Health Science Center ob?gyn chair promoted

Dr. Sean Blackwell is the chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.

Dr. Sean Blackwell was recently named chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston after serving as the interim chairman of the department for the past year.

In his role as department chairman, Blackwell builds ob-gyn-related programs, recruits physicians and manages the center’s patient care practice. Despite these duties, he still makes time to see patients.

“My favorite part of my job is probably still seeing patients and working with our other doctors to help people who have high-risk pregnancies and improve or cure the situation they’re in or the problems that they have, and just try to make it a positive experience,” he said.

Blackwell is a member of numerous professional organizations and currently serves on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists Committee on Practice Bulletins-Obstetrics, as well as the Internal Scientific Advisory Committee and the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC). He is also the focus group leader for the Perinatal Medicine and Women’s Health Engine of Innovation think tank at UTHSC.

In his free time, Blackwell enjoys playing football and soccer with his two sons, ages 10 and 14, and spending quality time at home with his wife, Dr. Jerrie Refuerzo.

Blackwell and his wife met while training at Wayne State University in Detroit. They now work together in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences.

“I work with my wife, who is also a fetal medicine physician in the department,” Blackwell said. “It’s a very enjoyable thing for me when we get to work together.”

For more information on Blackwell or the University of Texas Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, visit www.obg.med.uth.tmc.edu.

ABOUT DR. SEAN BLACKWELL
AGE: 46
OCCUPATION: Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at University of Texas
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: West University Place resident
FAST FACT: Holds a bachelor’s degree from Wabash College and a medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine