About me
Philosophy of care
Dr. Iqbal's philosophy of care includes devoting all of her attention to her patients because she believes that listening to and gaining a thorough understanding of the patient is the key to diagnosis and successful management. Dr. Iqbal is actively involved in the diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies, as well as providing prenatal diagnosis with genetic counseling, ultrasound and amniocentesis. She takes interest in treating patients with high-risk issues, such as intrauterine growth restriction, chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, second trimester losses and other medical complications that require close surveillance during pregnancy. She lets her patients know that she is dedicated to their well being and has the experience and expertise to provide proper education and treatment of their condition. Dr. Iqbal considers the most rewarding part of her job to be delivering a baby after supporting the mother throughout her high-risk pregnancy. It is Dr. Iqbal's goal as a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist to provide each patient with her utmost attention, making sure each patient has the opportunity to voice their concerns.
Academic background
Sara N. Iqbal, MD, is the Division Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) and Program Director for MFM and the MFM/Genetics Fellowship, MedStar Washington Hospital Center. In addition, she is a clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn), Georgetown University School of Medicine.
Dr. Iqbal specializes in high-risk pregnancy. She is actively involved in the diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies such as diabetes, hypertension, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labor, history of premature delivery and other medical complications that require close surveillance during pregnancy. Services she provides to her patients include comprehensive ultrasound screening, amniocentesis and genetic counseling.
Dr. Iqbal completed her medical school education at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. She then completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC, and pursued further specialization in high-risk obstetrics with the completion of a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. During her fellowship, Dr. Iqbal studied human immunodeficiency virus in pregnancy and intrauterine growth restriction.
Medical education and research development also interest Dr. Iqbal. She is the chair of the Ob/Gyn Research Development and Review (RDR) Committee, and she supervises the monthly RDR meetings at MedStar Washington and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. In addition, she is the director for the High-Risk Obstetrics Conferences and Morbidity and Mortality Conferences at MedStar Washington. She also serves on the committees for graduate medical education, Ob/Gyn residency education and Ob/Gyn practice.
Dr. Iqbal reviews manuscripts for the American Journal of Perinatology, the American Journal of Perinatology Reports, and the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Iqbal is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is board certified in both Ob/Gyn and maternal-fetal medicine. To further her knowledge and collaborations with other professionals, she maintains memberships in the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.
Research interests
Dr. Iqbal's research interests include the following:
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Diabetes and pregnancy
- Chronic hypertension and preeclampsia
- Management of the morbidly obese pregnant patients
- Ultrasound
Clinical areas of focus
- Advanced Maternal Age
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- Cervical Cerclage
- Fetal Growth Restriction
- Fetal Ultrasound
- Genetic Counseling
- Gestational Diabetes
- High Risk Pregnancy
- History Of Preterm Birth
- Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy
- Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
- Placenta Previa
- Preeclampsia
- Twins
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Abnormal Nuchal Translucency
- Abnormal Obstetrical Screening
- Abnormal Umbilical Artery Doppler
- Advanced Maternal Age
