Core Investigators, Collaborators and Research Study Team

Jennifer Wu, MD, MPH

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Associate Professor, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Pelvic Floor Disorders Core Director, Center for Women’s Health Research

Research Interests: Epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders; genetic epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders; risk factors and treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and fecal incontinence

Jan Busby-Whitehead, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Geriatric Medicine
Professor & Chief, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Director, Center for Aging and Health

Research Interests: Geriatric syndromes including urinary and fecal incontinence, memory disorders, falls, functional decline, polypharmacy

AnnaMarie Connolly, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD ’36 Distinguished Professor, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery;
Vice Chair for Education & Director, Medical Education Division

Research Interests: Treatment outcomes of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, medical education and program development, leadership development, and mentorship

Alexis Dieter, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Assistant Professor, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Research Interests: Etiology and treatments of pelvic floor disorder, minimally invasive surgery for prolapse repair, genitourinary fistula management, neuromodulation therapies for bladder dysfunction, perioperative and clinical care optimization

Elizabeth Geller, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Associate Professor & Fellowship Director, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Research Interests: Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, mesh implants, risk factors and treatment of idiopathic and refractory overactive bladder, including sacral neuromodulation

Michele Jonsson-Funk, PhD

Gillings School of Public Health, Epidemiology
Research Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Research Interests: Epidemiology of PFDs and clinical outcomes; comparative effectiveness

Mary H. Palmer , PhD, RNC, FAAN, AGSF

School of Nursing
Helen W. & Thomas L. Umphlet Distinguished Professor in Aging

Research Interests: Urinary incontinence, health behaviors and prevention or urinary incontinence, gerontology

Publications

Mandy Pulliam, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Assistant Professor and Director, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Research Interests: reconstructive pelvic surgery, risk factors and treatment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and fecal incontinence

Ellen Wells, MD

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Associate Professor, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Research Interests: Urinary incontinence, pelvic support surgery, fecal incontinence

Bill Whitehead, PhD

School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
Director, Center for Functional GI & Motility Disorders
Professor of Medicine
Adjunct Professor of OB-GYN

Research Interests: Clinical outcomes and treatment of fecal incontinence, gastrointestinal motility disorders, and constipation

Maggie Wilkins, RN, MSN, WHNP-BC

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Clinical Instructor, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Research Interests: Epidemiology and treatment of pelvic floor disorders

Christy Avery, MPH, PhD

Gillings School of Public Health, Epidemiology
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology

Research Interests: Cardiovascular disease, Environment (general)

Publications

Jeannette Bensen, PhD, MS

Gillings School of Public Health, Epidemiology
Research Associate Professor, Epidemiology

Research Interests: genetics in complex diseases, identifying risk groups for intervention or altered treament strategies

Hazel Nichols, PhD

Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology

Assistant Professor

Research Interests: Epidemiology of pelvic floor disorders and other health outcomes among women with a cancer diagnosis

Kari North, PhD

Gillings School of Public Health, Epidemiology
Professor, Epidemiology
Professor, Carolina Center for Genome Sciences

Research Interests: Genetic Epidemiology, Statistical Genetics, Cardiovascular Disease, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes

Tim Wiltshire, PhD

Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Associate Professor, Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics
Associate Director, Center for Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Therapy

Research Interests: Pre-clinical pharmacogenetics using mouse models

Katherine Feliciano

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Research Assistant, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Jessica Gage

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Research Assistant, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

Emily Olsson

School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Social/Clinical Research Specialist, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery
Pelvic Floor Disorders Core Manager, Center for Women’s Health Research

Research Interests: Women’s health, primary and secondary prevention