Pursuing Their Passions: UPMC Magee-Womens Specialists

At UPMC Magee-Womens, we are proud of our care teams and the talented group of experts who offer a variety of specialty services throughout our regions, including gynecologic oncology, midlife health, minimally invasive surgery, reproductive endocrinology, treatment for endometriosis and fibroids, maternal fetal medicine, and urogynecology.

Below, three of our specialists share why they do what they do, and what they love most about their chosen specialties.

Urogynecology

Lauren Giugale, MD, didn’t expect to stay in Pittsburgh long term. When she and her husband, an orthopaedic surgeon, came to UPMC for their residencies, they thought they would stay for a few years and then move on.

“Then we realized how amazing Pittsburgh is, and how amazing UPMC is,” says Dr. Giugale, a Michigan native, who has now been with UPMC for 14 years.

Dr. Giugale is the division director of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. She is also an associate professor in the Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and an associate medical director of UPMC Physician THRIVE, a well-being program for UPMC physicians.

“I’m really fortunate to be in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. It’s a really special place,”

she says. “The resources and support here are quite outstanding, and Magee is such a unique hospital to both give and receive care. It’s part of the reason why I love practicing here.”

The urogynecology division at UPMC Magee-Womens includes a team of more than a dozen providers who see patients at office locations throughout western Pennsylvania.

“We all love what we do, and we’re a really great team,” Dr. Giugale says. “All of our providers are excellent, and many patients can receive the majority of their urogynecology care close to home. They don’t necessarily need to come to Magee, because we go out into the community.”

Dr. Giugale says she and many of her fellow urogynecologists chose their specialty because of the impact they can have on a patient’s quality of life.

“We can offer a lot of treatments across the lifespan to improve pelvic floor health,” she says. Conditions like pelvic prolapse and urinary and bowel incontinence are all related to the pelvic floor, the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and other organs in the pelvis.

“The most gratifying part of my work is improving a patient’s quality of life. The best part is when we offer a management plan or therapy, and the patient comes back and tells us they are so much better – that they can exercise, go out without worry, and get back to regular activities,” Dr. Giugale says.

One of the reasons Dr. Giugale loves her job is she’s not doing the same thing every day. “Some days I see patients in the office, and some days I’m in the operating room,” she says. “My patients may vary from a 20-year-old having pelvic pain to a post-menopausal patient with pelvic floor issues. I like figuring out if surgery is the right option for them, or if we can treat their condition with a non-surgical option.”

She also performs research on pelvic floor disorders surrounding childbirth and outcomes after surgery for pelvic floor disorders. Additionally, Dr. Giugale teaches and trains medical students, residents, and fellow physicians to continue advancements in the urogynecology field.

“There is a lot we can do to make substantial improvements for patients with pelvic floor disorders,” Dr. Giugale says.

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Julie Rios, MD, chose reproductive endocrinology as a specialty both for the scientific aspects of how the brain communicates with the reproductive organs and the satisfaction of helping patients on their journey to parenthood.

“My favorite part of my job is when patients come in and share pictures of their babies,” she says. “I love helping people build their families.”

Dr. Rios is the division director for UPMC Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, medical director of the Center for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Rios was recruited to UPMC because of her interest in fertility preservation. Through the UPMC Magee Center for Reproduction and Transplantation, UPMC offers a fertility preservation program for patients with conditions that may affect their future fertility, such as patients going through cancer treatment.

Dr. Rios divides her time between clinical and research work. She sees patients both in person and via telemedicine, providing consultations for conditions that may affect fertility such as polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian insufficiency, and recurrent pregnancy loss. She also performs laparoscopic surgery to treat conditions like endometriosis and diseases of the fallopian tubes, which can have an impact on a patient’s fertility, and provides services including ovarian stimulation, intrauterine inseminations, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Not all patients who seek infertility services need extensive treatments or procedures like IVF, which can be costly if it is not covered by insurance. “There are conditions we can identify and treat, especially the hormonal process, which insurance may cover,” Dr. Rios says.

One common misconception that fertility patients have, Dr. Rios says, is that they are alone in their experience. However, one in six patients who want to start a family need assistance from a fertility specialist.

“The goal of our team is to provide the best quality of care, as well as care that is patient centered. We try to provide individual care and answers in real time,” Dr. Rios says “As specialists, we spend a lot time talking with patients. They often say, ‘Thank you so much for explaining this to me.’ I love when patients feel they are heard.”

Gynecologic Oncology

Gynecologic oncologists treat cancers of the female reproductive system, including cervical, uterine, ovarian, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. One aspect of the UPMC gynecologic oncology division that Shannon Rush, MD, really appreciates is its cohesiveness.

“It’s a group of 11 very talented, very dedicated physicians,” she says. “We’re like a family. We all work together really collaboratively and supportively. We also take great pride in training the next generation of gynecologic oncologists through our fellowship.”

It was the gynecologic oncology team at UPMC, a collaboration between UPMC Magee-Womens and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, that drew Dr. Rush, who grew up in Rhode Island and New Jersey, to the Pittsburgh region.

“I really liked the group that was practicing here,” she says.

Dr. Rush is an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and sees patients throughout western Pennsylvania. She chose gynecologic oncology as a specialty because she enjoys making connections with patients on a long-term basis.

“I love being able to develop relationships with patients and get to know them and their families,” she says. “That part is really gratifying.”

She also welcomes the opportunity to provide both surgical and medical treatment. “Gynecologic oncology is the only oncology subspecialty where doctors perform surgery and coordinate and administer chemotherapy,” she says.

During a typical day, Dr. Rush’s activities vary from spending a day in the operating room—where she often works alongside residents, fellows, and medical students — to seeing patients in the office for consultations, post-operative visits, and ongoing surveillance.

While gynecologic oncologists provide cancer treatment, not every patient referred to gynecologic oncology has cancer. “A lot of the time, patients think when they come to see me, they have cancer, but that’s not necessarily true,” she says. “I try to assuage their fears. When they come to see me, we might not have everything planned or solved, but we will have a pathway forward.”

If patients are diagnosed with cancer, she works with them on the treatment plan that is best for their condition.

Dr. Rush emphasizes that a patient’s relationship with their doctor should include two-way

communication, and that it’s important for patients to understand that they have influence over their care. “We have conversations about what is best for them,” she says.

Specialty Women’s Health Care in Pittsburgh’s Northern Suburbs

UPMC Magee-Womens provides specialty women’s health services throughout the greater Pittsburgh area, including the following locations in the northern suburbs:

UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex

8000 Cranberry Springs Drive

Cranberry Township, PA 16066

Chronic Pelvic and Bladder Pain Clinic

724-934-1600

UPMC Magee-Womens Midlife Health Center

724-934-1600

UPMC Magee-Womens Endometriosis Center

412-641-4900

UPMC Passavant – McCandless

9100 Babcock Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

UPMC Magee-Womens Center for Bladder and Pelvic Health

412-748-3930

UPMC Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program

412-641-5411

UPMC Greater Pittsburgh OB/GYN

901 East Brady St., Suite 100

Butler, PA 16001

UPMC Magee-Womens Gynecologic Cancer Program

412-641-5411

Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology

The following locations provide fertility and reproductive endocrinology services:

UPMC Magee-Womens Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology

419 Rodi Road Penn Hills, PA 15235

412-731-8000

UPMC Magee-Womens Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology

UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital

300 Halket Street, Suite 5150

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-641-1600