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Anuja Dokras, M.D., MHCI., Ph.D.

Founder's Professor in Women's Health
Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Contact information
Penn Fertility Care
3701 Market Street, 8th Floor, Suite 800
adokras@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-615-0085
Education:
HSC (Science/Math)
Jaihind College, India, 1982.
MBBS (MD) (Medicine)
University of Bombay, India, 1988.
PhD (Medicine)
University of Oxford, UK, 1992.
MHCI (Healthcare Innovation )
University of Pennsylvania, 2022.
Post-Graduate Training
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 1992-1993.
Intern in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 1993-1994.
Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale New Haven Hospital, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 1994-1997.
Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 1997-1999.
Edward Cooper Leadership Development Program, Wharton, 2017-2017.
Certiifcate in Health care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, 2019-2020.
Leadership in a new Era of Healthcare Program, Wharton, 2019-2019.
Masters in Healthcare Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, 2020-2022.
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Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests: Dr Dokras directs the Penn Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (formerly known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) transdisciplinary clinical and research program.

Keywords: PMOS/PCOS, androgens, metabolic risk, mood disorders, cardiovascular disease

Research Details: An internationally recognized physician-scientist and NIH-funded investigator, Dr Dokras' research has transformed understanding of the long-term health consequences of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (formerly PCOS), one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting ~10% of reproductive age women. Over the past two decades, her work has advanced knowledge of the cardiometabolic, reproductive, and psychological complications of PMOS, with an in depth focus on identifying factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease risk, metabolic dysfunction, infertility, and mental health disorders in women across the lifespan.

Dr. Dokras has led numerous NIH-funded clinical trials and translational research studies that have directly informed evidence-based care for women with PMOS. Her research has informed international clinical guidelines, improve treatment strategies, and highlight the importance of addressing quality of life and mental health alongside reproductive and metabolic outcomes. As a strong patient advocate, she works collaboratively with patient support groups to inform her research priorities.

Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr Dokras directs the Penn Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS) Center which offers comprehensive gynecological, reproductive, dermatological, metabolic, nutritional and psychological care to women with PMOS. The PMOS care team has expertise in treating all PMOS symptoms and related conditions using the latest therapies. The Center offers comprehensive care with a personalized treatment plan that addresses individual patient symptoms and needs.

Description of Other Expertise

Innovation
Dr Dokras is the founding Executive Director of the Women’s Health Center for Clinical Innovation (WHCCI) at Penn Medicine a pioneering center dedicated to improving the health and healthcare experience of women through innovation, research, and implementation science. WHCCI brings together multidisciplinary teams of clinicians, researchers, engineers, and healthcare innovators to develop, evaluate, and scale patient-centered solutions that address critical front line challenges in women’s healthcare delivery across the lifespan. Through initiatives in digital health, care delivery redesign, artificial intelligence, remote monitoring, and health equity, the Center accelerates the translation of innovative ideas into real-world clinical practice that are scaled across the health system and nationally.

Selected Publications

Teede HJ, Khomami MB, Morman R, Laven JSE, Joham AE, Costello MF, Patil M, Rees DA, Berry L, Cree MG, Zhao H, Norman RJ, Dokras A, Piltonen T; Global Name Change Consortium.: Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, the new name for polycystic ovary syndrome: a multistep global consensus process. Lancet May 2026.

Teede H, Morman R, Dokras A, Khomami MB, Piltonen T, Norman R, Stener-Victorin E.: Naming in medicine: how disease nomenclature shapes diagnosis, research and patient lives. Nat Med May 2026.

Dokras A, Coutifaris C, Remaley AT, Mehta NN, Playford MP, Kunselman AR, Stetter CC, Dodson WC, Legro RS.: Impact of combined hormonal contraceptives and metformin on metabolic syndrome in women with hyperandrogenic polycystic ovary syndrome and obesity: The COMET-PCOS randomized clinical trial. PLoS Med 22: e1004662, Dec 2025.

Senapati, S, Asch, D, Merchant, RM, Rosin, R, Seltzer, E, Mancheno, C, Dokras, A : The Fast Track to Fertility Program: Rapid Cycle Innovation to Redesign Fertility Care NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery 3(10), 2022.

