Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

Department of Ob-Gyn leadership, awards, research and more at 2024 SGS Annual Meeting

Members of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery had an exciting array of leadership roles, research, and presentations at the 2024 Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) Annual Meeting! The meeting was held March 24-27, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. Professor Dobie Giles, MD, MBA, received the SGS Distinguished Service Award. ... more

Cox selected to lead SGS Pelvic Anatomy Group Digital Library

Congratulations to Caroline Cox, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, who was selected to lead the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) Pelvic Anatomy Group Digital Library! The mission of the SGS Digital Library Group is to disseminate knowledge of female pelvic anatomy, promote the use of standardized anatomic termi... more

Welcome Margaret Wilkes, MD, to FPMRS faculty

Margaret Wilkes, MD, will join the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an assistant professor (CHS) in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) on September 1, 2024. Wilkes will join us following the completion of FPMRS fellowship this summer.Wilkes completed medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, followed by ob... more

Women’s Healthcast: Fourth Trimester: Perineal Tears, featuring Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists​ calls the 12 weeks after giving birth the Fourth Trimester. Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, discussed a common aspect of postpartum recovery on the second episode of the Women’s Healthcast Fourth Trimester series: perineal tears. Perinea... more

Giles promoted to Professor (CHS)

Congratulations to Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! The School of Medicine and Public Health CHS Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee endorsed the Department of Ob-Gyn’s recommendation that Giles be promoted to the rank of Professor (CHS), effective June 30, 2024.Giles joined our department in 2013. He b... more

Heisler appointed permanent Division Director of FPMRS

After nearly a year of exemplary service as Interim Division Director in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (soon to be the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery), Christine Heisler, MD, MS, has agreed to become the permanent director of the division. Please help us congratulating Dr. Heisler on this well-deserved appointm... more

Division of FPMRS at 2023 AUGS annual meeting

Members of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery brought research and leadership to the PFD Week 2023 meeting in Portland, OR in early October: Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, professor in the Division of FPMRS, moderated a general session during the conference. Poster: Development of a Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Urogynecology and Colorectal Surge... more

Patel earns Morley Memorial Paper Award at Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Meeting

Congratulations to Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow Ushma Patel, MD, who received the Dr. George Morley Memorial Paper award at the 2023 Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (CAOG) 90th Annual Meeting, held in Nashville October 25-28, 2023. Patel received the award for the paper “Aiming for Zero: Success of the Hysterectomy Surgical ... more

Grand Rounds: Bailey, Patel and Wagar present “Badger Bytes: Fellow Focused Session”

On November 2, 2023, UW Department of Ob-Gyn fellows Erin Bailey, MD, Ushma Patel, MD, and Matt Wagar, MD presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Badger Bytes: Fellow Focused Session”. Erin Bailey, MD, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow, presented “Postpartum depression pre and post development of comprehensive PAS center at a single academic institution”.Matt Wagar, MD, Gynecologic... more

Women’s Healthcast: Replay: Promoting Pelvic Floor Health, featuring Angie Sergeant, NP

The Women’s Healthcast replays an episode from 2020 in honor of November being Bladder Health Month. In this episode, Angie Sergeant, NP, for the UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness Clinic dives into the risk factors for pelvic floor disorders as well as physical therapy and other intervention options to help pelvic floor issues.Listen to Promoting Pelvic Floor Health now.Did ... more

Department of Ob-Gyn helps raise cancer research funds at Badger Challenge

The 2023 Badger Challenge, the annual walk, run, and bike event that raises funds for cancer research at UW–Madison, took place on September 24, 2023. Many members of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn supported the event, which raised nearly $1 million for research.Angie Sergeant, NP, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Joanne Rash, PA, Division of Gynec... more

Heisler earns Top Reviewer award from Urogynecology

Congratulations to Christine Heisler, MD, MS, associate professor and director of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! She was named a 2023 Top Reviewer by the journal Urogynecology.Urogynecology selected the Top Reviewer Award recipients based on their high-quality, timely reviews of articles for the publication.Thanks to Dr. Heisler for her ex... more

Register for Break Free From Pelvic Floor Disorders Community Talk on November 14

