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Connecting women and opportunity

Womanthology is a digital magazine and professional community powered by female energy and ingenuity.

Connecting women and opportunity

Womanthology is a digital magazine and professional community powered by female energy and ingenuity.

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From personal experience to pioneering research in women’s metabolic health and reproductive outcomes

Dr Rima Dhillon-Smith, Clinical Associate Professor, University of Birmingham, and the Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Female reproductive system

Dr Rima Dhillon-Smith is a clinical associate professor in reproductive medicine based at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. With a career dedicated to advancing women’s reproductive health, Rima holds expertise in reproductive endocrinology and metabolic health. Her work spans clinical care, research, and teaching, with a focus on improving outcomes for women with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disease, and other metabolic health challenges.

Dr Rima Dhillon-Smith
Dr Rima Dhillon-Smith

“Personal experiences have only deepened my commitment to improving reproductive health and making a meaningful difference for girls and women everywhere.”

A journey from textbooks to test tubes and beyond

I graduated with my medical degree (MBChB) from the University of Birmingham in 2009. From early in my studies, I discovered a passion for women’s health, particularly reproductive health. I started my core training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the West Midlands in 2011.

Afterwards, I took time out of my clinical training to pursue a PhD, which I completed in 2015. My thesis, titled “Risk Stratification for Women Undergoing In-Vitro Fertilisation,” led to several high-impact publications.

During this time, I was appointed lead investigator for the £1.7 million NIHR EME-funded TABLET trial (Thyroid Antibodies and LEvoThyroxine). This work resulted in a first-author publication in the New England Journal of Medicine and a change in clinical guidance. Since then, I have developed a portfolio of work focused on thyroid disease, fertility, and pregnancy, and I am internationally recognised for my contributions to the field.

I am a co-author on multiple international guidelines, including those from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the American Thyroid Association. Additionally, I am part of the Consortium on Thyroid and Pregnancy, where we have been successful in securing several research grants.

I completed my subspecialty training in reproductive medicine alongside my core obstetrics and gynaecology training, finishing in December 2023. At the same time, I continued my research as a clinical lecturer in reproductive endocrinology. In December 2023, I was appointed clinical associate professor, and in October 2024, I became co-lead for the Women’s Metabolic Health theme at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre.

As a senior clinical academic at Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage, I led a comprehensive review on miscarriage care, published as a three-part series in The Lancet. I am also a senior investigator for the LOCI trial, a £2.1 million, multi-centre NIHR HTA-funded study investigating letrozole vs clomifene (with or without metformin) for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Additionally, I supervise several PhD students focused on improving fertility treatment outcomes, assessing miscarriage risk factors, and researching reproductive health in women with PCOS.

Pregnancy graphicOn a personal note, I have two children, both conceived through IVF after many years of unsuccessful treatment. My son was born in 2021 and my daughter in 2023. I also experienced the challenges of having a child born prematurely. These personal experiences have only deepened my passion for improving reproductive healthcare for women and girls.

Turning research into real-world change

My role is split between clinical practice and academic work. I serve as an honorary consultant gynaecologist at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, where I work across women’s and children’s services, supporting girls and adolescents with gynaecological issues and assisting couples with fertility treatments. I also work in the Tommy’s miscarriage clinic, caring for couples who have experienced pregnancy loss.

Academically, I’m deeply involved in research, focusing on reproductive endocrinology, Teaching is another passion of mine; I regularly lecture on reproductive health and supervise six PhD students who are conducting vital research into fertility treatments, miscarriage prevention, and PCOS.

Tackling pressing issues in women’s metabolic health

In my new role as co-lead for the Women’s Metabolic Health theme at the Birmingham NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, I’ll be leading a team of doctors, scientists, and members of the public dedicated to advancing metabolic health research in women. We’re focusing on conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), gestational diabetes, and thyroid disease, and exploring why certain metabolic diseases impact women differently than men. Our goal is to translate scientific discoveries into practical treatments and diagnostics that can benefit women locally and internationally.

Thyroid
Human thyroid. [*This image has been modified for stylistic purposes.]
Women’s metabolic health is an area that needs much more attention, especially when it comes to conditions like PCOS, obesity, gestational diabetes, and autoimmune thyroid disease. We need to understand the mechanisms that lead to these adverse outcomes in women so we can design targeted, effective treatments.

Lifestyle and socioeconomic factors in metabolic health

Lifestyle, diet, and socioeconomic status play significant roles in metabolic health. In our region, we’re fortunate to have a diverse population, enabling us to study the effects of these factors across different backgrounds. By conducting research with this diversity in mind, we aim to reduce health disparities, particularly for women from ethnic minorities and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. At Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, for example, we’re investigating how maternal diet influences miscarriage risk in women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss.

The importance of diversity of thought in medicine

Diversity of thought is essential in medicine. It brings varied perspectives to problem-solving, reduces health disparities, encourages innovation, and ultimately leads to better healthcare outcomes. In reproductive health, especially, a diverse approach helps us develop more inclusive and effective treatments.

Connecting with the Womanthology community

Raising awareness about these health issues is crucial. The Womanthology community can play a pivotal role by helping us amplify our research and by encouraging women to participate in studies and advocate for their health.

Looking forward: Upcoming projects in women’s health

My co-lead for the NIHR BRC Women’s Metabolic Health theme, Dr Alessandro Prete, and I are looking forward to taking over the theme and introducing new and exciting projects, particularly those with an experimental focus on women’s metabolic health.

Separately, I have plans for several large-scale clinical trials in women’s health: a platform trial looking at the effectiveness of ‘add-ons’ used to improve outcomes for women undergoing IVF treatment; a trial using a transcranial direct-current device (a non-invasive technique that uses a low electrical current to stimulate specific areas of the brain) in adolescents to improve menstrual pain and premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and also in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD); and finally a platform trial of interventions to reduce miscarriage in women who have suffered recurrent miscarriages.

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