Bio

Dr. Wachtel has been practicing general obstetrics and gynecology for 38 years and has personally delivered over 6,000 babies. He continues to have an active practice in general ob/gyn, serving as a Clinical Professor. He is a nationally recognized expert in patient safety, peer review and data driven quality improvement and has served numerous roles in the field and lectured nationally and internationally. Dr. Wachtel is the Assistant Secretary for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and currently serves on the ACOG National Executive Board and Executive Committee. He is the immediate Past Chair for ACOG District IX (the state of California) and also previously served for three years on the ACOG national Executive Board. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative and is an Expert Medical Reviewer for the Medical Board of California.

Clinical Focus

  • Menlo Clinic > Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Colposcopy and Cervical Dysplasia
  • Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Management
  • Menopausal Therapy
  • Gynecology

Academic Appointments

Administrative Appointments

  • Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2017 - Present)

Honors & Awards

  • Assistant Secretary and Executive Board Member, ACOG (2018-2020)
  • Executive Board Member, California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (2009-present)
  • District Chair, ACOG District IX (California) (2014-2017)
  • Team Leader, ACOG Voluntary Review of Quality of Care Program (2001-present)
  • Program director, ACOG Voluntary Review of Quality of Care Program (2009 to 2012)
  • Patient Safety Officer, ACOG District IX (2009-2013)
  • Chairman, ACOG Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Committee (2007-2009)
  • Chairman, Professional Practice Evaluation Committee (formerly Gynecology Quality Assurance) at Stanford (2003-present)
  • Chairman, Professional Practice Evaluation Committee (formerly Obstetric Quality Assurance Committee) at LPCH (2003-present)
  • Expert Reviewer, Medical Board of California (2009-present)
  • Liaison committee member, ACOG Committee on Obstetric Practice (2004-2007)
  • Ex Officio member, ACOG Committee on Professional Liability (2007-2009)

Professional Education

  • Internship: University of California San Diego School of Medicine (1977) CA
  • Medical Education: University of California San Diego School of Medicine (1976) CA
  • Residency: Stanford University School of Medicine (1980) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology (1982)
  • BS with Honors and Distinction, Stanford University, Biology (1972)

Community and International Work

  • Ecuador Integration into ACOG

    Topic

    Integrating Ecuador into ACOG District IX

    Partnering Organization(s)

    ACOG

    Populations Served

    Women of Ecuador

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    Yes

  • Implementation of a Patient Safety Program in Obstetrics for China, Beijing and Shanghai

    Topic

    Patient Safety in China

    Partnering Organization(s)

    ACOG, China Center for Diseases of Children

    Populations Served

    Obstetricians in China

    Location

    International

    Ongoing Project

    Yes

    Opportunities for Student Involvement

    No

Contact

  • Clinical (Primary)  3240 Alpine Rd Portola Valley, CA 94028 (650) 723-6046 (fax)

Additional Clinical Info

Links

All Publications

  • NONOXIDATIVE MICROBICIDAL ACTIVITY IN NORMAL HUMAN ALVEOLAR AND PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES INFECTION AND IMMUNITY Catterall, J. R., Black, C. M., Leventhal, J. P., Rizk, N. W., Wachtel, J. S., Remington, J. S. 1987; 55 (7): 1635-1640

    Abstract

    Although Toxoplasma gondii multiplies within normal murine alveolar and peritoneal macrophages, it is killed by normal rat alveolar and peritoneal macrophages. The killing by rat macrophages is by a nonoxidative mechanism. Studies on normal human alveolar macrophages have reported disparate results in regard to their ability to inhibit or kill T. gondii. We considered it of interest to explore further the effect of normal human alveolar and peritoneal macrophages on T. gondii. Unstimulated alveolar macrophages from each of seven individuals demonstrated a marked ability to kill or inhibit multiplication of T. gondii in vitro (e.g., the number of parasites per 100 alveolar macrophages was 31 at time zero and 2 at 18 h, whereas this value increased from 37 at time zero to 183 at 18 h in murine macrophages assayed in parallel). In quantitative assays of superoxide, alveolar macrophages released a substantial amount of superoxide when exposed to phorbol myristate acetate or to candidae. In contrast, alveolar macrophages incubated with T. gondii released no more superoxide than when in medium alone. Scavengers of superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, singlet oxygen, and hydroxyl radicals failed to inhibit killing of T. gondii by alveolar macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages from each of six normal women undergoing laparoscopy killed T. gondii in vitro; results of quantitative superoxide assays and scavenger experiments demonstrated that no oxidative burst was triggered in these macrophages by exposure to T. gondii. These data indicate that normal human alveolar and peritoneal macrophages can kill an intracellular parasite by nonoxidative mechanisms and suggest that these mechanisms are important in inhibition or killing of other opportunistic intracellular pathogens.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1987H795600016

    View details for PubMedID 3036709

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC260570

  • TEMPLATE SPECIFICITIES OF DNA-POLYMERASE IN CELL FREE LYSATES OF XENOPUS-LAEVIS EGGS, LARVAE AND IMMATURE OVARIES BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS Brandt, B. L., Wachtel, J. S. 1973; 53 (3): 1017-1023

    View details for Web of Science ID A1973Q326000046

    View details for PubMedID 4581490