Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Pubmed Publications

Research Focus: Improving access to effective treatments for pelvic floor disorders.

Brown to depart for Kaiser Permanente in San Diego

It is bittersweet to announce a sad loss for our department, but an exciting life change for our friend and colleague: Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, will be leaving UW Ob-Gyn for a new opportunity at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, CA later this year. Her last day in the department will be June 30, 2023.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Brown for her tremendous contributions to the department over the last ten years!

Since joining the UW Department of Ob-Gyn in 2013, Dr. Brown has earned a reputation as a distinguished researcher, educator, and clinician. She has earned exciting institutional and national grants to support research around expanding continence promotion programs, addressing access issues for women across Wisconsin. Her Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder program is included on the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Title III-D program, meaning community agencies can use federal funding to bring the program to their communities. Throughout her career, Dr. Brown has demonstrated an incredible dedication to health equity research.

She is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar, bringing hundreds of abstracts and dozens of presentations to professional societies around the world. Her work has received awards like Best Clinical Abstract and Best in Category: Prevention and Public Health at the International Continence Society annual meeting, Best Evaluation and Testing Paper at the American Urogynecologic Society annual meeting, and more.

Though Dr. Brown may be moving on, her legacy of mentorship will leave a lasting mark on our department, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and our field. She has been an active mentor for undergraduates, medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty – during her time in Wisconsin, she has been a formal and informal mentor to dozens of people, coaching them along the path to success.

Before joining our department in 2013, Dr. Brown completed her FPMRS fellowship at UCSD/Kaiser Permanente, and no doubt the faculty there have been following her rising star with great interest. Our loss is absolutely Kaiser’s gain. Thank you, Heidi, for your tireless efforts to improve incontinence awareness and care in our state, your dedication to mentorship and health equity, and so much more. You will be greatly missed!

Brown receives GWIMS Advancing Women in Medicine & Science Award

​Please help us congratulate Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Brown received the 2022 UW School of Medicine and Public Health Group on Women in Medicine and Science Advancing Women in Medicine & Science Award, which was presented during the Women in Medicine & Science Symposium on November 29, 2022.

The award recognizes scholarship or advocacy work specifically aimed at advancing women in medicine and science. Brown is an incredible mentor who intentionally creates opportunities for researchers at all levels within her research group. We can think of no more deserving recipient of this honor! Incredible work, Dr. Brown.

Brown hosts monthly ICTR dissemination and implementation seminar

Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, is the host of a new interactive, monthly lunchtime seminar about the growing science of dissemination and implementation research and practice!

Presented by the UW Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, the Dissemination Research and Implementation Science Seminars are an opportunity to enhance your knowledge and skills, share experiences, and develop connections with others in this community for your future work.

ICTR welcomes University of Wisconsin faculty, staff, students, and community members interested in dissemination and implementation research and practice. Each seminar will feature a 40 minute presentation followed by 20 minutes of interactive discussion.

Learn more about upcoming seminars, join the D&I mailing list, and more here!

UW Ob-Gyn presents at ACOG District VI meeting

Many people from across the UW Department of Ob-Gyn were active participants in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District VI annual meeting in Chicago September 16-18, 2022! Just a few of their amazing contributions:

Ryan McDonald, MD, associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, served as the District VI CME Representative on the annual meeting planning committee.

Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, associate professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, presented “Talking About and Treating Bowel Incontinence.”

UW Ob-Gyn Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Matt Wagar, MD presented “Access to Risk Reducing Gynecology Surgery.”

Cholene Espinoza, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, presented “Recognition and Resuscitation of Critically Ill Obstetric Patients.”

Resident Margaret Harrison, MD, PGY-3, presented as an ACOG Junior Fellow.

One former resident, Ashley Turner, presented Updates in Family Planning, and another, Kristin Lyerly, joined a panel called Grassroots in Advocacy (and serves as the District VI Treasurer). 

Congratulations to all, incredible work!

Brown and research team win ICS abstract award

Huge congratulations to Associate Professor Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and research team members Madeline Moureau and Zoe Rozema! Their abstract “Zoom to scale? Real world implementation of online versus in-person community-based continence promotion” will be awarded the Best In Category – Prevention and Public Health prize at the International Continence Society Annual Meeting this September.

The ICS annual meeting brings together the most renowned international experts in the research and the treatment of LUTS, incontinence and pelvic floor disorders. The meeting is multidisciplinary and welcomes urologists, gynecologists, neurourologists, physiotherapists, nurses, midwives and research scientists.

Congratulations on this exciting – and well-deserved! – honor!

Brown, Williams published in AJOG

Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, interim Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Director, and Makeba Williams, MD published a new article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Williams presented the research in this article at the annual Society of Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology conference in May, where it earned the first-place oral abstract award!

