Tamara C. Takoudes, MD, FACOG
Dr. Tamara C. Takoudes, MD, FACOG, is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist) dedicated to the clinical care of high-risk pregnancies. With over 20 years of experience in maternal-fetal medicine, she provides expert management of complex pregnancies, including those complicated by diabetes, hypertension, preterm labor, and multiple gestations. Dr. Takoudes is recognized for her focus on prenatal diagnosis, genetic testing, and fetal assessment, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive, evidence-based care close to home in community hospitals across the Greater Boston area.
After earning her Doctor of Medicine degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1997, Dr. Takoudes completed her residency and internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, followed by a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Women & Infants Hospital, Brown University. Early in her career, she directed the Jocelyn Diabetes and Pregnancy Program at Beth Israel Deaconess, caring for 70–90 type 1 diabetic pregnancies annually, a role that cemented her reputation for managing some of the most medically complex pregnancies with precision and compassion.
Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Takoudes is actively engaged in community service and philanthropy, including fundraising for the Pan Mass Challenge and the YMCA in Falmouth. She maintains memberships in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Balancing professional dedication with personal pursuits, Dr. Takoudes enjoys long-distance cycling and family life, reflecting her belief that a well-rounded, patient-centered approach extends beyond the clinic into meaningful contributions to her community.
• Fellow of the American College of OBGYN (FACOG)
• MD (Doctor of Medicine)
• Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons – Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Columbia University – AB, Art History
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School – Residency & Internship, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Women & Infants Hospital, Brown University – Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Thomas Koch Award for Outstanding Medical Student Going to be Successful in OBGYN (Columbia Medical School)
• Douglas Richardson NICU Award for Outstanding Resident Communicating with the NICU (Beth Israel Deaconess)
• Numerous Awards for Teaching Medical Students and Residents
• American Institute of Ultrasound and Medicine
• American College of OBGYN
• American Board of OBGYN
• Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine
• YMCA Fundraising for New Falmouth YMCA
• Pan Mass Challenge (Cancer Fundraising)
• March of Dimes (Past Involvement)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being 100% invested in taking care of women in the office and clinically. What's interesting in my career as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist is that a lot of people who go into maternal-fetal medicine wind up becoming very academic and doing a lot of research and publishing, and that's never been my area. I have been just completely focused on clinical care, and I'm very proud of that, because I think it's kind of unusual. I enjoy my job immensely. I feel very fortunate, even in COVID, which was very difficult. My job of balancing medical healthcare for women and taking care of their pregnancies is extremely rewarding. I would probably say running the Jocelyn Diabetes and Pregnancy Program was my most notable achievement, because those are really the most complicated pregnancies. We took care of usually 70 to 90 type 1 diabetics a year, and we delivered most of them at the time, which is pretty complicated.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You can have a career in a field you love and be able to make a difference in the live of others and in your community.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You too can go into the medical field and make a difference just stay the course and never give up.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
COVID was very difficult for pregnant women. Pregnant women had many, many complications from COVID in pregnancy, and thankfully that has sort of been less now that people are immune to COVID. But my job of balancing medical healthcare for women and taking care of their pregnancies is extremely rewarding. I've been focusing on taking care of women outside of the urban area of Boston at community hospitals, so that we can try to prevent them from having to go to Boston unless they really have to. The goal is to do genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis to make sure that we do as much good care as we could, and also mostly medically manage medical problems for women who were pregnant, including hypertension, diabetes, and preventing preterm labor.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I'm 100% invested in taking care of women in the office and clinically, and I'm very proud of that. My job of balancing medical healthcare for women and taking care of their pregnancies is extremely rewarding. I enjoy my job immensely. Outside of work, I'm an avid cyclist. I have done 2 Ironmans and I've retired from Ironman training, but now I ride long-distance races. This will be my fifth year riding the Pan Mass Challenge, which is one of the number one fundraisers for cancer in the country. They raise millions and millions of dollars, I think last year it was $76 million. I'm very proud to say I've been riding it with my daughter for 3 years. I also fundraise for the YMCA and have been very active in their fundraising for building a new YMCA in Falmouth, which has been very successful.