About Me

As a physician and reconstructive surgeon, I specialize in the care of women with pelvic floor disorders. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that serve to support the organs in the female pelvis, including the bladder, uterus and cervix, vagina and rectum. When the supports of these structures are weakened, problems can arise. These problems can have a significant impact on a both a woman’s quality of life and sense of self. I became passionate about this specialty after seeing the effect pelvic floor disorders have on women, and realizing the ability of physicians in my profession to not only treat these conditions but also help women return to the life they want to live.

Any patient who visits me will be treated with thoughtfulness, patience and compassion. Pelvic floor disorders can be overwhelming, so I take time to ensure women are educated on their condition and the options to manage it. I also believe in practicing patient-centered medicine, which places an emphasis on the specific goals and wishes of the patient when developing a care plan.

My experiences in residency and fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic solidified my desire to devote my career to academic medicine. I cared for a wide spectrum of women with diverse conditions and was trained in a variety of innovative surgical techniques and treatments for pelvic floor disorders. These experiences enable me to offer state-of-the-art-treatments and tailor a patient’s management specifically to her needs. I also learned the importance of educating tomorrow’s leaders and performing high-impact clinical research.

Working at Ohio State will allow me to get involved in training medical students as well as explore my research interests, such as pelvic floor disorders in pregnancy and the postpartum period, obstetric anal sphincter injuries and bowel control issues. My commitment to advancing the science of medicine in my field has resulted in a variety of novel research publications that inform medical and surgical decision-making in my field. Prior to medical school, I was first author on a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine on a genetic predisposition for hypothalamic amenorrhea. I have published multiple articles on pelvic floor issues that occur during and immediately after pregnancy. In my fellowship, I also completed the first prospective study on same-day discharge after minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

It was always my dream to come back to Ohio State as faculty after I finished my training because I fell in love with the university during medical school. The people I worked with were kind, committed to my professional and personal development, and practiced patient-centered, compassionate care. I knew this was the environment I hoped to practice in so I could give back in the same way many individuals did for me. I am so excited to be a part of the Ohio State family!

In my free time, I love spending time outdoors with my husband and two sons. We enjoy hiking, skiing and traveling. I also practice yoga, love cooking/baking and appreciate delving into a good book.

Highlights

• Established a clinic specifically for the care of women with pelvic floor disorders during and after pregnancy
• Developed the first Special Interest Group on Childbirth and Pelvic Floor Disorders through the American Urogynecologic Society; currently serve as the vice chair
• Published several articles and lectured at numerous local and national meetings about pelvic floor disorders
• Recipient, Women’s Health Service and Leadership Award, Cleveland Society of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 2020

Procedures and Conditions I Treat

• Urinary Tract Infections
• Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Vulvar Diseases
• Fecal Incontinence
• Urinary Incontinence, Stress
• Urinary Incontinence, Urge
• Urinary Fistula
• Episiotomy
• Uterine Prolapse
• Vaginal Diseases
• Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
• Reconstructive Surgical Procedures
• Female Urogenital Diseases
• Robotics
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse
• Birth Injuries

Reviews

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