Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Education in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Faculty in the division are committed to the education of medical students, residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellows in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.

Third-year medical students rotate through the minimally invasive gynecologic surgery service as part of their rotation on Obstetrics and Gynecology in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  They get specific exposure to the complex care of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids and pelvic masses.

Obstetrics and Gynecology residents who train through Penn State Health are able to graduate from their program with a certification in robotics surgery in part due to the high volume of robotic surgery they are exposed to during their clinical time with the minimally invasive gynecologic service.

Since 2011, the division has supported an AAGL-approved fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, which trains leaders in complex, benign gynecologic surgical and medical care.  Currently, the program is only one of a limited number of three-year fellowships nationally that has an emphasis on career development and scholarship in addition to high-volume surgical training in hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, robotic and vaginal surgical techniques. Fellows have gone on to practice and teach in prestigious institutions throughout the country.

Research in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

The Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery actively engages in clinical research with a focus on endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. The division has both internal departmental funding for research and external industry funding for research pursuits. Researchers are interested in the study of complementary and integrative approaches to the care of endometriosis as well as evaluating multidisciplinary teams that care for endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain patients. Division faculty consistently engage medical students, residents and fellows in research.

Clinical Care in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

The main clinical focus of the division is benign complex gynecology with an emphasis on endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, fibroids and pelvic masses. The division utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques such as laparoscopy and robotics to address these conditions and minimize pain and recovery time to help patients get back to their lives as quickly as possible. The endometriosis/chronic pelvic pain center was established in 2019 to create a medical home for endometriosis/chronic pelvic pain patients.

In 2021, the division spearheaded the multidisciplinary chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis team that includes minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons, urogynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists and fertility specialists, colorectal surgeons, urologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, psychiatrists and psychologists, pelvic health physical therapists and nursing staff. The goal of this team is to increase knowledge about endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain and improve clinical care and outcomes for patients. On average, it can take a patient with endometriosis 8 to 10 years to receive an appropriate diagnosis. Living with a chronic pain condition is more complex the longer it goes undiagnosed. Once a patient reaches this team, they often have multiple co-morbidities that can be addressed in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach.