Transforming maternal healthcare so women can experience childbirth with confidence and dignity
A simple question often sparks a great idea – “Why isn’t there a better way to do this?”
For WashU startup, CERV, this question was the catalyst for three biomedical engineering students to work toward transforming maternal healthcare so women can experience childbirth with confidence and dignity.
During her sister’s labor, Elizabeth Buzbee (MS ’25) noticed that the medical team was struggling to obtain a consistent dilation measurement, and the readings varied between different doctors and nurses. This inconsistency led to repeated exams, each causing additional pain and discomfort for her sister.
Cervical dilation is an essential indicator of labor progress, but it is currently evaluated using the digital method. Digital refers to “digits,” meaning fingers are inserted into the cervical opening to estimate its width. This outdated technique has an accuracy rate as low as 20%, as results vary greatly between healthcare providers. It is also uncomfortable for patients, with some describing the exams as close to torture. Because of the inaccuracy, repeat exams are required, increasing the risk of infection with each insertion.
After witnessing her sister’s negative experience, Buzbee recognized the need for a modern solution to this long-standing practice and presented the problem to her biomedical engineering senior design class. There, the idea for CERV was developed with co-founders Annika Avula (BS ‘24) and Sandy Montgomery (MS ’25). Their patent-pending novel medical device objectively and comfortably measures dilation throughout labor, giving doctors better data for medical decisions and restoring patient dignity.
Buzbee, Avula, and Montgomery reject the idea that antiquated women’s health practices are acceptable simply because “this is the way it has always been done.” The trio is developing technology that has been needed for decades; a solution that empowers patients and offers safer, more informed care through thoughtful innovation and human-centered design. CERV is a long-needed solution, designed by women, for women, in a medical landscape that often overlooks the needs of female patients.
Despite making up nearly half of the global population, women have historically been underrepresented in medical research. Until the 1990s, almost all health studies were conducted on men. Women were actively excluded from most clinical trials because of the belief that female hormonal cycles were too difficult to manage and concerns that including women might harm their reproductive health. These biases in research have led to disparities in healthcare, even regarding pregnancy and childbirth. CERV is working to improve the birthing experience, breaking down decades of harmful and outdated practices.
The startup has gained significant momentum since its inception in the team’s biomedical engineering design class. Participating in Sling Health allowed CERV to develop its initial prototype, conduct customer discovery, perform market research, and complete other foundational tasks. Through their involvement with the Skandalaris Center, they gained valuable connections and refined their strategy and approach. This past spring, the team won Catalyst Funding through the Skandalaris Venture Competition, which provided crucial financial resources for developing their technology and business.
When asked what advice the team would give to students considering starting their own venture, CERV CTO Sandy Montgomery said: “If you’re considering starting a venture in MedTech, just know that it is a highly regulated space with a long time to market, but don’t be discouraged! Keep your purpose in mind, apply to as many student startup competitions as possible, and leverage all of your connections. You can’t do it alone! Build a team of people you trust with complementary skill sets and lean on each other.”
Montgomery is working on CERV full-time through the Skandalaris Launchpad accelerator program this summer, with support from intern Selina Park (BS ’25). Their goals include computer vision and hardware design, which they are developing with a medical device consultancy. They are also actively fundraising and hope to apply for a Small Business Innovation Research grant soon.
“WashU and Skandalaris have de-risked the beginning of our entrepreneurial journey, providing free resources and encouraging us to engage in entrepreneurship while we were still students,” said Montgomery.
Although the road to bringing CERV to market may be long, the team is motivated by its shared passion for improving women’s health. They believe their device will transform the childbirth experience for millions of women worldwide—an ambitious goal, but one worth pursuing.
About the founders
Elizabeth Buzbee, CEO (MS ‘25): Leads business strategy and investor relations and expands CERV’s network with strategic partnerships. Elizabeth’s personal experiences and passion for improving the lives of women led us to develop CERV. She is about to begin her PhD focusing on women’s health research at WashU.
Annika Avula, COO (BS ’24): Oversees clinical and regulatory strategy and ensures product-market alignment through physician insights. Annika is planning on attending medical school and becoming a physician, advocating for women on the front lines.
Sandy Montgomery, CTO (MS ‘25): Directs hardware and software design and prototyping to align with CERV’s vision and manages finances to support innovation. Sandy’s engineering background enabled her to build our device, but her desire to defeat antiquated women’s health practices drives her continuing work.
Interested in learning more about CERV? Visit cervmonitor.com or follow their journey on LinkedIn.