Administration

Dr. Michael Vernon, PhD, HCLD, ELD

Professor and Chairman

Dr. Michael Vernon is our IVF lab director and a Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology. He graduated with a Bachelors degree from the University of Kentucky, a MS degree from Eastern KY University, a PhD from the University of Florida and completed his post-doctoral fellowship in Reproductive Physiology at the Wisconsin Primate Center. Dr. Vernon has been an Andrology & Embryology Lab Director for over 20 years and was previously a faculty member at the University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University. He was part of the research team in the 1970’s at the Wisconsin Primate Center that successfully performed the first IVF in the rhesus monkey and the Embryologist for the first babies born in Kentucky through IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, micromanipulation and embryo cryopreservation.

Dr. Vernon has published over 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers, abstracts and book chapters, and has given plenary lectures to scientific societies in the US, Europe, Asia and South America. He has also co-authored one book, ‘Endometriosis: A Key to Healing Through Nutrition’ by HarperCollins Books, 1999 and 2002. Dr. Vernon is an ad hoc member and past chair of NIH study sections and is an active member of several national and international societies. He is a member of several scientific society committees including the: Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) Executive Council, SART Quality Control Committee and SART Medical/Legal Committee. He is also the Secretary of the Reproductive Biology Professional group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and President of the WVU chapter of Sigma Xi, the national research society.

Dr. Vernon is board certified as a Highly Complex Lab Director (HCLD) in Embryology and Andrology and as an Embryo Lab Director (ELD) by the American Board of Bioanalysis (ABB) and by the state of West Virginia.

Clinical Department's:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology

Degree Awarded:

• University of Florida
• Eastern Kentucky University

Special Training:

• Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Facility (Fellowship, Endocrinology/Reproductive Physiology)

Special Interests:

• In-vitro fertilization
• Embryology
• Infertility
• Andropology

Just as importantly, the department is committed to educating both residents and students in the practice of medicine and the provision of quality healthcare for women of all ages and backgrounds.

 

Jodi DeFelice

Administrator

Jodi is a native of Morgantown and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Fairmont State University. She is a member of Medical Group Management Association and the Association of Managers in Gynecology and Obstetrics. She recently was an invited participant in the 2011 WVU Healthcare Emerging Leaders Institute.

She has been in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology for 7 years and serves on several committees with the University. She and her husband Marty have two children; Mia and Ava and live in the Cheat Lake area.

 

Departmental Governance

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at WVU is governed by the Administrative Executive Committee (AEC). This committee meets bi-weekly to review and manage Departmental progress in its Clinical, Educational, Research and Outreach goals. The responsibility of the AEC is to assist the Chair in formulating Departmental action for those issues that do not require a faculty vote.

As shown in the following diagram, the AEC leadership of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology consists of five faculty and one non-faculty members:

Administrative Executive Committee

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Administrative Executive Committee (AEC)

Dr. Michael Vernon, Chairman
Dr. Roger Toffle, Vice-Chair of Clinical Services
Dr. Mahreen Hashmi, Vice-Chair of Education
Dr. Rajesh Naz, Vice-Chair of Research
Dr. Angela Obringer, Associate Residency Director
Jodi DeFelice, Administrator