“Improving primary care follow-up for gynecologic patients with hypertension: an implementation science pilot study” evaluated the feasibility of implementing BP Connect, a staff protocol for specialty clinics, in gynecology clinics:

“Overall, the rate of timely primary care follow-up for high BP increased from 28% before implementation to 48% after implementation (P<.001) despite implementation during the COVID-19 pandemic. BP Connect implementation resulted in a 12-fold increase in BP remeasurement among patients with high BP in unadjusted (odds ratio [OR], 12.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.6–16.6; P<.001) and adjusted (OR, 12.9; 95% CI, 9.7–17.1; P<.001) models. Timely primary care follow-up for hypertension doubled after BP Connect implementation (adjusted OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5–3.1; P<.001).”

Read the whole study here!

UW Ob-Gyn expertise highlighted at AUGS/IUGA Scientific Meeting

The UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery was incredibly productive at the combined American Urogynecologic Society/International Urogynecologic Association (AUGS/IUGA) meeting in Austin, Texas June 14-18, 2022! This scientific meeting of the two organizations takes place every five years.  

Learn about the research, presentations, and leadership roles members of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of FPMRS brought to the meeting:

Oral Presentations

“A pilot study of home-based pelvic muscle training for vaginal symptoms among survivors of breast cancer”.  Pennycuff J, Pulliam S, McKinney J, Iglesia C.

“The variation of chargemaster price listings for urogynecologic procedures”.  Kadesh A, Baban S, Chaudhary R, Lui A, Shi J, Ahluwalia J, Giles D, Petersen D, Grimes C.

“Urinary incontinence prevalence and care-seeking in a predominately Black/African-American sample of community-dwelling women”.  Warner K, Schultz A, Barnet J, Brown H.

“BP Connect: referring urogynecology patients with high blood pressure for primary care follow-up”.  Brown H, Williams M, Ramly E, Messina M, Hanlon B, Carlson A, Bartels C.

Poster

“A comparison of vaginal pH using prasterone, estradiol cream or non-hormonal vaginal moisturizer for genitourinary syndrome of menopause (VPHRESH).  Melvin E, Zhuo R, Boudreaux A, Locci-Molina N, Lefbom L, Pennycuff J, Dieter A, Iglesia C.

Altmetric Award winner

presented by the editor of the journal Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery for “Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women: 2015-2018 National Population-Based Survey Data”.  April 2022 ; Vol 28:Issue 4 – P 181-187.  Patel U, Godecker A, Giles D, Brown H.

Meet the Expert Roundtable Session

“Pelvic health and sexual wellbeing in cancer survivorship” Dr. Jon Pennycuff

FPMRS Fellowship Directors Meeting

Dr. Jon Pennycuff (Associate PD)

Session Moderators

Dr. Heidi Brown – Abstract Session – Anorectal Dysfunction and Fistula

Dr. Dobie Giles – Abstract Session – Urinary Incontinence: Treatment

AUGS Board of Directors

Dr. Heidi Brown – Director and Pelvic Floor Disorders Research (PFDR) Foundation Vice Chair

Dr. Dobie Giles – Treasurer and Executive Committee

In addition, the UW Ob-Gyn FPMRS team reconnected with two UW Ob-Gyn residency alumni who are now FPMRS attendings: Caroline Cox, MD (who moderated a scientific salon at the conference) is an assistant professor at Penn Medicine; Hayley Barnes, MD (who authored an abstract presented at the meeting) is an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati!

Division of FPMRS brings presentations to AUGS/IUGA 2022 conference

Faculty and fellows in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery will bring research and presentations to the American Urogynecologic Society and International Urogynecological Association 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting in Austin, TX, June 15-16! Read more about some of the exciting developments they will share at the meeting:

Oral abstract: A Pilot Study of Home-Based Pelvic Muscle Training for Vaginal Symptoms Among Survivors of Breast Cancer (Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, presenter)

Oral abstract: The Variation of Chargemaster Price Listings for Urogynecologic Procedures (Dobie Giles, MD, co-author)

Oral abstract: BP Connect: Referring Urogynecology Patients with High Blood Pressure for Primary Care Follow-up (Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, presenter; Makeba Williams, MD, co-author)

Oral abstract: Urinary Incontinence Prevalence and Care-seeking in a Predominantly Black / African-American Sample of Community-dwelling Women (Kristina Warner, MD, presenter)

Abstract: A Comparison of Vaginal pH using Prasterone, Estradiol Cream or Non-hormonal Vaginal Moisturizer for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (VpHresh) (Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, co-author)

Abstract: Surgeon Counseling Regarding Return to Sexual Activity After Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery (Christine Heisler, MD, co-author)

While at the meeting, the FPMRS team will also compete in the AUGS/IUGA Foundations' Fun Walk/Run & Cornhole Tournament for Pelvic Floor Disorders. Learn more about how you can support the Wisconsin Honey Badgers in the cornhole tournament!

UW Ob-Gyn prepares posters, presentations for SASGOG Annual Meeting

The Society of Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology Annual Meeting, coming up in May 2022, will include exciting presentations and posters from faculty and residents in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn! Some of the great work that will be featured at the conference:

Presentation:

UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn Director Makeba Williams, MD, and Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, collaborated on a project that earned the First Place Oral Presentation prize at the conference! The review committee told Williams and co-authors that they “highly regarded your work and encourage you to turn your abstract into a peer-reviewed paper.” Congratulations!

BP Connect: Referring Gynecology Patients with Elevated Blood Pressure to Primary Care Follow-up – Makeba Williams, MD; Heidi Brown, MD, MAS; Anisa Carlson; Christie Bartels, MD; Edmond Bromley; Monica Messina; Bret Hanlon

Posters:

Implementation of Resident Clinic Curriculum Using Podcasts and Case-Based Learning – Emily Buttigieg, MD; Bridget Kelly, MD

Incidence of Lymph Node Positivity in Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia – Matt Wagar, MD; Katherine Sampene, MD; Makeba Williams, MD

Congratulations to all!

Presentations, posters, and more at the 2022 CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting!

UW Ob-Gyn faculty, residents, and affiliated medical students with interest and expertise in medical education showcased their work at the CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting​! The conference, which was organized around the theme “Together Again, Together Forever: Med Ed Family Reunion”, took place in Orlando, Florida March 9-12. Some of the exciting highlights from our department:

Ryan McDonald, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, graduated from the APGO Academic Scholars and Leaders Program! Read more about his experience in the program and how UW Ob-Gyn Faculty Development Funds supported his training!

Laura Jacques, MD, director of medical student education and assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, presented during the breakout session “Getting the Right Ingredients for Your Sauce: An Innovative Tool for Applicant-Program Compatibility”. (Presenters: Seine Chiang, MD, Jesse Rafel, MD, Jenci Hawthorne, MD, Jennifer Hamm, MD, Laura Jacques, MD, Lauren Holt, Medical Student)

Jacques and Ryan Spencer, MD, MS, residency program director and gynecologic oncology fellowship director and associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, presented during the breakout session “A Crying Shame: A Structured Debriefing Workshop to Reduce Second-Victim Syndrome in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents”. (Presenters: Laura Jacques, MD, Beverly Gray, MD, Samantha Hoffman, MD, Tamika Alexander, MD, Jessica Francis, MD, Ryan Spencer, MD, MS)

Jacques also co-authored the oral abstract “The More Cooks in the Kitchen the Better the Sauce? Impact of an Abortion VCAT Workshop on Medical Students”. (Authors: Elise Cowley, Medical Student, Jessie Chen, MD, Jessika Ralph, MD, MSCI, Allison Linton, MD, MPH, Sarah Hutto, MD, MPH, Laura Jacques, MD)

People in the department also brought many posters to the conference, including one that received second place in the conference poster awards!

Congratulations to the authors of “Ingredients for teaching confidence: A Fourth-year medical student clinical teaching elective”, which earned second place in the CREOG/APGO Annual Meeting Poster Awards! Authors: Kristen Kreh, John Poehlmann, Katharina Stewart, Amy Godecker, Laura Jacques

“Opinions at the Thanksgiving Table: A comparison of medical student and resident attitudes about abortion” – Jessie Chen, Elise Cowley, Jessika Ralph, Amy Godecker, Daniel Pellicer, Laura Jacques

“An Educational Program to Implement a Well-Validated Screening Tool for Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy” – Ryan McDonald, Samantha Haefner, Kaley Gyorfi, Heidi Brown

Congratulations to all on an impressive showing at the conference!

Patel and Brown discuss underdiagnosis and undertreatment of incontinence with UrologyTimes

After publication of their new article “Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women” in the journal Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, authors Heidi Brown, MD, MAS (Division of FMPRS) and Ushma Patel, MD (PGY-4 resident and soon-to-be FPMRS fellow) spoke with Urology Times about the study.

In the latest video interview, Patel and Brown discuss the strong associations between anxiety and depression and urinary incontinence, why they think UI may be underdiagnosed and undertreated, and how to bring the condition back to the forefront for primary care providers:

““I think the biggest take-home message is that more and more women are going to need our help in the coming years, and very few of them right now seek care. Those who do often do so with primary care providers who may not be aware of all the solutions we can offer, so sharing this prevalence study with your local primary care referral network may be helpful to put it back on busy PCPs’ radars that urinary incontinence is very common in women, and that if they, that we’re here to help,” Brown says.”

Watch the whole video here!

Brown earns three-year U-18 grant

Huge congratulations to Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Brown was recently awarded a U-18 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for the project “Bridging Community-based Continence Promotion and Primary Care”.

Brown’s project is one arm of the larger “INTUIT-PC: Improving Nonsurgical Treatment of Urinary Incontinence among women in Primary Care: Dissemination and Implementation of PCOR Evidence” project. The grant provides about $3 million over three years, from February 2022 to January 2025.

Incredible work, Dr. Brown! We can’t wait to see how this project progresses.

Brown and Patel on current state of urinary incontinence for women in Urology Times

After publication of their new article “Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women” in the journal Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, authors Heidi Brown, MD, MAS (Division of FMPRS) and Ushma Patel, MD (PGY-4 resident and soon-to-be FPMRS fellow) spoke with Urology Times about the study.

 In the interview, Brown and Patel shared the motivation behind the study, their most notable findings, take-home messages for urologists and primary care providers, and how they expect the data to evolve into the future:

“So, it's hard to imagine that urinary incontinence prevalence won't remain this prevalent or increase, but my hope with this data is that it really underlines the seriousness of the matter and normalizes it too. [Also,] I hope that it allows mobilization of research funding into female urinary incontinence, and that it increases health care provider and community engagement to increase diagnosis and management of the topic. I think the real thing that would be amazing is if the trajectory of this was reversed from what we're seeing today.”

Read the whole interview and watch the video here!

Patel, Brown, Giles publish in FPMRS journal

A new study published in the journal Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery provides updated estimates for how many women in the U.S. experience or are at risk for urinary incontinence.

“Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women”, by Division of FPMRS faculty Heidi Brown, MD, Dobie Giles, MD, and resident and soon-to-be FPMRS fellow Ushma Patel, MD, PGY-4 found that more than 60% of adult women in the U.S. experience urinary incontinence, a big increase over past estimates. The study analyzed data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

“More than 60% of community-dwelling adult women in the United States experience any UI and an increase from prior estimates (38%–49%) using NHANES data from 1999 to 2004; more than 20% experience moderate or more severe UI. Increases in UI prevalence may be related to population aging and increasing obesity prevalence.”

Read the whole article here!

Brown promoted to Associate Professor with tenure

Our congratulations to Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Brown has been promoted to Associate Professor (tenure track). The promotion will be effective July 1, 2022.

Since joining the UW Department of Ob-Gyn in 2013, Brown has earned an impressive reputation in research and scholarship. Just a few of her incredible recent accomplishments: she earned an NIH R01 grant for the project “Tailoring Online Continence Promotion for Women”; her Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder program has received multiple honors, including eligibility for federal Title III-D funding for community implementation; she co-edited the book “Challenges in Older Women’s Health: A Guide for Clinicians”; and much more.

 Congratulations, Dr. Brown, on this well-deserved honor!

Division of FPMRS brings research and leadership to AUGS annual meeting

Huge congratulations to the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as fantastic UW Ob-Gyn residents and UW undergrads, who brought presentations and research to the PFD Week 2021 Annual Meeting, hosted by the American Urogynecologic Society!

In addition to the presentations, UW was mentioned twice in the President’s Address: research by Christine Heisler, MD, MS in the area of pay gaps between genders in the field of medicine got the first shout-out. The Mind Over Matter community dissemination project, led by Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, was also highlighted!

Several members of the team were able to attend the hybrid meeting, which required proof of vaccination as well as masks in meeting areas. Here is a summary of the presentations/posters from our faculty, fellows, residents and undergrads:

Short oral: 

U Patel, A Godecker, D Giles and H Brown. Updating the Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Adult Women Using 2015-2018 Data from a National Population-Based Survey.

B Mumm, J Barnet, T LeCaire, K Malecki, M Wise, D Newman, and H Brown. Who are we leaving high and not dry? Reach of Bladder Health Promotion via Email. 

G Halder, R Rogers, A White, H Brown, L Caldwell, and M Constantine. Measuring Preparedness for Surgery Validation of a Novel Surgical Preparedness Survey.

S Baban, C Grimes, A Kadesh, J Shi, J Ahluwalia, A Lui, D Giles, A Amin, M White, G Daly, S Reddy, A Block, and R Chaudhan. Variation of Chargemaster Price Listings for Sling Procedures Across Five States.

Scientific Salon:

J Pennycuff, M Pauliukonis, M Yasukawa, A Shimada, and T Parker. The Role of Breast Cancer Treatment in Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction in Breast Cancer Survivors.

J Pennycuff, J Orzel, and L Richter. Surgical Outcomes for Breast Cancer Survivors Undergoing Prolapse and Anti-Incontinence Surgery.  

Poster:

G Avery, M Moureau, M Piper, N Werner, and H Brown. Reach and Teach: Pilot-Testing a Continence Self-Management Website.

Moderator:

H Brown Scientific Salon I – Functional Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor

Congratulations to all on this incredible showing!

Mind Over Matter team’s Paster Award honored on SMPH site

The Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels Healthy Bladder team, led by UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery faculty Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, recently earned the 2021 Paster Family Foundation Innovation Award. Now, the team’s work and accomplishments are highlighted in a new article from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health:

““Our research team is honored to have Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder selected as the 2021 recipient of this award,” says research specialist Madeline Moureau on behalf of the winning research team. “Our team plans on applying this award toward our current goal of understanding how to best support the needs of Wisconsin communities that are not currently reached by our program.””

Read the whole article here. Congratulations to the Mind over Matter team!

Brown, Williams featured at national conference on dissemination and implementation in health

Two faculty from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn were featured at the 14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health (D&I), co-hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and AcademyHealth. Congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists Director Makeba Williams, MD and Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Health faculty Heidi Brown, MD, MAS!

