo N, Ratner ES, Silasi DA, Azodi M, Schwartz PE, Rutherford TJ, Santin AD. A survey of gynecologic oncologists regarding the end-of-life discussion: a pilot study. Gynecologic Oncology 2012, 124:471-3.
- Illuzzi JL, Bracken MB. Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and its relationship to neonatal and infant mortality in the United States. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2012, 206:e5; author reply e5-6.
- Archabald K, Lundsberg L, Triche E, Norwitz E, Illuzzi J. Women's prenatal concerns regarding breastfeeding: are they being addressed? Journal Of Midwifery & Women's Health 2011, 56:2-7.
- Nayeri UA, Norwitz E, Illuzzi J. Perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies with discordant Doppler velocimetric findings. Journal Of Ultrasound In Medicine : Official Journal Of The American Institute Of Ultrasound In Medicine 2011, 30:1561-5.
- Werner EF, Janevic TM, Illuzzi J, Funai EF, Savitz DA, Lipkind HS. Mode of delivery in nulliparous women and neonatal intracranial injury. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2011, 118:1239-1246.
- Elsahwi KS, Barber E, Illuzzi J, Buza N, Ratner E, Silasi DA, Santin AD, Azodi M, Schwartz PE, Rutherford TJ. The significance of perineural invasion in early-stage cervical cancer. Gynecologic Oncology 2011, 123:561-4.
- Barber EL, Lundsberg LS, Belanger K, Pettker CM, Funai EF, Illuzzi JL. Indications contributing to the increasing cesarean delivery rate. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2011, 118:29-38.
- Barber EL, Funai EF, Bracken MB, Illuzzi JL. Interpretation of 2002 Centers for Disease Control guidelines for group B streptococcus and evolving provider practice patterns. American Journal Of Perinatology 2011, 28:97-102.
- Kershnar R, Hooper C, Gold M, Norwitz ER, Illuzzi JL. Adolescent medicine: attitudes, training, and experience of pediatric, family medicine, and obstetric-gynecology residents. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine 2009, 82:129-41.
- Kang EM, Lundsberg LS, Illuzzi JL, Bracken MB. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and asthma in children. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2009, 114:1295-1306.
- Woensdregt K, Norwitz ER, Cackovic M, Paidas MJ, Illuzzi JL. Effect of 2 stitches vs 1 stitch on the prevention of preterm birth in women with singleton pregnancies who undergo cervical cerclage. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology 2008, 198:396.e1-7.
- St Clair C, Norwitz ER, Woensdregt K, Cackovic M, Shaw JA, Malkus H, Ehrenkranz RA, Illuzzi JL. The probability of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome as a function of gestational age and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio. American Journal Of Perinatology 2008, 25:473-80.
- Barber EL, Zhao G, Buhimschi IA, Illuzzi JL. Duration of intrapartum prophylaxis and concentration of penicillin G in fetal serum at delivery. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2008, 112:265-70.
- Silasi DA, Illuzzi JL, Kelly MG, Rutherford TJ, Mor G, Azodi M, Schwartz PE. Carcinosarcoma of the ovary. International Journal Of Gynecological Cancer : Official Journal Of The International Gynecological Cancer Society 2008, 18:22-9.
- Kalanithi LE, Illuzzi JL, Nossov VB, Frisbaek Y, Abdel-Razeq S, Copel JA, Norwitz ER. Intrauterine growth restriction and placental location. Journal Of Ultrasound In Medicine : Official Journal Of The American Institute Of Ultrasound In Medicine 2007, 26:1481-9.
- Silasi DA, Alvero AB, Illuzzi J, Kelly M, Chen R, Fu HH, Schwartz P, Rutherford T, Azodi M, Mor G. MyD88 predicts chemoresistance to paclitaxel in epithelial ovarian cancer. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine 2006, 79:153-63.
- Hamar BD, Illuzzi JL, Funai EF. Clinical triggers to initiate intrapartum penicillin therapy for prevention of group B streptococcus infection. American Journal Of Perinatology 2006, 23:493-8.
- Duration of intrapartum prophylaxis for neonatal group B streptococcal disease: a systematic review.Illuzzi JL, Bracken MB. Duration of intrapartum prophylaxis for neonatal group B streptococcal disease: a systematic review. Obstetrics And Gynecology 2006, 108:1254-65.
- Yale New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus1450 Chapel StreetNew Haven, CT, 06511
- Center for Women's Health and Midwifery200 Orchard Street, Ste 108New Haven, CT, 06511