Many of us have questions about topics like bladder and bowel leakage and pelvic organ prolapse, but we may not know how to bring them up. These conditions are common, especially as we get older, but they are not inevitable. Please join us on Tuesday, November 14 for an evening of conversation with UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness physicians, advanced practice providers, an... more

Grand Rounds: Shapiro Students present research projects

Every summer, Shapiro Summer Research students collaborate with UW Department of Ob-Gyn faculty on research projects. On August 3, the 2023 Shapiro Summer Research students presented their projects during Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds. Presenters, mentors, and projects were: Camille Phillips, mentored by Laura Hanks, MD - “Sterilizations Rates of Pregnancy Capable People at a Single I... more

UW Ob-Gyn brings presentations to Association of Managers of Gynecology and Obstetrics conference

The Association of Managers of Gynecology and Obstetrics (AMGO) hosted their 47th Annual Conference in Hilton Head, South Carolina September 24-27, 2023. The UW Department of Ob-Gyn was well represented at the event. A few of our department’s accomplishments:Kara Mulligan, MHA, MBA, FACHE, UW Ob-Gyn chief administrative officer, is president of AMGO and led the conference.Do... more

Women’s Healthcast: Perineal Tears: Cause and Recovery, featuring Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH

Perineal tears, or perineal lacerations, are a very common complication that can happen during childbirth – somewhere between 60-70 percent of people who give birth experience some degree of tearing in the skin or muscles between the vagina and anus. Despite their frequency, they’re not a commonly-discussed topic. Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gy... more

Celebrate Advanced Practice Provider Week – September 25-29, 2023

This year, National Advanced Practice Providers Week is September 25-29, 2023. Please join us in thanking the many skilled, dedicated APPs who work in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn! National APP Week celebrates the hard work of Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Certified Nurse Midwives, and other specialists who help elevate the fields of medicine and nursing to ensur... more

Welcome incoming FPMRS Fellow Julie Dorland, MD

The UW Ob-Gyn Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship is excited to announce that Julie Dorland, MD, has matched as our August 2024 incoming FPMRS Fellow!Dorland received her MD from the Baylor College of Medicine and is currently completing her OBGYN Residency at the University of Texas at Austin. She comes highly recommended by our FPMRS Colleagues, a... more

Grand Rounds: Heisler presents “Reconstructive Vulvar Surgery: Beyond Cosmetic Gynecology”

On July 6, 2023, UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Director Christine Heisler, MD, MS, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Reconstructive Vulvar Surgery: Beyond Cosmetic Gynecology”. In the lecture, Heisler explained relevant vulvar anatomy, described specific clinical conditions that may present for surgical management, discussed availa... more

Cutler and Cox to become Associate Program Directors of UW Ob-Gyn Residency

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and Caroline Cox, MD, incoming assistant professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, will become Associate Program Directors of the UW Ob-Gyn Residency Program in September 2023. Cutler and Cox will join incoming Residency Program Director Bridg... more

Congratulations to winners of the 2023 UW Ob-Gyn department awards!

On June 15, 2023, the UW Department of Ob-Gyn held its annual awards ceremony, recognizing educational, research and administrative accomplishments throughout the year.The ceremony started by celebrating service milestones:Five Years:Carol Hulland - Administrative ManagerIrene Ong, PhD - Assistant ProfessorJennifer Karnowski, MD - Clinical Assistant ProfessorLaura Cooney, MD... more

Welcome Caroline Cox, MD, to Division of FPMRS

Caroline Cox, MD, will be joining the UW Department of Ob-Gyn’s Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery as an assistant professor on September 11, 2023! Dr. Cox completed ob-gyn residency with our department in 2017; please help us welcome her back to Madison!Dr. Cox graduated from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, follo... more

Archer and Sergeant present at Wisconsin Nursing Association Conference

Sari Archer, NP and Angie Sergeant, NP, both nurse practitioners in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, presented at the Wisconsin Nursing Association’s 37th annual APRN Pharmacology and Clinical Update in April!Archer and Sergeant brought the presentation “Pee, Poop, and the Pelvic Floor: They are not taboo subjects!” to the intensive, three-d... more

Brown receives Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship

Congratulations to Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, associate professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, who recently received a Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship!Brown is one of 13 awarded the 2023 Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorships, an award recognizing distinguished scholarship as well as standout efforts in teaching and s... more

