Susannah Hopkins Leisher

Susannah Hopkins Leisher, MA

Languages spoken: English, French, Nepali, Spanish, Vietnamese

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Obstetrics & Gynecology

Divisions: Maternal Fetal Medicine

Susannah (Zan) Hopkins Leisher is a stillbirth epidemiologist, global stillbirth advocate, and parent to Wilder Daniel, stillborn at 38½ weeks on July 13, 1999, with no cause found. Dr Leisher holds a PhD in epidemiology from Columbia University and an MA in international economics, social change and development from the Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. Dr Leisher’s stillbirth research interests include structural racism and epigenetic mechanisms of effect. At the University of Utah, Dr Leisher is working to launch the first Stillbirth Center of Excellence in the United States. She is an honorary research fellow of the Stillbirth Centre for Research Excellence at the University of Queensland, Australia; ex-officio chair of the International Stillbirth Alliance; co-chair of the Stillbirth Advocacy Working Group, founded by the WHO’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; a Chief Investigator for ARPAN, a maternal and newborn health center of excellence for the Asia/Pacific region based at the Burnet Institute, Australia; and a member of the Steering Committee of AlignMNH, the MFMU Network’s Community Engagement Board, and the WHO/UNICEF’s Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere Management Team. Prior to moving to stillbirth research and advocacy, Dr Leisher was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal and then spent over 20 years working on global poverty and social justice in Asia, Africa and Central America, including ten years in Vietnam, where she is a recipient of government awards for her work on hunger eradication and poverty reduction. She speaks Vietnamese, French, Spanish, and Nepali.

Education History

Graduate Training Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
 PhD
Graduate Training Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
 MPhil
Graduate Training London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
 MSc
Graduate Training Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
 MA
Undergraduate Carleton College
 BA

