Meet The Clinicians
|
Physicians
|
Nurse Practitioners
Licensed Therapists
|
Physical Therapists
|
Physicians
|
Traci A. Kurtzer, MD, has more than 25 years of clinical experience in menopause, sexual medicine and vulvovaginal pain and dermatologic conditions. She provides specialized gynecologic care to patients with a history of sexual abuse, assault and medical trauma. In 2019, she won the Menopause Practitioner of the Year Award given by the North American Menopause Society.
Dr. Kurtzer is the medical director of Trauma-Informed Care and Education in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. In addition, she educates healthcare professionals on intimate partner violence, human trafficking, the intersection of firearm and gender-based violence, the neurobiology of trauma and trauma-informed medical care. |
|
Sarah Hwang, MD, is a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, with expertise in complex pelvic pain, pelvic floor disorders and musculoskeletal pelvic pain. She is the director of the Women's Health Rehabilitation Program at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and serves on the program planning committee for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Hwang is a fellow in the Academy Leadership Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
|
|
Rajal C. Patel, MD, served as co-director of the Center for Vulvar Diseases at Michigan Medicine, after completing a fellowship in vulvovaginal disease at University of Michigan. Her areas of expertise extend across the scope of complex vulvar conditions, but she has a particular interest in lichen sclerosus, vulvar pre-cancer, vulvar pain and hidradenitis suppurativa. Dr. Patel is a fellow of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease. In addition, she is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. Prior to relocating to Chicago, she was a recurrent recipient of the Making a Difference Award, given to University of Michigan physicians for excellence in patient care. Her approach not only encompasses years of clinical experience, but also incorporates evidence-based integrative medicine and cultural sensitivity.
|
Nurse Practitioners
|
Emily Friedman, MSN, APRN, is a double board-certified nurse practitioner in Women's Health and Adult-Gerontology. She completed her master's degree at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She has experience in a range of settings including general obstetrics and gynecology, complex gynecology, sexual medicine, menopause, and cancer survivorship. She has a background in clinical research and is published in the fields of psycho-oncology and behavioral medicine. She is passionate about trauma-informed care and working with LGBTQ communities. She is a member of The Scientific Network on Female Sexual Health and Cancer, The North American Menopause Society, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. She serves as an expert for Our Bodies Ourselves Today.
|
|
Patricia Handler, MSN, FNP-C, is a family nurse practitioner. She has many years of experience in women’s health, including labor and delivery, contraceptive research and reproductive endocrinology. Handler completed a certificate program in sex counseling at University of Michigan. She is a certified menopause practitioner of the North American Menopause Society. She is a member of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
|
Licensed Therapists
|
Bea Cleveland, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker. She earned her Master of Clinical Social Work degree from Loyola University of Chicago and completed a certificate in Sex Therapy and Sex Education from the University of Michigan. Cleveland’s expertise is in reproductive mental health with people who identify as female and those assigned female at birth experiencing challenges with desire and arousal discrepancy, genito-pelvic pain, painful sex, stages of menopause and other fertility challenges.
She specializes in reproductive loss, pregnancy loss, traumatic sexual experiences and traumatic birthing experiences — in addition to life stressors that impact a person’s sense of self and ability to enjoy sexual health practices. Cleveland has experience working with patients who are LGBTQ and/or non-monogamous, as well as providing kink-affirming therapy. Jennifer Levy, MA, LCPC, CST, is a licensed clinical professional counselor who received her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Northwestern University and completed a certificate program in sex therapy from University of Michigan. She has expertise working with women and couples of all ages on issues of low sexual desire, desire discrepancy, infidelity, concerns regarding sexual functioning, and changes due to menopause, aging and illness. With more than 15 years of women's health experience, Levy also specializes in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, relationship patterns, conflict, grief and loss, and issues that often underlie sexual concerns.
|
Physical Therapists
|
Katherine Ireland, PT, DPT, WCS, CLT, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Denison University. She then went on to complete her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Rosalind Franklin University. Katherine then completed a residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pennsylvania where she received advanced training in pelvic health dysfunction and lymphedema. Katherine is an ABPTS Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health Physical Therapy and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pelvic Health. Her clinical passions include bladder, bowel, and sexual function, as well as chronic pelvic pain. She takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to patient care—combining patient education, breath retraining, manual techniques, and a compassionate bedside manner to provide optimal patient outcomes.
|
|
Toshi Odaira, PT, DPT, PRPC, graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and then received her Doctor of Physical Therapy from CUNY Graduate Center – Hunter College in New York, New York. She initially practiced in an outpatient orthopaedic clinic. As her interest and passion for women’s health grew, Toshi took coursework through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and received her pelvic rehabilitation practitioner certification. Toshi applies a functional manual therapy approach and guides patients toward recovery and healing with a holistic approach. She also uses dry needling techniques to restore muscle function. Toshi’s interests are long-term pelvic pain, neurodynamic dysfunction, bowel/bladder dysfunction and sexual dysfunction. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Pelvic Health and Section on Orthopaedics.
|
|
Helene Strange Bengtsson, PT, DPT, OCS, WCS, graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Clinical Health Studies and then earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She started her career in orthopaedics, with a special interest in spine, hip and pelvic conditions. In 2018, she became a board-certified orthopaedic clinical specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Helene began taking coursework through the American Physical Therapy Academy in pelvic health and is now an ABPTS board-certified women’s health clinical specialist. Her holistic approach includes Pilates, advanced manual therapy techniques, education and movement strategies. Helene is currently a member of the Pelvic Health Academy of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy and the American Urogynecology Society. Helene’s interests are in musculoskeletal disorders, pelvic pain, sexual function, neural entrapments, incontinence, bowel and bladder disorders, and post-partum care.
|
