University of Utah center opens with a mission to reduce number of stillbirths
Oct 15, 2024, 6:00 AM

Bob Silver, MD, meets with patients in the U-PAL Program at University of Utah Hospital. He is the co-director of the new center that aims to research and provide care for stillbirths. (University of Utah Health)
(University of Utah Health)
SALT LAKE CITY — There are more than 20,000 stillbirths in the United States every year. That means on average, one in every 160 pregnancies ends in stillbirth.
But a new center has just opened at the University of Utah with a mission to reduce those numbers.
The Stillbirth Center of Excellence is the first of its kind in the country.
Dr. Bob Silver, Chair of OBGYN at the University of Utah says one measure of success will be the reduction of stillbirths in Utah and the United States.
Over the next decade, the research will look at the causes of stillbirth while improving care for families experiencing stillbirth. Education will focus on training health care providers on prevention, care and providing bereavement support for families.
“We’d like to see a measurable improvement in the mental health of patients and families who have been through stillbirth,” Silver said.
The center will also look at the social, racial and economic disparities in stillbirth rates.
“By fostering collaboration, research, and education, we are poised to make significant strides not just in the U.S. but globally. Our vision is to lead the world in stillbirth prevention, support, and research, driving positive change in all health care settings,” Silver said in a press release.
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