Pelvic Floor Master Class | Obstructed Defecation in High Tone Pelvic Floor Patients – An Interdisciplinary Approach

Join us for this first in a 3 part series on mastering the management of the pelvic floor. Session 1 will include a general overview of pelvic floor pathology, and the multidisciplinary diagnosis and management of obstructed defecation syndrome. About the speakers: Brooke Gurland, MD: Dr. Brooke Gurland is a Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colorectal Surgery at Stanford University, Stanford, CA. She is the Colorectal and Research Medical Director of the Stanford Pelvic Health Center in Redwood City, CA, and the Surgery Department Well-Being. She is the Chair of the Pelvic Floor Consortium Committee at the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Her clinical interests focus on multidisciplinary approach to pelvic floor disorders and benign anorectal conditions, innovative approaches to rectal prolapse, robotic surgery, video education and computer vision, and improving surgeon well-being. Dr. Gurland attended Hahnemann/ Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She completed a general surgery residency at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY, and Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL. She is board certified in general and colorectal surgery and performs laparoscopic and robotic surgery. Shannon Wallace, MD: Dr. Shannon Wallace is a Staff Physician at the Cleveland Clinic Women’s Institute in the Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders. She specializes in the minimally-invasive treatment of stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and pelvic organ prolapse, as well as complex pelvic health disorders like recurrent urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, genitourinary syndrome of menopause and rectovaginal and vesicovaginal fistulas. Dr. Wallace is the director of the multi-disciplinary pelvic floor disorders clinic where she sees patients with her colorectal and gastroenterology colleagues. Dr. Wallace has a special passion and enthusiasm for concomitant pelvic floor disorder research and devotes a significant portion of her research time to understanding and studying combined rectal and vaginal prolapse with her colorectal colleagues. Amy Thorsen, MD: Originally from Boston, Dr. Thorsen completed her general surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She attended the University of Minnesota for her colorectal surgery fellowship training, and has been part of the teaching faculty there since 2002. Dr. Thorsen’s main practice focuses on the multidisciplinary approach to rectal prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders. Julia Barten, DPT: Julia Barten, DPT is a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health. She earned her doctorate at Northwestern University. Julia specializes in treating complex pelvic patients with multiple compartment diagnoses and has a passion for LGBTQ+ care. She is very passionate about educating her patients to better understand their anatomy and to be independent in managing their health. Outside of works, she has a passion for music, dog training, and cooking.