Carol Emi Bretschneider, MD
Dr. Bretschneider is chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and director of Northwestern Medicine Women's Integrated Pelvic Health Clinic. She is double board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery.
Dr. Bretschneider is passionate about caring for patients with pelvic floor disorders. She strives to make sure every patient gets leading-edge, evidence-based, patient-centered care. Dr. Bretschneider believes that the most important part of the physician-patient relationship is communication and education. Her practice uses a collaborative approach to create personalized plans to meet the unique concerns of her patients. Dr. Bretschneider is an expert in minimally invasive surgery focused on vaginal and robotic techniques to treat pelvic organ prolapse (POP). She also champions uterine-sparing POP surgery for patients who want to avoid surgery to remove their uterus (hysterectomy). Dr. Bretschneider is also interested in treating refractory overactive bladders. Dr. Bretschneider grew up in the Washington D.C. area but is now proud to call Chicago home. She attended Princeton University where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in anthropology and a certificate in East Asian studies. After medical school at University of Virginia, she completed an OB-GYN residency at University of North Carolina. Following residency, she completed a fellowship in urogynecology reconstructive pelvic surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Bretschneider has expertise in population-based database research studies, and her research focus is overactive bladder in older women. She was selected for the Pepper Scholar Program, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging. Dr. Bretschneider is involved in multiple federally funded research studies investigating surgical outcomes after reconstructive pelvic surgery. She has authored over 80 publications, many in prominent peer-reviewed journals, and presents her research at national and international meetings. To request an appointment, please call 312.694.7337. |