Valerie A. French, MD MAS FACOG

Professional Background

Dr. French has dedicated her career to improving family planning access for women in the Midwest. She attended medical school at the University of Missouri, Columbia and completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Nebraska. Dr. French then completed a family planning fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned a masters in advanced science to gain additional research training.

Dr. French has served with the American College of Obstetricians Gynecologists (ACOG) since completing her training. She helped launch ACOG's patient education website in 2020 (Women's Health | ACOG) where she helped author pieces on common contraceptive concerns. She currently serves on the editorial board of ACOG's flagship journal, Obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. French has also ​written for bedsider.org, a website dedicated to sex-positive ​reproductive health.

Dr. French is interested in integrating quality contraceptive counseling into the care of women with complex medical conditions. She enjoys teaching medical students and residents, particularly with hands-on workshops. She has expanded family planning care at the University of Kansas, including office management of miscarriage and dedicated complex contraception services. Her proudest accomplishment professionally has been the implementation of formal, nationally recognized family planning training at the University of Kansas. As a native Midwesterner, she is delighted to serve the women of the Kansas City area and truly feels at home in the heart of the Midwest.

• BA, Chemistry and French, dual degree, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
• Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Clinical Fellowship, Family Planning, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

• Kansas State Board of Healing Arts

• Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Member, 2019 - Present
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Patient Education Review Panel, Chair, 2018 - 2021
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Fellow, 2016 - Present
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Patient Education Review Panel, Member, 2016 - 2018
• Society of Family Planning, Member, 2013 - Present
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Vice Chair, 2012 - 2013
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Chair, 2011 - 2012

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• French VA, Werner JL, Feng EJH, Latimer RA, Wolff SF, Wieneke CL. 2021. Provision of Onsite Childcare in US Academic Health Centers: What Factors Make a Difference?. Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
• Saha B, Ganguly A, Home P, Bhattacharya B, Ray S, Ghosh A, Rumi MAK, Marsh C, French VA, Gunewardena S, Paul S. 2020. TEAD4 ensures postimplantation development by promoting trophoblast self-renewal: An implication in early human pregnancy loss.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117 (30), 17864-17875
• Bhattacharya Bhaswati, Home Pratik, Ganguly Avishek, Ray Soma, Ghosh Ananya, Islam Rashedul, French Valerie, Marsh Courtney, Gunewardena Sumedha, Okae Hiroaki, Arima Takahiro, Paul Soumen. 2020. Atypical Protein Kinase C iota (PKCλ/ι) Ensures Mammalian Development by Establishing the Maternal-Fetal Exchange Interface. https://doi.org/10.1101/843375
• French Valerie, Perrucci Alissa. 2019. Counseling in abortion care: Uptodate Article
• Satterwhite Catherine Lindsey, French Valerie, Allison Molly, Honderick Tanya, Ramaswamy Megha. 2019. Access to contraception in local health departments, four Midwest states, 2017–2018. Contraception, 99 (6), 363-367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2019.02.009
• French Valerie, Mattingly Tateum, Rangel Ariana, Shelton Annie. 2019. Availability of ulipristal acetate: a secret shopper survey of pharmacies in a metropolitan area on emergency contraception. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association
• French VA, Rangel AV, Mattingly TL. 2018. Access to emergency contraception in Kansas City clinics.. Contraception, 98 (6), 482-485
• Homaifar Nazeneen, Freedman Lori, French Valerie. 2017. “She's on her own”: a thematic analysis of clinicians' comments on abortion referral. Contraception, 95 (5), 470-476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.01.007
• French Valerie, Anthony Renaisa, Souder Chelsea, Geistkemper Christine, Drey Eleanor, Steinauer Jody. 2016. Influence of clinician referral on Nebraska women’s decision-to-abortion time. Contraception, 93 (3), 236-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2015.10.005
• French VA, Davis JS, Sayles HS, Wu SS. 2013. Contraception and fertility awareness among women with solid organ transplants.. Obstetrics and gynecology, 122 (4), 809-14