Jerris Hedges, dean of the University of Hawai‘i at MÇnoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, has announced the appointment of Dr. Lynnae Sauvage to chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health.

Sauvage, who has served as interim chair of OB-GYN since 2007, leads a team of practicing medical school physicians at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.

“I look forward to working with the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s leadership, particularly Dr. Hedges, to advocate for and advance women’s health,” Sauvage said. “We have great physicians and employees in the department and are committed to providing the best training for our medical
students.”

Sauvage heads the National Children’s Study in Hawai‘i, a long-term, first-of-its-kind project which will involve about 1,000 O‘ahu families, beginning next year. Researchers will monitor every aspect of child health and development, from before birth through age 21. Their goal is to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to health disorders and derive information to treat and prevent some of the nation’s most pressing health problems, including autism, asthma, birth defects, diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Sauvage attended Georgetown Medical School. She completed her residency training and a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at the University of Southern California.