SL_PROFILE_Institute_for_Female_Pelvic_Medicine_0920_Layout 1 9 / 23 / 20 9 : 15 AM Page 1 D PROFILE No Reason to Wait less pain for patients , and better cosmetic Dr . Akira Gillingham of The Institute for Female results , according to Dr . Gillingham . Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery takes a One condition often treated via this cut - ting - edge methodology is pelvic organ prolapse , precise and personalized approach to helping a condition akin to a hernia involving the vagina . This can be caused by previous childbirth patients disrupted by pelvic floor disorders . or increasing age , or even brought about by menopause . | by LEIGH STUART photography by JODY ROBINSON “ It is not necessarily dangerous , but it can be very bothersome , ” Dr . Gillingham notes . “ It can limit a patient’s ability to do normal he completed a residency in obstetrics activities or engage in exercise , and it can be and gynecology at Abington Hospital detrimental to sexual function . During prolapse with Miles Murphy , M.D . , and Vincent repair , a surgeon works to restore the normal R . Lucente , M.D . anatomy of the vagina so the patient no longer “ I was drawn to the field of urog - has a bulge she has to worry about . ” ynecology because of the innovative While safety has always been a priority treatments and surgical procedures for the professionals of The Institute for Female used to treat pelvic floor disorders , Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery , the such as urinary incontinence and health concerns that have arisen this year have pelvic organ prolapse , ” he says , “ but strengthened their commitment to patients also because I could take the time and staff . In order to meet present challenges , to get to know my patients and a number of protocols have been set into work with them to develop a per - place , including daily staff temperature checks , sonalized treatment plan . ” mask mandates , socially distanced waiting Dr . Gillingham made a big rooms , hourly waiting area cleanings , and impression on Drs . Murphy and stringent pre - visit and pre - surgery health screen - Lucente . After he completed his fel - ings . In addition , the office aligns its policy lowship in female pelvic medicine with weekly updates from the Pennsylvania and reconstructive surgery at Department of Health and the U.S . Centers for Chicago’s Northwestern University , Disease Control and Prevention . the duo asked him to join their prac - “ As a medical practice , and as a commu - tice , The Institute for Female Pelvic nity , we have adapted , ” adds Dr . Gillingham . Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery , “ We know w hat we need to do to keep which has offices in North Wales people safe , and we want women to know and Allentown . that they have to take care of their health — “ A lot of women end up getting ? don’t wait . ” symptoms and disorders of the pelvic floor , ” Dr . Gillingham shares . “ Until a woman starts doing her own D research , she might not realize just how prevalent these conditions are . Urinary incontinence and prolapse THE INSTITUTE FOR can be embarrassing , and a lot of FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE & people hide it . ” kira Gillingham , M.D . , knew at an RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY Patients of The Institute for Female Pelvic early age that medicine would fpminstitute.com Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery benefit become his life’s work . A from the latest technology , which includes “ My grandfather , who was a general sur - Abington Physicians robotic - assisted surgery that utilizes advanced geon , would let me tag along with him to at Montgomeryville three - dimensional high - definition cameras as work and I watched as he performed appen - 1010 Horsham Road , Suite 101 well as a console that allows doctors to control dectomies , casted broken bones , and stitched North Wales , Pa . instruments with machine - assisted precision . up lacerations , ” he recalls . “ I was deeply ( 215 ) 855 - 4713 All surgeries , including prolapse surgeries , were inspired by the impact he had on his patients ’ once performed via open incisions , but advance - lives and decided to follow in his footsteps . ” Hamilton Court ments in technology have helped surgeons Dr . Gillingham’s professional journey took Professional Center achieve superior results through far less invasive him from McGill University in Montreal to 3050 Hamilton Blvd . , Suite 200 Allentown , Pa . means . These advancements in minimally Albany Medical College , then into the Philadel - ( 610 ) 435 - 9575 invasive surgery lead to shorter recovery time , phia area from 2013 to 2017 . During this period , SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER 2020 82 |