Mary E. Norton

MD

Perinatologist and clinical geneticist
Vice Chair, Clinical & Translational Genetics
Avid hiker with my dog, Juno

Dr. Mary E. Norton is a perinatologist and clinical geneticist who cares for pregnant patients who have a fetus with a birth defect or genetic disorder or are at risk for such a condition. She performs obstetric ultrasounds, counsels patients with abnormal ultrasounds and performs prenatal tests like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. She also interprets complex genetic tests, especially when abnormalities are found.

Norton's areas of interest in research include applying new genetic tests to prenatal diagnosis and fetal disease, as well as patient decision-making around genetic testing and obstetrical ultrasound. She is co-director of the Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine at UCSF, as well as the David E. Thorburn, M.D. and Kate McKee Thorburn Endowed Chair in Perinatal Medicine and Genetics at UCSF.

Norton earned her medical degree at the University of Washington. She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts University followed by a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine and clinical genetics at UCSF. After several years at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, she returned to San Francisco and joined UCSF Medical Center in 1998.

  • Education

    University of Washington School of Medicine, 1986

  • Residencies

    Tufts-New England Medical Center, OB/GYN, 1987

  • Fellowships

    Tufts-New England Medical Center, OB/GYN, 1990

    UCSF Medical Center, Genetics/Maternal Fetal Medicine, 1993

  • Board Certifications

    Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Clinical Genetics (MD), American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics

    Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Board of OB/Gyn/Maternal & Fetal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor

"The most important thing is involving the mother in the conversation."

Meet Dr. Norton

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (6)

    My work

    The ins and outs of genetic testing while pregnant

    The number of prenatal genetic tests available to families continues to grow, especially near Silicon Valley. Dr. Norton helps explain this new landscape of options.

    Listen on KQED

    Selected research

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    Decorative Caduceus

    Effectiveness of Two Aspirin Doses for Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: ASPIR...

    HDP defined as preeclampsia or antepartum gHTN based on ACOG criteria

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Genomic Sequencing in Anatomically Normal Fetuses

    Proportion of positive genetic diagnosis among all pregnancies with anatomically normal fetuses

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Azithromycin Prophylaxis for PRElabor CEsarean DElivery Trial

    a maternal infection composite defined as any one of the following: endometritis, wound infection, abdominal or pelvic abscess, septic pelvic thrombosis, sepsis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis and breast infection

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for Sleep Apnea in Pregnancy

    Subjects are considered to have the primary outcome if they meet the criteria for eclampsia, HELLP, atypical HELLP, preeclampsia, superimposed preeclampsia or antepartum gestational hypertension.

    Recruiting

    I help pregnant women and their families understand challenges with their pregnancy or genetic history to support them making their own best choices.

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