Section of Urogyne UPDATE
The focus of our section has been on collaborating on our strategic priorities. Since 2020, the urogynecologists of BC, under the leadership of Dr Sara Houlihan, have been intentionally and with commitment, gathering to explore how to improve urogynecology training for residents and fellows, increase translational research and ultimately enhance quality of life for women in BC with pelvic floor disorders.
Organization
We have co-developed a memorandum of understanding, shared vision, strategic priorities. We meet monthly to discuss section progress and present M&M cases. We have also welcomed 2 new Urogynes to the province Drs Maryse Larouche and Susan Luong.
Educational Achievements
Dr. Wu has assumed the role of resident director for UBC's urogynecology residency rotation. Together with Drs. Houlihan, Stewart and Ezzat, a new combined senior vaginal surgery/complex gynecological surgical rotation is in progress. Quality improvement and resident education projects will stem from deliverables including resident comfort/ability to perform vaginal surgeries, cystoscopies, and pessary fitting.
Drs Gong and Cundiff have taken over the fellowship program. It has been revamped to include didactic anatomy sessions, in additional to the ample ORs and clinical opportunities around VCH and Fraser health. Dr Geoffrion continues the application for Urogyne to become a Royal College recognized Subspecialty.
Drs Gong and Geoffrion have successfully opened the Maternal Pelvic Health Clinic at BC Women’s Hospital dedicated to patient with OASIS.
Dr Sara Houlihan was appointed mentor of the Consultant Specialist Team Care (CSTC): this project is funded by the SSC Doctors of BC.
Research
Dr Darren Lazare has taken on the role of co-head of the Canadian Collaborative for NSQIP and is the head of the urogyne collaborative for NSQIP.
Dr Roxana Geoffrion received multiple research grants including:
- CIHR grant $1,116,899 for the SASSI RCT trial comparing autologous fascial sling and mesh
- CHIR grant $150,000 for generating evidence to enhance equity-focused prevention and care for obstetrical trauma.
- CIHR grant (In collaboration with Dr. Brotto) Mobilizing knowledge to improve sexual dysfunction. She has ongoing CIHR grants for preventing pelvic floor trauma as well as DA Boyes society grant and SSC Doctors of BC funding for optimizing pre-surgery mental health.
- DA Boyes Memorial Research Award $2,500: Does preoperative mental health influence postoperative outcomes with patients with endometriosis.
In February 2026, Dr. Roxana Geoffrion also started the Maternal Pelvic Health Clinic with QIQA patient registry.
Dr Sara Houlihan continues to be involved with the Society of gynecologic surgeons (SGS) systematic review group publishing 2 more reviews this year. She was also the head of the Canadian Society of Pelvic Medicine (CSPM) Scientific committee which was responsible for organizing the international urogyne conference hosted in Vancouver in collaboration with the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) October 2025. Finally, she has established a RedCap database for the provincial Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) Clinic based out of RCH for which she is the clinic lead. We will have TONS of data to crunch given that the program has been formalized and collecting data since 2022!
Dr Susan Luong is the co-chair of the Knowledge and translation committee of the CSPM. She is also completing her Masters of Health Science in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety through Queen’s.
Publications
Giroux M, Ramirez AC, Dufour S, Globerman D, Larouche M, Pascali D, Sultan A. Guideline No. 465: Obstetrical Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIs) Part II: Long-Term Management and Counselling Regarding Subsequent Mode of Delivery. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2026 Jan;48(1):103186.
Geoffrion R, Tigert M, Walter JE, Sanaee M, Brennand EA, Malabarey O, Larouche M, Hyakutake M, Mohtashami F, Rabicki K, Roa L, Lee T, Singer J, Koenig N, Brotto LA. Pelvic organ prolapse burden on sexual health and body image: a cross-sectional study. Sex Med. 2025 Dec 13;13(6):qfaf100.
Audette-Chapdelaine S, Larouche M, Akouamba BS, Léger C, Barbat-Artigas S, Lai H, Mares A, Nadeau G, Marcantoni W. Patient Decision Aids for Stress and Urgency Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Scoping Review. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Dec 22. doi: 10.1007/s00192-025-06489-0. Epub ahead of print.
