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During my clinical rotations in medical school, I met a patient who had never met her 2-year-old grandson because she was concerned about experiencing urinary incontinence, commonly known as bladder leakage, while traveling to see him. I knew then that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping women navigate quality-of-life issues, so they could attend events and participate in activities that bring them joy.

My philosophy as a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon is to listen to patients so that I understand what they value. I make sure people understand their treatment options, and then I carefully create a care plan to achieve their goals. I prefer to team up with each patient, so she feels empowered and in control of her health.

I manage pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse, urinary or fecal incontinence, and urinary tract or rectal fistulas. I also see women who have urethral diverticula, which are small pouches that form along the urethra and can cause discomfort, including that due to urinary retention, in which the bladder does not completely empty. In addition, I manage problems related to the mesh used in prior surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence.

My robust training and years of clinical experience allow me to offer my patients several evidence-based treatment options. Depending on the condition, my care plans may include pelvic floor physical therapy, bladder retraining, vaginal pessary, medications, neurostimulation, urethral bulking injections, or injections of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox. I may also recommend dietary modifications or acupuncture as part of a care plan.

In addition, I perform minimally invasive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, which may also require a hysterectomy. This procedure can be performed through the vagina or using laparoscopy and may involve applying mesh to support the organs. I also perform laparoscopic or transvaginal surgery to repair urinary tract fistulas.