Barroilhet, Giles, Iruretagoyena in Texas as Board Examiners

Three UW Ob-Gyn faculty served as ABOG subspecialty board examiners in Texas this year!Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Lisa Barroilhet, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and Igor Iruretagoyena, MD, MS, professor and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine,... more

Moureau shares incontinence research on UroToday

Research Specialist Madeline Moureau, member of the Brown Research Group, presented the study “Zoom To Scale? Real World Implementation Of Online Versus In-Person Community-Based Continence Promotion” in a video on UroToday! Moureau discussed the project with Diane Newman, DNP, adjunct professor of urology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. In the... more

Giles to step down as Vice Chair of Finance

Later this year, the UW Ob-Gyn Finance Committee will undergo a leadership change: Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, associate professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, will step down as Vice Chair of Finance. Igor Iruretagoyena, MD, MS, professor and director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, will become the new Vice Chair of Finance,... more

Brown publishes editorial on implementation science in Urogynecology

Heidi Brown, MD, MAS, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, published a new editorial “Beyond Effectiveness: Implementation Science 101 for Clinicians and Clinical Researchers” in Urogynecology.Brown has a proven expertise in implementation science, serving as faculty in the UW Institute for Clinical and Translati... more

Pennycuff publishes editorial in Green Journal

Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, published an editorial in the April 2023 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology!In “Is Two Better than One? Concurrent Surgery for Gynecologic Cancer and Pelvic Floor Disorders”, Pennycuff outlines the low frequency of concurrent surgeries, despite increas... more

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 dep... more

Heisler to serve as Interim Division Director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery

Christine Heisler, MD, MS, associate professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS), has agreed to serve as Interim Division Director of FPMRS! She will step into the role on February 1, 2023.Dr. Heisler joined the department in 2016, developing a distinguished reputation as a leader in clinical care, education, and research over the p... more

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 Novemb... more

Congratulations 2022 Women’s Health and Health Equity Research Lecture & Symposium award winners!

The 2022 UW Women’s Health and Health Equity Research Lecture and Symposium took place on October 20. This annual event brought together healthcare professionals, population health experts and community advocates dedicated to advancing health equity for a busy morning of presentations and poster sessions highlighting research that addresses persistent gender, racial, and oth... more

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 Implement... more

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 ... more

Congratulations to UW Health APP Excellence award nominees!

Please help us congratulate the incredible UW Ob-Gyn advanced practice providers who were nominated for 2022 UW Health Advanced Practice Provider Excellence Awards!Ann Baggot, WHNP, Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn – nominated for the Excellence in Teaching AwardAngela Sergeant, NP, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery – nominated for the U... more

UW Ob-Gyn celebrates National Advanced Practice Provider Week!

​National Advanced Practice Providers Week is September 26-30, 2022! Please join us in learning a little bit more about some of the incredible APPs who support the clinical, educational, and research missions in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn and thanking them for their expertise, excellence, and dedication! [image]ObGyn News Files/CNM1.png[/image] [image]ObGyn News Files/CNM... more

Welcome incoming FPMRS fellow Kelley Stewart!

The Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship is excited to announce that Kelley Stewart, MD, has matched as our August 2023 incoming FPMRS Fellow!Stewart received her MD from the University of New Mexico and is currently completing her ob-gyn residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. She comes highly recommended by our FPMRS collea... more

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 ... more

Pennycuff published in International Urogynecology Journal

Assistant Professor Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, published a new study in the International Urogynecology Journal!“Prevalence of pelvic floor disorders, associations of endocrine therapy, and surgical intervention among breast cancer survivors” is a retrospective cohort study matching more than 19,000 women di... more

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 fir... more

Sergeant to present at UW Health APP Grand Rounds on July 21

Angie Sergeant, NP, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, will present at the UW Health APP Grand Rounds on July 21, 2022!In the lecture “Let’s talk about incontinence! Providing care for females with urinary incontinence in any setting”, Sergeant will:Describe prevalence and risk factors for female urinary incontinenceExplain the ma... more

Women’s Healthcast: Choosing Lubricants and Vaginal Moisturizers, featuring Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH

Vaginal moisturizers, lubricants, and vaginal estrogen can be helpful tools for improving sexual wellbeing, but how many people are confident navigating the products and choosing the right ones for them?Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, joined the Women’s Healthcast to discuss why peop... more

Congratulations to winners of UW Ob-Gyn 2022 department awards!

