Fellowships
- Complex Family Planning
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
- Maternal-Fetal (Perinatal)
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Reproductive Sciences
Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship
UC San Diego–Kaiser Permanente, San Diego Joint Program
Program Director: Cecile Ferrando, MD, MPH
Kaiser Co-Associate Director: Kimberly Ferrante, MD
About the Fellowship
The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Program at UCSD - Kaiser Permanente, San Diego is a joint training program developed by Dr. Charles Nager at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and Dr. Karl Luber at Kaiser Permanente, San Diego in 2000. The educational objective is to train the next generation of leaders in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. While there is a very strong clinical component to the fellowship, the focus is to prepare graduates for careers in academic medicine and teaching. The fellow is welcome to participate in ongoing research, but he/she/they will be also be encouraged to develop his/her/their own ideas and to plan, execute, analyze, and report on these subjects. Presentations are expected at the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) meeting. The fellowship is accredited by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and the American Board of Urology. As such, the fellowship program length is three years for both ob/gyn and urology residency graduates.
The fellowship is jointly (50/50) shared and funded by UCSD and Kaiser Permanente, San Diego. This combined program takes advantage of the strengths of each institution and diversifies the educational experience and training of the fellow with broad exposure to several faculty members. It is expected that the fellow will spend approximately 50% of their clinical time at UCSD and 50% of their clinical time at Kaiser. The clinical experience will be approximately 50% ambulatory and 50% operative. The diverse faculty provide training in the full spectrum of incontinence and prolapse surgical procedures including open, vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic approach.
Faculty
UC San Diego
Charles Nager, M.D.
Professor Emeritus, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
About: completed his residency in Ob/Gyn at UCSD in 1986; then after a preceptorship in 1987 with Dr. Donald Ostergard became the Director of the UCSD Urogynecology Clinic. He completed a fellowship in urogynecology in 1997 at St. George's Hospital with Professor Stuart Stanton.
Michael Albo, M.D.
Clinical Professor, Urology
Vice Chief, Department of Urology
About: is a UCSD urologist who completed a Female Urology fellowship with Dr. Shlomo Raz at UCLA in 1994. He serves as Vice Chief of the Department of Urology.
Cecile Ferrando, MD, MPH
Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Fellowship & Research Director, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Co-Director, Women's Pelvic Medicine Center
About: Dr. Cecile Ferrando is a board-certified Urogynecologist. She completed her OBGYN residency at the combined Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital in 2012 and a Urogynecology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in 2015. She joined the UC San Diego team in Spring 2024. Her research interests include clinical outcomes of pelvic reconstructive surgery as well as gender affirmation surgery. Her expertise includes surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence as well as vaginal and genital reconstruction for cis and transgender women.
Emily Lukacz, M.D., M.A.S.
Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Division Director, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UC San Diego Health Sciences
About: completed her fellowship at UCSD/Kaiser in June of 2003 and joined Drs. Charles Nager and Michael Albo at UCSD's Women's Pelvic Medicine Center at that time. She has extensive experience in clinical research and completed a Masters in Advanced Studies of Clinical Research at UCSD. Dr. Lukacz took on the role of director for the Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Program in 2010.
Marianna Alperin, M.D., M.S.
Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Vice Chair of Translational Research, Department of Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
About: completed her fellowship at University of Pittsburg, Magee-Women's Hospital. She joined the division in July 2017 and accepted the role of Fellowship Research Director in April 2019.
Yahir Santiago-Lastra, M.D.
Associate Clinical Professor, Urology
UC San Diego Urologist
Co-Director, Women's Pelvic Medicine Center
About: is a UCSD urologist who completed a FPMRS fellowship at the University of Michigan. In August 2016, she joined UCSD Women's Pelvic Medical Center.
Linda Brubaker, M.D., FACOG
Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Interim Director, Physician Wellness
About: joined UCSD in 2017. Dr. Brubaker currently chairs the NIDDK Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium and serves as the UCSD Interim Director for Physician Wellness. Her research focus is the urobiome and bladder health. She is a Senior Editor for JAMA, the Editor-in-Chief for Urogynecology and the Up to Date Section Editor for Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery.
Lindsey Burnett, M.D., PhD
Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Reproductive Scientist Development Program Scholar
About: completed PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Arizona State University, postdoctoral fellowship in Physiology and Biophysics at University of Washington, MD at University of Illinois and completed both her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine at UCSD/Kaiser.
Jennifer Anger, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor in Residence, Urology
Vice Chair of Research, Department of Urology
About: is a UCSD reconstructive urologist who completed dual fellowship in urologic reconstruction at Duke University Medical Center and in urological health services research at UCLA. Her residency training is in urology and surgery at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and medical degree is from USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Anger is Vice Chair of Research for Department of Urology. Expertise: Gender Affirming Surgery, Urologic Reconstruction, Female Pelvic Medicine.
Nemi Shah, M.D.
Adjunct Faculty
About: completed joint fellowship at the University of California, San Diego and Kaiser Permanente, San Diego in California. She attended medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington D.C. and completed her residency in Ob/Gyn at University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX. Dr. Shah's expertise is in optimizing patient-centered outcomes in urogynecology.
Kaiser Permanente
Shawn Menefee, MD
Voluntary Clinical Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Director, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Division, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: After completing residency/fellowship training and service in the US Navy, Dr. Menefee joined Kaiser Permanente San Diego in 2001. He has served as Co-Director of the UCSD/KP Fellowship, Regional Physician-In-Charge of Pelvic Floor Disorder Group for KP Southern California and Pelvic Floor Robotics, and Past-President and Elected Board Member of AUGS. He is currently Division Head for Urogynecology, Area Research Chair for KP San Diego and Co-Primary Investigator for the San Diego Consortium for the NICHD Pelvic Floor Disorder Network. He is an active clinical researcher with interest in surgical efficiency and ergonomics, Big Data in Urogynecology, surgical outcomes, and virtual screening and treatment for Urinary Incontinence.
Kimberly L. Ferrante, MD
Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Kaiser Co-Associate Fellowship Program Director, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Urogynecologist, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: She completed her residency at New York University followed by fellowship at UCSD/Kaiser Permanente. She is the Co-Director of the combined fellowship program and the resident rotation coordinator in Urogynecology for the UCSD OB/GYN residents, Navy Urology residents and KP Family Medicine residents. She also serves as the Gynecology ERAS Champion for KP San Diego and her interests include surgical outcomes and genitourinary syndrome of menopause.
Gouri Diwadkar, MD
Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Urogynecologist, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: She completed her OB/GYN residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston followed by fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. She joined the Kaiser Permanente San Diego team in 2010. She is faculty at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine and serves as a quality improvement officer in the department of OB/GYN. Her special interests include quality improvement and global health.
Jasmine Tan-Kim, MD, MAS
Voluntary Associate Clinical Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Urogynecologist, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: She completed her residency and fellowship at UCSD/Kaiser San Diego and joined Kaiser Permanente San Diego in 2011. She has a special interest in minimally invasive urogynecologic procedures, surgical ergonomics, and outcomes-based research. She earned a Master Degree in Advanced Studies of Clinical Research at UCSD. She currently serves as the SCAL Regional Robotic Lead for Urogynecology.
Heidi Brown, MD, MAS
Clinician Researcher, Department of Urogynecology and Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: Dr. Brown is a urogynecologist and dissemination and implementation scientist whose research focuses on improving access to effective solutions for pelvic floor disorders such as bladder and bowel incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes of Health and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS). She completed education and clinical training at Brown University, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center – Magee-Womens Hospital, University of California – San Diego, and Kaiser Permanente.
Quinn Kerr Lippmann, MD, MPH
Urogynecologist, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: She completed her medical school, Masters in Public Health and residency at UNC Chapel Hill. She completed her fellowship at UCSD/Kaiser San Diego. After 7 years in private practice in Virginia, she joined the Kaiser Permanente San Diego faculty in 2023. Her special interests include robotic surgery, health policy and global surgical access and health policy.
Tatiana Catanzarite, MD, MAS
Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor, Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Fellowship Simulation and Skills Director
About: After finishing OB/GYN residency at Northwestern University/McGaw, Dr. Catanzarite stayed at Northwestern for a 1-year fellowship in advanced gynecologic surgery. She then came to UCSD/Kaiser San Diego, where she completed Urogynecology fellowship training and a Masters degree in clinical research. She joined Kaiser Permanente San Diego in 2020. She is Co-Director of Simulation for the URPS Fellowship and has special interests in surgical education and patient safety/quality improvement.
Marco James Tomassi, MD
Colon/Rectal Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.
About: In development
Daniel David Klaristenfeld, MD
Colon/Rectal Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
About: Dr. Daniel Klaristenfeld is a general and colorectal surgeon who trained at Rhode Island Hospital and LA County Hospital. He has been an attending surgeon at Kaiser Permanente since 2008 where he specializes in colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, benign anorectal disease, and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Fellows
UC San Diego Fellows in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Janice Wong, M.D. 2025-2028 Fellow
Residency: Duke University School of Medicine
Medical School: Duke University Medical Center
Fellowship: University of California San Diego/Kaiser Permanente San Diego, San Diego, CA
Alexandra Nutaitis, D.O. 2024-2027 Fellow
Hometown: Surf City, New Jersey
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship: University of California San Diego/Kaiser Permanente San Diego, San Diego, CA
Career Interests: childbirth-related pelvic floor injury, obstetric anal sphincter injury, patient education and resource development, protocol development and implementation
Tatyanna Henderson, M.D.2023-2026 Fellow
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Residency: Ob/Gyn at UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Medical School: Duke University
Fellowship: University of California San Diego/Kaiser Permanente San Diego, San Diego, CA
Career Interests: Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Ghansh Yadav, M.D. 2022-2025 Fellow
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Residency: Ob/Gyn at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Medical School: Topiwala National Medical College, Mumbai, India
Post-Doctoral Research Gynecologic Oncology at Yale University where he worked on finding novel chemotherapeutic targets for treatment of chemoresistant gynecologic cancers.
Fellowship: University of California San Diego/Kaiser Permanente San Diego, San Diego, CA
Career Interests: devising novel solutions for improving clinical experience and outcomes
Nurse Practitioners
- Laura Aughinbaugh, D.N.P., WHNP, CNM – Chancellor's Park
Structure and Rotations
There is one fellow in each year of training. Each year is divided into 3 16-week blocks plus one 1 4-week block (elective/colorectal). These rotations are:
- UC San Diego (16 weeks) – a predominantly clinical rotation. On this rotation, there will be 2-½ days spent in the office, two days in the OR, and ½ day of Research/Education. The fellow leads a team of one urology resident, one ob/gyn resident, and medical students. The fellow will be working with Drs. Albo, Alperin, Anger, Burnett, Lukacz, Nager and Santiago-Lastra.
- Kaiser (16 weeks) – a predominantly clinical rotation. On this rotation, there will be 2 days spent in the office, 2-½ days in the OR and ½ day of Education. The fellows will be working with Drs. Ferrante, Diwadkar, Menefee, Catanzarite, Menefee, Lippmann, and Tan-Kim.
- Research and off-service rotations (16 weeks research + 4 weeks service/elective) – The elective rotations will be:
- Year 1: None
- Year 2: Colorectal (Drs. Tomassi and Klaristenfeld)
- Year 3: Global Health Research (elective)
The fellows' schedule is subject to change. It is recognized that the development of a high-quality educational experience requires a continuous quality improvement process that the Program Director (with fellow input) will modify as necessary. The 50/50 UCSD/Kaiser clinical experience and 50/50 ambulatory/OR clinical experience are guiding principles.
Visiting Learners
Because of limited learning space, we regret to inform you that we are unable to accommodate visiting learners to ensure a meaningful experience.
Clinical Experience
UC San Diego Medical Center is a tertiary medical center at two sites: Hillcrest and Thornton (La Jolla). The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (OB/GYN) performs 2000 deliveries each year and approximately 200 pelvic floor surgeries each year. It has a long tradition of affiliation with Kaiser Permanente, San Diego and the OB/GYN residency is an integrated program. The OB/GYN residents spend 25% of their training time at Kaiser. The UCSD Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences also has fellowships in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Gynecologic Oncology, and Complex Family Planning.
Kaiser Permanente, San Diego serves 500,000 members in San Diego. The Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery division manages nearly all female incontinence and this division manages 300 urogynecology referrals each month and performs over 300 pelvic floor surgeries each year.
Both institutions perform the full spectrum of pelvic floor surgeries. Institutional Data for AY 2021-2022 (PDF)
Urodynamic Facilities
At present, the multiple sites offer urodynamic studies with Laborie equipment with and without fluoroscopy.
Imaging
The UC San Diego Department of Radiology and Reproductive Medicine are one of the few centers with expertise in 3-dimensional ultrasound and research opportunities are possible in this area. MR defecography is also available.
Education
In addition to the Clinical Research Enhancement through Supplemental Training (CREST) Program, other educational activities include:
- Research meeting: weekly and/or as needed with primary mentor
- Additionally, fellows present research ideas and projects the 5th Wednesday quarterly.
- Urogynecology Chapter Review: 1–2 times, monthly
- Comprehensive review chapter by chapter of our specialty using the selected textbooks.
- Urogynecology Seminars: 7–8 lectures, yearly
- Formal lecture for 36 months on 22 topics essential to the specialty.
- Journal Club: 3rd Thursday evening, monthly
- Includes UCSD Faculty, Kaiser Permanente faculty, and local FPMRS practitioners.
- Colorectal Conference: semi-annual
- Semi-annual multidisciplinary conference reviewing defecography, manometry, and ultrasound imaging studies.
- Wednesday afternoons also include department grand rounds, research meetings, and patient case conferences at both institutions.
