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University of Utah Stillbirth Center of Excellence

We provide respectful, compassionate care for families who experience the tragedy of stillbirth. Join us in the fight to end preventable stillbirths.

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to be the most comprehensive center of excellence for stillbirth in the United States. We aim to be a national and global leader in the fight to end preventable stillbirths. As an academic medical center, we deliver excellence in clinical care, research, and bereavement support. Our vision is to provide encompassing, respectful, compassionate care for families who suffer from stillbirth pregnancy loss. The University of Utah Stillbirth Center of Excellence is an approved University of Utah Academic Center.

Six Cores of Utah Stillbirth Center

  1. Clinical Care

  2. Bereavement Support

  3. Education

  4. Advocacy

  5. Research

  6. Justice and Community Engagement

Stillbirth Rates & Improving Stillbirth Support

The Utah Stillbirth Center of Excellence works in partnership with many individuals and organizations to strive toward these ambitious yet critical aims by 2035.

  • Cut the US stillbirth rate in half
  • Cut racial disparities in US stillbirth rates in half
  • Double the proportion of affected US families receiving bereavement support
  • Ensure at least 75% of US stillbirths undergo a comprehensive perinatal audit and complete evaluation for potential causes
  • Bring stillbirth permanently out of the shadows through changing cultural norms
  • Establish the US as a global leader in stillbirth prevention, support, and research
  • Make significant improvements to stillbirth rates in low-income and high-income settings worldwide

Announcements & Events

International Stillbirth Alliance (ISA) Conference

It is important for countries to adopt a differential approach to further reduce stillbirths based on their contextual priorities, available resources, the global evidence and best practices.

19th Annual ISA Conference: Leaving No Country Behind

Nov 3-6, 2024
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Register for the ISA Conference

Utah Pregnancy After Loss (UPAL) Program Care

The Utah Pregnancy After Loss (UPAL) Program provides care to families who have experienced the following:

  • Stillbirth
  • Newborn death
  • Recurrent loss
  • Termination for medical or obstetric reasons
  • Pregnancies with serious complications

In addition to caring for families who are pregnant again after loss, we offer consultations with families who have recently suffered a pregnancy loss and want to discuss test results or plan for future pregnancies. In addition to offering mental health care, we are building a peer support program for families.

female and male couple holding hands
Stephanie Sanchez

Team Spotlight

Stephanie has served as the women’s health campus clinic manager since December 2023. She holds a bachelor of science in nursing and a master of health administration, both from Western Governors University. She completed her advanced degree in August 2024. Prior to stepping into this managerial role, Stephanie was the clinical nurse coordinator (CNC) in Labor & Delivery, where she demonstrated her strong leadership and operational expertise. Stephanie's background includes several years as a travel nurse in labor and delivery, as well as experience as a case manager and director of clinical services for a home health company. Her diverse skillset and leadership experience have contributed significantly to her success in achieving departmental goals and objectives.

“Stephanie has made schedule adjustments to make sure all staff involved in UPAL got both emotional and clinical training to make this clinic successful. She has been immensely supportive in the roll out by regularly checking in and helping us to solve any hiccups during the roll out." —Aubree Abrams

“Stephanie is an exceptional patient advocate and has been an outstanding leader for the UPAL clinic. While much of her work is done behind the scenes, her tireless efforts do not go unnoticed. Providers, staff, and patients alike deeply appreciate her contributions, even if they may not always see the full extent of her dedication.” —Brenda Gulliver

“Stephanie has been amazingly supportive to make sure our UPAL clinic runs smoothly and that patients have access to everything they need to feel supported while getting their care from us. She has ensured that any problems we have with EPIC get addressed quickly and she has ensured we all receive the training we need to feel prepared to care for the diverse needs of our patient population.” —Astrid Littlewood

Stephanie Sanchez has dark shoulder length hair and wears an emerald green shirt.
Stephanie Sanchez, Women's Health Campus Clinic Manager

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Contact Us

Email us at stillbirthcenter@hsc.utah.edu for more information or to make suggestions on how we can improve our website.