Charles “Chip” Butrick is a practicing, board-certified urogynecologist in Kansas City. His original exposure to urogynecology started during his OB GYN residency at Washington University, St. Louis in 1980. His urogynecology training has involved multiple preceptorships with both urogynecologists and urologists from around the country and continues to this day. He trained with the inventor of mid-urethral slings and has performed 1000s of slings for treatment of urinary incontinence. His area of special interest involves neuro-urology, especially as it applies to various pain disorders. He trained with the inventor of sacral nerve neuromodulation and has performed that procedure longer than anyone in the Midwest. His skills and experience have earned his practice the designation as a Center of Excellence in Neuromodulation.

Approximately 50% of his practice involves chronic pelvic pain management and he was a founder of the International Pelvic Pain Society. He has been actively involved in education of providers in the evaluation and management of patients with various pelvic pain disorders for the last 25 years. Dr. Butrick has earned the respect of his peers, as they have repeatedly awarded him with “Top Doctor” -consecutively for the last 10 years. He helps patients from around the world with persistent post-operative pain, interstitial cystitis, dyspareunia and vulvodynia. He has authored many articles and chapters and is a reviewer for at least 7 peer reviewed journals including the Journal of Urology, the Journal of Sexual Medicine and most journals involved in urogynecology, neuromodulation and OB/GYN. While practicing part time he is also the Chief Medical Officer of UroShape, LLC. This company has developed SoLá Pelvic Therapy, the newest FDA cleared therapy for pelvic pain. He is also the founder of Pelvic Answers, a telehealth-based business that provides patient education and consultative services for patients outside the Kansas City area.

When he is not working, he enjoys fly fishing and relaxing with his family. His wife and he are blessed to have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

Debbie has been a leader in pelvic floor therapy for 27 + years. Her extensive experience includes being an esteemed board member for international pelvic floor organizations and helping to author a certification exam for pelvic floor biofeedback rehabilitation. She continues to write and teach courses in the same field.

One of Debbie’s numerous certifications is in life coaching. She practices what she preaches and is an occupational therapist with exceptional manual therapy skills and certifications in pelvic floor biofeedback and dry needling. Debbie incorporates her coaching skills during the treatment. Therapy also includes movement and exercises to improve pelvic floor muscle functioning. Dietary recommendations, physiological quieting techniques, and additional lifestyle medicine protocols from Debbie can be a great help in improving overall health and life quality.

Compassionate pelvic floor therapy is provided 1:1 in a private, comfortable treatment room to provide you with a safe space to discuss all of your pelvic floor needs.

Dr. Mario E. Castellanos is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Orlando, Florida and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Chandler Regional Medical Center and Maricopa Integrated Health System-Phoenix. He received his medical degree from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and has been in practice between 11-20 years. Dr. Mario E. Castellanos has expertise in treating hysterectomy, among other conditions.

"I believe the greatest impact I can have in medicine is advocating for women and their health needs. I love working with patients to find individualized solutions. It not only helps them as individuals, it’s the best way to positively impact their families.”

Dr. Desai is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) with a special designation in minimally invasive gynecological surgery. She focuses on endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, uterine fibroids, menstrual disorders, ovarian cysts, painful intercourse, endometrial ablations, hysterectomies, robotic-assisted laparoscopies and trachelectomies.

The importance of “paying it forward” was instilled in her as a child. She chose OB/GYN as her area of practice to help fulfill that goal.

Dr. Desai is the director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery at Atrium Health. Her areas of clinical research include chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis and advances in surgical technique. Dr. Desai received her medical degree at Ross University. She completed residency at Drexel University. She completed a fellowship at Creighton University.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her family and pup.

Colleen M. Fitzgerald, MD, MS is a board certified physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)), attending physician and Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and the Department of Urology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She serves as both Medical Director of the Clinical Research Office as well as the Female Chronic Pelvic Pain Program at Loyola. Dr. Fitzgerald’s areas of clinical expertise and research include pregnancy-related low back and pelvic girdle pain, musculoskeletal medicine, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, pelvic floor disorders and pelvic rehabilitation. Dr. Fitzgerald received her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 1996 and completed her post-graduate training at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2000, where she served as chief resident. She also received a Masters degree in Clinical Investigation at Northwestern in 2011. She is a former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Scholar and NICHD K23 Patient Oriented Research Awardee studying “Mechanistic Distinctions in Female Pelvic Pain Subtypes”. She an active women’s health clinical researcher as Co-Investigator for the Loyola U01 Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) NIDDK grant and has been funded on several other foundation grants including the Interstitial Cystitis Association and the PM&R Foundation. She is the current IPPS President and the past Co-Chair and scientific committee member for the World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain. She is an active member of the AAPM&R, AAP and AUGS.

