Dr. Stout is the Morton R. Lazar Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Innovation at the University of Michigan, Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and leads PRIMO (Program for Research and Innovation in Maternal Outcomes). Board-certified in OBGYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, she also holds advanced training in Clinical Investigation.

A recognized leader in obstetric science and clinical innovation, Dr. Stout leads multidisciplinary teams to address critical unsolved challenges in obstetrics, focusing on preterm birth prediction, cervical remodeling physiology, and development of statewide programs that enhance safe and efficient obstetric care delivery. Her work includes leading an NIH R01 describing vaginal microbiota and maternal immune responses to characterize interactions between bacterial, viral, and inflammatory signals in pregnancy. Dr. Stout’s innovations extend to medical device development. She is the inventor and team leader behind a novel, patented device that quantifies cervical stiffness, providing a standardized, operator-independent measurement. This device is significant leap forward in measuring cervical remodeling—the critical process that precedes both preterm and term birth—and has broad applications for prediction, precision prevention/treatment strategies, and labor management. Dr. Stout is now focused on scientific and device regulatory advances to facilitate clinical penetrance, expanded applications, and equitable access in the highest risk populations. As PI of a U01 within the Human Virome Program, Dr. Stout explores viral communities during pregnancy and postpartum. She collaborates across institutions as site PI in multiple randomized controlled trials addressing iron deficiency anemia and oxygen use during labor, contributing to evidence-based obstetrics.

In addition to her scientific endeavors, Dr. Stout is co-leader of a statewide Quality Improvement Collaborative to reduce unnecessary cesarean birth and leads institutional work expanding access to Maternal-Fetal Medicine services in rural areas in Michigan. Her leadership, like her research, is rooted in uniting diverse expertise to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes.