David M. Kushner, MD, FACOG
ProfessorVice Chair of Clinical Research, John and Jeanne Flesch Professor in Gynecologic Oncology
Gynecologic Oncology
Dr. Kushner is the Vice Chair of Clinical Reserach for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has built an infrastructure across the department to support and grow clinical trials. He directed the Gynecologic Oncology program from 2006-2017. Dr. Kushner is an expert in the surgical and chemotherapeutic management of patients with gynecological cancer. His research interest focuses on minimizing the negative impact of cancer and subsequent treatments on patients' quality of life: sexual health after cancer, fertility/menopause-sparing surgery and postoperative pain management. To this end, he helped found the Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer, an international consortium of leading researchers dedicated to the scientific pursuit of improving sexual health for women after a cancer diagnosis. Dr. Kushner served as the International Chair of this network from 2014-2016. He is the primary investigator on multiple studies evaluating health sexual among gynecologic cancer survivors. He has acted as the Principal Investigator (PI) for NRG (formerly Gynecologic Oncology) at the University of Wisconsin, and is currently Co-PI on the UWCCC institutional NIH Lead Academic Performance Site (LAPS) U10 grant.
Over the past few years, he has worked to position UW as one of the nation's premiere institutions studying quality of life in gynecologic cancer. The UW environment offers outstanding collaborators such as Richard Davidson at the Center for Healthy Minds. He is working with Professor Davidson in a collaboration studying mindfullness in cancer survivors. This research, along with the ongoing research in yoga, humor and wellness, are positioning his group to apply for larger funding sources to study quality of life in gynecologic cancer.
Dr. Kushner was elected to the SGO Board of Directors in 2017, for a 3-year term. He is an ABOG examiner for the oral gynecologic oncology board exam, writes questions for the written exam and is the Co-Chair of ACOG's PROLOG Taskforce for Gynecologic Oncology & Critical Care.
His interest in wellness runs beyond the patients to the caregivers as well. He runs the Socieity of Gynecology Oncolgy (SGO) Physician Wellness Taskforce. Locally, he is Chair of the UW Ob-Gyn Department Wellness Committee and is the departmental represenative for the UW Health Wellness Taskforce.
| B.S. | University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI |
| M.D. | Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI |
| Residency | Northwestern University Medical School/ Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, IL |
| Fellowship | The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH |
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Gynecologic Oncology
Vice Chair, Clinical Research
UW Health 2019 Clinical Educator Award
Society of Gynecologic Oncology: State of the Subspecialty Survey, Co-Chair
SSM Health/St Mary’s Foundation: Physician Guardian Angel Award
PROLOG: Gynecologic Oncology & Critical Care, Task Force Co-Chair and Member
Society of Gynecologic Oncology: Elected to the Board of Directors
Mentor Training for Clinical and Translational Researchers,
UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
The Ellen M. Hartenbach Award,
University of Wisconsin Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Editorial Board – Gynecologic Oncology Case Reviews
Society of Gynecologic Oncology: Wellness Taskforce, Founding Member and Co-Chair
Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers,
