‍Researchers

• ‍Erin Brennand, MD, MSc, FRCSC — Academic and Zone Clinical Department Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; urogynecologist; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Shunaha Kim-Fine, MD, FRCSC — Section Head, Urogynecology; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Magali Robert, MD, MSc, FRCSC — Urogynecologist and chronic pelvic pain leader; Medical Lead, Alberta Virtual Pain Program and Calgary Transitional Pain Service; University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Jena Hall, MD, MSc, FRCSC — Urogynecologist; Program Director, Clinical Investigator Program; Resident Research and Scholarly Pursuits Director; Fellowship Program Director in 2025; University of Calgary.
• Alison Carter Ramirez, MD, FRCSC — Urogynecologist; Urogynecology Resident Coordinator; University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Colin Birch, MD, FRCSC — Urogynecologist and obstetrician; University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Rebecca Manion, MD, FRCSC — Urogynecologist, full-time as of January 2026; University of Calgary; Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.
• Kathy Lo, MD, FRCSC – Urogynecologist and Minimally Invasive Surgeon, full time as of April 2025, University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services, Calgary Zone.

Highlighted publication/project

Title

Hysterectomy versus uterine preservation for pelvic organ prolapse surgery: a prospective cohort study.^[3][1]

Abstract

This prospective cohort study from the Calgary Women’s Pelvic Health Research Group evaluated real-world outcomes of hysterectomy versus uterine-preserving surgery for pelvic organ prolapse. In the 2025 annual report, the study is described as the section’s flagship HUPPS project and is noted to provide evidence that uterine-preserving surgery is a safe and efficient alternative to hysterectomy for prolapse repair.^[3][1]

Summary

The HUPPS study stands out as the section’s signature recent research achievement because it moved from long-term programmatic work to publication and immediate clinical relevance. It strengthens the evidence base for counseling patients who want effective prolapse surgery while preserving the uterus, and it showcases collaboration across the Calgary Women’s Pelvic Health Research Group. The project also reflects the section’s broader strengths in patient-centered outcomes research, pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, and translation of evidence into guideline and educational work.^[3][1]

Publications

Publications since the last university spotlight

The section’s recent publication output since the prior annual spotlight includes urogynecology, pelvic floor surgery, chronic pelvic pain, and women’s health outcomes research.^[3][1]

1. Brennand EA, Scime NV, Huang B, et al. Hysterectomy versus uterine preservation for pelvic organ prolapse surgery: a prospective cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025;232(5):461.e1-461.e20.^[1]
2. Kim-Fine S, Caldwell L, Long J, et al. Intervention counseling for return to sex after urogynecologic surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2025;146(5):701-709.^[1]
3. Caldwell L, Kim-Fine S, Antosh DD, Husk K, Meriwether KV, Long JB, Heisler CA, Hudson PL, Lozo S, Iyer S, Weber LeBrun EE, Rogers RG. Standardized Counseling Tool for Returning to Sexual Activity After Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery. Obstet Gynecol. 2025;146(5):e80-e84.^[1]
4. Robert M. From roots to canopy: Understanding chronic pelvic pain through a tree-inspired model. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 May 13.^[1]
5. Villegas-Echeverri JD, Robert M, Carrillo JF, et al. FIGO-IPPS consensus statement: Addressing the global unmet needs of women with chronic pelvic pain. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2025;169(3):1140-1145.^[1]
6. 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. Epub ahead of print.^[1]
7. Brennand EA, Chai J, Cummings S, Huang B, Hughes T, Edwards A, Ramirez AC. Babcock versus scissor tensioning for retropubic mid-urethral slings: comparing two intra-operative techniques through 5 years of follow-up. Int Urogynecol J. 2025;36(2):279-287.^[3][1]
8. Stephenson NL, Brenner D, Brennand E, Robert M, Prisnie K, Metcalfe A. Longitudinal analysis of the association between parity, mode of delivery and urinary incontinence in midlife using the SWAN cohort data. Sci Rep. 2025;15:11896.^[1]
9. ^‍Yurick S, Ray S, El-Nashar S, Brennand E, Kim-Fine S, Sanaee M, Regan S, Geoffrion R, Occhino J, Hijaz A, Sheyn D. Prediction of postoperative urinary tract infection following benign gynecologic surgery. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Apr 16.^[3]
10. ^‍Mamik MM, Kim-Fine S, Yang L, Sharma V, Gala R, Aschkenazi S, Sheyn D, Howard D, Walter AJ, Kudish B, Balk EM, Antosh DD. Hysterectomy techniques and outcomes for benign large uteri: a systematic review. Obstet Gynecol. 2024;144(1):40-52.^[3]
11. Globerman, Dobrochna Ramirez, Alison Carter Larouche, Maryse Pascali, Dante Dufour, Sinead Giroux, Maria, et al. Guideline No. 457: Obstetrical Anal Sphincter Injuries (OASIS) Part I: Prevention, Recognition, and Immediate Management. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2024.^[3]
12. Jago CA, Lachance C, Varshney V, Nasr-Esfahani M, Robert M. Patient expectations and understanding of diagnosis entering an interdisciplinary chronic pelvic pain program: a cross-sectional study. J Endometriosis Pelvic Pain Disord. 2024;16(1):10-16.^[3]

Current studies, investigations, and projects

• Erin Brennand, Laura Sycuro, Antoine Dufour, collaborators — Elucidating the role of the vaginal microbiome in pathological tissue remodeling associated with pelvic organ prolapse; funded New Frontiers in Research Fund Exploration Project; active research program.^[1]
• Kyle Oosterman, Ann Rowan, Cayli Cole, Shunaha Kim-Fine and collaborators -  PIPP – Perineal Ice for Postoperative Pain; ongoing recruitment and data collection
• Kyle Oosterman, Shunaha Kim-Fine, Colin Birch, Magali Robert, Alison Carter Ramirez, Jena Hall, Erin Brennand – CANTP (CAN The Force of Stream Predict Success of a Conventional Postoperative Voiding Protocol: a prospective cohort study); ongoing recruitment
• Alexa Higginbotham, Jena Hall – VITOM for Development of a Urogynecology Surgical Video Library the Assessment of OBGYN Resident Self-Perceived Preparedness for Urogynecology Surgery:  A pilot project.
• Section team / Calgary Women’s Pelvic Health Research Group — HUPPS (Hysterectomy vs Uterine Preservation Prospective Study); published and in dissemination/knowledge translation phase.^[1]
• Rebecca Manion, Ann Rowan, Daniel Chang, Shunaha Kim-Fine, Alison Carter Ramirez, Selphee Tang, Erin Brennand, Jena Hall — Antibiotic prophylaxis to decrease post-operative infections in urogynecology: a retrospective cohort study; supported by the Department Education and Research Fund; in active study phase.^[1]
• Alison Carter Ramirez — POWURS study on patient perspectives regarding pre- and post-operative education and experience; qualitative study presented at Clara Christie Research Day; dissemination underway.^[1]
• Jena Hall, Cluett J, Davis M, Lam G, Brennand E — Providing equitable access to specialist women’s health care in Alberta: a pilot project exploring Lethbridge as a distributed postgraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology site; DEAR-funded educational/access project in progress.^[1]

Other highlights

• Expansion of bladder botox for refractory OAB in outpatient ambulatory clinic space has reduced health care costs, improved access and efficiency of care delivery
• Successful Pilot project through funding from Calgary Health Foundation and Medtronic has lead to established funding for Sacral Neuromodulation in Calgary at Pelvic Floor Clinic for patients seeking care for refractory OAB, fecal incontinence and voiding dysfunction.  This is the first program in Canada that is established within Urogynecology!

Leadership and advocacy

The section has substantial leadership reach across local, national, and international organizations. Dr. Brennand serves as Department Head and leads broad research initiatives including GROWW as well as through the Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Kim-Fine serves on the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Collaborative Research in Pelvic Surgery Consortium steering committee. Dr. Kim-Fine and Dr. Manion have spearheaded operationalizing how Physician Assistants can contribute to the Section’s work.

Dr. Robert is Chair of the FIGO Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Disorder Committee and led major chronic pelvic pain initiatives including the Alberta Virtual Pain Program and Calgary Transitional Pain Service, while Dr. Hall holds major educational leadership roles and Dr. Carter Ramirez contributes to national and international guideline work and represents the section through the Alberta Medical Association.^[2][1]  Dr. Birch has taken on the Fellowship Program Directorship. Dr. Manion has taken over the Urogynecology Resident Director and is representing Section interests through the Alberta Medical Association.

Community

The section serves Calgary and Southern Alberta through the Pelvic Floor Clinic and related hospital and ambulatory services within Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary. The Calgary region faces growing demand for pelvic floor services, expanding subspecialty referral needs, and active efforts to improve access through recruitment of a family physician, additional urogynecologists, a physician assistant, and additional physiotherapy support.

Community-responsive initiatives include ambulatory Botox care, virtual pain programming, outreach and education on pelvic floor health, and distributed planning to improve non-urban access to specialist women’s health care.^[2][1]

‍

1. OBGN_Annual_2025-mar-10-2026.pdf

2. OBGN_Annual_2023Final.pdf

3. OBGN_Annual_2024-final-march04-2025.pdf