Surgical Master's Course Now Available at Sequoia Hospital

Sequoia Hospital is a sponsor of an intensive, hands-on training course teaching gynecologic surgeons to perform some of today’s most advanced minimally invasive techniques in women’s surgery.

Physicians from around the U.S. and more than nine other countries in Asia, Europe, and North and South America will convene Thursday through Saturday at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco for the Eleventh Surgical Masters’ Course in total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and advanced laparoscopic general and oncologic procedures.

The course is the brainchild of Kate O’Hanlan, MD, a leader in minimally invasive gynecologic cancer surgery and active member of Sequoia Hospital’s medical staff.

During its first seven years, the how-to course has trained more than 1,400 surgeons from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries.

Attendees advance the skills needed to operate through tiny incisions with state-of-the-art equipment, learning multiple techniques in total laparoscopic hysterectomy and advanced laparoscopic procedures.

These minimally invasive surgical approaches enable women to experience less pain and recover more quickly after surgery.

“At the Masters’ Course, cancer surgeons and general gynecologists are able to ramp up their skills in a safe environment so that, when they go to the operating room, they are ready to perform these procedures with minimal complications and a great deal of confidence,” Dr. O’Hanlan said.

Sequoia Hospital supports advancements in medical care by supporting physicians on its medical staff to share their expertise by training other doctors. Sequoia Hospital’s medical staff includes many surgeons who are recognized for innovation in the use of leading-edge techniques and technology.

The 18-member course faculty of the internationally recognized training event includes many highly published, nationally known laparoscopic gynecologic, anesthesiologists and general surgeons in addition to Dr. O’Hanlan.

Physicians on Sequoia Hospital’s medical staff who will teach at the event include anesthesiologist Shanthala Keshavacharya, MD, general surgeon Michael O’Holleran, MD, pathologist Mamatha Chivukula, MD, and gynecologist Kelli Beingesser, MD.

Dr. O’Hanlan, a pioneer in the field of TLH, is the founder of Laparoscopic Institute for Gynecologic Oncology, or LIGO. Her vision is to reduce the unnecessary 70 percent rate of hysterectomies that are performed using the painful, larger open incisions. With her technique, women are ready to leave the hospital the next day after the surgery and are ready to return to work in less than two weeks.

Additional information on innovative preparation method for gynecologic laparoscopic procedures is available in the March/April 2012 issue of Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology; the paper, coauthored by Dr. O’Hanlan and Beth Charvonia, administrative RN in Sequoia’s operating room, is titled, “Single-Field Sterile Scrub, Preparation, and Dwell for Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.”

The course is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCM) and provides Continuing Medical Education credit through a joint sponsorship with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

For more information or to register for the course online, go to www.ligocourses.com.

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