On June 23, 2022, 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. Many people retired from the department this academic year, including:Carol Carr, CNM (Midwife in the ASOG Division)Janet Short (Medical Studen... more

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 leader... more

Patel earns FPMRS Journal 2022 Media Impact Award

UW Ob-Gyn resident and soon-to-be Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow Ushma Patel, MD received the 2022 Media Impact Award from the journal FPMRS for the article “Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women: 2015-2018 National Population-Based Survey Data"!The article was published online in February 2022 and appeared in the April 2022 issue of F... more

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: ... more

UW Ob-Gyn research and presentations at 2022 ACOG Annual Meeting

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists held the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting in San Diego May 6-8, 2022. Faculty, fellows and residents in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn brought many exciting presentations and projects to the conference. Read more about some of their awesome accomplishments:Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn Director Makeba Wi... more

Grand Rounds: Badger Bytes presentations on UW Ob-Gyn and Sexual Health Research

On May 12, 2022, several presenters shared updates on sexual health research and resources in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn during the Badger Bytes Grand Rounds presentation “UW Ob-Gyn and Sexual Health Research”.The six presentations were:Sex Therapy: Understanding Its Utility in Improving Patient Outcomes (presented by Madelyn Esposito-Smith, LPC)Choosing the Right Vaginal M... more

Warner gives oral presentation at SGS conference

Our congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow Kristina Warner, MD, who presented research at the 2022 Society of Gynecologic Surgeons annual meeting in San Antonio, TX!Warner presented “The impact of subspecialty training on outcomes following surgery for pelvic organ prolapse – a NSQIP-based study” during an oral poster session.In... more

Mojdehbahksh gives oral presentation at SGS conference

Congratulations to UW Ob-Gyn resident Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD, PGY-3, who gave an oral presentation at the 2022 Society of Gynecologic Surgeons annual meeting in San Antonio, TX! Mojdehbakhsh presented “Efficacy and Safety of a Restrictive Blood Transfusion Protocol in Gynecologic Surgery Patients”, a project that was mentored by Ahmed Al-Niaimi, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Divisio... more

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,... more

Patel recaps research on AUGS social media

After publication of the new article “Updated Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Women” in the journal Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, UW Ob-Gyn resident (and incoming FPMRS fellow) Ushma Patel, MD, PGY-4 summarized the study’s findings in a video highlighted on the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS)’s social media.In the video, Patel outlined the stu... more

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... more

Heisler promoted to Associate Professor (CHS)

Please join us in congratulating Christine Heisler, MD, MS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! The UW School of Medicine and Public Health CHS Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee unanimously promoted Heisler to the rank of Associate Professor (CHS), effective July 1, 2022.Heisler joined our department in 2016. Since then... more

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 th... more

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 t... more

Heisler published in Journal of Surgical Education

What can professional introductions before Grand Rounds lectures tell us about hierarchical, gender, or descriptive bias? A new article in the Journal of Surgical Education aims to find out.“Professional Address during Obstetrics and Gynecology Grand Rounds Introductions: Setting the Stage, Setting the Standard”, by Christine Heisler, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of FPMRS, ... more

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... more

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 incr... more

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 tea... more

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 ... more

Kwitek and Sergeant nominated for UW Health APP Excellence Awards

During National Advanced Practice Provider Week in October, UW Health recognized outstanding clinicians across the institution with the APP Excellence Awards. Two incredible APPs from the UW Department of Ob-Gyn were nominated for awards – please help us congratulate them!Laura Kwitek, DNP, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, was nominated for a Leadership Awa... more

Patel matches into FPMRS fellowship at University of Wisconsin

We’re so thrilled to announce that Ushma Patel, MD, PGY-4 will stick around after finishing residency to be the second Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow! Patel received her MD from Loyola University and has been completing her ob-gyn residency with us at the University of Wisconsin. The FPMRS team is impressed with her dedication to the field and fierc... more

Women’s Healthcast: Sexual Health and Cancer Survivorship, featuring Dr. Jon Pennycuff