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- Cervical Funneling
- Cervical Incompetence
- Cervical Insufficiency
- Cholestasis Of Pregnancy
- Congenital Fetal Anomalies
- Family History Of Birth Defects
- Fetal Arrhythmia
- Fetal Congenital Heart Disease
- Fetal Growth Restriction
- Fetal Infection
- Fetal Isoimmunization
- Gestational Diabetes
- Hellp Syndrome
- High Risk Pregnancy
- History Of Preterm Birth
- History Of Severe Preeclampsia
- Hyperemesis
- Hypertensive Disorders Of Pregnancy
- Intrauterine Growth Restriction Fetus
- Large For Gestational Age
- Liver Disease In Pregnancy
- Low Birth Weight
- Maternal Cardiac Disease
- Maternal Fibroids
- Maternal Hematologic Disorders
- Maternal Hypertension
- Maternal Infection
- Maternal Lupus
- Maternal Neurologic Disorders
- Maternal Obesity
- Maternal Renal Disease
- Maternal Respiratory Disease
- Maternal Seizures
- Maternal Substance Abuse
- Maternal Thrombophilia
- Maternal Thyroid Disorders
- Medical Complications In Pregnancy
- Multiple Gestations
- Oligohydramnios
- Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
- Personal History Of Stillbirth
- Placenta Accreta
- Placenta Previa
- Placental Abruption
- Polyhydramnios
- Preeclampsia
- Premature Birth
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Preterm Labor
- Preterm Premature Rupture Of Membranes
- Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
- Red Cell Alloimmunization
- Renal Disease And Pregnancy
- Rh Incompatibility
- Severe Preeclampsia
- Shortened Cervix
- Shoulder Dystocia
- Twins
- Vasa Previa
Procedures I perform
- Amniocentesis
- Cervical Cerclage
- Cervical Length Assessment
- Fetal Ultrasound
- Genetic Counseling
- Maternal Anticoagulation
- Multidisciplinary Care For Complex Fetal Conditions
- Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound
- Prenatal Care
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- Cigna HealthSpring Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Innovation Health: POS
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Open EPO Plus
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Opoen HMO Option
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Aetna HMO
- Open POS II
- CIGNA EPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Open HMO
- POS OA & OA Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Network OA
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- BlueChoice Open Access
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- United Student Resources
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Tricare Prime
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- FIRST HEALTH
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Fellowship Program: University of Maryland Medical Center (2008)
Residency Program: Howard University Hospital (2005)
Medical School: Dow University of Health Sciences (1996)
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Original Papers in Refereed Journals
- Mokhtari NB, Saeed H, Kawakita T, Huang JC, Iqbal SN. Educational Video on Pain Management and Subsequent Opioid Use after Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Aug 1;138(2):253-259. PMID: 34237764
- Mokhtari N, Wang T, DiSciullo A, Iqbal SN, Kawakita T. Intraamniotic Infection Rates after Intrauterine Pressure Catheter with and without Amnioinfusion. Am J Perinatol. 2021 Feb;38(3):212-217. PMID: 32791538
- Kawakita T, Iqbal SN, Overcash RT. Negative pressure wound therapy system in extremely obese women after cesarean delivery compared with standard dressing. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 Feb;34(4):634-638. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021. PMID: 31018727
- Chornock R, Iqbal SN, Wang T, Kodama S, Kawakita T, Fries M.Incidence of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Women with COVID-19. Am J Perinatol. 2021 May 3. PMID: 33940651
- Kawakita T, Gold SL, Huang JC, Iqbal SN. Refining the clinical definition of active phase arrest of dilation in nulliparous women to consider degree of cervical dilation as well as duration of arrest. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Mar 31: 2021. PMID: 33798479
- Kodama S, Mokhtari NB, Iqbal SN, Kawakita T. Evaluation of the Maternal-Fetal Triage Index in a tertiary care labor and delivery unit. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2021 Mar 20;3(4):100351. MFM. 2021. PMID: 33757932