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Fellow
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Northwestern Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
American Gynecologic & Obstetrical Society
Connor C Wang, Matthew K Wagar, Amy Godecker, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, David M Kushner
Published Date: April, 2022 - pmid:35478695 - Gynecologic oncology reports
Yang Hu, Ahmed N Al-Niaimi, Alain Cagaanan, Elizabeth A Sadowski, David M Kushner, Paul S Weisman, Stephanie M McGregor
Published Date: April, 2021 - pmid:33816740 - Gynecologic oncology reports
Lori A Seaborne, Megan Peterson, David M Kushner, Janelle Sobecki, Joanne K Rash
Published Date: February, 2021 - pmid:33552660 - Journal of the advanced practitioner in oncology
Erica V Carballo, Kaley M Gyorfi, Aleksandar K Stanic, Paul Weisman, Christopher G Flynn, David M Kushner
Published Date: November, 2020 - pmid:33204793 - Gynecologic oncology reports
Rowan Karaman, Jin Xu, Ross F Harrison, David M Kushner, Paul S Weisman, Yoram Shenker
Published Date: January, 2020 - pmid:31967026 - AACE clinical case reports
Paul S Weisman, Morgan Altinok, Erica V Carballo, David M Kushner, Jessica J F Kram, Marc Ladanyi, Sarah Chiang, Darya Buehler, Elizabeth L Dickson Michelson
Published Date: January, 2020 - pmid:31917708 - The American journal of surgical pathology
Taylor B Turner, David M Kushner, Abigail Ford Winkel, Gerald McGwin, Stephanie V Blank, Jeffery M Fowler, Kenneth H Kim, SGO Wellness Taskforce
Published Date: January, 2020 - pmid:31911007 - Gynecologic oncology
Ross F Harrison, Jeremiah E Mcnamara, Claire B Beaumont, Elizabeth A Sadowski, Richard J Chappell, Mian M Shahzad, Ryan J Spencer, Ahmed N Al-Niaimi, Lisa M Barroilhet, Stephen L Rose, David M Kushner
Published Date: January, 2019 - pmid:30640690 - International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
Cancer overturned: Endometrioma mimicking granulosa cell tumor and the importance of FOXL2 analysis
Emily R Rosen, David M Kushner, Aparna M Mahajan, Cara R King
Published Date: December, 2018 - pmid:30533478 - Gynecologic oncology reports
Preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening in gynecologic oncology patients
Ross F Harrison, Erin E Medlin, Chase B Petersen, Stephen L Rose, Ellen M Hartenbach, David M Kushner, Ryan J Spencer, Laurel W Rice, Ahmed N Al-Niaimi
Published Date: May, 2018 - pmid:29792853 - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Abuse, cancer and sexual dysfunction in women: A potentially vicious cycle
Brittany F Lees, Taylor P Stewart, Joanne K Rash, Shirley R Baron, Stacy Tessler Lindau, David M Kushner
Published Date: April, 2018 - pmid:29661496 - Gynecologic oncology
Jeanne Carter, Christina Lacchetti, Barbara L Andersen, Debra L Barton, Sage Bolte, Shari Damast, Michael A Diefenbach, Katherine DuHamel, Judith Florendo, Patricia A Ganz, Shari Goldfarb, Sigrun Hallmeyer, David M Kushner, Julia H Rowland
Published Date: December, 2017 - pmid:29227723 - Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Erin A Bishop, James J Java, Kathleen N Moore, Nick M Spirtos, Michael L Pearl, Oliver Zivanovic, David M Kushner, Floor Backes, Chad A Hamilton, Melissa A Geller, Jean Hurteau, Cara Mathews, Robert M Wenham, Pedro T Ramirez, Susan Zweizig, Joan L Walker
Published Date: October, 2017 - pmid:29037481 - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Carolyn K McCourt, Wei Deng, Don S Dizon, Heather A Lankes, Michael J Birrer, Michele M Lomme, Matthew A Powell, James E Kendrick, Joel N Saltzman, David Warshal, Meaghan E Tenney, David M Kushner, Carol Aghajanian