Lee IT, Rees J, King S, Kim A, Cherlin T, Hinkle S, Mumford SL, Dokras A.: Depression, Anxiety, and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Longitudinal Study. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism. 110(3): e750-e756, Mar 2025.

Applebaum J, Kim EK, Sharp M, Dokras A, Shah DK. : Racial and socioeconomic disparities in fertility treatment provision for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. S0015-0282(24): 00545-4, Jun 2024.

Lee IT, King S, Sealy N, Rees J, Mumford SL, Hinkle SN, Dokras A.: Social deprivation, race, and metabolic syndrome in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Endocr Soc 10: bvag063, Mar 2026.

Stener-Victorin E, Teede H, Norman RJ, Legro R, Goodarzi MO, Dokras A, Laven J, Hoeger K, Piltonen TT.: Polycystic ovary syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 10(1): 27, Apr 2024.

Alur-Gupta S, Boland MR, Dokras A: N3C Consortium Risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 119(5): 847-857, May 2023.

Cooney LG, Sammel MD, Lee I, Clapp MA, Goldsammler M, Scott E, Bjorkman S, Fisher BT, Dokras A.: The details matter: personalized prediction of live birth following in vitro fertilization in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 121(6): 1010-101, Jun 2024.

Teede HJ, Tay CT, Laven J, Dokras A, Moran LJ, Piltonen TT, Costello MF, Boivin J, M Redman L, A Boyle J, Norman RJ, Mousa A, Joham AE: Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Fertil Steril. 120(4): 767-793, Oct 2023.

Huddleston HG, Dokras A.: Diagnosis and Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. JAMA. 327(3): 274-275, Jan 2022.

Legro RS, Dodson WC, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Fleming J, Allison KC, Sarwer DB, Coutifaris C, Dokras A: Randomized Controlled Trial of Preconception Interventions in Infertile Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100(11): 4048-4058, Nov 2015.

Dokras A, Sarwer DB, Allison KC, Milman L, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Fleming J, Coutifaris C, Legro RS: Weight Loss and Lowering Androgens Predict Improvements in Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101(8): 2966-2974, 2016.

Gibson-Helm M, Teede H, Dunaif A, Dokras A: Delayed diagnosis and a lack of information associated with dissatisfaction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 102(2): 604-612, Feb 2017.

Legro RS, Dodson WC, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Kris-Etherton PM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Allison KC, Sarwer DB, Diamond MP, Schlaff WD, Casson PR, Christman GM, Barnhart KT, Bates GW, Usadi R, Lucidi S, Baker V, Zhang H, Eisenberg E, Coutifaris C, Dokras A: Benefit of delayed fertility therapy with preconception weight loss over immediate therapy in obese women with PCOS. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 101(7): 2658-2666, Jul 2016

Dokras A, Saini S, Gibson-Helm M, Schulkin J, Cooney L, Teede H: Gaps in knowledge among physicians regarding diagnostic criteria and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril May 2017 Notes: [Epub ahead of print]

Dokras A, Playford M, Kris-Etherton PM, Kunselman AR, Stetter CM, Williams NI, Gnatuk CL, Estes SJ, Sarwer DB, Allison KC, Coutifaris C, Mehta N, Legro RS: Impact of hormonal contraception and weight loss on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol efflux and lipoprotein particles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Clin Endocrinol 86(50): 739-746, May 2017.

Copp T, Jansen J, Doust J, Mol BW, Dokras A, McCaffery K: Are expanding disease definitions unnecessarily labeling women with polycystic ovary syndrome? BMJ 358: j3694, Aug 2017 Notes: Erratum in: BMJ, Nov 2017, 359: j5380.

Dokras A, Stener-Victorin E, Yildiz BO, Li R, Ottey S, Shah D, Epperson N, Teede H.: Androgen Excess-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Society: position statement on depression, anxiety, quality of life, and eating disorders in polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertility and Sterility 109(5): 888-899, May 2018.

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Last updated: 06/04/2026
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