Centralized Facilities

We are fortunate to have over 95% of our clinical and research activity centralized at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinic (UWHC). The academic offices of the faculty and fellows are located on the 6th floor of the H module. The gynecologic oncology laboratory space and the clinical trials office conveniently reside in this same space. The inpatient gynecology unit is down the hall on the 6th floor of the F module. University of Wisconsin Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center administrative offices (UWCCC) are located down another hall on the 6th floor of the K module. Directly below the academic offices (on the 2nd floor) is the Gyn Oncology Clinic, located in the UWCCC clinic space. The chemotherapy administration area for the entire cancer center is directly adjacent to our clinic.

The remainder of major shared clinical areas at UWHC (ICU, OR, ER) is located centrally in the hospital for easy access. The Health Science Learning Center (housing the School of Medicine and Public Health, the Ebling Library for Heath Sciences, and an array of meeting facilities) is attached by a bridge to UWHC on the 1st floor.

Minimally Invasive and Fertility-Sparing Surgery

The Division of Gynecologic Oncology strives to minimize surgical morbidity by providing appropriate, innovative, minimally invasive options. Prospectively researching such techniques, along with following and reporting outcomes are critical elements to insuring patient safety. There exists a core group of laparoscopic/robotic surgeons in the Division, dedicated to minimally invasive surgery and education. Our Division actively enrolled patients on the GOG Lap 2 trial—the 6th most of any GOG institution.

In order to learn radical laparoscopic cervix cancer surgery, the Department supported Dr. Kushner to complete an apprenticeship at the Université Laval in Québec, Canada, under the instruction of Drs. Michel Roy and Marie Plante. The University of Wisconsin soon became one of the first centers in the United States to offer these options for patients. We performed the region’s first laparoscopic radical vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping, and laparoscopic-assisted radical vaginal trachelectomy.

Innovation & Research Opportunites

The Division continues to embrace innovation. We were instrumental in the organization and introduction of robotic surgery at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. We now have four robotic-trained faculty and are regularly performing both endometrial cancer staging and radical cervical cancer procedures with the robot. We have reported on our first robotic-assisted radical vaginal trachelectomy. We follow our outcomes closely, and these procedures are now being performed in the same amount of time as conventional laparoscopy.

A multitude of research opportunities exist related to endoscopy. We have recently finished a prospective trial of laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping in cervical cancer and are currently performing a similar study in patients with endometrial cancer. We also have published on specific tools and curriculum for endoscopic education. This topic is of critical importance to Gyn Onc Fellowship, given the variance in resident education along with the complicated nature of the radical procedures being taught. Our Department has a dedicated Minimally Invasive Educational Curriculum (administered through Gyn Onc) as well as animal and dry-lab practice facilities.

Interdepartment Relations

The Department of Ob/Gyn, and particularly the Gynecologic Oncology Division, enjoys a long-term outstanding relationship with the other surgical specialties. The shared mission is to provide the best quality of care for women treated for gynecologic malignancies. To that end, the Division has been performing a wide-array of upper abdominal, gastrointestinal, reconstructive, and urologic surgeries for decades at a high level of proficiency. Nonetheless, consultation is requested for more complicated surgical and medical issues related to such procedures. Patients benefit from the expertise that these subspecialty services can provide. The fellows will also benefit greatly from the history of collegiality, as they are welcomed on these high-volume surgical services to enhance their educational opportunities.