Members of the Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery brought research and presentations to the 2024 AUGS PFD Week Conference in Washington, DC October 22-25,2024! A few of their exciting accomplishments:
Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the division, presented Exploring Early Career Surgeons' Views on Support and Mentorship during a Rapid Fire Oral Session. He also presented on the Careers in Urogynecology panel.
Christine Heisler, MD, MS, associate professor and division director, gave multiple presentations:
- Impact of Workplace Microaggressions on Surgeon Career Status and Trajectory
- Reporting Mechanisms for Workplace Microaggressions Against Surgeons
She was also co-author of a Rapid Fire Oral Session presentation Pharmacologic Thromboprophylaxis Linked to Complications in Prolapse Patients.
Dobie Giles, MD, MS, MBA, professor in the division, moderated the General Session.
Caroline Cox, MD, assistant professor in the division, moderated the Concurrent Session Postpartum/Pregnancy & OASIS. She was also co-author on the presentation Gender-Affirming Testosterone Treatment and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, which was presented during the general session.
Kristina Warner, MD, the first graduate from our URPS fellowship, gave the Rapid Fire Oral Session presentation The Rural-Urban Divide and Urogynecologic Healthcare Disparities. Her presentation was co-authored by Kelley Stewart, Gabrielle Avery, Caroline Cox, Ushma Patel, Dobie Giles, Christine Heisler, and Jon Pennycuff.
Congratulations, all!
On July 11, 2024, Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, presented the Grand Rounds lecture “Pelvic Floor Training in the 21st Century.”
In the lecture, Pennycuff discussed the current trends and options available for pelvic floor management. With this, he also mentioned some of these method’s limitations, as well as how pelvic floor management and associated devices can impact pregnancy.
You can watch the full lecture here.
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson
In the lecture, Pennycuff touched upon the epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders for women and the evidence surrounding the outcomes of pelvic floor surgeries after pregnancy. From this, Pennycuff discussed what this evidence means for delivery recommendations after having pelvic floor surgery.
Watch the full lecture here.
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson
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, and physical therapists to learn how you can prevent or control symptoms.
This event will include issue-focused breakout sessions on pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, accidental bowel leakage, overactive bladder, pelvic floor physical therapy, and more.
November 14, 2023
6:00-7:15pm (Central)
Virtual event - register here
Presenters:
Learn more and register here!
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. The SGS Distinguished Serve Award is presented annually to an SGS member in good standing who has provided important contributions to the Society. The selection is made by the Board of Directors and is based on scientific leadership, organizational or society service, and contributions to SGS, gynecologic surgery and/or surgical patient care.
Assistant Professor Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, moderated the SGS Fellows/Young Attending Course "Keys to a Successful Surgical Career." Pennycuff gave the presentation “I’m Here, Now What? How to Market and Grow Your Surgical Practice” during the course.
Assistant Professor Caroline Cox, MD, provided the Pelvic Anatomy Group (PAG) Digital Library Update. Cox was recently selected to lead the PAG Digital Library Group.
Associate Professor Christine Heisler, MD, MS, gave the oral presentation “Workplace Microaggressions: Results of a Survey of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Members.”
Validation of ICIQ-LUTS Questionnaire in the Transmasculine Population. Kreines F, Cox C, Harvie H, Arya L, Andy U.
Risk Factors for Postpartum Urinary Retention: A Case-Control Study. Warner KJ, Avery GM, Battula S, Esparza A, Pinto A, Heisler CA.
Perioperative Care Pathway for Vulvar Reconstruction: A Case Series. Stewart K, Seibert G, Heisler CA.
The Economic Impact of Unused Suture at a Community Hospital. Pennycuff JF, Zinter A, Barman S, Price T, Gill T, Heisler CA.
Correlation of CT Derived Biomarkers of Presacral Adiposity with Body Mass Index. Pennycuff JF, Jaber D, Toia G, Pickhardt P.
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Transmasculine Individuals: Prevalence and Association with Anxiety and Depression. Kreines F, Cox C, Harvie H, Arya L, Andy U.