Williams and Brown are co-authors on an abstract about a collaborative project with Christie Bartels, MD, of the UW SMPH Department of Medicine and Edmond Ramly, PhD, of the UW SMPH Institute for Clinical and Translational Research: “Examining primary care follow-up after staff protocol for high blood pressure in specialty patients after implementing BP connect”.

The Mind Over Matter team, including Brown, UW Ob-Gyn resident Alex Andes, MD, PGY-2, and research specialist Madeline Moureau, had an abstract accepted for a poster presentation: “Does the real-world match the randomized trial? Reach and effectiveness of a community-based incontinence program”.

The 14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health (D&I), was co-hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and AcademyHealth on December 14-16, 2021. The Science of D&I Conference aims to ensure that evidence is used to inform decisions that will improve the health of individuals and communities.

Congratulations, Dr. Williams, Dr. Brown, and teams!

Mind Over Matter team wins Paster Award

Please help us congratulate the Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder research team, which won the Paster Family Foundation Innovation Award for the development and dissemination of their program.

The Paster Family Foundation Innovation Award is given for a project, system improvement, or initiative that has made a difference in human health and/or the lives of patients and their families. The Mind Over Matter team worked with the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging to develop a bladder and bowel continence information and self-management program for older women. That partnership brought more than 60 Mind Over Matter workshops to move than 500 participants in 25 Wisconsin counties. The program is also recognized by the National Council on Aging, which means community organizations can use Older Americans Act funding to implement the program.

Watch this video prepared by research team members Madeline Moureau and Zoe Rozema to learn more about Mind Over Matter. Congratulations, all!

Brown and Giles elected to AUGS Board of Directors

Our sincere congratulations to two members of our Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery: Heidi Brown, MD, MAS and Division Director Dobie Giles, MD have both been elected to the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Board of Directors. It is a tremendous honor to have two board members selected from the same institution!

Giles was elected to serve as Treasurer, and appointed to the AUGS Executive Committee.

In addition to her election to the AUGS Board of Directors, Brown was also appointed Vice Chair of the PFD Research Foundation, the official research foundation of AUGS.

Brown and Giles will join the AUGS Board of Directors in October during the annual PFDWeek conference.

This is an incredibly exciting accomplishment – congratulations Dr. Brown and Dr. Giles!

Brown, Williams edit book on older women’s health

What happens when two world-class experts on menopause and pelvic floor disorders work together? They literally write the book on older women’s health concerns.

Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, of our Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and Makeba Williams, MD, Director of our Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, edited the book “Challenges in Older Women’s Health: A Guide for Clinicians.” Williams and Brown each authored chapters on their respective expertise areas of menopause and bladder and bowel incontinence.

The book also includes a chapter on breast health from UW Ob-Gyn clinical assistant professor Laura Bozzuto, MD, and chapters by UW Ob-Gyn residency graduates Emily Rosen, MD and Lauren Verrilli, MD.

You can find the book here. Congratulations to all involved on this incredible achievement!

Grand Rounds: Brown presents “Are We Able To Talk About ABL? Tackling the Taboo of Bowel Incontinence”

On June 10, 2021, Heidi Brown, MD, MAS of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Are We Able To Talk About ABL? Tackling the Taboo of Bowel Incontinence.”

In the lecture, Brown identified risk factors for bowel incontinence, described initial evaluation and management of the condition, and outlined some of the available advanced management options.

Watch Dr. Brown’s whole lecture here!

Congratulations to winners of 2021 UW Ob-Gyn department awards!

On June 24, 2021, the UW Department of Ob-Gyn held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing educational, research and administrative accomplishments throughout the year. The ceremony started by acknowledging a few momentous departures:

Klaus Diem, MD is retiring after many years of service in the department. Diem is a past director of the Division of Gynecology, and served as interim director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility during a transition time.

Jeff Rodzak, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is also retiring. Rodzak will continue to see patients at the VA Hospital.

Cynthie Wautlet, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is headed to Colorado for a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Wautlet!

We also have the great joy of welcoming new arrivals: 

Kristina Warner, MD will join us in July as the first-ever Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow. Dr. Warner graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Biology, earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, and is currently completing her Ob-Gyn residency at Northwestern University. 

Erin Bailey, MD will join the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program. Dr. Bailey received her M.D. from the University of Wisconsin. She is currently completing her Ob-Gyn residency at Washington University. 

Lauren Montemorano, MD is the incoming Gynecologic Oncology fellow. Dr. Montemorano earned her medical degree from the University of Virginia and is completing her Ob-Gyn residency at The Ohio State University.

Guadalupe Aguilera, PhD is a new postdoctoral fellow joining the Health Disparities Research Scholars program. Aguilera is finishing her PhD at the University of Utah in the Department of Sociology and will join the HDRS program in September 2021.

And of course, we are thrilled to welcome the Ob-Gyn residency intern class!