The fellow will be expected to attend and participate in all educational conferences.
Optional Courses:
FACE (Fellow As Clinician Educator)
The course covers foundational topics and is of high value for anyone embarking on a career as a clinician educator.
Research
The fellow has up to 48 weeks of dedicated research time. Research interests and ongoing projects include:
- Basic science in pelvic floor muscle physiology
- NIH/NIDDK funded - Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS)
- NICHD funded - Pelvic Floor Disorders Network (PFDN)
- Epidemiology of Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Robotic surgery education and outcomes
- Novel urodynamic technology
- Comparative surgical trials
- Laser therapy
Beginning in July of Year 1, it is expected that the fellow will complete, at minimum, the six core CREST courses outlined below. These will occur every Wednesday evening from 4-6 pm. This Clinical Research Enhancement through Supplemental Training (CREST) Program is a Masters-level comprehensive program that covers the following courses over 24 months:
- Basic Epidemiology
- Advanced Epidemiology
- Patient Oriented Research I
- Patient Oriented Research II
- Basic Biostatistics
- Advanced Biostatistics
A Masters in Advanced Studies in Clinical Research can be obtained with 12 additional courses after completing the full CREST program and is funded 50% through the Ellis Wyer Endowment (valued at $11,400). Additional funds are available to support a 4-week global health elective.
See our UCSD-Kaiser 2023 Graduated Fellows' Publications (PDF)
Application Process
2023 Candidate Orientation Video
Note: We will not participate in first-round interviews for the 2025 application season.
2025 fellowship application season dates:
- Accepting Applications: November 15, 2024
- Application Deadline: January 22, 2025
- Interview Date: April 26, 2025. Remote/virtual interviews only. We will offer AM and PM interview sessions.
For additional reading on the virtual process, linked here is a publication on the "Do's and Don'ts of the Virtual Interview: Perspectives From Residency and Fellowship Applicants (Bounpane C, et al, 2020)
Applicants must have graduated from a U.S. or Canadian accredited residency program.
We participate in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP) and all candidates must enroll in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). To register for the fellowship matching process, go to nrmp.org.
Application to the University of California San Diego Medical Center Program, Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (OB/GYN) – Accreditation 2210522003 may be made through the ERAS. For more information on the ERAS application process, visit aamc.org.
Required Documents
In addition to the ERAS application, upload the following documents to ERAS:
- Photo
- Curriculum Vitae
- Personal Statement
- At least three Letters of Recommendation. One of these must come from the Residency Program Director and/or Department Chairperson.
- USMLE Transcripts, Step 1, 2 and 3
- CREOG Scores (submitted via email)
Mission
The UCSD Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery seeks to be an international leader in care, research, and education. Our mission is continuously improving patient care and the URPS knowledge base through teaching and modeling quality clinical care, research, and professional education. The goals and objectives of our fellowship include compliance with the requirements for Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery approved by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Urology. The program complies with ACGME 80-hour work week restrictions and duty hour requirements.
UCSD House Officer Policy and Procedure Document (PDF) See pages 12 & 13 for detailed information.
Salary
Salary is commensurate with the University of California pay scale for a PGY 5–7. See updated pay scale.
More information available on UC San Diego Office of Graduate Medical Education.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) virtual open house
The UCSD’s Office of GME sponsors Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) virtual open house sessions for applicants interested in a UCSD training program. These events are open to medical students and residents interested in and/or applying to any fellowship program at UCSD. The purpose of these events is to allow applicants to better understand the diverse environment that UCSD has to offer and learn what the different programs are doing in the JEDI arena. The session will start with a Webinar-based overview of EDI-related efforts and activities across UCSD - provided by a panel of informed UCSD representatives. This will be followed by breakout Zoom rooms where current UCSD trainees and applicants can meet to share their perspectives about EDI.
- The focus is on EDI. This will not be an event for applicants to learn general information about your programs.
- Faculty will not participate in the breakout rooms so applicants can feel comfortable asking candid questions.
This year’s three sessions will be held:
- Open House #1: Monday, October 7th 6-7pm PST
- Open House #2: Monday, November 4th 5:30-6:30pm PST
- Open House #3: Thursday, January 9th 5:15-6:15pm PST
These events are open to medical students and residents who are interested in and/or applying to any residency or fellowship program at UCSD. Please email urogyn@health.ucsd.edu to sign up. at Details will be provided in a f/u email.
Contact Information
Danahe Medina Hernandez
Program Coordinator
T: 858-657-1238
F: 858-657-7212
dmedinahernandez@health.ucsd.edu
Questions
For further inquiries, contact urogyn@ucsd.edu