The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Kimberly Fortner, MD

Professor
Program Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship
Director, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Vice Chair, Obstetric Operations and Quality
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4208-1753

Research Focus

Respiratory illnesses are known to cause increased complications for pregnant women and their infants. The majority of studies on acute respiratory illness in pregnancy focus on influenza infection despite the fact that other viruses occur as commonly (rhinovirus, coronavirus and, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)). There are no current active surveillance networks in place and through collaboration with three distinct clinical sites, Dr. Fortner will collect data on pregnancy and respiratory illness among mothers and their infant(s). With emerging vaccines and therapies in development, particularly for RSV, the relevance of this research is significant.

Education

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

Internship
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Residency
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland

Fellowship
Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Certification

American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diplomate
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Fellow
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Subspecialty Diplomate in Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Current Publications

Cutland CL, Fortner K, Heine RP, Swamy GK..
Editorial: Vaccinations and women's reproductive health. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Jul;162(1):1-3. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14879.

Ehrlich SF, Maples J, Burnette S, Rand B, Zite N, Paudel A, Fortner K..
Individual-level determinants of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant people in East Tennessee. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Jul;162(1):6-12. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14698. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Spires B, Brewton A, Maples JM, Ehrlich SF, Fortner KB.
Vaccine hesitancy in women's health. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2023 Jun;50(2):401-419. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2023.02.013.

Porreco R, Garite TJ, Combs CA, Maurel K, Huls CK, Baker S, Fortner KB, Longo SA, Nageotte M, Lewis D, Tran L; Obstetrix Collaborative Research Network.
Booster course of antenatal corticosteroids after preterm prelabor rupture of membranes: a double-blind randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 May;5(5):100896. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.100896. Epub 2023 Feb 14.

Nieuwoudt C, Reeder CF, Moss HK, van Nes JB, Schoutko WW, Jeter JW, Fortner KB.
Vaccination uptake for pertussis and influenza vaccines in pregnancy among different practices at a single institution. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Apr 20. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14775. Online ahead of print.

Ehrlich S, Maples J, Burnette S, Rand B, Zite N, Paudel A, Fortner K.
Individual level determinants of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant people in East Tennessee. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Feb 21. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14698. Online ahead of print.

Porreco R, Garite TJ, Combs CA, Maurel K, Huls CK, Baker S, Fortner KB, Longo SA, Nageotte M, Lewis D, Tran L.
Booster course of antenatal corticosteroids after preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, double-blind randomized trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 Feb 13:100896. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.100896. Online ahead of print.

Ehrlich SF, Rand B, Zite NB, Fortner KB, Paudel A, Peterson C, Maples JM.
Exploring the relationship between regular physical activity and the 24-hour glucose cycle in gestational glucose intolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2022 Sep 8;S0002-9378(22)00725-6.doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.09.004. Online ahead of print.

Kors S, Kurdziel-Adams G, Towers C, Fortner K, Macfie J.
Sexual abuse as a risk factor for opioid misuse in pregnancy. J Child Sex Abus. 2022 Jul;31(5):538-549. doi: 10.1080/10538712.2022.2056104. Epub 2022 Apr 8.

Tinius RA, Maples JM, Schafer MA, Paudel A, Fortner KB, Zite NB, Nagpal TS.
To be active or to stop? A cross-sectional retrospective study exploring provider advice and patient fears surrounding physical activity in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 May 17;19(10):6076. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19106076.

Current Presentations

Paudel AM, Kirby EC, Tinius RA, Szymanski LM, Nagpal TS, Carter K, Fortner KB, Zite NB, Mastronardi AM, Maples JM. Physical activity counseling and activity restriction recommendations for pregnant patients with fetal growth restriction. Presented at 2025 Society for Reproductive Investigation Annual Scientific Meeting; 2025 March - 25; Charlotte, NC.

Havron S, Young ML, Maples JM, Morrison B, Zite NB, Fortner KB, Reeder CF, Nelson CH. Understanding how health-related social needs impact rates of early and late preterm birth to inform expansion of healthcare services. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference; 2025 March - 24; Franklin, TN.

Purvis R, Riley WL, Mastronardi A, Maples JM, Peek MR, Khan Z, Kirby E, Herndon M, Fortner KB, Wolfe L, Katz E, Reeder CF. Hepatitis C in Appalachia: A cohort study of delivery and neonatal outcomes. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference ; 2025 March - 24; Franklin, TN.

Purvis R, Riley WL, Mastronardi A, Maples JM, Peek MR, Khan Z, Kirby E, Herndon M, Fortner KB, Wolfe L, Katz E, Reeder CF. Hepatitis C in Appalachia: A cohort study of maternal outcomes. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference ; 2025 March - 24; Franklin, TN.

Lewis JE, Hallenbeck BR, Raynor H, Crouter SE, Zite NB, Schoutko W, Fortner KB, Maples JM, Ehrlich SE. Exercise, carbohydrate intake, and the circadian glucose cycle in individuals with pregnancy hyperglycemia. Presented at Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting; 2025 Feb - 17; Greenville, SC.

Riley WL, Purvis RL, Mastronardi AM, Maples JM, Kirby EC, Khan Z, Peek M, Wolfe L, Herndon M, Katz E, Fortner KB, Reeder CF. Is detectable deleterious? Comparing maternal and neonatal factors stratified by hepatitis C viral load detection. Presented at 45th Annual Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2025 Jan - 27; Denver, CO.

Riley WL, Reeder CF, Maples JM, Fortner KB, Burcham L, Burcham Z. Concordance of clinical GBS status with bacterial culture obtained at delivery admission. Presented at 45th Annual Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2025 Jan - 27; Denver, CO.