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Bakhbakhi D, Fraser A, Siasakos D, Hinton L, Davies A, Merriel A, Duffy JMN, Redshaw M, Lynch M, Timlin L, Flenady V, Heazell AE, Downe S, Slade P, Brookes S, Wojcieszek A, Murphy M, de Oliveira Salgado H, Pollock D, Aggarwal N, Attachie I, Leisher S, Kihusa W, Mulley K, Wimmer L, UK iCHOOSE parent involvement group, Burden C (2022). Protocol for the development of a core outcome set for stillbirth care research (iCHOOSE Study). BMJ Open, 12(2), e056629. (Read full article)
  2. Horey D, Boyle FM, Cassidy J, Cassidy PR, Erwich JJHM, Gold KJ, Gross MM, Heazell AEP, Leisher SH, Murphy M, Ravaldi C, Siassakos D, Storey C, Vannacci A, Wojcieszek A, Flenady V (2021). Parents' experiences of care offered after stillbirth: An international online survey of high and middle-income countries. Birth, 48(3), 366-374. (Read full article)
  3. Leisher SH, Balalian AA, Reinebrant H, Shiau S, Flenady V, Kuhn L, Morse SS (2020). Systematic review: fetal death reporting and risk in Zika-affected pregnancies. Trop Med Int Health, 26(2), 133-145. (Read full article)
  4. Flenady VJ, Middleton P, Wallace EM, Morris J, Gordon A, Boyle FM, Homer CS, Henry S, Brezler L, Wojcieszek AM, Davies-Tuck M, Coory M, Callander E, Kumar S, Clifton V, Leisher SH, Blencowe H, Forbes M, Sexton J, Ellwood DA (2020). Stillbirth in Australia 1: The road to now: Two decades of stillbirth research and advocacy in Australia. Women Birth, 33(6), 506-513. (Read full article)
  5. Reinebrant HE, Leisher SH, Coory M, Henry S, Wojcieszek AM, Gardener G, Lourie R, Ellwood D, Teoh Z, Allanson E, Blencowe H, Draper ES, Erwich JJ, Fren JF, Gardosi J, Gold K, Gordijn S, Gordon A, Heazell A, Khong TY, Korteweg F, Lawn JE, McClure EM, Oats J, Pattinson R, Pettersson K, Siassakos D, Silver RM, Smith G, Tunalp, Flenady V (2017). Making stillbirths visible: a systematic review of globally reported causes of stillbirth. BJOG, 125(2), 212-224. (Read full article)
  6. Wojcieszek AM, Boyle FM, Belizn JM, Cassidy J, Cassidy P, Erwich J, Farrales L, Gross MM, Heazell A, Leisher SH, Mills T, Murphy M, Pettersson K, Ravaldi C, Ruidiaz J, Siassakos D, Silver RM, Storey C, Vannacci A, Middleton P, Ellwood D, Flenady V (2016). Care in subsequent pregnancies following stillbirth: an international survey of parents. BJOG, 125(2), 193-201. (Read full article)
  7. International Stillbirth Alliance Collaborative for Improving Classification of Perinatal Deaths, Flenady V, Wojcieszek AM, Ellwood D, Leisher SH, Erwich JJHM, Draper ES, McClure EM, Reinebrant HE, Oats J, McCowan L, Kent AL, Gardener G, Gordon A, Tudehope D, Siassakos D, Storey C, Zuccollo J, Dahlstrom JE, Gold KJ, Gordijn S, Pettersson K, Masson V, Pattinson R, Gardosi J, Khong TY, Fren JF, Silver RM (2017). Classification of causes and associated conditions for stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med, 22(3), 176-185. (Read full article)
  8. Gardiner PA, Kent AL, Rodriguez V, Wojcieszek AM, Ellwood D, Gordon A, Wilson PA, Bond DM, Charles A, Arbuckle S, Gardener GJ, Oats JJ, Erwich JJ, Korteweg FJ, Duc TH, Leisher SH, Kishore K, Silver RM, Heazell AE, Storey C, Flenady V (2016). Evaluation of an international educational programme for health care professionals on best practice in the management of a perinatal death: IMproving Perinatal mortality Review and Outcomes Via Education (IMPROVE). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 16(1), 376. (Read full article)
  9. Leisher SH, Teoh Z, Reinebrant H, Allanson E, Blencowe H, Erwich JJ, Fren JF, Gardosi J, Gordijn S, Glmezoglu AM, Heazell AE, Korteweg F, Lawn J, McClure EM, Pattinson R, Smith GC, Tunalp, Wojcieszek AM, Flenady V (2016). Seeking order amidst chaos: a systematic review of classification systems for causes of stillbirth and neonatal death, 2009-2014. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 16(1), 295. (Read full article)
  10. Leisher SH, Teoh Z, Reinebrant H, Allanson E, Blencowe H, Erwich JJ, Fren JF, Gardosi J, Gordijn S, Glmezoglu AM, Heazell AE, Korteweg F, Lawn J, McClure EM, Pattinson R, Smith GC, Tunalp, Wojcieszek AM, Flenady V (2016). Classification systems for causes of stillbirth and neonatal death, 2009-2014: an assessment of alignment with characteristics for an effective global system. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 16, 269. (Read full article)
  11. Wojcieszek AM, Reinebrant HE, Leisher SH, Allanson E, Coory M, Erwich JJ, Fren JF, Gardosi J, Gordijn S, Gulmezoglu M, Heazell AE, Korteweg FJ, McClure E, Pattinson R, Silver RM, Smith G, Teoh Z, Tunalp, Flenady V (2016). Characteristics of a global classification system for perinatal deaths: a Delphi consensus study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 16, 223. (Read full article)
  12. Flenady V, Wojcieszek AM, Middleton P, Ellwood D, Erwich JJ, Coory M, Khong TY, Silver RM, Smith GCS, Boyle FM, Lawn JE, Blencowe H, Leisher SH, Gross MM, Horey D, Farrales L, Bloomfield F, McCowan L, Brown SJ, Joseph KS, Zeitlin J, Reinebrant HE, Cacciatore J, Ravaldi C, Vannacci A, Cassidy J, Cassidy P, Farquhar C, Wallace E, Siassakos D, Heazell AEP, Storey C, Sadler L, Petersen S, Fren JF, Goldenberg RL, Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirths study group, Lancet Stillbirths In High-Income Countries Investigator Group (2016). Stillbirths: recall to action in high-income countries. Lancet, 387(10019), 691-702. (Read full article)
  13. de Bernis L, Kinney MV, Stones W, Ten Hoope-Bender P, Vivio D, Leisher SH, Bhutta ZA, Glmezoglu M, Mathai M, Belizn JM, Franco L, McDougall L, Zeitlin J, Malata A, Dickson KE, Lawn JE, Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirths Series study group, Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirths Series Advisory Group (2016). Stillbirths: ending preventable deaths by 2030. Lancet, 387(10019), 703-716. (Read full article)
  14. Fren JF, Friberg IK, Lawn JE, Bhutta ZA, Pattinson RC, Allanson ER, Flenady V, McClure EM, Franco L, Goldenberg RL, Kinney MV, Leisher SH, Pitt C, Islam M, Khera A, Dhaliwal L, Aggarwal N, Raina N, Temmerman M, Lancet Ending Preventable Stillbirths Series study group (2016). Stillbirths: progress and unfinished business. Lancet, 387(10018), 574-586. (Read full article)
  15. Heazell AE, Leisher S, Cregan M, Flenady V, Fren JF, Gravensteen IK, de Groot-Noordenbos M, de Groot P, Hale S, Jennings B, McNamara K, Millard C, Erwich JJ (2012). Sharing experiences to improve bereavement support and clinical care after stillbirth: report of the 7th annual meeting of the International Stillbirth Alliance. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 92(3), 352-61. (Read full article)

