Comprehensive OB/GYN Care from Our Region’s Academic Health System
Sandie Carner-Shafran, of Mayfield, may have retired from her 38-year special education teaching career, but she still has a strong love of educating others. When her health changed in her early 70s, she wanted to make sure her friends knew about options and treatments for pelvic health.
“I had never heard of a pelvic floor before,” said Carner-Shafran. “If you don’t hear about it, and don’t know about it, you can’t fix it or prevent a problem.”
Carner-Shafran said it began as incontinence. “I could actually feel my bladder, and I knew something wasn’t right,” she said. “It was affecting my life.”
Her doctor referred her to Rebecca Rogers, MD, a urogynecologist and the chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Albany Medical Center.
After a series of tests, Dr. Rogers diagnosed Carner-Shafran with pelvic organ prolapse, a condition where the muscles, tissues, and ligaments supporting the pelvic organs weaken or loosen, causing the organs to drop or press into the vagina.
Having three babies over eight pounds and a hysterectomy in her 40s contributed to her weakened pelvic floor. “From what I was explained, it’s like the furniture was floating around in the house,” she joked about her pelvic organs.
Dr. Rogers spent time explaining the options for surgery in a way she could understand.
“Dr. Rogers sat next to me and drew diagrams of the three options I had for surgery. She explained the pros and cons of each, and what the results would be,” she said. “I was so thankful she took the time to write it out and explain it in personal terms—woman to woman—of how it could affect my life.”
Carner-Shafran and Dr. Rogers decided on using surgical mesh.
“I enjoy helping women decide what the best surgery is for them,” said Dr. Rogers. “Of course, as a surgeon, I give guidance, but in the end, it is a woman’s choice of whether or not they want surgery, as well as what surgery they want.”
Dr. Rogers leads an obstetrics and gynecology team that works on the leading edge of care, providing routine and high-level services like those that Carner-Shafran received. Now, patients throughout the Albany Med Health System can receive high-quality women’s health care in convenient locations wherever they are in the region.
Obstetrics and gynecology services are available throughout the System. Birthing centers are located at Albany Medical Center, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital, while Columbia Memorial Health patients can receive prenatal care close to home and give birth at Albany Medical Center.
System providers also offer gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive surgery, complex family planning, and maternal-fetal medicine, which is high-risk pregnancy care. Albany Medical Center houses a Level 4 (the highest) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where premature and critically ill infants from throughout the region are cared for.
If a patient needs basic gynecological or more specialized care, providers throughout the System are available.
“With my patients, I strive to create a space where they feel comfortable discussing any gynecological issues,” said Elaine Jaworski, MD, gynecologist at Columbia Memorial Health. The gynecology team also provides full gynecological care, caring for abnormal uterine bleeding, menstrual disorders, contraception, menopause, and more.
Like doctors throughout the System, Dr. Jaworski provides minimally invasive surgery for conditions including endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, adenomyosis, and infertility. “Offering laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures in a community setting, women have more convenient access to critical health care close to home,” she said.
Susan Bradford, MD, medical director and chair of Saratoga Hospital’s OB/GYN and midwifery, said, “We collaborate with colleagues throughout the System, working closely with providers, and referring patients as needed, the most common being urogynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, and complex family planning.”
Dr. Bradford joined the System last September after 10 years in private practice, and said she feels supported by her team and hospital leadership as she leads the department, noting its double focus of obstetrics and all that comes with birthing, and gynecology, which includes many other aspects of women’s health care. For example, her team handles breast and bone density screenings, contraception, and menopause care.
“Our team is dedicated to taking care of women,” said Dr. Rogers. “Being part of a System, we work with colleagues with additional areas of expertise and colleagues from other campuses to make sure we can all provide the best care for our patients.”