Cynthia Shellhaas, MD
Physician, Professor
Maternal Fetal Medicine
Conditions and expertise
- Reproductive Health
- High-Risk Pregnancy
- Preconception Care
- Obstetrics
- Preeclampsia
- Women's Health
Locations
- University Hospital – Rhodes Hall
Academics and research
Department: OB/GYN
About
- Gender
- Female
Biography
Cynthia Shellhaas, MD, MPH, is a maternal fetal specialist and professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Born and raised in West Milton, Ohio, Dr. Shellhaas received her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, now known as Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. Dr. Shellhaas completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio, and a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at Duke University.
She joined the faculty of Wright State University College of Medicine for a short time before joining the faculty at Ohio State as assistant professor in the Department of Ob/Gyn. She received her master’s degree in public health from The Ohio State University College of Public Health in 2002. Dr. Shellhaas was promoted to associate professor at Ohio State in 2007.
Dr. Shellhaas has served on the Biomedical Institutional Review Board of The Ohio State University since 2003 and has been vice chair since 2010. Since 2003, she has served as medical director of the Bureau of Child and Family Health Services (BCFHS) in the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). In this capacity she has provided medical and public health consultation to the management and staff of the BCFHS. Responsibilities have included strategic planning by providing medical opinions and assisting in policy development at the state level for Ohio’s maternal child health programs. Since 2010, she has served as the lead for The Maternal Child Health/Chronic Disease Integration Project at ODH.
Highlights
- Named to Castle Connolly's Regional Top Doctors list
- Rated in the top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction, 2015
- Best Doctors in America, 2017
Conditions and expertise
- High-Risk Pregnancy
- Obstetrics
- Preconception Care
- Preeclampsia
- Pregnancy Complications
- Premature Birth
- Reproductive Health
- Ultrasonography
- Women's Health
Locations
Please note: Not all physicians schedule patients at each listed location.
Credentials
Education
- Fellowship - Maternal and Fetal Medicine
- Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
7/1/1992 - 6/30/1994 - Residency - Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Akron General Medical Center GME, Akron, OH, United States
7/1/1989 - 6/30/1992 - Internship - Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Akron General Medical Center GME, Akron, OH, United States
7/1/1988 - 6/30/1989 - Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
9/1/1983 - 5/30/1988
Certifications
-
American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology-Maternal & Fetal Medicine
4/9/1997 -
American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
11/17/1995
Academics and research
I specialize in maternal fetal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and am a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Ohio State College of Medicine. I serve as the chair of the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s Maternal and Infant Health Steering Committee and as vice-chair of The Ohio State University Biomedical Sciences Institutional Research Board.
I am the medical director for the Wexner Medical Center’s Women’s Health Imaging Services. In addition to providing obstetric ultrasound services, my department also performs procedures such as amniocenteses, chorionic villus samplings, cordocenteses and intra-uterine transfusions.
In addition to my clinical work, I have helped improve health care across the state in my role as medical consultant for the Ohio Department of Health’s Bureau of Maternal, Child and Family Health. I've helped develop statewide policies for maternal and child health programs covering prenatal care, infant mortality reduction, family planning and more. I've also helped plan and implement clinical programs for obstetric, pediatric and family planning patients.
Research interests
- Reduction of Maternal and Infant Mortality
- Prenatal Diagnosis
- Obstetric Ultrasound
Honors and Awards
- Exceptional Women in Medicine, 2019-2021
Academic information
- Department:
- OB/GYN
- Division:
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
More about my research
Consulting and Related Relationships
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we support a faculty member’s research and consulting in collaboration with medical device, research and/or drug companies because a faculty member’s expertise can guide important advancements in the practice of medicine and improve patient care. In order to provide effective management of these relationships, the University requires annual disclosures from all faculty members with external interests related to their University responsibilities.
As of 11/3/2025, Dr. Shellhaas has reported no relationships with companies or entities.