The Latest Scientific Advancements in Teratology and Risk Counseling

The Annual Education Meeting of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) brings together OTIS members and other interested participants for a three-day meeting where attendees can learn more about the field of teratology (the study of exposures in pregnancy and breastfeeding), discuss the latest research findings in current studies, and share best practices about how to expertly disseminate and educate the public about this important topic. Attendees from all backgrounds attend this important meeting, including but not limited to those practicing in the areas of behavioral teratology, dysmorphology, education, genetics, genetic counseling, lactation consulting, midwifery, nursing, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, perinatal epidemiology, pharmacy, psychiatry, psychology, public health, teratology, and more.

Join us for the 38^th Annual OTIS Education Meeting

The 38^th Annual Education Meeting for the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists will be held June 2-4, 2026.

The meeting will include members in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. 

Please access the conference website to learn more about registration and to check out the conference schedule:  

How do public health experts detect emerging risks to pregnancies before they become widespread crises? In this episode of The MotherToBaby Podcast, host Chris Stallman, genetic counselor, mom of four, and teratogen information specialist, sits down with Dr. Amanda Elmore, Assistant Professor of Maternal & Child Health at the University of South Florida, to explore the powerful role of birth defect surveillance.

Dr. Elmore shares how her career in public health began during the Zika virus epidemic—reviewing medical records of exposed infants to help the CDC understand the real-world impact of in-utero exposure. She explains how surveillance systems track structural and functional birth anomalies, serve as early warning systems for new and emerging exposures, and shape everything from clinical care and referral services to national public health policy.

The conversation also dives into:

• How surveillance led to rapid public health responses during the Zika crisis
• What neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) reveals about opioid exposure during pregnancy
• The push for real-time data using electronic medical records and health information exchanges
• How machine learning and natural language processing may transform how cases are identified
• Why a life-course perspective matters for children born with birth defects
• How surveillance data supports funding, prevention efforts, and long-term family services

Dr. Elmore also shares her vision for the future: a more standardized, timely, and integrated national system that can better support prevention, research, and lifelong care for affected children and families.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how data quietly powers some of the most important protections for moms and babies.

💡 Have questions about exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding?
You can contact MotherToBaby for free, confidential, evidence-based information:
📞 Call: 866-626-6847
📱 Text: 855-999-3525
💻 Visit: https://mothertobaby.org/

Dr. Jessica Vernon, OBGYN at NYU Langone Health, is an expert on post-birth complications, but after the birth of her daughter she didn’t recognize her own symptoms of postpartum depression. Now Dr. Vernon is on a mission to share her story, and her decision to continue mental health treatment during her current pregnancy. Watch the clip on the Today Show where she recommends MotherToBaby as a resource for others navigating decisions about medication use during pregnancy.

ATLANTA, GA – In collaboration with the National Society of Genetic Counselors, MotherToBaby, a non-profit service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), is excited to offer a free webinar July 30, 2021 on prenatal exposures and their known effects on the development and behavior of children. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits will be offered for genetic counselors. Advanced registration is required at the following link: https://bit.ly/prenatalexposures

WHO: Featured speaker Claire Coles, PhD, Director of MotherToBaby Georgia and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics at Emory University.

Dr. Coles is also Director of the Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Laboratory at Emory. Her expertise is in the developmental and behavioral effects of prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol and the interaction of these effects with the postnatal environment. She was among the first to describe the behavioral effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and to investigate the effects of cocaine exposure on child development.

WHAT: “Challenges in Identifying Effects of Prenatal Exposure on Development and Behavior,” a free webinar in partnership with the National Society of Genetic Counselors. Advanced registration is required here.

WHEN: July 30, 2021, 9a PT/12p ET.

PURPOSE: This free webinar is designed for the scientist, genetic counselor and health care provider. Attendees will learn to:

• Define what a behavioral teratogen is and why it has an effect on child development.
• Be able to critique media reports and journal articles on effects of prenatal exposures.
• Identify what information is necessary for accurate information about development and behavior.
• Have information about referrals to address problems in development and behavior.

More about OTIS and MotherToBaby

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) is a professional scientific society made up of individuals engaged in assessing and evaluating risks to pregnancy and breastfeeding from environmental exposures. Members include, but are not limited to, specialists in the fields of: obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, genetics, dysmorphology, perinatal epidemiology, teratology, behavioral teratology, pharmacy, genetic counseling, nursing, midwifery, maternal and child health, public health, and includes experts that provide MotherToBaby services and researchers that conduct MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many federal agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To learn more about ongoing MotherToBaby and OTIS, please visit www.MotherToBaby.org.  

The Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), the professional society that provides the MotherToBaby service, has released the following statement on anti-racism:

In light of the horrifying recent events taking place in our country, which is only the latest in a long history of violence against Black men, women, and children, we think as an organization it is important to state that diversity, equality, inclusion, and respect are of the upmost importance to OTIS. As a scientific and service organization dedicated to providing evidence-based information to parents, health care professionals, and the general public about medications and other exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, we know the importance a diverse membership, who bring to OTIS a myriad of experiences, has in strengthening our organization and equipping us to help those from all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, mental or physical ability, age, gender identity or expressions, or sexual orientation are valued and welcome. There is no place for hatred, discrimination or injustice at OTIS or society as a whole.

Any form of systemic racism towards communities of color harm everyone and stain the claim that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are basic rights. It is our hope that we come together as an organization to demonstrate a powerful message of community, science, dignity, and respect.