Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Program

Overview

The MGH URPS Fellowship is an ACGME-accredited program established in 2012.

Our program fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary training environment in which fellows gain progressive autonomy in clinical care and surgical practice while developing as educators, mentors and academic leaders.

The program emphasizes:

• Excellence in patient-centered, evidence-based care
• Development of advanced surgical expertise
• Rigorous scholarly inquiry and research training
• Leadership, teaching and mentorship

Fellows are supported through individualized mentorship within a culture that prioritizes wellness, resilience and long-term career development.

Program structure

• One fellowship position offered annually
• One year of dedicated research
• Two years of clinical training

Applicants from both obstetrics and gynecology and urology training pathways are encouraged to apply.

Why MGH UPRPS?

• High-volume, complex surgical training across multiple clinical sites.
• Integrated multidisciplinary care, including collaboration with urology, colorectal surgery and transgender health programs.
• Flexible research pathway in both clinical and basic science investigation.

Requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed one of the following:

• An ACGME-accredited residency in obstetrics and gynecology or urology.
• A residency in obstetrics and gynecology or urology accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).

Applicants must be eligible for medical licensure in Massachusetts at the time of matriculation.

The MGH URPS Fellowship participates in the American Urogynecology Society (AUGS) match through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), with applications submitted via Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

International medical graduates must hold a valid ECFMG certificate at the time of application. Visa sponsorship is available in accordance with institutional policies.

Curriculum

The MGH URPS Fellowship curriculum integrates structured didactics, multidisciplinary collaboration, and national educational opportunities.

Core Educational Components

• Weekly fellow- and faculty-led didactic seminars aligned with ABOG learning objectives.
• Journal clubs, case-based discussions, and “question the practice” sessions.
• Department-wide Grand Rounds and resident teaching conferences.
• Regular research mentorship meetings.
• Semiannual Morbidity and Mortality conferences.

Multidisciplinary and Regional Learning

• Twice-monthly Pelvic Floor Disorders Center (PFDC) conference with participation from urogynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, gastroenterology, radiology, and pelvic floor physical therapy.
• Monthly pan-fellow research and professional development sessions.
• Quarterly Boston-wide urogynecology journal club.
• Biannual New England Urogynecologic Society (NEUGES) meetings.

Fellows are supported to attend national educational courses and scientific meetings.

Research Experience

Fellows complete 12 consecutive months or protected research during the second year of training, with additional dedicated research time integrated throughout clinical rotations.

All fellows complete a mentored thesis project in accordance with ABOG and ACGME requirements, culminating in a formal defense during the third year. Fellows may pursue either clinical or basic science research, based on interests and career goals.

Those interested in basic science research work closely with Dr. Caroline Mitchell at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, contributing to ongoing investigations of human microbiome and reproductive health while developing skills in experimental design, scientific writing and laboratory research.

Fellows pursuing clinical research engage in outcomes-based, translational and quality improvement projects with faculty mentorship across the department, with opportunities to leverage institutional resources and multidisciplinary collaborations.

All fellows receive individualized mentorship in study design, data analysis and scientific writing. Additional opportunities are available through the MGH Clinical and Translational Research Institute.

Fellows are supported in presenting their work at national and international meetings, including the AUGS, SGS, and IUGA, and receive funding for educational resources, society memberships and conference travel.

Clinical Experience and Volume

Fellows gain extensive surgical and clinical experience across four sites, with the majority of cases performed at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Clinical Sites

• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital (1-2 times a week)
• MGH North (Danvers) (1-2 times per month)
• MGH West (Waltham) (1-2 times a month)

Annual surgical volume exceeds 450 cases and includes vaginal, laparoscopic, robotic and select open procedures.

Fellows collaborate closely with faculty across urogynecology, urology, colorectal surgery, and plastic surgery with exposure to complex multidisciplinary and gender-affirming surgeries.

Ambulatory and Procedural Training

• Weekly attending clinic and fellows’ continuity clinic.
• Urodynamics and pelvic floor ultrasound.
• Office based procedures including cystoscopy, bladder Botox injections, urethral bulking, trigger point injections, sacral neuromodulation.

The Fellow as Teachers

Fellows are integral educators within the MGH and Brigham and Women’s Hospital integrated residency program. Fellows teach in both clinical and surgical settings and participate in simulation-based training in vaginal hysterectomy, sling procedure and cystoscopy.

Fellows contribute to CREOG review and lead Harvard Medical School Core OB/GYN Clerkship students through laparoscopy and suturing workshops and a lecture on pelvic floor conditions.

Call

Fellows take home pager call, covering the MGH URPS service. Call responsibilities are shared equally among fellows, with faculty backup at all times.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS) and the fellowship participates in the AUGS-sponsored match through the NRMP.

Please refer to ERAS for the most up-to-date application requirements and instructions.

For program-specific questions or to submit supplemental materials, applicants may contact the fellowship coordinator, Jessica RoySmith: jroysmith@mgh.harvard.edu.

Fellowships and Faculty Contacts

Emily Von Bargen, DO, Fellowship Program Director, completed her residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and her fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Mount Auburn Hospital/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She also serves as the Associate Ob-Gyn Clerkship Director at Harvard Medical School. Her research interests include medical education, and clinical outcomes following minimally invasive surgery for prolapse and chronic pelvic pain.

Youngwu Kim, MD, Associate Fellowship Program Director, completed her residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and her fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Kim is also a member of the Transgender Health Program, where she provides surgical care for female-to-male and male- to-female individuals. Her research interest includes clinical and surgical outcomes following pelvic floor and gender-affirming reconstructive surgeries.

Lori Berkowitz, MD is the Vice Chair of Education & Wellbeing in the Department of OB/GYN, and an Associate Director of Graduate Medical Education at Mass General Brigham. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Women and Infants Hospital and is a board-certified in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Her research interests include postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, medical education, and physician/trainee resiliency.

Kristin Hung, MD completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and her fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at MGH. She currently serves as Director of Quality and Clinical Operations for the URPS division at MGH. Her research interests include factors influencing recurrent urinary tract infections and the implementation of shared decision-making tools in URPS. Her fellowship thesis examined the effect of commercial vaginal products on the growth of both uropathogenic and commensal vaginal bacteria.

Sarah Napoé, MD, Chief of Urogynecology at MGB, completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General Brigham and Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery fellowship at Brown University. She was most recently a Quality Medical Director at UPMC Health Plan, and within the department she leads efforts to improve the learning environment and build more diverse healthcare teams. Her research focus is on improving care to patients least well-served.

Marcus Ortega, MD completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and his fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at MGH. His academic interests focus on quality improvement, including patient- reported surgical outcomes and optimization of perioperative services.

Milena Weinstein, MD completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of California Los Angeles, and her fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at the University of California San Diego. Dr. Weinstein serves as Co-Chair of the Center for the Pelvic Floor Disorders at Massachusetts General Hospital. She also represents the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Transgender Center, where she performs female-to-male and male- to-female gender affirming surgeries. Her research interests include 3D pelvic floor ultrasound, outcomes following minimally invasive surgery and defecatory dysfunction.

Research Faculty

Caroline Mitchell, MD, MPH completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Washington, and an MPH in Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine. She mentors and supervises the URPS fellows in their laboratory research year; helping them develop, complete and present a translational or basic science project. Her research centers on a translational evaluation of the interactions between vaginal microbiota and the host mucosal immune response. https://www.massgeneral.org/obgyn/vcrb/mitchell-lab

Urology

Lori Jones, MD completed her Urology residency training at Rutgers University and completed her fellowship in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at New York University. Dr. Jones is interested in improving patients' quality of life through treatment of common urinary complaints and has authored professional publications and scientific book chapters on female urology, voiding dysfunction, neurourology, and mesh complications.

Michelle Kim, MD, PhD completed her Urology residency training at MGH and joined the faculty as a general urologist. Her clinical interest focus on male and female voiding dysfunction and other benign disease of the urinary tract. She is interested in quality improvement and has studied quality improvement through public reporting of quality metrics and its effects on patient outcomes.

Colorectal Surgery

Lilliana Bordeianou, MD, MPH completed her General Surgery residency at MGH, and Colon and Rectal Surgery and Pelvic Floor Disorders fellowships at the University of Minnesota. She earned an MPH in Clinical Effectiveness from the Harvard School Public Health. She is Chief of the Colorectal Surgery Center, and Co-Director of the Pelvic Floor Disorders Center at MGH. Her research interests include colorectal aspects of pelvic floor dysfunction and colorectal cancer.

Hiroko Kunitake, MD completed her General Surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and her Colorectal Surgery fellowship at University of Minnesota. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery and research on improving outcomes for older surgical patients.

Rocco Ricciardi, MD trained at University of Massachusetts and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Ricciardi is Chief of the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the MGH. He has an interest in surgical quality and outcomes which harmonizes well with his work in the National Quality Forum. Dr. Ricciardi has authored more than 100 original publications and book chapters and continues to serve on the Editorial Board of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. His clinical interests include surgical treatment of colorectal malignancies, minimally invasive techniques, diverticulitis, and inflammatory bowel diseases.