The Program for Abdominal and Pelvic Health (PAPH) at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, provides a multispecialty comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating a wide range of abdominal and pelvic conditions in women and men of all ages. Patients with any of the following symptoms or conditions should consider meeting with our specialists:

• Pain in the abdominal or pelvic region  
• Cystitis or interstitial cystitis
• Erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction
• Fibroids or uterine fibroids
• Gastrointestinal conditions, including diarrhea, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Hemorrhoids
• Incontinence, both urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence
• Postprostatecomy pain
• Prolapse of the bladder, rectum or vagina
• Vaginal inflammation, including cervicitis, vaginitis and vulvitis
• Vaginal pain, including dyspareunia, vulvodynia or vaginismus

The complexity of the problems often requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists that works closely to provide the proper diagnostic tests and treatment. The abdominal and pelvic health clinical team collaborates to coordinate services, create personalized treatment plans and facilitate communication with referring physicians, to give patients the highest quality care possible.

The Program for Abdominal and Pelvic Health (PAPH) offers patient access to latest diagnostic and treatment options, including access to alternative treatments for their condition.  For more information, please visit the PAPH Services page.

Led by Marc Brand, MD, a colorectal surgeon, and Sheila Dugan, MD, a physiatrist, the clinical team at the Program for Abdominal and Pelvic Health (PAPH) includes colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists, gynecologists and urogynecologists, physiatrists (rehabilitative and physical medicine specialists), physical therapists, psychologists, radiologists, and urologists.  For more information, please visit the PAPH Clinical Team page.

For more information about Program for Abdominal and Pelvic Health, please call the program manager, Mary Patricia Kraus, at (312) 942-7274. Our program manager will guide patients through the program and discuss the patients’ symptoms with them to determine the appropriate specialists for each patient.