RRM Presidential Chair Established at University of Utah
In a first of its kind, a presidential chair in restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) has been established at the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. This new academic chair, the “Joseph B. Stanford, M.D., and Kathleen B. Stanford Presidential Chair in Restorative Reproductive Medicine,” honors the pioneering work and commitment of Dr. and Mrs. Stanford to the RRM medical discipline.
“I am honored and most grateful,” said Dr. Stanford of the tribute. “I look forward to continuing to contribute research and enhancing health care in this field.” Dr. Stanford offered his “profound thanks to Kathleen for her encouragement and fundamental support over my entire career.”
In an April 18, 2025, press release, the University of Utah indicated that the inaugural holder of the chair position will be announced “in the coming weeks.”
Dr. Stanford has served as a clinician and researcher at the University of Utah since 1993 where he is a tenured Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and Vice-Chair of Research for that department, as well as adjunct professor in the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics. He also serves as director of research for the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM), inaugural editor-in-chief of the Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine, and principal investigator of the clinical practice registry, Surveillance of Treatment and Outcomes in Restorative Reproductive Medicine (STORRM). Dr. Stanford’s research in reproductive epidemiology, fertility, and child health has been funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the U.S. Office of Family Planning.
Among his many trailblazing contributions and collaborations, Dr. Stanford’s work set the stage more than a decade ago for the founding of the Reply clinic. It was during a year-long sabbatical at UNC Chapel Hill that discussions formulated the idea for an RRM-focused clinic in the Triangle, and Reply Ob/Gyn & Fertility opened following more than a year of intensive development among a team that included Dr. Stanford and an inter-disciplinary team from UNC. As part of that development Dr. Stanford was part of a team that visited Dr. Erik Odeblad in Umea, Sweden, to discuss Dr. Odeblad’s groundbreaking work into the function of the cervix and characteristics of cervical fluid.
Dr. Stanford also was part of the team who produced the landmark study of fertility awareness methods for avoiding pregnancy, “Effectiveness of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Pregnancy Prevention: A Systematic Review.” The study was notable for bringing together a group of scientific contributors from diverse organizations in support of creating well-researched information on the topic of natural fertility management.
Deborah Colloton, founder of the Women’s Reproductive Health Foundation, which is financially supporting the Stanford RRM Chair, praised Dr. Stanford for his “impeccable professionalism, his courage in blazing new medical trails, and his great empathy for patients facing fertility struggles.” Ms. Colloton, who also is a co-founder of the Reply clinic, expressed gratitude as well to the entire Stanford family: “Dr. and Mrs. Stanford are known for their devotion to family and community, as well as their love for the natural world. Naming the chair for the Stanfords sets the bar high for RRM and will serve as a great inspiration to others.”
The full University of Utah press release about the Stanford Presidential Chair can be accessed here.
