Host: Michael Benson, MD

Guest: Jay Iams, MD

According to a recent Institute of Medicine report preterm birth has increased by 30% over the past 25 years in the United States. Birth before 37 completed weeks now comprises 12.5% of all US births and poses a major public health problem and expense. Why is the rate of prematurity increasing even as the standard of living goes up? Our guest today is Dr. Jay Iams who is a nationally recognized expert on pre-term labor. He is the Frederick Zuspan Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Chair of the Department at Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health. With hundreds of publications in the medical literature he is a member of steering committed for the Maternal Fetal Medicine Network of National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.