Meet The Clinicians
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Physicians
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Nurse Practitioners
Licensed Therapists
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Physical Therapists
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Physicians
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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Nurse Practitioners
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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.
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Licensed Therapists
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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.
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Physical Therapists
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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.
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Toshi Paniagua, 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.
Shantae Williams, PT, DPT, has extensive experience treating orthopaedic and pelvic floor conditions. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and went on to earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Central Michigan University. She received specialty training from the American Physical Therapy Association in pelvic floor and obstetrics. Shantae has a special interest in helping patients with chronic pain or sexual dysfunction. She believes in treating not just the symptoms but the whole person, including the mind, body and spirit. Her goal is to facilitate an environment of healing and provide her patients the tools they need to maximize their potential and return to doing the things that they love.
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