Translating evidence into practice, policy, and public health in perinatal medicine

Although translation of medical research has traditionally been referred to as the process whereby basic science is applied to clinical medicine, focus has been growing on applying clinical research findings to the broader clinical community, what has been deemed "translating evidence into practice." Scientific studies and clinical trials provide the evidence by which medicine can improve health, but how can the clinician actually apply this evidence to daily practice to improve patient outcomes? In this article, we describe some of the history of thought in the arena of translational medicine, consider some seminal examples in perinatal medicine, and hypothesize about the future of the field.