Program Overview:
The goal of the NorthShore University HealthSystem/the University of Chicago Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery is to train fellows who excel as clinicians and surgical teachers, possess a strong basic understanding of how to apply research findings to a gynecological practice, and have the tools to contribute academically to their unique area of interest.
Our vision is to produce clinicians who are innovative surgeons, who can guide procedure design and optimization, lead departments because they have strong patient-centered ethics and skills in managing complex teams of allied health professionals, and can use evidence-based medicine throughout their careers, including conducting original research, collaborating with other investigators, and disseminating results.
Our program has a strong emphasis on visceral pain disorders, such as endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, as we see and treat patients on both campuses and work with practitioners from urogynecology, physical therapy, colorectal surgery, and gastroenterology. Trainees will graduate from the program with a toolbox of strategies for evaluating and treating complex gynecological conditions of the uterus and adnexa (leiomyoma, adenomyoma, adenomyosis, ovarian masses), while receiving exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis, myofascial pelvic pain, bladder pain syndrome, pudendal neuralgia, vascular disorders like pelvic congestion syndrome, and vulvar pain disorders.
The fellow will be exposed to a wide variety of surgical cases including minimally invasive myomectomy, hysterectomy, adnexal surgery, and both fertility-sparing and extirpative surgery for endometriosis. In addition, they will have ample exposure to hysteroscopy - both in the office and in the operating room for treatment of fibroids, polyps, uterine septum, or Asherman's syndrome. Approaches for surgery will include conventional and robotic-assisted laparoscopy and vaginal and traditional laparotomy. In addition, fellows will get experience managing complex pain patients using multimodal methods, including broad pharmacological therapy, trigger point injections, and peripheral nerve blocks.
This fellowship program will be at NorthShore University HealthSystem and the University of Chicago Medical Center/Pritzker School of Medicine. Fellows will be clinically active at NorthShore HealthSystem’s Evanston Hospital, Skokie Hospital, Highland Park Hospital, Glenbrook Hospital, and the University of Chicago Medical Center campus in Hyde Park.
