Advances In Women's Health

Guest: Dr. Patricia M. Boatwright, MD Ob-gyn Dr. Patricia Boatwright once cared for a patient who told her the following philosophy: "If it doesn't bother you, don't bother it." Sadly, this is far from the only isolated event in which healthcare professionals hear this or a similar mantra from their patients. To help us better manage this all-too-common occurrence, Dr. Boatwright walks us through this particular patient case and how she encourages her patients to listen to their bodies rather than their peers.

Host: Ana Maria Rosario Guest: Dr. Patricia M. Boatwright, MD As any healthcare professional would agree, being passionate about your practice is key to having a good relationship with your patients. But choosing a specific specialty isn’t always an easy or clear decision. Joining Ana Maria Rosario to share how she came to her decision and a few experiences that made her into the healthcare professional she is today is Dr. Patricia Boatwright, an ob-gyn and Associate Professor of Surgery and Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine.

Host: Ana Maria Rosario Guest: Dr. Patricia M. Boatwright, MD When a patient comes to an appointment saying, “I want” or “I need,” it can be difficult to challenge them. But as ob-gyn Dr. Patricia Boatwright explains, doing so is absolutely critical to ensuring they receive the best and most appropriate care. Tune in to hear Ana Maria Rosario and Dr. Boatwright discuss a patient case and how we can do right by our patients, even if it means challenging their—or even a colleague's—opinion.

Host: Paul Doghramji, MD Guest: Megan Arnot Menopause is an inevitable transition in every woman’s life, but what if engaging in a basic physiological need like sex could delay its onset? Researching this potential connection is Megan Arnot, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University College London. As the lead author of the study, she walks us through her findings and the range of factors they investigated, like the type of sexual activity and whether or not women lived with a partner.

Host: Jenn Simmons, MD Guest: Susan Domchek, MD Anytime the topic of genetic testing comes up in the context of breast and ovarian cancers, one question that undoubtedly arises is: who exactly should be tested? That’s the FAQ Dr. Susan Domchek, Director of the McDonald Women’s Cancer Risk Evaluation Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, answers.

Host: Mario R. Nacinovich, Jr., MSc Guest: Kara Rood, MD A recent study following 346 pregnant patients found that 63 percent of the women were admitted into the hospital for uncertain diagnosis or delivery—all because preeclampsia has many of the same symptoms of other diseases. The good news, however, is that there’s a new test currently underway that could make the diagnosis and treatment of preeclampsia easier in order to prevent potentially dangerous outcomes for the mother and baby, as OB/GYN Dr. Kara Rood explains.

Guest: David J. Portman, MD Providing the best care to your patients goes hand in hand with being aware of all the updates surrounding sexual health disorders, but unfortunately, this is often easier said than done. To help you make the most out of your limited time with patients, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Columbus Center for Women’s Health Research Dr. David Portman shares tips on how you can stay current on sexual health topics.

Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG Egg freezing, or oocyte cryopreservation, can be a major relief for women who wish to preserve their fertility, allowing patients to wait for the “right time.” What are the latest advances in technology and protocol for this procedure, and who are the right patients? Host Dr. Patrice Basanta Henry welcomes guest expert Dr Kenan Omurtag to address these and other questions. Dr. Omurtag is Assistant Professor of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri.

Host: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Host Dr. Renee Allen welcomes Dr. Victoria Green, renowned breast cancer researcher and OB/GYN clinician. Dr. Green is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine. She will review USPSTF recommendations of biennial mammograms compared to ACOG's recommendations, as well as differences in how we define 'breast awareness' versus breast self-examination. Join the discussion!

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO Guest: Renée Simone Yolanda Allen, MD, MHSc., FACOG Host Dr. Jennifer Caudle welcomes Dr. Renee S. Allen, Board certified OB/GYN and hospitalist, Fellow of ACOG, and Masters of Health Sciences from Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Allen shares her expertise as an OB/GYN hospitalist, the growing support from ACOG in this new arena, and the goals of an emerging subspecialty.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD For women in their 40's and 50's, approximately one in four will develop a pelvic floor disorder such as urinary incontinence. By the age of 80, that prevalence rises to more than 50 percent. The struggle with a pelvic floor disorder has lasting effects on a woman's sexual health, leading to numerous psychosocial and physical consequences in turn. But of equal concern to many patients dealing with the symptoms of their disorder is the potential aftermath of reconstructive surgical treatments, such as mesh slings, due to their troubling complication rates. Are these concerns justified, and if so, how can the risks be mitigated by both physicians and patients? Joining Dr. Michael Krychman to discuss the misconceptions versus realities of pelvic floor disorder treatments is Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, Professor in the departments of OB/GYN and Urology at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and Drector of the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery section of Medstar W