Dr. Nadia Gomez completed her Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) Residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. She then completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecology Surgery (MIGS) at Florida Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Florida. She leads the Division of MIGS at Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. She specializes in endometriosis, fibroids, and chronic pelvic pain. She has received several awards including APGO Excellence in Teaching Award and the national Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award. She is well versed in robotic, laparoscopic, and vaginal surgery to provide patients individualized care.

Most recently, Dr. Gomez lead her department as interim Chair. During her term, she expanded the clinical service lines and changed the name of the department to Gynecologic Surgery & Obstetrics (GSO) to better reflect the subspecialties in OBGYN. She is a subject matter expert and member of the Essentials in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (EMIGS) curriculum committee in the AAGL (American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists).  

Laura A. Payne, PhD is a clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Clinical and Translational Pain Research Lab at McLean Hospital. Dr. Payne’s research focuses primarily on identifying neurobiological, behavioral, and psychological biomarkers related to pain, particularly menstrual pain in adolescents. Specifically, she is interested in identifying risk factors, including central sensitization, menstrual history, and responses to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, that are associated with the transition from recurrent to chronic pain in girls and young women. Her work also extends to evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on menstruation in adolescent girls and developing and testing novel interventions for menstrual pain.

Premier physical therapist, founder, and pioneer – Amy is at the forefront of treating pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic pain, specializing in functional manual therapy for all people, including children.

In addition to being the founder of Beyond Basics Physical Therapy, Amy has served as the President – and is currently on the advisory board – of the International Pelvic Pain Society. Amy also lectures internationally, has been featured in documentaries, and interviewed on critically-acclaimed TV shows like Dr. Oz, ABC’s 20/20, and Good Morning La La Land.

As an award-winning author, Amy has written books on pelvic pain (Heal Pelvic Pain) and endometriosis (Beating Endo: How to reclaim your life from Endometriosis) and created a video on pelvic pain (Healing Pelvic Pain and Abdominal Pain). Amy is also a co-editor of Healing in Urology as well as a featured author in many medical textbooks, including Pelvic Pain Management, Female Sexual Pain Disorders: Evaluation and Management, Management of Sexual Dysfunction in Men and Women, and The Overactive Pelvic Floor.

Her award-winning books and videos help people heal from pain, improve function, and take back their lives. She is a tireless educator and advocate, working closely with patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers everywhere to raise access and awareness, so more people get the care they need.

Amy recently founded her own line of healing CBD products, Wellness x Nature, that aims to further assist and inspire those on their mission to good health and healing.
www.beyondbasicsphysicaltherapy.com

Dr. Erin Carey is an expert in the medical and surgical care of benign gynecologic conditions including abnormal uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, transgender health, endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. She has served on the national Fellowship Board of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS) and the interdisciplinary board of the International Pelvic Pain Society. She is a NIH funded clinical scientist and her long-term goal is to develop personalized mechanism-based treatment strategies for patients with complex gynecologic conditions.

Director of Gynecology NorthShore University HealthSystem

Clinical professor of Ob/Gyn - University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

focused practice designation ABOG/Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery.

Large multispecialty practice in northern Chicagoland suburbs, multidisciplinary approach to pelvic pain evaluation and management.

Past president of IPPS, translational researcher focused on visceral pain disorders including dysmenorrhea

Scientific Director

ALGIA

Unidad de Laparoscopia Ginecológica Avanzada y Dolor Pélvico

Laparoscopic Gynecologist, specialized in minimally invasive surgery and chronic pelvic pain treatment. I realized that patients with chronic pelvic pain did not have adequate medical care in Colombia in 2004. Then I applied and completed a Fellowship at the C. Paul Perry Pelvic Pain Center in Birmingham, Alabama. As a result founded, ALGIA, the Advanced Gynecological Laparoscopy and Pelvic Pain Center in Pereira -Colombia- a highly specialized medical center focused on an integrative approach in women medical attention. I am also the scientific director of ALGIA, and a recurrent speaker at multiple international conferences. As a result of the practice have several publications in medical books and journals..

Kathryn Witzeman, MD is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Of Colorado School Of Medicine. In 2023, she joined Grand River Health as the newest member of the Women's Care and Gynecologic Surgery department. Dr. Witzeman graduated from the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship in February, 2018. In 2008, Dr. Witzeman founded the Women's Integrated Pelvic Health Center at Denver Health Medical Center and served as its Director until 2023. Dr. Witzeman joined the Board of Directors of the International Pelvic Pain Society in 2014, she served on the Executive Board from 2016-2021 and currently serves on the Advisory Board. She has been a member of IPPS since 2007. She is a Fellow of the American College of OBGYN and her clinical and research interests include vulvovaginal disorders, pelvic pain, menstrual disorders, menopausal problems, integrative medicine, biomedical ethics as is applies to the field of OBGYN and medical education. Dr. Witzeman successfully completed the 2012 APGO Scholars and Leaders program. She completed her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati SOM and subsequently completed her OBGYN residency training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.