Congratulations to all who attended, received awards, presented research, and more!
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.
Perineal tears, or perineal lacerations, are very common 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. Pennycuff talked about how they’re treated and what he wishes more people understood about them.
Did you know the Women’s Healthcast is available on all your favorite podcast platforms? Whether you like to listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!)
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 Institution in Wisconsin Before and After the Dobbs Decision”
Amy Tran, mentored by Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH - “Pelvic Floor Symptom Burden and Treatment Choices for Rural versus Urban Dwelling Women”
Lindsey Christianson, mentored by Laura Jacques, MD - “How is the Dobbs Decision Impacting Decision-Making and Perceived Training Options for Ob-Gyn Residency Applicants?”
Sami Stroebel, mentored by Laura Cooney, MD - “Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSD) & Time to Pregnancy”
Doua Chee Xiong, mentored by Laura Bozzuto, MD - “Optimizing Care for Patients with Granulomatous Mastitis”
Watch all the presentations here.
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.
Dobie Giles, MD, professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) gave the presentation “Surviving Hurricane Katrina” on Monday, September 25.
Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH, assistant professor in the Division of FPMRS, gave the presentation “Idea to Implementation: How a New Service is Born” on September 25.
Ellen Hartenbach, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Ob-Gyn, gave the presentation “Building a Clinical Trial Program” on September 25.
Heidi Janzen, MBA, research program director; David Kushner, MD, professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology; and Manish Patankar, PhD, professor and director of the Division of Reproductive Sciences; gave the presentation “Building a Research Program” on September 26.
Incredible work, all!
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-Gyn Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, joined the Women’s Healthcast to talk about perineal tears – how often they happen, how they’re treated, and what he wishes more people understood about them.
Listen to Perineal Tears: Cause and Recovery 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, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!)
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 increasing rates of pelvic floor disorders. Pennycuff’s editorial cites data from two studies also published in the April 2023 issue of the Green Journal.
Read the whole editorial here!
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 diagnosed with breast cancer between 2008-2020 with more than 19,000 women without a history of cancer to compare pelvic floor conditions:
“Rates of pelvic floor disorders were lower among breast cancer survivors compared to controls but rates of surgical intervention did not differ and were higher for some conditions among breast cancer survivors. Implications for cancer survivors: Screening for these disorders should be considered as part of routine survivorship care.”
Read the whole study here.
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 people use vaginal moisturizers and lubricants, the variety of available products, and what to consider when choosing a moisturizer or lubricant. He also talked about vaginal estrogen as an option to address some issues like itching, dryness, and recurrent urinary tract infections.
Listen to “Choosing Lubricants and Vaginal Moisturizers” 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!)
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!
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!
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 Moisturizer and Lubricants for Your Patients (presented by Jon Pennycuff, MD, MSPH)
DaneMAC Mobile Forensic Nurse Exams – University Health Services (presented by Mary Landry, MD)
Cancer and Sexual Health: Clinical Need and Outcome Measures (presented by Joanne Rash, PA-C)
Cancer and Sexual Health: Collaborative Academic Partnership (presented by Janelle Sobecki, MD)
Cancer and Sexual Health: Setting Standards and Generating Evidence (presented by David Kushner, MD)
Watch the whole Badger Bytes presentation here!
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!
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 and Reconstructive Surgery, talks about what these side effects can include, the variety of options to address sexual health concerns for cancer survivors, and what he wishes more people knew about the connection between cancer treatment and pelvic health.
Listen to “Sexual Health and Cancer Survivorship” 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!)
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 pelvic floor disorders among cancer survivors, discussed the unique aspects of treatment, and explored areas for future research.
Watch the whole lecture here.
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, Neuroscience and French at Vanderbilt University, Pennycuff attended Tulane University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine for his Master of Science in Public Health. He then went on to Emory University School of Medicine for his ob-gyn residency.
We look forward to his arrival and invite you to join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Pennycuff this fall.