Sohaei D, Zhang C, Belzile E, Morganstein T, Koenig N, Reuveni-Salzman A, Merovitz L, Walter JE, Geoffrion R, Larouche M. Comparison of Arcus Tendineus Fascia Pelvis Versus Sacrospinous Ligament Suspension at the Time of Hysterectomy for Apical Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Aug 30.
Roa L, Larouche M, Hyakutake M, Brennand EA, Malabarey O, Koenig N, Lee T, Singer J, Zhang W, Brotto LA, Geoffrion R. Correction: COMET (Composite Outcomes of Mesh vs suture Techniques for prolapse repair)- Protocol for a single blind randomized controlled multicenter trial testing surgical innovation in female pelvic surgery. PLoS One. 2025 Sep 4;20(9):e0331750. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0331750. Erratum for: PLoS One. 2024 Oct 24;19(10):e0308926. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308926. PMID: 40906690; PMCID: PMC12410741.
Khademioore S, Khademioureh S, Sofi-Mahmudi A, Geoffrion R, D'Souza R, Muraca GM. Association Between Gestational Weight Gain and Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury. O G Open. 2025 Oct 9;2(5):e117. doi: 10.1097/og9.0000000000000117. PMID: 41080918; PMCID: PMC12510150.
Rajasingham M, Hossein-Pour P, D'Souza R, Geoffrion R, Ananth CV, Muraca GM. Racial and ethnic disparities in obstetric anal sphincter injury: cross-sectional study in the USA. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jun;65(6):778-789. doi: 10.1002/uog.29231. Epub 2025 May 9. PMID: 40344313; PMCID: PMC12127723
Fallah PN, Roa L, Dutta R, Bernard L, Maswime S, Schmeler KM, Boatin AA. Obstetrician and gynaecologist engagement in global surgery: adding necessary value to the field. BMJ Glob Health. 2025 Oct 27;10(10):e021194. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2025-021194. PMID: 41145200; PMCID: PMC12557748.
Fowler Z, Rahimi A, Cantu Aldana A, Uribe-Leitz T, Carrillo-Villaseñor F, Roa L, Hill SK, Macias V, Castillo-Angeles M, Reich AJ. Contextual challenges and impacts on the surgical ecosystem in Chiapas, Mexico: A qualitative study. PLoS One. 2025 Apr 29;20(4):e0321969. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0321969. PMID: 40299858; PMCID: PMC12040084.
Ringel NE, Lenger SM, High R, Alas A, Houlihan S, Chang OH, Pennycuff J, Singh R, White A, Lipitskaia L, Behbehani S, Sheyn D, Kudish B, Nihira M, Sleemi A, Grimes C, Gupta A, Balk EM, Antosh DD. Effects of Obesity on Urogynecologic Prolapse Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Apr 1;143(4):539-549.
Cundiff GW. Accommodating Surgical Learners. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Sep 1;31(9):846-848. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001707. PMID: 41405947.
Chang OH, Carter Ramirez A, Edwards A, Chill HH, Letko J, Woodburn KL, Cundiff GW. The Role of Uterine Preservation at the Time of Pelvic Organ Prolapse Surgery. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Apr 4. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001667. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40168462.
Roa L. Surgical Systems Strengthening in Uogynecology. Internatonial Urogynecology Journal. 2024. PMID: 39028338
Standardization of Clinical Care
Given that the urogynes of BC are dispersed at different hospitals, we have had to work together to coordinate clinical work and centralize advocacy efforts to improve access to care for women in BC with PFDs. Our goal is to create a virtual Centre of Excellence for BC Urogynecology. This would include a standardized referral form (draft already created via OCEANS Doctors of BC project), centralized referrals, utilization of CSPM patient intake and PROMs, data collection through database, patient information creation and organization on website among many more initiatives.
Awards/Appointments
- Dr Susan Luong appointed to Clinical Assistant Professor
- Dr Darren Lazare promoted to Clinical Professor
- Dr Geoffrion moved from president to past president of the Canadian Society of Pelvic Medicine (CSPM)
- Dr. Roxana Geoffrion won the Award for Excellence in Mentoring Early Career Faculty
