PHILADELPHIA – Jenell S. Coleman, MD, MPH, has been appointed Paul A. and Eloise Bowers Professor and Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and System Clinical Lead for Obstetrics & Gynecology at Jefferson Health. Dr. Coleman joins Jefferson from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and will begin her new role on November 10, 2025.
“I am honored to join this amazing institution and help improve the lives of women in the communities Jefferson serves. My focus is on supporting our faculty and trainees while advancing the research, education, and clinical care that will support women and prepare the next generation of OB-GYN leaders,” said Dr. Coleman.
Dr. Coleman is an accomplished, recognized leader in the field of obstetrics and gynecology who, for more than two decades, has devoted her career to caring for and advocating on behalf of women who are economically disadvantaged, struggle with substance use, engage in sex work, live in poverty, or live with HIV. “Dr. Coleman’s mission and commitment to providing high-quality care to all women, including those who are marginalized, align completely with Jefferson’s values,” said Baligh R. Yehia, MD, MPP, MSc, FACP, President, Jefferson Health. “Dr. Coleman has the clinical expertise and exceptional leadership skills to make valuable contributions to the OB-GYN care we provide and in preparing the next generation of physicians.”
The Philadelphia native and Central High School graduate earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania; completed an OB-GYN residency at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); a reproductive infectious diseases fellowship at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); and a Master of Public Health from University of California, Berkeley.
“Dr. Coleman’s expertise will be a tremendous asset to Jefferson,” said Said Ibrahim, MD, MBA, MPH, Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College and president of Jefferson University Physicians. “Her wealth of knowledge and experience will ensure that our learners are prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities in the field of obstetrics and gynecology with the utmost skill and confidence.”
At Johns Hopkins, Dr. Coleman held multiple leadership roles in gynecologic care and education. Her clinical expertise includes adolescent gynecology, HPV-related infections and HIV care, including Division Director of Gynecologic Specialties, Medical Director of Women’s Health Services at the Outpatient Center, Co-Director of the Colposcopy Clinic, and Director of the Resident Continuity Clinic. Dr. Coleman also co-founded The Violet Project, a nationally recognized sexual and reproductive health education initiative for adolescents and young adults.
“We congratulate Dr. Coleman on her appointment to Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College and to Jefferson Health,” said Susan C. Aldridge, PhD, President, Thomas Jefferson University. “Her abilities and talent will no doubt influence and shape future generations of OB-GYN physicians.”
Dr. Coleman’s research career began in medical school as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar and advanced through prestigious fellowships and awards, including the Harold Amos Career Development Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Coleman has conducted impactful studies on HIV and women's sexual health and currently maintains National Institutes of Health (NIH), industry and foundation funding focused on reproductive infectious diseases and has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. She is the recent past Chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Clinical Practice Guidelines for Gynecology and served as a standing member of an NIH study section.