Department of OBGYN

Noedahn Copley-Woods, MD

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
  • Assistant Dean for Sustainability, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dr. Woods completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell University as a Cornell Tradition Scholar. She attended medical school at Temple University School of Medicine and then completed residency at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. She worked for two years on the Navajo reservation in Chinle Arizona before joining the faculty at Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2007. She is currently a specialist in pelvic ultrasound and performs research and education in healthcare sustainability. She completed a Climate Health Organizing fellowship at Harvard Chan School of Public Health.

Dr Woods serves on the UPMC Center for Sustainability Steering committee, is the course director for the Pittsburgh School of Medicine “Climate and Healthcare” elective, and chairs the group, Clinicians for Climate Action. Her research focuses on environmental life-cycle impacts of surgery and medical procedures. She is co-director of the Magee Women’s Hospital Green Quality Team and a former board member of Practice Greenhealth and Health Care without Harm.  

Education & Training

  • Residency, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
  • M.D., Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Representative Publications

  • Melnyk, A., Woods, N., Moalli, P. Going Green in Gynecology: A Call to Action. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023 Accepted.
  • Thiel, C Woods N, Bilec M. Strategies to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Laparoscopic Surgery. American J of Public Health, Accepted Feb 2018.
  • Thiel C, Duncan P, Woods N.  Attitude of US obstetricians and gynecologists to global warming and medical waste.  J Health Serv Res Policy. 2017 Jan 1.
  • Campion, N., Thiel, CL, Woods, N, Swanzy, L, Landis, AE, Bilec, MM.  Sustainable healthcare and environmental life-cycle impacts of disposable supplies:  A focus on disposable custom packs.  Journal of Cleaner Production, vol 94, 2015 pp-46-55.
  • Thiel, C.L., Eckelman, M.J., Guido, R., Huddleston M., Landis, A.E., Sherman, J., Shrake S.O., Woods, N., Bilec M.M. Environmental Impacts of Surgical Procedures: Life Cycle Assessment of Hysterectomy in the US. Environmental Science and Technology Dec 2014; 49(3)
  • Campion, N., Thiel C/L., DeBlois, J., Woods, N.C., Landis, A.E., Bilec M.M. Life Cycle Perspectives on Delivering an Infant in the US. Sci Total Environ 2012; 191-198

Clinical Interests/Research Interests

Dr. Woods is interested in research, education and advocacy that reduces the climate impact of providing healthcare in the US. She is the chair of Clinicians for Climate Action, a group of over 500 medical professionals interested in decarbonizing the health care sector. Her research evaluates the environmental impact of medical procedures.