Tell us about where you currently live (city/country) and how you ended up in this location.

I currently live in Long Island in New York (NY) in the United States. I originally came from South Korea where I was born, raised and educated. I majored in Fashion Design and minored in Education at the University. As a college student, I participated in the University’s Acting Club and our team won the Best National College Student Acting Award. I worked as a Fashion Designer upon graduating from the University then worked as a Promotion’s Manger in the Theater. I participated in the Korea’s first International Performing Arts Festival in 1999 and studied Performing Arts as a graduate student at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul. To learn more about the Broadway Musical System, I came to New York City in 2000, where I learned English as a second language. Living in New York City was a culture shock to me and broadened my horizons. I wanted to contribute to the world, especially for Women’s Health, in a more meaningful way. I went back to school and majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry with scholarly concentrations on Cellular & Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase. I earned Bachelor of Science from SUNY Purchase with Summa Cum Laude. Then I obtained a Doctor of Medicine with scholarly concentration of Health Disparities at the Morsani College of Medicine at University of South Florida in Tampa. I completed my residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) at Albery Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY and Fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in NY. I served as the Associate Fellowship Director at my fellowship institution then moved to the Inspira Health Network in South Jersey where I served as the Associate OBGYN Residency Director and Medical Director of Urogynecology for 5 years. On July 2024, I joined the New York University (NYU) Langone Health at Long Island in NY as the Director of Female Pelvic Floor and Associate Professor at the Department of OBGYN at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.

Tell us about your work—your job title, where you work, years of experience, areas of focus or research, and what inspired you to pursue your career.

On July 2024, I joined the New York University (NYU) Langone Health at Long Island in NY as the Director of Female Pelvic Floor and Associate Professor at the Department of OBGYN at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. I also serve as the Director of Gynecologic Education. I am a double board-certified OBGYN, and FPMRS. I am dedicated to serving the women with pelvic floor dysfunction to improve quality of life. I am also interested in clinical care, patient education/ satisfaction/safety, staff well-being, education for the next generation, and clinical research activities. I conducted multiple clinical research projects; and published a number of articles and abstracts, along with presenting a number of oral/poster/video presentations at the national level conferences. I am also officially credentialed as a Certified Physician Executive (CPE), who demonstrates the leadership skills to effectively manage healthcare teams with proper strategic planning and excellent communication skills. My ultimate professional goals include (1) ensuring quality of life/satisfaction for the Urogynecologic patients by providing evidence-based, personalized individual care/management; and (2) taking the initiative in teaching, service and scholarly activities to be actively involved in medical education to nurture the next generation of the providers.

What motivated you to join IUGA, and what does being a member mean to you?

Since my Fellowship, IUGA has been a great resource for me and my patients. The IUGA’s educational materials for the providers and patients are excellent and up to date at the international level. In addition, the IUGA’s dedication on the global advancement of urogynecological knowledge and patient care through education and the promotion of basic and clinical research on disorders of the female pelvic floor is so admiring. I would like to be a part of its dedication and to contribute in a way I can. I joined IUGA formally in 2021.

What has been your most rewarding or memorable IUGA experience?

With more active participation as an Education Committee member for 2025-2027, I anticipate more rewarding/memorable IUGA experiences over the course of the time.