Message from the Division Director
We are excited to announce that Dr. Michael H. Heit has accepted the role of Division Director of Gynecologic Specialties, comprised of the VA (Veterans Affairs), CHOA (Children's Healthcare of Atlanta), Grady Memorial Hospital, and Gynecology-only, within the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Dr. Heit will be starting with us on August 1, 2022.
Originally from New York, Dr. Heit went to college at SUNY/Binghamton and medical school at Saint Louis University. After residency at Washington University School of Medicine, he completed fellowship training at Rush University with Linda Brubaker, MD, MS, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Urogynecology. From 1994 to 2004, he was Director of the Division of Urogynecology and established the accredited fellowship training program in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. During this time, he also served as the Fellowship Director. Beginning in 2004, he ran a successful FPMRS group and solo private practice before returning to academic medicine in 2013. Over the last 9 years, he has served as Fellowship Director of the FPMRS program at Indiana University while providing clinical care as a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon at Indiana University Health.
Early in his academic medicine career he enrolled in the University of Louisville's Master of Science in Public Health and PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research programs. The primary objective was to gain the expertise to compete effectively for extramural funding from the NIH and expand his leadership role in mentored investigator-initiated clinical research for Ob/Gyn residents and fellows. He was able to successfully secure NIH funding (R03 HD041114-01, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)) for his research entitled "A Model for Explaining Differences in Incontinence Care Seeking [MEDICS]." This research project culminated in the publication of 4 peer-reviewed manuscripts, a master's thesis and PhD dissertation.
His primary interest and personal expertise are in professional development. His first fellow leveraged his mentored research training into a leadership position with the Society of Gynecologic Surgeon's Systematic Review Group and is now the past president of the society. Two of his fellows were the recipients of the June Allyson Foundation Research Award for their mentored basic science research projects. He has won the teaching award as a fellow at Rush University and three times as faculty at the University of Louisville.
With his rare combination of leadership, educational, surgical, and research expertise, Dr. Heit brings enthusiasm and new ideas to this role. Dr. Heit states that his goal as Director of Gynecologic Specialties is "to listen, advocate, collaborate, team build, and promote the Division as a consultative service for faculty and patients."
Originally from New York, Dr. Heit went to college at SUNY/Binghamton and medical school at Saint Louis University. After residency at Washington University School of Medicine, he completed fellowship training at Rush University with Linda Brubaker, MD, MS, an internationally recognized expert in the field of Urogynecology. From 1994 to 2004, he was Director of the Division of Urogynecology and established the accredited fellowship training program in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. During this time, he also served as the Fellowship Director. Beginning in 2004, he ran a successful FPMRS group and solo private practice before returning to academic medicine in 2013. Over the last 9 years, he has served as Fellowship Director of the FPMRS program at Indiana University while providing clinical care as a Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon at Indiana University Health.
Early in his academic medicine career he enrolled in the University of Louisville's Master of Science in Public Health and PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research programs. The primary objective was to gain the expertise to compete effectively for extramural funding from the NIH and expand his leadership role in mentored investigator-initiated clinical research for Ob/Gyn residents and fellows. He was able to successfully secure NIH funding (R03 HD041114-01, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)) for his research entitled "A Model for Explaining Differences in Incontinence Care Seeking [MEDICS]." This research project culminated in the publication of 4 peer-reviewed manuscripts, a master's thesis and PhD dissertation.
His primary interest and personal expertise are in professional development. His first fellow leveraged his mentored research training into a leadership position with the Society of Gynecologic Surgeon's Systematic Review Group and is now the past president of the society. Two of his fellows were the recipients of the June Allyson Foundation Research Award for their mentored basic science research projects. He has won the teaching award as a fellow at Rush University and three times as faculty at the University of Louisville.
With his rare combination of leadership, educational, surgical, and research expertise, Dr. Heit brings enthusiasm and new ideas to this role. Dr. Heit states that his goal as Director of Gynecologic Specialties is "to listen, advocate, collaborate, team build, and promote the Division as a consultative service for faculty and patients."
Tarangi Sutaria, MD