Edited Book

  1. Leisher SH, Sprockett A, Longfield K, Montagu D (Eds.) (2015). Quality Measurement in Family Planning: Past, Present, Future: Papers from the Bellagio Meeting on Family Planning Quality. Oakland, CA: Metrics for Management.

Book Chapter

  1. Hopkins S (1994). The Economy. In Savada A (Ed.), Laos: A Country Study (pp. 149-202). Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Federal Research Division.

Commentary

  1. Leisher SH (2022). Respectful stillbirth care is a human right. BJOG. (Read full article)
  2. Homer CSE, Leisher SH, Aggarwal N, Akuze J, Babona D, Blencowe H, Bolgna J, Chawana R, Christou A, Davies-Tuck M, Dandona R, Gordijn S, Gordon A, Jan R, Korteweg F, Maswime S, Murphy MM, Quigley P, Storey C, Vallely LM, Waiswa P, Whitehead C, Zeitlin J, Flenady V (2020). Counting stillbirths and COVID 19-there has never been a more urgent time. Lancet Glob Health, 9(1), e10-e11. (Read full article)
  3. Ateva E, Blencowe H, Castillo T, Dev A, Farmer M, Kinney M, Mishra SK, Leisher SH, Maloney S, Ponce Hardy V, Quigley P, Ruidiaz J, Siassakos D, Stoner JE, Storey C, Tejada de Rivero Sawers ML (2018). Every Woman, Every Child's 'Progress in Partnership' for stillbirths: a commentary by the stillbirth advocacy working group. BJOG, 125(9), 1058-1060.

Letter

  1. Leisher SH, International Stillbirth Alliance (2021). COVID-19 and maternal and perinatal outcomes. [Letter to the editor]. Lancet Glob Health, 9(8), e1061. (Read full article)
  2. McClure EM, Kinney MV, Leisher SH, Nam SL, Quigley P, Storey C, Christou A, Blencowe H, Stillbirth Advocacy Working Group (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health. [Letter to the editor]. Lancet Glob Health, 8(10), e1258. (Read full article)
  3. Leisher SH, Kinney M, Blencowe H, Sexton J, Cassidy P, Christiansen-Lindquist L, Dandona R, Davies M, Gordon A, Harmer C, Jayaratne K (2020). Leaving no one behind: Where are 2.6 million stillbirths? [Letter to the editor]. Br Med J, 368, 16986.

Newspaper

  1. Leisher SH (2020). Stillbirth leaves millions suffering in silence – we must do more to prevent it and end the stigma. The Telegraph (UK).