MEDICAL STUDENT AWARDS

DR. SAMUEL G. PERLSON SCHOLARSHIP – Erin Nacev, MD (Oregon Health & Science University); Steven Hesse, MD (University of Minnesota)

This award goes out to one or more fourth year medical students planning to pursue a career in Ob-Gyn who have demonstrated outstanding abilities as a scholar and outstanding humanistic qualities.

T.A. LEONARD AWARD – Nicholas Schreiter

The T.A. Leonard Award is given to one or more medical students in recognition of exemplary performance on their third year Ob/Gyn rotation. 

MEDICAL STUDENT EDUCATOR AWARD FOR RESIDENT TEACHING – Ramsey Larson, MD

This award is given to a UW-Madison, Obstetrics and Gynecology resident, selected by 3rd and 4th year medical students, who exhibits a high interest in teaching, actively involves students in patient care, teaches at an appropriate level, is respectful, approachable, honest, and is a great role model. 

RESIDENCY AWARDS

 CHIEF RESIDENT RECOGNITION – Ramsey Larson, MD; Stephanie Peace, MD

For service as the administrative chief resident, academic year 2020-2021

UW HEALTH INTERDISCIPLINARY GLOBAL HEALTH TRACK RECOGNITION – Stephanie Peace, MD

Given to a graduating resident upon the completion of the Global Health Track.

UW HEALTH RURAL TRAINING TRACK RECOGNITION – Laura McDowell, MD

Given to a graduating resident upon the completion of the Rural Training Track. 

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF GYNECOLOGIC LAPAROSCOPISTS (AAGL) AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD

Given to a graduating resident with special excellence in endoscopic procedures.

SOCIETY OF LAPAROENDOSCOPIC SURGEONS (SLS) AWARD – Matt Wagar, MD

Awarded to a PGY3, outstanding laparoendoscopic resident.

RESIDENT CREOG AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD

Awarded for the highest exam score on the annual CREOG In-Training Examination

BEN M. PECKHAM AWARD – Stephanie Peace, MD

Awarded to a senior residents for excellence in the teaching and clinical practice of Ob-Gyn, as voted by the residents.

SOCIETY OF GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY (SGO) AWARD – Matt Wagar, MD

Awarded to a PGY3 who best exemplifies the qualities of the mission and vision of SGO.

SOCIETY FOR ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS IN GENERAL OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY (SASGOG) AWARD – Emily Buttigieg, MD

Awarded to a PGY4 who has distinguished themselves academically and demonstrates an interest in a career as an Academic Specialist.

AMERICAN UROGYNECOLOGIC SOCIETY (AUGS) AWARD – Ushma Patel, MD

Awarded to a PGY3 resident demonstrating excellence in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, as chosen by the FPMRS faculty.

SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE (SMFM) AWARD – Madeline Wetterhahn, MD, MPH

Awarded to the PGY2 resident who best exemplifies the qualities of the vision of our society to improve pregnancy and perinatal outcomes.

RESEARCH AWARDS

DOUGLAS W. LAUBE BEST TRAINEE PAPER AWARD – Jessica Vazquez, PhD

For the best peer reviewed paper by a graduate student dissertator or medical fellow.

ROLAND K. MEYER GRADUATE TRAINEE AWARD – Amanda Mauro

Awarded to the graduate student dissertator showing the most scientific productivity and scholarly activity.

CHESTER B. MARTIN GRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAM MENTORSHIP AWARD – María Virumbrales Muñoz, PhD

Awarded to faculty or staff that has had the most impact on graduate student degree-related training.

PHILLIP R. HAMILTON III, MD RESIDENT RESEARCH AWARD – Ramsey Larson, MD

Awarded to the senior residents demonstrating the best effort in research.             

DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE AWARD

OBGYN SUPPORT STAFF EXCELLENCE AWARD – Amy Williamson, MPP

In recognition of outstanding staff who routinely and regularly exemplify the mission of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology through excellent performance and customer service.

RESIDENT FACULTY AWARDS

JOHN M. ANDERSON, MD MEMORIAL AWARD – Heidi Brown, MD

For demonstrating the traits of Dr. Anderson: patience, integrity and compassion in the care of women. 

KIMBERLEY J. MILLER-THORESON COMPASSIONATE COLLEAGUE AWARD – Kristen Sharp, MD

For demonstrating the traits of Dr. Miller-Thoreson showing respect, compassion, dedication and unending support towards their colleagues and trainees.

DOLORES A. BUCHLER AWARD – Jennifer Karnowski, MD

For excellence in instruction at the senior resident level.

KARL A. RUDAT AWARD – Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD

For excellence in surgical teaching at the senior resident level.

FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARDS

OUTSTANDING FELLOW EDUCATOR – Shannon Rush, MD

Given to one fellow in either Gynecologic Oncology or Maternal-Fetal Medicine for excellence in resident education.

ST. MARY’S ADJUNCT FACULTY EDUCATOR AWARD – Ryan Luellwitz, DO

Selected by the residents for excellence in resident education.

