Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Home Education Department Programs OBGYN: Education & Training > Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Program Overview The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) Fellowship in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Since 1979, UCI has trained fellows to be leaders in the field of urogynecology. Our goal is to train pelvic surgeons who will pursue academic careers and become luminaries in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. The diversity of training offered at this large academic referral center allows fellows to master vaginal, robotic and laparoscopic surgery and to produce specialists who are prepared to provide consultation and comprehensive management of women with pelvic floor disorders. Our program shares a unique collaboration with the UCI Department of Urology, the Divisions of Colorectal Surgery and Gastroenterology, the Beckman Laser Institute, the Bill and Sue Gross Stem Cell Center and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science. Fellows are mentored in clinical and basic science research and regularly present original research at national and international meetings. Fellows have the opportunity to obtain a master’s in clinical research during their three-year URPS Fellowship. Our program strives to achieve all of the educational objectives the ACGME sets forth. As such, the program is designed to ensure the fellow completes the program well equipped for eventual subspecialty certification by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We are also deeply committed to the wellness of our fellow physicians, which is reflected in our curriculum and their everyday experience. Why UCI? The UCI Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is a big family, and we could not be more excited to share information about our Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship with you! UCI is an outstanding place to train and a beautiful place to live. We are fortunate to be located in a culturally diverse community with wonderful natural resources, including beautiful beaches and close proximity to the mountains. Orange County is also home to several professional sports teams, theme parks and theaters. In addition to Orange County’s many features and incredible weather, the URPS Fellowship program is one of the leading training programs in the nation. Program Highlights Surgical Training: Training in robotic, laparoscopic, open and vaginal prolapse repair Neuromodulation: Sacral and tibial neuromodulation. Collaborative Training: A jointly shared program between an academic medical center and a large established health maintenance organization (Kaiser Permanente) Unique collaboration with the Department of Urology and Colorectal Surgery Interdisciplinary Support: Additional contributions to our program come from our unique relationship with allied services, including gastroenterology, a dedicated pelvic floor radiologist and a nationally recognized geriatrics program Faculty Expertise: Faculty with a tremendous depth and breadth of clinical and academic experience, including seven fellowship-trained urogynecologists, five fellowship-trained colorectal surgeons, two urologists and two pelvic floor physical therapists Research Excellence: UC Irvine is consistently rated among the best gynecology departments in the country by U.S. News & World Report Highly ranked obstetrics and gynecology research department with established NIH funding Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center/CIRM grants How to Apply The Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) Fellowship at UCI is a three-year multidisciplinary program that combines training in gynecology, urology and colorectal surgery. All applicants should have satisfactorily completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency approved by the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the Council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Our program is accredited with the ACGME, and we adhere to the objectives set forth by the board. Interested physicians are encouraged to apply for fellowship positions through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) ERAS program website. Application Requirements All of the following required documents must be received through ERAS to be considered for an interview. Fellowship Application Medical School Transcript MSPE (Dean’s Letter) Three Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement Photo USMLE Score(s) An interview will be necessary for consideration. Do not send official transcripts, Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology scores or any other additional documentation via email. Our program supports fellows with J-1 visas. Our program will adhere to the common program dates set forth by AUGS. Applications Open December 1 Interview Sessions Two interview sessions are scheduled forApril 25, 2025 (a.m. and p.m. sessions) Fellowship Curriculum Over the course of the three-year fellowship program, fellows will complete rotations at UCI, Kaiser Sand Canyon and Kaiser Anaheim. Monthly Block Structure: 23 months: Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery 1 month: Colorectal Surgery 12 months: Research (protected time) Our fellows also rotate through the federally qualified healthcare clinic in Santa Ana, working with an underserved and culturally diverse patient population. This is a unique opportunity for fellows to teach and supervise our outstanding residents. This clinic provides cystoscopy, pessary fittings, surgical counseling and management of other common urogynecological conditions. Biostatistical Support The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCI has two statisticians available to assist fellows with research, project preparation, grant submission and data analysis. Research support is also available for studies involving Kaiser Permanente patients. Didactics All fellows and UCI/Kaiser faculty participate in our formal didactic sessions on the first Wednesday of every month. These sessions comprise a formal lecture, technology-enhanced book chapter review, research conference and Journal Club. Additionally, fellows are active participants in our weekly Surgical Planning Conference, which is held on Thursday mornings. All surgical cases for the upcoming week are presented by the residents on service and reviewed by the fellows and attendings. This setting provides a unique opportunity for trainees to get perspectives from various providers regarding surgical decision-making and perioperative management. Furthermore, fellows demonstrate their ability to apply relevant literature to clinical practice. Fellows also attend the department’s weekly Grand Rounds, Quality and Safety conferences, and wellness lectures on Friday mornings. Fellows will present Grand Rounds once during the course of their fellowship at the end of the third year. Global Health Opportunities Fellows have an opportunity to participate in global health by traveling to Rwanda to aid in the care of fistula patients or to Guatemala to care for patients with incontinence and prolapse. These opportunities help our fellows learn how to care for patients in low-resource settings and expand their understanding of rare conditions. Current Fellows Karla Lorente, MD Charlotte ter Haar, MD Gabrielle Avery, MD UCI Faculty Felicia Lane, MD Division Director—Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Associate Director—Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Program Taylor Brueseke, MD Associate Clinical Professor—Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Quality and Safety Officer—Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Dena Moskowitz, MD Director—Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Fellowship Program Associate Professor— Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Carly Crowder, MD Assistant Clinical Professor— Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Olivia Chang, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Urology Eltheia Shiozaki Physical Therapist Kaiser Faculty Noelani Guaderrama, MD Southern California Permanente Medical Group Clinical Professor, Volunteer Clinical Faculty–Obstetrics & Gynecology, UC Irvine Emily L. Whitcomb, MD, MAS Southern California Permanente Medical Group Assistant Clinical Professor, Volunteer Clinical Faculty–Obstetrics & Gynecology, UC Irvine Jun Ihara, MD Southern California Permanente Medical Group Volunteer Clinical Faculty–Obstetrics & Gynecology, UC Irvine Jennifer K. Lee, MD Southern California Permanente Medical Group Volunteer Clinical Faculty–Obstetrics & Gynecology, UC Irvine Connect with Us Follow Us on Twitter @URPSUCI Instagram @ucirvine.urogyn.fellowship Have Questions? Fellowship Program Coordinator Karalyn Lester kllester@hs.uci.edu