Ruth Word, MD

Professor
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Contact Information

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390

Office Phone: 214-648-3639

ruth.word@utsouthwestern.edu

To make an appointment, call 214-645-8300.

Education

FellowshipUT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Reproductive Endocrinology (1990)
ResidencyTexas Tech University, OB/ GYN (1983)
ResidencyTexas Tech University, Family Medicine (1980)
InternshipTexas Tech University, Family Medicine (1979)
Medical SchoolUniversity of Texas Medical School at Houston (1978)

Research Interests

Parturition
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Preterm Cervical Ripening
Smooth Muscle Contractility
Urinary Incontinence

Publications

Featured
Hysterectomy - still a useful operation.

Schaffer, J.I., Word, R. A. , N. Engl. J. Med. , October 2002; (347(17)):1360-1362

Featured
Morphometric analysis of smooth muscle in anterior vaginal wall of women with pelvic organ prolapse.

Boreham, M.K., Wai, C.Y., Miller, R.T., Schaffer, J.I., Word, R.A. , Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. , July 2002; (187):56-63

Featured
Distribution and quantification of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase and contractile proteins in human uterine smooth muslce during pregnancy.

Cornwell, T.L., Li, J., Miller, R.T., Word, R.A. , J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. , 2001; (86(8)):3981-3988

Featured
Activation properties of myosin light chain kinase during contraction/relaxation cycles of tonic and phasic smooth muscles.

Word, R.A., Tang, D.C., Kamm, K.E. , J. Biol. Chem. , 1994; (269):21596-21602

Featured
Contractile elements and myosin light chain phosphorylation in myometrial tissues from nonpregnant and pregnant women.

Word, R.A., Kamm, K.E., Casey, M.L., Stull, J.T. , J. Clin. Invest. , 1993; (92):29-37

Immunosuppressive factors secreted by human amniotic epithelial cells.

Li H, Nidderkorn JY, Neelam S, Mayhew E, Word RA, McCulley JP, Alizadeh H. , Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci , 2005; (46):900-907

Human myometrial gene expression before and during parturition.

Havelock JC, Keller P, Muleba N, Mayhew BA, Casey BM, Rainey WE, Word RA. , Biol Reprod , 2005; (72(3)):707-19

Transgene insertion on mouse chromosome 6 impairs function of the uterine cervix and causes failure of parturition.

Word RA, Landrum CP, Timmons BC, Young SG, Mahendroo MS. , Biol Reprod Epub , 2005; (73):1046-1056

Differential expression of protein kinase A, AKAP79, and PP2B in pregnant human myometrial membranes prior to and during labor.

Ku J, Word RA, Sanborn BM. , J Soc Gynecol Invest , 2005; (12(6)):421-7

Effect of periurethral nerve injury on relaxation of the female bladder and urethra smooth muscle: Role of nitric oxide.

Wai CY, Boreham MK, Liehr P, Schaffer JI, Word RA. , Am J Obstet Gynecol , 2003; (189):1637-45

Honors/Awards

Ginger Simmons Research Grant Award

American Heart Association - "Smooth Muscle Caldesmon" 1999 (1999)

Physician Scientist Award

American Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1990-1992 (1990)

NIH Postdoctoral National Research Service Award

Physiology of Reproduction - 1988-1990 (1988)

Phi Beta Kappa

Texas Christian University (1975)

Women's Mortar Board

Texas Christian University, 1974-1975 (1974)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

Fellow-American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologist,

Society of Gynecologic Investigation, Council Nomination, 2004

Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists, 1994

The Endocrine Society, Member 1992

The Perinatal Research Society, elected 1994