Beyer B, Bohrer B, Young M, Fortner K, Maples J, Reeder C. Improving peri-operative antibiotic management at the time of cesarean delivery to reduce surgical site infections (SSI) in women with severe postpartum hemorrhage at a single institution. Presented at Infectious Disease Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology; 2024 Aug - 1; Portland, OR.

Maples JM, Broskey NT, Blankenship M, Paudel AM, Mastronardi AM, Zite NB, Fortner KB, van Nes JB, Tinius RA. Investigation of blood lactate as a marker of metabolic dysfunction during pregnancy. Presented at American College of Sports Medicine 71st Annual Meeting; 2024 May 28; Boston,MA.

Paudel AM, Purvis R, Riley WL, Fortner KB, Carter K, Szymanski LM, Tinius RA, Zite NB, Maples JM. Mood benefits of a single bout of exercise in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction. Presented at American College of Sports Medicine 71st Annual Meeting; 2024 May 28; Boston,MA.

Shirley F, Tucker C, Paudel A, Pearson D, Oyedeji O, Carter K, Zite NB, Fortner KB, Maples JM. Exploring the effect of exercise on elevated maternal blood lactate in high-risk pregnancies. Presented at Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement ; 2024 April 23; Knoxville,TN.

Young ML, Fortner KB, Morrison R, Otten K, Walker E, Swaggerty R, Edwards T, Elliott SD, Welch-Charles S, Simms-MacLeod J. Assessing staff perceptions on race, bias, and health equity culture. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference; 2024 Mar 25; Franklin,TN.

Young ML, White C, Axmacher J, Bradshaw K, Morrison R, Otten K, Fortner KB, Nelson CH, Purvis R, Kaak K, Walker E, Reeder C, Welch-Charles S, Simms-MacLeod J. Assessing utilization of the teambirth shared decision-making model on antepartum and postpartum units. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference; 2024 Mar 25; Franklin,TN.

Woods R, Kaak K, Young ML, Shelton Z, Fortner KB, Morrison R, Edwards T, Cox J, Mastronardi AM, Maples JM, Zite NB. Access to permanent contraception in postpartum patients covered by children's health insurance program in Tennessee at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference ; 2024 Mar 25; Franklin,TN.

Shore S, Young ML, Brewton AB, van Nes J, Moss H, Otten K, Kerr L, Hance H, Fortner KB, Simms-MacLeod J. Utilizing findings of a labor culture survey to increase maternal empowerment in labor and delivery. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care Annual Conference; 2024 Mar 25; Franklin,TN.

Woods R, Kaak K, Lacy Young M, Shelton Z, Fortner KB, Morrison B, Edwards T, Cox J, Mastronardi A, Maples J, Zite NB. Access to permanent contraception in postpartum patients covered by children’s health insurance program in Tennessee at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Presented at Tennessee Initiative for Perinatal Quality Care; 2024 March - 26; Franklin ,Tennessee.

Riley WL, Hunzicker A, Zite NB, Maples JM, Mastronardi AM, Paudel A, Purvis R, Fortner KB, Carter K. Prenatal diagnosis post-Dobbs in an abortion-banned state: A retrospective cohort study. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb - 10; National Harbor.

Paudel A, Maples JM, Carter K, Szymanski L, Zite N, Tinius RA, Fortner KB. Fetal effects of maternal exercise on pregnancies with fetal growth restriction. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb - 10; National Harbor .

Purvis R, Paudel AM, Riley W, Parker S, Fortner K, Lacy-Young M, Burnette T, Lattimore K. Association between neonatal abstinence syndrome and access to obstetric delivery facilities. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb - 10; National Harbor.

Brewton A , Paudel AB, Mastronardi AM, Shore SV, Maples JM, Young ML, Zite NB, Fortner KB. The impact of gestational weight gain on total labor length among patients with obesity. Presented at Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Annual Pregnancy Meeting ; 2024 Feb - 12; National Harbor .

Riley WL, Hunzicker A, Zite NB, Maples JM, Mastronardi AM, Paudel A, Purvis R, Fortner KB, Carter K. Prenatal diagnosis post-dobbs in an abortion-banned state: A retrospective cohort study. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb 10; National Harbor,MD.

Brewton AB, Paudel A, Mastronardi AM, Shore S, Maples JM, Zite NB, Young ML, Fortner KB. The impact of gestational weight gain on total lab or length among patients with obesity. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb 10; National Harbor,MD.

Paudel A, Maples JM, Carter K, Szymanski L, Zite N, Tinius RA, Fortner KB. Fetal effects of maternal exercise on pregnancies with fetal growth restriction. Presented at 44th Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2024 Feb 10; National Harbor,MD.

Oyedeji F, Burnette S, Maples JM, Rand BJ, Olatt E, Fortner KB, Paudel AM, Zite NB, Ehrlich SF. Maternal perceptions of TDAP vaccination and dissonance between vaccine status and perception Presented at 2023 Infectious Disease Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology annual meeting; 2023 July-27; Denver, CO.

Paudel AM, Maples JM, Zite NB, Tinius RA, Fortner KB. Physician recommendations for physical activity in complicated growth restricted pregnancies Presented at 43rd Annual Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine Pregnancy Meeting; 2023 February - 11; San Francisco.

Fortner KB, Young ML. Maternal HealthCARE: Closing the black-white gap in maternal health outcomes Presented at UTGSM Health Disparities Awareness Month: Bridging the Gap Towards Equity; 2023 January - 9; Virtual .