MERITER ADJUNCT FACULTY EDUCATOR AWARD – Mary Stoffel, MD (Madison Women’s Health)

Selected by the residents for excellence in resident education. 

SOCIETY FOR ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS IN GENERAL OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (SASGOG) AWARD – Jennifer Karnowski, MD

National faculty award for dedication and commitment to the ideals of being an academic generalist.

SABINE DROSTE AWARD – Ruth Yemane, MD

The Sabine Droste Award is selected by the junior residents for a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in instruction at the junior resident level.

ELLEN HARTENBACH AWARD – Sumer Wallace, MD

Selected by the residents and given annually to the faculty member who has made the greatest contribution in simulation education.

CREOG FACULTY AWARD – Kristen Sharp, MD

National faculty award for excellence in resident education.

Rivas’ resident research published in Contraception

Before graduating from the UW Ob-Gyn residency in 2020, Kali Rivas, MD focused her resident research project on whether resident physicians in Wisconsin are trained in immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Her study is now published in Contraception! Amy Godecker, PhD, Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, co-authored the article.

In the study “Are Wisconsin resident physicians trained in immediate postpartum long acting reversible contraception?”, Rivas and co-authors surveyed resident physicians in family medicine and ob-gyn training programs about their attitudes and competency regarding family planning services. The study found some important differences in self-reported proficiency between ob-gyn residents and family medicine residents:

“Only 44% of participating family medicine programs provide immediate postpartum LARC training. Two-thirds of obstetrics and gynecology residents report proficiency in immediate postpartum LARC, compared to fewer than half of family medicine residents. Given that many Wisconsin counties do not have a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist, improving immediate postpartum LARC training among family medicine residents is paramount.”

Read the whole publication here!

Brown’s Mind Over Matter program disseminated by AUGS president

A recent President’s Perspective blog from American Urogynecologic Society President Holly Richter, MD, PhD invited AUGS members to learn more about adapting Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder (MOM) for their communities. MOM is an educational program focused on incontinence self-management created by Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.

The communication highlighted results from a study Brown published in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2019, and shared available supports and resources for implementing the program. In addition to a well-developed facilitator training, MOM is recognized as an evidence-based program by the National Council on Aging, which means there is federal funding available through the Older Americans Act to support the MOM program.

Read the whole message here. Congratulations, Dr. Brown!

Green, Brown offer commentary on maternal health equity in Obstetrics and Gynecology

In this must-read commentary in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tiffany Green, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health and Heidi Brown, MD, of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery suggest new approaches to eliminating Black maternal health disparities in the U.S.

“Rethinking Bias to Achieve Maternal Health Equity: Changing Organizations, Not Just Individuals” discusses the limitations of current interventions like implicit bias training in effectively addressing maternal health disparities. The authors outline other factors that significantly affect Black maternal health outcomes, including stereotyping in medical education, explicit racism built into clinical algorithms, and marginalization of Black physicians.

In the article, Green, Brown and co-authors also discuss potential solutions, including medical education reforms, changes in care practice, accountability through public policy, and physician pipeline support:

“Holistic medical school admissions policies that consider applicants' backgrounds and experiences with discrimination and poverty have improved racial diversity. Medical school and residency program admissions committees should also weigh applicants' understanding of how racism (not race) leads to health disparities, and the importance of listening to and centering the communities physicians serve. Importantly, these practices may lead to not just an increase in Black students and residents, but more racially and socioeconomically diverse trainees who approach medicine with humility, empathy, and health equity as core values.”

Read the whole article here.

Brown receives R01 award for online continence promotion program

Huge congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Associate Director Heidi Brown, MD! Brown earned an R01 award from the NIH for the project “Tailoring Online Continence Promotion for Women”.

More than half of older women have incontinence. Interventions to improve symptoms are urgently needed. This project seeks to understand how tailoring an online continence intervention can increase engagement and uptake of health behaviors to improve symptoms.

We’re so excited to see Dr. Brown’s amazing work continue to unfold!

Brown joins ICTR Dissemination & Implementation program faculty

Congratulations to Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Brown was appointed to join the UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Dissemination & Implementation Launchpad program faculty.

As part of the program faculty, Brown will head up a pilot grant program to help investigators incorporate principles related to dissemination, implementation, and sustainability into their initial intervention design so that their interventions are ready for scale. 

UW ICTR’s Dissemination and Implementation team are national leaders in cutting-edge design for dissemination work. As part of the D&I faculty, Brown will interact with D&I experts at other institutions and strengthen her expertise in dissemination work. Brown’s term began January 1, 2021 and runs through March 31, 2022. Incredible work, Dr. Brown!

Women’s Healthcast: Brown discusses strengthening health literacy

Health literacy – how well we can find, understand, and apply information to help us make health decisions – affects many areas of our lives. 

On the Women’s Healthcast, Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, talked about where to find accurate health information, resources for building health literacy skills, and how low health literacy exacerbates preexisting health disparities. The episode also featured Jordan Spencer, medical student at the University of Arkansas.

