A Bit About the Authors

Dr. Young is internationally known as a leader and innovator in obstetrics and gynecology. He created the Prenatal Diagnostic Unit at Bellevue, the first such facility in New York City. Dr. Young introduced treatment of the mother with steroids for fetal lung development. This became standard care for anticipated pre-term birth. He developed the first obstetrical intensive care unit in the world and he was among the first to help women with serious medical conditions to have children. He made the world’s first diagnosis of fetal heart disease from a fetal electrocardiogram. Most recently, he performed the first endoscopic fetal surgery in New York State and gained worldwide recognition for successful repair of pre-term ruptured membranes to prevent pre-term birth.

Dr. Young has had positions of leadership throughout his academic career. He founded the Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine at NYU Medical Center. This was the first Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship in the city of New York. He is an editor of two international journals and has lectured worldwide. He has earned numerous awards, including the March of Dimes award for Distinguished Voluntary Service in prevention of birth defects, March of Dimes award for Voluntary Leadership, the Distinguished Alumnus Award fore the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the NYU School of Medicine, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Award for Outstanding Achievement, and the Berson Award of the NYU School of Medicine for Achievement in Clinical Science. He has published more than 100 research articles, more than a dozen scientific book chapters, and two books. He is currently the Silverman Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York University School of Medicine. He was honored by having the NYU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology annual research day name after him. He is listed among America’s Top Doctors and New York magazine’s Best Doctors every year since its inception.

Amy Zavatto is a freelance writer who lives in New York City. Her work appears in Planned Parenthood’s TeenWire Magazine, as well as New York Magazine, Gotham, Plenty, Frommers.com, and others.