Maimonides honors women this Women’s History Month and every other day of the year by prioritizing comprehensive, integrative women’s healthcare that supports women through every stage of their lives. Highly skilled physicians work together providing a full suite of services, spearheaded by Scott Chudnoff, MD, MSc, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Patients stand to benefit the most from Dr. Chudnoff’s extensive experience and visionary leadership. Under his direction, severe pregnancy complications at Maimonides are just 1.2% compared to the New York State average of 1.8%—and Maimonides’ Women’s Health Institute has so much more to offer patients.

The Women’s Health Institute—A One Stop Shop for Almost Everything Women Need

“We treat everyday symptoms and unexpected issues, from adolescence through child-bearing, menopause, and beyond,” explains Dr. Chudnoff. In doing so, the dedicated healthcare providers in the Women’s Health Institute provide a host of services, including:

• Cancer screenings and treatments
• Pelvic floor interventions
• Early pregnancy assessments
• Menopause care
• Postpartum psychiatry
• Cardiac care

Many of these services center around reproductive health, but Maimonides’ integrated health programs for women take female-focused care to the next level.

Integrative Approaches to Care

Women’s health is unique not just from a reproductive standpoint. The Women’s Health Institute recognizes that biological and hormonal differences have far-reaching effects on women’s health and well-being. Pelvic floor dysfunction and disorders, for example, are common concerns for patients of the Women’s Health Institute.

“Located in the Maimonides Doctors Multispecialty Pavilion (MDP), our pelvic floor physical therapists will treat bowel and bladder dysfunction, diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles), urinary incontinence, and pelvic and vaginal pain,” Dr. Chudnoff said. “Our program is comprehensive in that if a surgical option is needed, we have surgeons on staff that the therapist will consult with. The care is seamless for women.”

Women also have a unique relationship to heart disease throughout different stages of life, especially after going through menopause. According to Dr. Chudnoff, low levels of estrogen after menopause can increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease, and conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy can increase the risk of long-term heart disease or heart attacks. Doctors at the Women’s Health Institute can make patients aware of these changes at the appropriate time and connect them to Maimonides’ cardiac health experts if needed.

Maimonides’ clinical team members use this and other patient information to build integrative care plans that work. Collaboration between OB/GYNs and cardiologists can help identify patients approaching or going through menopause—that way, they can identify and treat heart health issues early.

There are also supports in place for patients to receive mental health care as an integrative intervention for postpartum psychosis, cancer treatment, and for patients experiencing other mental health challenges. Healthcare providers in the Women’s Health Institute prioritize collaboration with radiology, genetics, surgery, and other specialty departments, ensuring a streamlined healthcare experience for the patients who need it most.

Connecting patients with other health care experts, like cardiologists or psychologists, helps them to identify and address serious problems early on, holistically.

“Navigating the many women’s health services spread across many departments at Maimonides is exactly the purpose of the new state-of-the-art facility at the MDP. It is a comprehensive women’s specialty center.”

Leading the Department: A Full-Circle Moment

Many doctors at Maimonides feel compelled to work here because they have roots in and around the Brooklyn borough. However, Dr. Chudnoff’s dedication is even deeper—he was born right here at Maimonides in 1973. His ascent to chair of the department he was literally born into makes his visionary leadership all the more special.

Referring patients to his department is convenient and easy—call Maimonides’ Women’s Health Institute at 718-283-7979 for appointments.