- Spiliopoulos M, Kuo CY, Eranki A, Jacobs M, Rossi CT, Iqbal SN, Fisher JP, Fries MH, Kim PCW.Spiliopoulos M, et al. Characterizing placental stiffness using ultrasound shear-wave elastography in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020 Nov;302(5):1103-1112. PMID: 32676857
- D’Alton ME, Rood KM, Smid MC, Simhan HN, Skupski DW, Subramaniam A, Gibson KS, Rosen, T, Clark SM, Dudley D, Iqbal SN, Paglia MJ, Duzyj CM, Chien, EK, Gibbins KJ, Wine KD, A. Bentum, NA, Kominiarek MA Tuuli, MG, Goffman, D. Intrauterine Vacuum-Induced Hemorrhage-Control Device for Rapid Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhage. Obstetrics & Gynecology: September 09, 2020 -PMID: 32909970
- Chornock R, Iqbal SN, Kawakita T. Racial Disparity in Postpartum Readmission due to Hypertension among Women with Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension. Am J Perinatol. 2020 Jun 2. PMID: 32485755
- Iqbal SN, Overcash R, Mokhtari N, Saeed H, Gold S, Auguste T, Mirza MU, Ruiz ME, Chahine JJ, Waga M, Wortmann G. An uncomplicated delivery in a patient with Covid-19 in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 16;382(16): e34. PMID: 32237670
- Adams A, Aggarwal N, Fries M, Muangman S, Donofrio M, Iqbal SN. Neonatal and maternal outcomes of pregnancies with a fetal diagnosis of congenital heart disease using a standardized delivery room management protocol. Journal of Perinatology. Feb;40(2):316-323. PMID: 31611616
- E Coviello, S Iqbal, R Chornock, M Cheney, S Desale, M Fries. Effect of Implementing Quantitative Blood Loss Assessment at Time of Delivery. American Journal of Perinatology. 2019 May 14. PMID:31087316
- Kawakita T, Iqbal SN, Overcash RT, Kawakita T. Negative pressure wound therapy system in extremely obese women after cesarean delivery compared with standard dressing. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2019 May 5:1-5. PMID: 31018727
- Kawakita T, Iqbal SN, Landy HJ, Huang JC, Fries M. Reducing Cesarean Delivery Surgical Site Infections: A Resident-Driven Quality Initiative. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Feb;133(2):282-288. PMID: 30633146
- Coviello E, Iqbal S, Grantz K, Chun-Chih H, Landy H, Reddy U. Early Preterm Preeclampsia Outcomes by Intended Mode of Delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Jan; 220(1):100.e1-100.e9. PMID: 30273585
- Parikh LI, Iqbal SN, Jelin AC, Overcash RT, Tefera E, Fries MH. Third trimester ultrasound for fetal macrosomia: optimal timing and institutional specific accuracy. Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. 2017 Nov 28:1-5 PMID:29183184
- Kawakita T, Iqbal SN, Huang CC, Reddy UM. Non-medically indicated induction in morbidly obese women is not associated with an increased risk of cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Oct; 217(4):451.e1-451.e8. PMID: 28578171
- Parikh LI, Jelin AC, Iqbal SN, Belna SL, Fries MH, Patel M, Desale S, Ramsey PS. Glycemic control, compliance, and satisfaction for diabetic gravidas in Centering® group care. Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine 2017 May;30(10):1221-1226. PMID: 27380055
- Kawakita T, Reddy UM, Landy HJ, Grantz KL, Desale S, Iqbal SN. Maternal Outcomes associated with early preterm cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Mar; 216(3): 312.e 1-312.PMID:27840144
- Kawakita T, Parikh LI, Ramsey PS, Huang CC, Zeymo A, Fernandez M, Smith S, Iqbal SN. Predictors of adverse neonatal outcomes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Oct; 213:570. e1-8. PMID: 26071912.
- Kawakita T, Reddy UM, Iqbal SN, Huang J, Landy HJ, Grantz KL. Complications associated with fetal scalp electrode. Br J Obstet Gynecol 2015 Dec 8. PMID:26643181
- Iqbal SN, Kriebs J, Harman C, Gungor S, Alger L, Turan O, Kopelman J, Malinow A, Baschat AA. Protease Inhibitor Therapy and Fetal Growth Potential in HIV Positive Women. Am J Perinatol 2008 Jun; 25(6): 335-9.
- Iqbal SN, Kriebs J, Harman C, Alger L, Kopelman J, Turan O, Gungor S, Malinow A, Baschat A. Predictors of Fetal Growth in Maternal HIV Disease. Am J Perinatol 2010 Aug; 27(7):517-23.
View Dr. Iqbal's publications on PubMed. Visit Dr. Iqbal's MedStar Health Research Institute page.