Other

  1. Collaboration led by the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence in partnership with the International Stillbirth Alliance Flenady V, Andrews C, Singline L, Davies M, Leisher SMiddleton P, Ota E, Mehta M (2021). Special Collection: Stillbirth prevention and respectful bereavement care.
  2. Leisher SH, for the International Stillbirth Alliance (2016). The Persistence of Preventable Stillbirths and Inadequate Bereavement Care: A Failure to Assure Human Rights.
  3. Leisher S (Spring 2013). Out of the Woods. (65(1), pp. 52-57).
  4. Leisher S (2012). Safety and Security for Mid-Sized INGOs: A ‘Must Do’ and a ‘Can Do'. (30(1/2), pp. 22-23, 26-27). Monthly Developments Magazine.
  5. Nachuk S, Pradhan MP, Carty W, Leisher S (2006). Case Study 3: Creating Learning Communities for Children in Polman District, West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. (pp. 59-76). The World Bank.
  6. Nachuk S, Pradhan MP, Carty W, Leisher S (2006). Case Study 8: Participatory Planning in Maros District, South Sulawesi. (pp. 149-164). The World Bank.
  7. Nachuk S, Pradhan MP, Carty W, Leisher S (2006). Case Study Synthesis. (pp. 1-23). The World Bank.
  8. Leisher S (2003). A case study of donor impact on political change at the grassroots in Vu Quang District, Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam.
  9. Leisher S, Nguyen PQT, Brown M (1999). Partnerships for Development: International NGO Contributions to Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam.
  10. Nachuk S, Hopkins S (1994). Socio-Economic Conditions of and Income-Generating Opportunities for the Women of Hai Dang Village. Hanoi, Vietnam.
  11. Hopkins S (1992). Final Evaluation: Treadle Pump—Mali Project. Washington, DC: Appropriate Technology, Inc..

Report

  1. Gholbzouri K, Nilangani Hmachandra N, Siddeeg K, El Adawy M, Afifi M, Sahbani S, Leisher S, Gupta G, Hug L, Lee S, You D, Dickson K, Chatterjee A, Kitamura Tcontributors (2021). Joint Technical Brief on Stillbirth Situation and Way Forward for the East Mediterranean, Arab States, and Middle East and North Africa Region. World Health Organization, UNFPA, UNICEF.
  2. Leisher SH, Lawn JE, Kinney MV, Kuo NT, de Bernis L, with The Lancet Ending preventable stillbirths Series Advisory Group and Study Group (2017). Stillbirths: Investment in ending preventable stillbirths by 2030 will yield multiple returns and help achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Brief for the Global Sustainable Development Report - 2016 Update.
  3. Hopkins S (2002). Views from Vinh Long Province. Save the Children UK, ActionAid, Catholic Relief Services, Plan in Vietnam, Oxfam Great Britain, World Bank: Vietnam: Local Consultations on the Draft Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy 2002: Volume III: Report from the Six Consultation Sites: Community Views on the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

  1. Wojcieszek A, Leisher SH (2021). Preventing stillbirth: What’s the latest evidence? [Web]. Evidently Cochrane Blog. Available: https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/preventing-stillbirth-the-latest-evidence/.
  2. LeisherSH, WojcieszekA (2019). Pregnancy after stillbirth: experience and evidence gaps [This blog was one of 5 most-commented blogs selected as the focus of a qualitative review by Evidently Cochrane to improve reader experience (“Experiencing Evidently Cochrane blogs: uncertainty, suffering and solidarity”, 26 April 2021] [Web]. Maternity Matters Series, Evidently Cochrane Blog. Available: https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/pregnancy-after-stillbirth/.
  3. Blencowe H, Leisher S (2018). 2.6 million reasons to invest in stillbirth estimates [Web]. MamaYe! Evidence for Action Blog. Available: https://mamaye.org/blog/26-million-reasons-invest-stillbirth-estimates.
  4. Leisher S (2014). Epidemiology at 49 series [Web]. University of London International Programmes Official Student Blog.
  5. Leisher C, Leisher S (2014). A Year in the Woods Series [Web]. The New York Times Green Blogs.