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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — New England Center for Placental Disorders

An internationally recognized referral center for placental disorders, led by a published advocate for fertility-preserving PAS management

Last reviewed: March 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Director: Dr. Scott Shainker, DO, MSc (Harvard Medical School faculty)
  • The New England Center for Placental Disorders (NECPD) is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary program
  • Co-authored landmark AJOG 2025 meta-analysis: conservative management associated with 974 mL less blood loss vs cesarean hysterectomy2
  • Published advocate for conservative management as a fertility-preserving alternative1
  • Also affiliated with Brigham and Women's and Boston Children's Hospital (Harvard system)

Program Overview

The New England Center for Placental Disorders (NECPD) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA, is an internationally recognized multidisciplinary program dedicated to the evaluation and management of placenta accreta spectrum and related placental disorders. The NECPD serves as an international referral center, drawing patients from across the United States and abroad.

As a Harvard Medical School–affiliated program, the NECPD benefits from the academic depth and collaborative infrastructure of one of the world's leading medical systems. While Dr. Shainker works across multiple Harvard institutions — including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital — the NECPD at BIDMC is a distinct program with its own dedicated team and clinical operations.

Fertility Preservation Status

✅ Fertility Preservation Offered — Published Advocate

Dr. Shainker has published extensively advocating for conservative management as a fertility-preserving alternative to cesarean hysterectomy. He co-authored a systematic review on delivery outcomes in subsequent pregnancies after conservative PAS management, providing evidence that future fertility is achievable. In a 2022 AJOG editorial titled "Conservative management of placenta accreta spectrum: is it time?", Dr. Shainker and colleagues made the case that conservative management deserves broader consideration as a standard treatment option.1

Management Strategy

Strategy B: Conservative Management (Leaving Placenta In Situ) — The NECPD advocates for and practices conservative management using the leaving-placenta-in-situ approach. Dr. Shainker has co-authored with Einerson (Utah) and Pineles (Penn) on the practicality and evidence base for conservative management in the US setting.4

Collaborative Research

The NECPD is engaged in an active collaborative research project with UTMB Galveston (Dr. Karin Fox), running from 2024 to 2026. This collaboration brings together two complementary programs — BIDMC's editorial leadership and evidence synthesis expertise with UTMB's surgical and clinical research focus — to advance the field of conservative PAS management.

📌 Program Role: Editorial and Advocacy Leadership

The NECPD's primary contribution to the field has been through editorial advocacy, evidence synthesis (meta-analyses and systematic reviews), and collaborative research rather than published single-center outcomes data. No published single-center case series on conservative management outcomes from BIDMC is currently available. Patients should discuss the program's direct clinical experience with the care team during consultation.

The NECPD's approach to conservative management is informed by a growing body of evidence, including the team's own 2025 meta-analysis demonstrating significantly reduced blood loss with conservative management compared to cesarean hysterectomy. Patients interested in fertility preservation should discuss candidacy, expected outcomes, and follow-up requirements with the NECPD team.

Key Physicians

Scott A. Shainker, DO, MSc

Co-founder and Director, New England Center for Placental Disorders

Dr. Shainker is a Harvard Medical School faculty member and one of the leading voices in the field of conservative PAS management. He co-authored the landmark AJOG 2025 meta-analysis demonstrating that conservative management is associated with 974 mL less blood loss compared to cesarean hysterectomy.2 He has published advocacy for conservative management as a standard treatment option and contributed systematic reviews on subsequent pregnancy outcomes after conservative PAS management. Dr. Shainker is also listed at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, and has been a featured speaker in the National Accreta Foundation (NAF) Expert Series.3

Research & Publications

The NECPD team has contributed meaningfully to the evidence base supporting conservative PAS management. Key publications include:

Meta-Analysis: Conservative vs. Hysterectomy (AJOG 2025)

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology demonstrated that conservative management was associated with 974 mL less blood loss compared to cesarean hysterectomy, along with reduced transfusion requirements and fewer surgical complications.2

Subsequent Pregnancy Outcomes

Dr. Shainker co-authored a systematic review examining delivery outcomes in subsequent pregnancies after conservative PAS management, providing important reassurance for patients considering this fertility-preserving approach.

AJOG Editorial: Conservative Management Advocacy

In a 2022 editorial in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Shainker and colleagues posed the question "Conservative management of placenta accreta spectrum: is it time?" — making a compelling case for broader adoption of conservative management as an evidence-based treatment option.1

Practical Information

Location

  • Hospital: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
  • Program: New England Center for Placental Disorders (NECPD)

Website

Harvard Affiliations

The NECPD is part of the broader Harvard Medical School ecosystem. Dr. Shainker also practices at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital, providing patients with access to the full depth of Harvard's clinical and research resources.

References

  1. Shainker SA, et al. Conservative management of placenta accreta spectrum: is it time? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022. PMID: 35065016
  2. Shainker SA, et al. Conservative management versus cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025. PMID: 39217925
  3. National Accreta Foundation (NAF). Expert Series on Placenta Accreta Spectrum. preventaccreta.org
  4. Pineles BL, et al. Is conservative management of placenta accreta spectrum practical in the United States? AJOG MFM. 2023. PMID: 36113717