NEWS FROM UT MEDICAL GROUP INC.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 12, 2010

UT Medical Group Opens Comprehensive Gynecologic Center

Clinic offers the latest in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery

Memphis, Tennessee (February 12, 2010) — Physicians at UT Medical Group, Inc. (UTMG) have opened the Comprehensive Gynecologic Center, offering the most recent techniques in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.  This includes robotic and minimally invasive laparoscopic and hysteroscopic procedures. The clinic is located at 1325 Eastmoreland Avenue in the Memphis Medical Center.

Dr. Edward J. Stanford leads the center’s medical team of physicians noted for their expertise in urogynecology, fibroid treatment, and minimally invasive surgery.

“We are one of only 22 gynecologic specialties fellowship programs in the nation with a focus on vaginal, traditional and robotic laparoscopy, and hysteroscopic surgery,” he pointed out.  “Our doctors are also heavily involved in cutting-edge gynecological research, which allows us to share the most up-to-date treatments with our patients.”

For example, he said the Mid-South and many other areas of the country have yet to adopt minimally invasive surgical techniques for certain common gynecological procedures such as hysterectomy.

“More than 60 percent of hysterectomies in the nation, and most in the Mid-South, are still performed with an abdominal incision despite advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Many of these women could be candidates for laparoscopic or robotic surgery, which generally offers shorter recovery times and fewer complications as compared to traditional, open surgical methods. At our center, our trained laparoscopic surgeons perform over 95 percent of our hysterectomies vaginally or with a laparoscope, avoiding an unnecessary incision.”

The Comprehensive Gynecologic Center also cares for common gynecological conditions such as incontinence, pelvic prolapse, uterine fibroids, interstitial cystitis, pelvic pain, endometriosis, vaginal fistulas, and abnormal uterine bleeding.

“Gynecologic problems such as incontinence or uterine bleeding can be very embarrassing,” Stanford said. “Yet, too often, these patients don’t know where to turn for help or they have been told that they just have to live with it. Our published success rates for stress incontinence are over 95 percent.”

He said the center’s advanced testing capabilities include urodynamic studies to evaluate incontinence and other bladder conditions, as well as ultrasound, colposcopy, cystoscopy, and hysteroscopy.

Patient appointments are offered at 1325 Eastmoreland Avenue in the Memphis Medical Center and at UT Medical Group’s Germantown office at 7945 Wolf River Boulevard.

The Comprehensive Gynecologic Center Team

Dr. Edward Stanford is a professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and serves as Fellowship Director for the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery program.  He has expertise in laparoscopic hysterectomies and myomectomies, and he is one of a handful of surgeons in the nation performing laparoscopic surgical repairs of vaginal fistulas—a complication of obstructed childbirth, hysterectomy, and pelvic surgery.  He is also known for his expertise in interstitial cystitis, incontinence, and prolapse.

In addition to Stanford, the center’s medical team includes Dr. Veronica T. Mallett, a noted  board certified urogynecologist and professor of obstetrics and gynecology who has been named  one of the Top DoctorsTM in America in the field of OB/GYN; Dr. Ahmad Azari, a board certified gynecologist and assistant professor who specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery; and Dr. Christopher J. Pugh, instructor of OB/GYN, who specializes in transvaginal ultrasound and laparoscopic gynecology.

UT Medical Group is the private group practice affiliated with the UT Health Science Center College of Medicine faculty. A not-for-profit, non-tax-supported group practice, UTMG is dedicated to quality patient care, medical education, and medical research. For more information, visit www.utmedicalgroup.com.

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