Research

This division currently has three full-time academic urogynecologists: Dr. Cathy Flood, Dr. Jane Schulz and Dr. Momoe Hyakutake, two clinical lecturers: Dr. Annick Poirier and Dr. Erin Kelly and one clinical assistant professor: Dr. May Sanaee. Research has included studies of conservative and surgical management of urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction.

Areas of Research Focus & Specialization

  • Conservative management of incontinence and prolapse
  • Epidemiologic studies of pelvic floor disorders and their economic impact
  • Obstetrical anal sphincter injury
  • Perineal clinic for management of obstetrical anal sphincter injury
  • Patient education and teaching tools
  • Management of overactive bladder
  • Pessaries for incontinence and prolapse
  • Physiotherapy classes for management of pelvic floor dysfunction
  • Pessaries for short cervix in pregnancy
  • Educational simulation
  • Models for surgical teaching
  • Perioperative infection
  • Pelvic Pain
  • Mesh complications

Areas of Interest

  • Global health
  • Community outreach
  • Immigrant health
  • Indigenous health
  • Perioperative care for the transgender population

Clinical Research Collaborations

Clinical research guides clinical innovation and is ongoing as part of our multidisciplinary approach to pelvic floor care. Our current research collaborations include:

PROMOTE study (Procedurespecific Resident Objective Modular Training Evaluation)
Collaboration with University of British Columbia and the University of Calgary.

Managing urinary incontinence in elderly village women in rural Bangladesh: A cluster randomized trial of a community exercise-based intervention.
Collaboration with Dr. Cherry (School of Public Health) and Dr. Wagg (Geriatrics) made
possible by CIHR operating grant.

Perineal Clinic
Collaboration with pelvic floor physiotherapy to study the perineal clinic.

National Pelvic Floor Study
Collaboration with Dr. Sue Ross to study pelvic floor prevalence in Canada.
  • COMET (Composite Outcome Mesh versus suture Trial)
  • Multicentre International Trial of sacrospinous vault fixation