Carolyn Louise Westhoff

Dr. Carolyn Westhoff founded the Division of Complex Family Planning in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. At Columbia, Dr. Westhoff led the family planning research collaboration, funded for over 30 years by the National Institutes of Health as well as by private donors. This research focused on developing and evaluating new contraceptives and evaluating abortion safety. Dr. Westhoff served as the Chair of the National Medical Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, as well as numerous other boards and advisory committees. Dr. Westhoff served as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Contraception until 2025. Among many awards, in 2007 Dr. Westhoff was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Updated January 28, 2026