Listen to “Strengthening Your Health Literacy” now.

Did you know the Women’s Healthcast is available on all your favorite podcast platforms? Whether you like to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!)

Mind Over Matter program eligible for Title III-D funding

The Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder program, brought to Wisconsin and studied by Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, is approved for inclusion in the list of Title III-D-eligible programs!

Community agencies across the country can apply for funding from the U.S. Administration for Community Living’s Title III-D program and other applicable discretionary funding, which can be used to support offering evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention programs. Mind Over Matter’s inclusion on that list means agencies can use federal funding to bring the program to their communities.

Mind Over Matter is the only continence promotion program on the list of approved, evidence-based health promotion programs! Congratulations, Dr. Brown and MOM team!

FPMRS division presents “Break Free from Pelvic Floor Disorders” talk on November 17

The next UW Ob-Gyn Healthy Women Community Talk is coming up November 17, 2020 from 7-8pm!

Presented by Heidi Brown, MD, of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Lisa Jones, MD, of the UW SMPH Department of Medicine, and Frank Lin, MD, of the UW SMPH Department of Urology, “Break Free from Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Disorders” will answer questions about common pelvic floor disorders like urinary and fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.

This virtual event is free and open to all! Learn more and register here.

FPMRS Division brings posters, presentations to virtual AUGS meeting

The UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery shared research and new developments at the annual American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) Meeting October 8-10, 2020! Since the meeting was held virtually (instead of in Vancouver), attendees joined from the wonderful offices within Meriter Hospital.  

Our group presented three oral presentations and two posters.  Heidi Brown, MD and Division Director Dobie Giles, MD also served as moderators for two sessions.

Oral Presentations:

Updating the prevalence of urinary incontinence in adult women using 2015-2016 data from a national population-based survey

U. J. Patel, A. L. Godecker, D. L. Giles, H.W. Brown. 

A randomized control trial evaluating preoperative telephone calls on surgical preparedness in urogynecology

G. E. Halder, A. B. White, H.W. Brown, L. Caldwell, D. L.Giles, C. A. Heisler, D. Bilagi, R. G. Rogers

Is it worth the cost? A cost benefit analysis of postoperative post-void residual bladder scan thresholds

S. M. Jansen, A.Woll, S. E. Swift, C. A. Heisler

Posters:

Is fecal incontinence (FI) associated with urinary tract infection (UTI)?

S. M. Jansen, K. Pellino, H.W.Brown, Q.Zhao, C.A.Heisler

How well does post-void residual by subtraction correlate with objective urinary retention in the postoperative setting?

S. M. Jansen, A.Woll, H.W. Brown, S. E. Swift, Q. Zhao, C.A.Heisler

Congratulations to all  who presented and attended – amazing work!

Brown publishes Clinical Experts article in Green Journal

Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, authored a Clinical Experts Series article on the management of fecal incontinence in Obstetrics and Gynecology!

In "Management of Fecal Incontinence", Brown and co-authors provide an overview of the evaluation and management of fecal incontinence for ob-gyn practices:

“Fewer than 30% of women with fecal incontinence seek care, and lack of information about effective solutions is an important barrier for both patients and health care professionals. Even among women with both urinary and fecal incontinence presenting for urogynecologic care, the rate of verbal disclosure of fecal incontinence symptoms remains low.”

The article includes guidance from several medical societies for screening and managing fecal incontinence, as well as an outline of common treatment options available.

Read the article here.​ Great work, Dr. Brown!

Brown, Schmuhl published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society

Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health, published the article “After the Randomized Trial: Implementation of Community‐Based Continence Promotion in the Real World” in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society!

The study gathered information on the adoption and implementation of Brown’s community-based continence promotion program Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder by community agencies:

“A total of 67% of communities (four of six) adopted MOM, and 50% (three of six) maintained MOM. No implementation fidelity lapses occurred. Facilitators of adoption and maintenance included MOM's well‐organized protocol and lean time commitment, sharing of implementation efforts between partner organizations, staff specifically assigned to health promotion activities, and high community interest in continence promotion.”

Read the whole article here!

Williams, Brown are collaborators on UW ICTR D&I Research pilot award

Huge congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn Director Makeba Williams, MD, and Heidi Brown, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Williams and Brown will be collaborators on a new Dissemination and Implementation Research pilot award from the UW-Madison Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

They will work on “Extending BP Connect: Implementing in Diverse Specialty Clinics and for out-of-network Follow-up”, with PI Christie Bartels, MD, of the UW SMPH Department of Medicine:

“Our current objective is to compare individual vs group audit and feedback to scale BP Connect implementation across diverse clinics. We aim to test these hypotheses: a) BP Connect is scalable across diverse clinics; b) group staff A&F is comparable to individual, as evidenced in two 2018 physician studies; and c) both in- and out-of-network primary care follow-up will improve.”

Incredible work, Dr. Williams and Dr. Brown!