Published Date: December, 2016 - pmid:28029447 - Gynecologic oncology
Ilana Cass, Linda R Duska, Stephanie V Blank, Georgina Cheng, Nefertiti C duPont, Peter J Frederick, Emily K Hill, Carolyn M Matthews, Tarah L Pua, Kellie S Rath, Rachel Ruskin, Premal H Thaker, Andrew Berchuck, Bobbie S Gostout, David M Kushner, Jeff M Fowler
Published Date: August, 2016 - pmid:27575910 - Gynecologic oncology
Stacy Tessler Lindau, Emily M Abramsohn, Shirley R Baron, Judith Florendo, Hope K Haefner, Anuja Jhingran, Vanessa Kennedy, Mukta K Krane, David M Kushner, Jennifer McComb, Diane F Merritt, Julie E Park, Amy Siston, Margaret Straub, Lauren Streicher
Published Date: January, 2016 - pmid:26784536 - CA: a cancer journal for clinicians
Robotic surgery for early stage cervical cancer: Evolution and current trends
Erin E Medlin, David M Kushner, Lisa Barroilhet
Published Date: January, 2016 - pmid:26768315 - Journal of surgical oncology
Laura B Huffman, Ellen M Hartenbach, Jeanne Carter, Joanne K Rash, David M Kushner
Published Date: November, 2015 - pmid:26556768 - Gynecologic oncology
Elizabeth A Sadowski, Jessica B Robbins, Kristie Guite, Krupa Patel-Lippmann, Alejandro Munoz del Rio, David M Kushner, Ahmed Al-Niaimi
Published Date: October, 2015 - pmid:26496578 - AJR. American journal of roentgenology
Sana M Salih, Samet Albayrak, Songwon Seo, Sarah L Stewart, Kristen Bradley, David M Kushner
Published Date: September, 2015 - pmid:26380495 - The Journal of reproductive medicine
Sexual health education in U.S. physician assistant programs
Lori A Seaborne, Ronald J Prince, David M Kushner
Published Date: April, 2015 - pmid:25856226 - The journal of sexual medicine
Qiaoying Jiang, Liwei Yang, Charles Ashley, Erin E Medlin, David M Kushner, Yanmei Zheng
Published Date: January, 2015 - pmid:25608736 - BMC women's health
Ahmed N Al-Niaimi, Mostafa Ahmed, Nikki Burish, Saygin A Chackmakchy, Songwon Seo, Stephen Rose, Ellen Hartenbach, David M Kushner, Nasia Safdar, Laurel Rice, Joseph Connor
Published Date: September, 2014 - pmid:25263249 - Gynecologic oncology
False positive PET-CT scan and clinical examination in a patient with locally advanced vulvar cancer
Latoya J Perry, Onur Guralp, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, Noah A Zucker, David M Kushner
Published Date: December, 2013 - pmid:24371671 - Gynecologic oncology case reports
Community screening leading to the diagnosis of androgen insensitivity syndrome at the age of 65
Alison M Gold, Noah A Zucker, Mian M K Shahzad, David M Kushner
Published Date: December, 2013 - pmid:24371658 - Gynecologic oncology case reports
Shitanshu Uppal, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, Laurel W Rice, Stephen L Rose, David M Kushner, Ryan J Spencer, Ellen Hartenbach
Published Date: August, 2013 - pmid:23962700 - Gynecologic oncology
Onur Guralp, Susan M Sheridan, Josephine Harter, James Louis Hinshaw, Songwon Seo, Ellen M Hartenbach, Steven Lindheim, Sarah Stewart, David M Kushner
Published Date: July, 2013 - pmid:23881100 - International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
Yang Liu, Rebecca J Whelan, Bikash R Pattnaik, Kai Ludwig, Enkateswar Subudhi, Helen Rowland, Nick Claussen, Noah Zucker, Shitanshu Uppal, David M Kushner, Mildred Felder, Manish S Patankar, Arvinder Kapur
Published Date: January, 2013 - pmid:23300887 - PloS one
The role of appendectomy for mucinous ovarian neoplasms
Jennifer E Lin, Songwon Seo, David M Kushner, Stephen L Rose
Published Date: November, 2012 - pmid:23117124 - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Survivors of endometrial cancer: who is at risk for sexual dysfunction?
