ACOG CEFALO National Leadership Institute
Faculty
AnnaMarie Connolly, MD, FACOG
Chief for Education Workforce & Well-Being
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
AnnaMarie Connolly, MD serves as a Chief for Education and Academic Affairs for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is also Distinguished Professor Emeritus with the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina. She is the immediate Past Vice Chair for Education and Distinguished Professor in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina. After completing her residency at UNC, Dr. Connolly worked as a specialist in private practice for 2 years. She then returned to the University and completed a fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery.
Dr. Connolly’s clinical experience covers all aspects of urogynecologic and prolapse evaluation and treatment. Dr. Connolly is experienced in all aspects of surgical management of pelvic floor dysfunction including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, prolapse, and fistula repair. Dr. Connolly’s primary research interests include medical education and the effect of childbirth on the pelvic floor. She has published original research work on educational and clinical programming and tool development.
Dr. Connolly has worked with all levels of medical learners, serving for 6 years as course director for the Mechanism of Disease course, Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; serving for 7 years as Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship director, and serving as Residency Program Director for the 14 years. Dr. Connolly also served for 4 years as the Fellowship Program Director for the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine.
Her commitment to clinical practice and medical education has been recognized by the UNC School of Medicine. This includes her Directorship of the UNC Teaching Scholars Program for the past 20 years. Dr. Connolly has been honored for her educational efforts including yearly receipt of the “Golden Tar Heel” award from the Department of OB/GYN for excellence in medical student education over the past 21 years. Her awards have also included her selection as commencement speaker by the UNC School of Medicine’s 2005 graduating class; the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the UNC School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award on 5 occasions; the Hyman L. Battle Distinguished Excellence in Teaching Award in the Clinical Sciences to name a few. Dr. Connolly was awarded the H. Fleming Fuller Award in 2005, the “Physician of the Year Award” for the UNC Health Care System, by the UNC Health Care Board of Directors in recognition of her compassionate patient care and excellence in teaching and community service.
Dr. Connolly has also been recognized for her excellence in teaching by the UNC-Chapel Hill Medical Alumni Association and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic with her appointment as the Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD M ‘36 Distinguished Professor in 2012.
She has been recognized nationally for her leadership in medical education. She has served as a member and Vice Chair of the ACGME’s Residency Review Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Connolly has served as a Board Examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology for both specialty and FPMRS subspecialty examinations. Dr. Connolly served on and chaired the American Urogynecologic Society Education Council for 7 years. She currently serves as the Co-Director for the CREOG Residents and Teachers and Leaders course. She has published on the use of innovative educational tools in medical education and was a key contributor to the development of the Foundation for Exxcellence in Women’s Health educational program, myTIPreport. Dr. Connolly’s work has been presented regularly at major national meetings, including the key conference for educators in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the annual CREOG/APGO meeting. At the 2006, 2008, 2011, 2016, and 2018 annual meetings,
Her original research was awarded the 1st place prize for oral presentation, poster presentation, and oral presentation by a Resident, 2nd place oral presentation, and twice won the Exxcellence Foundation Award, respectively.