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Studies in the field of anthropology have shown that having a healthy grandmother plays a critically positive role in family cohesion. But the wholistic, personalized health needs of women in their elder years are not always recognized. This care disparity is all the more prominent in general OB/GYN practice, but thanks to the work of a select few, the trends may be about to change. Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Dr. Sarah Berga, Professor and Chair of OB/GYN at Wake Forest School of Medicine at ACOG’s annual meeting in San Francisco. They discuss maintaining grandmothers' health across both physiological and psychological spectra, and how this attention in care fundamentally changes larger family units for the better.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD Many clinicians think that one of the most dangerous things a woman will ever do in her life is to carry and conceive a child. Stemming from this belief, several misconceptions have risen within the medical community, and by extension the general public, concerning risks of sexual activity during pregnancy. Joining host Dr. Michael Krychman at ACOG's annual scientific meeting to clarify the facts versus myths on sexuality during and after this important life event is Dr. Haywood Brown, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University Medical Center.

Host: Maureen Whelihan, MD The increasingly recognized concept of a clinician's "work-life balance" is critical to thriving and avoiding burnout, but the philosophy behind this balance remains poorly understood. Some argue that adequate time alottment to one's priorities is the key factor in sustaining a positive medical career trajectory, but a select few believe that time allocation alone is not enough. Dr. Michael Foley, Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix, argues in favor of what he calls work-life harmony, where aspects of meaningfulness, relationships, and wellbeing better guide one's life and career decisions. Joining host Dr. Maureen Whelihan at ACOG's Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Foley applies a martial arts-centered perspective on medical careers based on his extensive experience as a seventh-degree black belt and the founder of The Center for Humane Living.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Hal Lawrence, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to the program. Dr. Lawrence describes the clinical and administrative experiences that helped prepare him to assume the chief executive leadership role for ACOG since 2011. He then overviews the integral role for ACOG in clinical, economic, and political spheres of the national healthcare environment, and how the voices from this organization can help shape the future of American medicine.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Tom Gellhaus, President-Elect of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to discuss his vision for ACOG's initiatives to come, inspired in part by both his unique clinical training background and his extensive legislative activity experience on behalf of OB/GYN specialists nationwide. Dr Gellhaus is Clinical Associate Professor of OB/GYN and Director of General OB/GYN at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa. City.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Mark DeFrancesco, 66th President of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, to the program. Dr. DeFrancesco looks back at the accomplishments of his immediate predecessors, and reflects on the three-fold initiative to which he will dedicate his efforts on behalf of ACOG to advance the OB/GYN specialty for years to come. Dr. DeFrancesco is managing partner at Westwood Women’s Health in Waterbury, Connecticut, a division of Women’s Health Connecticut. He is a founding member of this organization, and served as its chief medical officer for many years.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Jeanne Conry, 64th President of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Assistant Physician-in-Chief at The Permanente Medical Group in Roseville, CA, and Associate Clinical Professor of OB/GYN at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Conry reflects on three presidential initiatives she advanced during her tenure: (1) formal, ongoing investigations into the environmental impacts on health, (2) a national campaign to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, and (3) launch of the Well Woman Task Force.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD The market for sexual health products and accessories, from moisturizers to lubricants to self-stimulators, is very large, and this creates confusion among patients and physicians alike as to which types of products are most helpful for specific sexual health problems. To address ways to gauge the safety and efficacy of sexual health products on the market, particularly for perimenopausal patients with special needs, Dr. Michael Krychman welcomes Dr. Barb Depree, gynecologist, menopause care specialist, and founder of MiddlesexMD, a website providing information and recommended products for women's sexual health.

Host: Michael Krychman, MD For years, women's sexual health matters have been relatively ignored in both clinical practice and the public eye despite consistently heavy media attention drawn towards men's sexual issues and associated therapeutic products. But there is recent evidence that the tide of public awareness is beginning to change, and that's women's sexual health is becoming more openly discussed across medical, public, and corporate entities. Joining Dr. Michael Krychman to qualify this new trend and examine ways to open communication about sexual health with women in clinical practice is Dr. Alyssa Dweck, assistant clinical professor of OB/GYN at the Mount Sanai School of Medicine and expert in women's sexual health and dysfunction.