Christina Scifres, M.D.

Center for Health Services Research, Investigator

Initiatives

Care Delivery

Research Scientist, Regenstrief Institute
Leader, Regenstrief Institute Strategic Initiative on Learning Health Systems
Physician Leader, IU Health Learning Health System
Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Maternal Fetal Medicine Division Chief, Indiana University School of Medicine

Dr. Christina M. Scifres specializes in maternal-fetal medicine, with expertise in caring for women with high-risk pregnancies as well as their unborn babies. Maternal-fetal medicine specialists treat patients with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and chronic blood pressure, as well as preeclampsia, preterm labor and other complex medical conditions that impact pregnancy.

Dr. Scifres’ clinical and research efforts center on improving outcomes in pregnancies complicated by diabetes and obesity. She is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and became division director of maternal-fetal medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Indiana University School of Medicine in 2020. She oversees full-time teaching faculty and maternal fetal medicine fellows.

Dr. Scifres leads Regenstrief Institute’s strategic initiative on learning health systems. By uniting IU Health’s operational reach, IU School of Medicine’s research and education mission and Regenstrief’s research and data leadership, her appointment positions Indiana to lead nationally in delivering timely, evidence-based care at scale.

Dr. Scifres received her medical degree from University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Highlighted Publications

Sept 4, 2025

Use of a Maternal Genetic Risk Score to Derive and Test a Genetically Customized Fetal Growth Curve

Publication: Obstetrics & Gynecology Open

doi: 10.1097/og9.0000000000000110

Authors: Joseph M, Pappas L, Guerrero R, Zeinomar M, Mims JR Jr, Moore B, Workalemahu T, Scifres C, Steller JG, Saade G, Silver RM, Blue NR

Aug 2021

Customized versus Population Growth Standards for Morbidity and Mortality Risk Stratification Using Ultrasonographic Fetal Growth Assessment at 22 to 29 Weeks' Gestation

Publication: American Journal of Perinatology

doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1705114

Authors: Blue NR, Grobman WA, Larkin JC, Scifres CM, Simhan HN, Chung JH, Saade GR, Haas DM, Wapner R, Reddy UM, Mercer B, Parry SI, Silver RM

Sept 2024

Comparing population-based fetal growth standards in a US cohort

Publication: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.12.034

Authors: Gleason JL, Reddy UM, Chen Z, Grobman WA, Wapner RJ, Steller JG, Simhan H, Scifres CM, Blue N, Parry S, Grantz KL

Nov 20, 2024

Maternal vitamin D status, fetal growth patterns, and adverse pregnancy outcomes in a multisite prospective pregnancy cohort

Publication: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.11.018

Authors: Beck C, Blue NR, Silver RM, Na M, Grobman WA, Steller J, Parry S, Scifres C, Gernand AD

Aug 25, 2025

Periconceptional glycemic index and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and a large-for-gestational-age infant

Publication: Nutrition

doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2025.112934

Authors: Jancsura MK, Grobman WA, Wu J, Scifres C, Silver RM, Durnwald C, Post R, Saade G, Yee LM, Feghali MN, Reedy UM, McNeil R, Venkatesh KK

Sept 2023

Association of maternal body mass index with success and outcomes of attempted operative vaginal delivery

Publication: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine

doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101081

Authors: Grasch JL, Venkatesh KK, Grobman WA, Silver RM, Saade GR, Mercer B, Yee LM, Scifres C, Parry S, Simhan HN, Reddy UM, Frey HA

Nov 2020

The association between personal weight gain goals, provider recommendations, and appropriate gestational weight gain

Publication: American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine

doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2020.100231

Authors: Dude AM, Plunkett B, Grobman W, Scifres CM, Mercer BM, Parry S, Silver RM, Wapner R, Wing DA, Saade G, Reddy U, Iams J, Simhan H, Kominiarek MA

Sept 2023

Can allostatic load in pregnancy explain the association between race and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk: A cohort study

Publication: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

doi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37069728/

Authors: Lueth AJ, Allshouse AA, Blue NM, Grobman WA, Levine LD, Catov J, Saade G, Yee LM, Wilson FA, Murtaugh M, Merz N, Chung J, Ray M, Scifres C, Silver RM

Oct 2024

Diet quality, community food access, and glycemic control among nulliparous individuals with diabetes

Publication: Primary Care Diabetes

doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2024.06.011

Authors: Venkatesh KK, Yee LM, Wu J, Joseph JJ, Garner J, McNeil R, Scifres C, Mercer B, Reddy UM, Silver RM, Saade G, Parry S, Simhan H, Post RJ, Walker DM, Grobman WA

Mar 2021

The impact of setting a pregnancy weight gain goal on total weight gain

Publication: Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology

doi: 10.1111/ppe.12724

Authors: Bodnar LM, Abrams B, Simhan HN, Scifres CM, Silver RM, Parry S, Crosland BA, Chung J, Himes KP

June 2024

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Predicted 30-Year Risk of Maternal Cardiovascular Disease 2–7 Years After Delivery

Publication: Obstetrics & Gynecology

doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000005569

Authors: Venkatesh KK, Khan SS, Yee LM, Wu J, McNeil R, Greenland P, Chung JH, Levine LD, Simhan HN, Catov J, Scifres C, Reddy UM, Pemberton VL, Saade G, Bairey Merz CN, Grobman WA

Sept 2023

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Future Metabolic Syndrome

Publication: Journal of Women's Health

doi: 10.1089/jwh.2023.0026

Authors: Ehrenthal DB, McNeil RB, Crenshaw EG, Bairey Merz CN, Grobman WA, Parker CB, Greenland P, Pemberton VL, Zee PC, Scifres CM, Polito L, Saade G

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Scifres named physician leader at IU Health

Christina Scifres, M.D.

Highlighted Publications