As our ability to detect and treat cancer has improved, more people are living longer after their cancer diagnosis. For survivors of breast and gynecologic cancer, that can mean more time living with the side effects treatment can have on sexual and pelvic health.On this episode of the Women’s Healthcast, Jon Pennycuff, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine... more

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... more

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 pa... more

Grand Rounds: Pennycuff presents “Onco-urogynecology: Pelvic Health, Intimate Well Being, and Cancer Survivorship”

On October 28, 2021 Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH of the UW Ob Gyn Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Division presented the grand rounds lecture “Onco-urogynecology: Pelvic Health, Intimate Well Being, and Cancer Survivorship”. In the presentation, Pennycuff explored the role of the gynecologist in cancer survivorship care, described the prevalence and severity of ... more

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 a... more

Grand Rounds: Heisler and Higgins present Equity Badger Bytes

On July 15, 2021, researchers in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn presented a Badger Bytes research Grand Rounds. Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, of the Division of Reproductive and Population Health, presented “Economics and Erotic Inequity: Poverty and Sexual Wellbeing.” During her presentation, Higgins defined erotic equity and shared main findings from the literature and a new empi... more

Patel and Heisler author article in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America

Christine Heisler, MD, MS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Divison of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and resident Ushma Patel, MD PGY-4 co-authored an article in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. In “Urinary tract injury during gynecologic surgery: prevention, recognition and management”, Patel and Heisler review important anatomy involved ... more

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 W... more

Heisler presents at Society of Gynecologic Surgeons conference

Christine Heisler, MD, MS, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery presented her research about gender disparities in the field of obstetrics and gynecology at the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons conference in June. Heisler was invited by the meeting’s scientific program chair to present the special guest lecture “Ready, Set, ACTION! D... more

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 som... more

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... more

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: Changin... more

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 h... more

Patel published in International Journal of Surgery Case Reports

A case study by UW Ob-Gyn resident (and future UW Ob-Gyn Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery fellow) Ushma Patel, MD, PGY-3 was published in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. Christine Heisler, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of FPMRS co-authored the case study. “Enterocele manifesting as recurrent anterior rectal prolapse: A case report” outlin... more

Welcome Jon Pennycuff, MD, MPH to the Division of FPMRS

The UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery is happy to announce that Jon Pennycuff, MD, MPH will join the department as the fourth FPMRS faculty member on September 1, 2021. Pennycuff comes to us after finishing his FPMRS fellowship at Georgetown University/MedStar Health in Washington, DC. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Science,... more

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 pr... more

Heisler published in AJOG; response from Dee Fenner

An article published by Christine Heisler, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology garnered a responding editorial from legend in the field Dee Fenner, MD (ob-gyn department chair at the University of Michigan). Heisler’ article “Has a critical mass of women resulted in gender eq... more

Patel selected as 2022 FPMRS fellow!

The UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, and FPMRS Fellowship Director Christine Heisler, MD, are thrilled to announce that Ushma Patel, MD will join us as our second FPMRS fellow in July 2022! Patel is currently a PGY-3 resident in our department. Patel attended Marquette University for her undergraduate degree, and earned her MS from th... more

Women’s Healthcast: Sergeant talks PT, pessaries, and more

In honor of Bladder Health Month, Angie Sergeant, NP, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, joined the Women's Healthcast to talk about common pelvic floor questions. In the episode, Sergeant discussed risk factors for pelvic floor disorders, pelvic floor physical therapy and other interventions, and what visits to the UW Health Wome... more

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 ho... more

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 Livin... more

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 que... more

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 ... more

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... more

Heisler authors paper, earns Best Diversity Paper Award

Huge congratulations to Christine Heisler, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery! Heisler authored a paper in a recent edition of the American Journal of Surgery – the paper was presented at the 2020 Association of Women Surgeons Annual Conference, where it won the Best Diversity Paper award!“Leading from Behind: Paucity of gender... more

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 gat... more

First FPMRS fellow announced! Welcome Dr. Kristina Warner

The Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Team is pleased to announce that Kristina Warner, MD has matched as our July 2021 incoming fellow. This is exciting news as she will be the first fellow to begin training in our newly accredited fellowship program. Warner graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Biology, earned her medical ... more