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Urogynecology center forges ahead with new director, collaborations
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Stanford's Center for Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and Urogynecology has a new director,
Bert Johnson, with a mission to make the nearly year-old program even more comprehensive
than before. "We're up, we're running, and we're very proud of what we've done here," says Johnson, clinical professor of gynecology/obstetrics. Johnson credited the program's first director, M. Thomas Margolis, for providing solid skills, expertise and leadership before leaving Stanford for private practice. "I recruited Tom, and we wish him well. But we've got a wonderful team, we're expanding services and growing, and we are not going to miss a beat," said Johnson,who took the position after 35 years of private practice in San Jose and Los Gatos, tas well as teaching at Stanford, Good Samaritan Hospital and Valley Medical Center. Johnson points with pride to potentially stronger relationships with the Department of Urology, particularly Christopher K. Payne, with whom Johnson has collaborated with in the past on a variety of programs. Payne, assistant professor of urology, sees teaching as the core of the relationship between the two services. "Residents in urology need to learn certain skill sets from gynecology/obstetrics, and vice versa. I really do envision our finding much common ground for joint teaching efforts, even though I also foresee the continuation of two distinct departments. There are some highly specialized skills that really do need to be done by someone with dedication and special skills in both urology and gyn/ob," Payne said. "I really enjoy working with Bert Johnson on different surgical problems and think he has a lot to offer," Payne said. Payne's Center for Female Urology and NeuroUrology within the Department of Urology offers a variety of services for women with urinary incontinence, including research protocols using pharmacological, noninvasive approaches. Payne works closely with fellow faculty urologist Rodney Anderson, a colleague of Johnson when both worked at Valley Medical Center. Other related services at the medical center include the Stanford Endoscopy Center for Training and Technology, directed by Camran Nezhat, clinical professor of gynecology/obstetrics. Nezhat specializes in endoscopic procedures for endometriosis and other conditions and collaborates with colleagues in several departments including gyn/ob, urology and general surgery. Johnson said his center offers both diagnostic and therapeutic services. Other physician members include Bertha Chen, a recent Stanford house staff member and now a staff physician directing the urodynamics clinic. Johnson said the center will soon be recruiting an additional urogynecologist. Specialized therapeutic services include vaginal reconstructive procedures and a new technique, transurethral collagen injection therapy, Johnson said. This nonsurgical intervention treats urinary incontinence resulting from a damaged urethral sphincter. Continence is achieved by injecting collagen in the bladder neck (an outpatient procedure). Additional therapies include a variety of surgical corrections for incontinence, such as the Goebell-Stoeckel fascia lata sling procedure, needle procedures, urethropexy, sacrospinous ligament suspension, and abdominal sacral colpopexy. The center provides a variety of laparoscopic services, including Burch urethropexy. Also available are vesico-vaginal, urethro-vaginal, rectovaginal fistula repair as well as construction of neo-vaginas. A full range of diagnostic services are offered, and most of these are available from a mobile testing service, "a particular boon for elderly patients who can get to a local senior citizens center or other friendly, nearby public facility more easily than they can make a trip to the hospital," Johnson said. For a consultation or additional information about the program, call (415) 725-5986. To refer a patient, call the clinic at 723-5502. |
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NEWS
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