Nonyem Onujiogu, Tasha Johnson, Songwon Seo, Katherine Mijal, Joanne Rash, Lori Seaborne, Stephen Rose, David M Kushner
Published Date: August, 2011 - pmid:21855974 - Gynecologic oncology
Iatrogenic transtubal spill of endometrial cancer: risk or myth
Onur Guralp, David M Kushner
Published Date: August, 2011 - pmid:21837428 - Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
Uterine artery sparing robotic radical trachelectomy (AS-RRT) for early cancer of the cervix
Ahmed N Al-Niaimi, Margaret H Einstein, LaToya Perry, Ellen M Hartenbach, David M Kushner
Published Date: October, 2010 - pmid:20947081 - International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
David B Engle, Jennifer A Belisle, Jennifer A A Gubbels, Sarah E Petrie, Paul R Hutson, David M Kushner, Manish S Patankar
Published Date: March, 2009 - pmid:19263582 - Gynecologic oncology
A protocol of dual prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism prevention in gynecologic cancer patients
M Heather Einstein, David M Kushner, Joseph P Connor, Alex A Bohl, Thomas J Best, Michael D Evans, Richard J Chappell, Ellen M Hartenbach
Published Date: November, 2008 - pmid:18978110 - Obstetrics and gynecology
The effect of laparoscopic guidance on gynecologic interstitial brachytherapy
David B Engle, Kristin A Bradley, Rick J Chappell, Joseph P Conner, Ellen M Hartenbach, David M Kushner
Published Date: July, 2008 - pmid:18657479 - Journal of minimally invasive gynecology
Emily Berry, Steven R Lindheim, Joseph P Connor, Ellen M Hartenbach, Julian C Schink, Josephine Harter, Jens C Eickhoff, David M Kushner
Published Date: May, 2008 - pmid:18456240 - American journal of obstetrics and gynecology
Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping for cervix cancer--a detailed evaluation and time analysis
David M Kushner, Joseph P Connor, Michael A Wilson, G Reza Hafez, Richard J Chappell, Sarah L Stewart, Ellen M Hartenbach
Published Date: June, 2007 - pmid:17560635 - Gynecologic oncology
Weekly docetaxel and carboplatin for recurrent ovarian and peritoneal cancer: a phase II trial
David M Kushner, Joseph P Connor, Federico Sanchez, Michael Volk, Julian C Schink, Howard H Bailey, Linda S Harris, Sarah L Stewart, Jason Fine, Ellen M Hartenbach, Wisconsin Oncology Network
Published Date: January, 2007 - pmid:17258800 - Gynecologic oncology
Jayashree M Paranjape, Da Xu, David M Kushner, James Okicki, Daniel J Lindner, Hagen Cramer, Robert H Silverman, Douglas W Leaman
Published Date: September, 2006 - pmid:16978086 - Oligonucleotides
Development and validation of a home-based, mirrored, gynecologic laparoscopy trainer
James K Robinson, David M Kushner
Published Date: March, 2006 - pmid:16527711 - Journal of minimally invasive gynecology
Use of a bupivacaine continuous wound infusion system in gynecologic oncology: a randomized trial
David M Kushner, Regina LaGalbo, Joseph P Connor, Rick Chappell, Sarah L Stewart, Ellen M Hartenbach
Published Date: August, 2005 - pmid:16055569 - Obstetrics and gynecology
Sonohysterography: a valuable tool in evaluating the female pelvis
Steven R Lindheim, Natalie Adsuar, David M Kushner, Elizabeth A Pritts, David L Olive
Published Date: October, 2003 - pmid:14581828 - Obstetrical & gynecological survey
Research Focus: Minimizing the negative impact of cancer and subsequent treatments on patients’ quality of life.
Congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn resident Connor Wang, MD, PGY-3, who is lead author on a new publication in Gynecologic Oncology Reports!
In the article “When we open and close: postoperative outcomes after aborted primary cytoreduction for ovarian cancer”, Wang and co-authors Matt Wagar, MD, PGY-4, Amy Godecker, PhD, Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD, and David Kushner, MD aimed to expand available data to help counsel patients about outcomes after aborted primary debulking surgery.
This retrospective study looked at postsurgical morbidity for 43 patients who underwent aborted primary debulking surgery for advanced ovarian cancer:
“All patients subsequently underwent ICS, [interval cytoreductive surgery] with 21 (48.8%) achieving no residual macroscopic disease and 21 (48.8%) to ≤1cm of macroscopic disease. After AD [aborted primary debulking], 16 (37.2%) experienced at least one G≥3 event within the first 30 days. The most common complication was gastrointestinal complications. Preoperative albumin was the only significant predictor for G≥3 complication after AD.”
Read the whole study here!
Members of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Gynecologic Oncology, fellows and residents prepared an impressive slate of posters and presentations for the 2022 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer! Take a look at just some of the research brought to the hybrid conference, as well as the variety of service and leadership roles held by members of our department:
Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD:
Master Class: Optimize and Operate: Enhancing Perioperative Quality, Safety, Experience, and Outcomes
Master Class: Debulk and Deliver: A Virtual Live-Streamed Master Class with Optional Hands-On Cytoreductive Surgery Lab
Oral Plenary Presentation: Mechanical bowel preparation and post-operative renal dysfunction in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer
Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS:
Distillation: On-Demand Oral Featured Posters: Novel Therapies, PROs, and Disparities in Care
Special Interest Session: Curriculum for Emerging Clinical Trialists (Dr. Barroilhet is course director for this session)
Vice-Chair of the Patient Education Committee
Katherine Dryer, MD:
Poster: Outpatient palliative care utilization and aggressiveness of end-of-life care in women with gynecologic cancers (authors Kathryn Dryer MD, Janelle Sobecki MD, Michael Lasarev MS, Lena Law BA, Anna Stecher MD, Ellen Hartenbach MD)
Maya Gross, MD, MPH:
Poster: Risk factors associated with distress among postoperative patients in an academic gynecologic oncology practice
Ellen Hartenbach, MD:
Symposium: Wake to Wellness: Beating Burnout Through Better Patient Communication (Hartenbach presented “Mitigating Burnout Through Effective Communication Techniques”)
Palliative Medicine Committee
Clinical Practice Committee
David Kushner, MD:
Finance Committee
Wellness Committee (Chair)
Developed two “Wake to Wellness” Sessions based on SGO Wellness Curriculum that was just published:
Managing Priorities
Moving from Surviving to Thriving (Kushner will present as part of this session)
Senior author on Surgical Innovation presentation “Beneath the Surface: Fluorescein mapping in vulvar Paget’s Disease” given by Gyn Onc fellow Catherine Zhang, MD
Joanne Rash, PA:
Attending the SGO Board meeting (virtually), and will start her board term as the first-ever APP representative on the SGO board
Stephen Rose, MD:
Co-Chair of the Fellowship Program Directors Network and will be leading the annual meeting Thursday night.
Hosting the UW Fellow Alumni Reception Sunday night
Senior author on Connor Wang’s study: Adaptive and maladaptive humor styles are closely associated with burnout and professional fulfillment in members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Shannon Rush, MD:
Poster: Hormone replacement therapy counseling at prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in high risk patients
Janelle Sobecki, MD:
Poster: Risk factors associated with distress among postoperative patients in an academic gynecologic oncology practice (Maya Gross, Sumer Wallace - Senior)
Poster: Outpatient Palliative Care Utilization and Aggressiveness of End-of-Life Care in Women with Gynecologic Cancers (Kathryn Dryer, Ellen Hartenbach – Senior)
Sumer Wallace, MD:
Serves on Policy, Quality, & Outcomes task force for the Health Policy and Socioeconomic committee
Connor Wang, MD:
Poster: Adaptive and maladaptive humor styles are closely associated with burnout and professional fulfillment in members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Catherine Zhang, MD:
Poster: Thromboembolic events in gynecologic cancer patients treated with chemotherapy (authors R. Zhang, MD; T. Stewart, BS; K. Tetreault, MS; R. Alexandridis, PhD; J. Bergsbaken, PharmD; S. Wallace, MD; D. Kushner, MD;E. Hartenbach, MD)
Farr Nezhat Session Surgical Innovation Session: How Surgical Futurists are Revolutionizing Cancer Care (Zhang presented “Beneath the Surface: Fluorescein mapping in vulvar Paget’s Disease”)
Congratulations to all for these incredible achievements!
A new article co-authored by Joanne Rash, PA-C, Megan Peterson, DNP, Janelle Sobecki, MD, and David Kushner, MD was published in the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology!
“Development, Implementation, and Patient Perspectives of the Women’s Integrative Sexual Health Program: A Program Designed to Address the Sexual Side Effects of Cancer Treatment” outlines the creation of the UW Carbone Cancer Center’s Women’s Integrative Sexual Health Clinic, which was created in 2013 by Rash and Lori Seabourne, PA-C. The publication also shares results from a patient experience survey:
“When asked how helpful their experience in the WISH program was, 99 of 113 (88%) reported that it was at least somewhat helpful. Seventy-five out of 110 (68%) said their experience in the WISH program improved their overall sexual function. Eighty out of 112 (71%) thought their sexual function would be worse if they had not been seen in the WISH program. Almost all (95%) reported they would recommend the WISH program to other women.”
Read the whole publication here. Congratulations to the WISH team!
