Profile Image
Colleen Fitzgerald Photo
Name
Colleen Fitzgerald
Degree
M.D.
Rank
Professor
Primary Department
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
Joint Department
Urology
Specialties
Rehabilitation
Women's Pelvic Medicine
Pregnancy-Related Musculoskeletal Medicine
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Postpartum pain
Pain in Pregnancy
Locations
Loyola Hospital
Loyola Outpatient Center
Loyola Center for Health at Burr Ridge
Education
Medical School
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Residencies
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago/Northwestern University Medical School, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Hobbies
Travel
Family/Friends
Summaries
Female Chronic pelvic pain Pelvic floor disorders Pregnancy related low back and pelvic pain Research, Teaching and Clinical Contributions A. Funding Information -ACTIVE 1R21HD105115-01A1 9/16/2022 – 9/15/2024 Principal Investigator: Fitzgerald, Colleen Marie Project Title: Musculoskeletal and Pelvic Floor Health in Female Chronic Overlapping Pelvic Pain Conditions (The MSK-PELVIC Study) 1U02DK1068980 (Mueller/Brubaker) 7/01/2020 - 6/30/2025 NIH/NIDDK PLUS Loyola Clinical Center In the proposed PLUS-LCC studies, we will explore the community, cultural context by engaging in a Chicago-wide participatory, mixed methodological community-based Pelvic Health Assessment by conducting the first Chicago LUTS and community health survey, first large scale qualitative study on community members pelvic health perceptions, behaviors and knowledge groups, and conduct landscape assessment to characterize Chicago’s health care system where women interface. Role: Co-Investigator, 10% 5T35AI125220-02 (Mueller) 7/20/2017 - 06/30/2027 Project Title: Summer Research Experience for Medical Students in Inflammation and Infectious Diseases The proposed training program provides mentored summer research opportunities for early stage medical students with the goal of inspiring a passion for biomedical research. Through hands-on research training supplemented with didactic conferences on research and career development topics, we will introduce students to the excitement and challenges of research and encourage them to pursue careers that integrate research with clinical care. Role: Co-Investigator, .24 Calendar Months 5UL1TR002389-06 7/1/2022 - 06/30/2027 ITM 3.0: ADVANCING HEALTH TOWARD HEALTH EQUITY THROUGHOUTMETROPOLITAN CHICAGO PI: Julian Solway – The University of Chicago Loyola PI- Elaine Morrato, PhD; Role: Consultant, 2% B. Funding Information -COMPLETED 5U01DK082342-08 (Schaeffer/Klumpp) 1/1/2019 – 6/30/2021 NIH/NIDDK MAPP Research Network, Project Title: Pelvic Pain and Depression Role: Co-Investigator, PI of Subcontract, .6 calendar months Loyola HealthEQ 07/01/2020-06/30/2021 COVID-19 Registry for Organizing Chicagoland Area Research for Health Equity and Community Services (CRO Cares) Role: PI, no salary support NIH 1 R21 AI142528-01 (Radek) 02/01/2019 – 01/31/2021 Chromogranin A as a Regulator of Urothelial Antimicrobial Responses During Urinary Tract Infection The goals of this project are to characterize how Chromogranin A and catestatin modulate urothelial antimicrobial peptide and innate immune responses during E. coli urinary tract infection. Role: Co-Investigator, .24 calendar months 1R01DK104718 (Brubaker (Multiple PI)) 4/01/2016 – 3/31/2021 NIH/NIDDK The Female Urinary Microbiome and Urinary Incontinence The aim of this study is to understand the role of the female urinary microbiome in urinary incontinence. Role: Collaborator, 2% 1U01DK1068980 (Mueller/Brubaker) 7/01/2015 - 6/30/2020 NIH/NIDDK PLUS Loyola Clinical Center In the proposed PLUS-LCC studies, we will explore the community, cultural context by engaging in a Chicago-wide participatory, mixed methodological community-based Pelvic Health Assessment by conducting the first Chicago LUTS and community health survey, first large scale qualitative study on community members pelvic health perceptions, behaviors and knowledge groups, and conduct landscape assessment to characterize Chicago’s health care system where women interface. Role: Co-Investigator, 10% Loan Repayment Program (Fitzgerald) 7/01/2012 – 6/30/2018 NIH/NICHD Role: PI Scott F. Nadler Research Award (Fitzgerald) 10/01/2013 – 9/30/2017 Foundation for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation The Effect of Ultrasound Guided Posterior Sacroiliac Ligament Corticosteroid Injection in Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to investigate the clinical outcome of ultrasound guided ligamentous corticosteroid injection in pregnant women with sacroiliac pain. Role: PI Interstitial Cystitis Association (Bresler/Fitzgerald) 6/01/2014 – 6/01/2017 Acupuncture for Female Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome and Its Effects on the Urinary Microbiome: A Randomized Controlled Trial The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the safety, tolerability and efficacy of true versus sham acupuncture in women with IC/PBS and its effect on the female urinary microbiome. Role: Co-PI K23 HD069511-01A1 (Fitzgerald) 9/23/2013 – 10/31/2016 NIH/NICHD Mechanistic Distinctions in Female Chronic Pelvic Pain Subtypes The purpose of this study is to examine the sensory and functional characteristics of women with postpartum pelvic pain (somatic-musculoskeletal pain) and interstitial cystitis/
Publications
Markland, A; Bavendam, T; Cain, C; Neill Epperson, C; Fitzgerald, CM; Yvette LaCoursiere, D; Shoham, DA; Smith, AL; Sutcliffe, S; Rudser, KOccupational groups and lower urinary tract symptoms: A cross-sectional analysis of women in the Boston Area Community Health Study. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2023 ;
Fitzgerald, CM; Cunningham, SD; Berry, A; Gahagan, S; Joinson, C; Lindberg, S; Newman, DK; Schmitz, KH; Smith, AL; Sutcliffe, S; Shoham, DAIs there an association between physical activity and lower urinary tract symptoms in adolescent girls? Results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. International Urogynecology Journal 2023 ;
Perlow, A; Joyce, CJ; Bennis, S; Mueller, ER; Fitzgerald, CMToileting Behaviors and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Female Physicians and Medical Students. Urogynecology (Philadelphia, Pa.) 2023 ;29(8)
Nwachokor, J; Rochlin, EK; Gevelinger, M; Yadav, M; Adams, W; Fitzgerald, C; Acevedo-Alvarez, M; Mueller, ER; Pham, TTPhysician awareness of patients' preferred level of involvement in decision-making at the initial urogynecology visit: a randomized trial. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2023 ;
Bennis, S; Pham, YN; Tseng, I; Malisch, B; Joyce, CJ; Fitzgerald, CMHealth literacy in women with chronic pelvic pain. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2023 ;
Camenga, DR; Wang, Z; Chu, H; Lindberg, S; Sutcliffe, S; Brady, SS; Coyne-Beasley, T; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Low, LK; LaCoursiere, DY; Lavender, M; Smith, AL; Stapleton, A; Harlow, BLSexual Health Behaviors by Age 17 and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms at Age 19: PLUS Research Consortium Analysis of ALSPAC Data. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2023 ;
Newman, DK; Lowder, JL; Meister, M; Low, LK; Fitzgerald, CM; Fok, CS; Geynisman-Tan, J; Lukacz, ES; Markland, A; Putnam, S; Rudser, K; Smith, AL; Miller, JMComprehensive pelvic muscle assessment: Developing and testing a dual e-Learning and simulation-based training program. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2023 ;
Brubaker, L; Barthold, J; Fitzgerald, CM; Kenton, K; Lewis, CE; Lowder, J; Lukacz, ES; Markland, A; Meister, M; Miller, J; Mueller, ER; Rudser, K; Smith, AL; Newman, DKThe RISE FOR HEALTH study: Methods for in-person assessment and biospecimen collection. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2022 ;
Chen, YB; Lowe, C; Wozniak, A; Pham, TT; Fitzgerald, CM; Mueller, ER; Acevedo-Alvarez, MPessary Management Approach Affects Likelihood of Surgery. Urogynecology (Hagerstown, Md.) 2022 ;28(12)
Fitzgerald, CM; Fok, C; Kenton, K; Lukacz, E; Markland, AD; Meister, M; Newman, DK; Rudser, K; Smith, EG; Wyman, JF; Lowder, JLThe RISE FOR HEALTH study: Methods for in-person musculoskeletal assessment. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2022 ;
Dune, TJ; Griffin, A; Hoffman, EG; Joyce, C; Taege, S; Brubaker, L; Fitzgerald, CMImportance of internal vaginal pelvic floor muscle exams for women with external lumbar/hip/pelvic girdle pain. International Urogynecology Journal 2022 ;
Bresler, L; Westbay, LC; Hekman, L; Joyce, C; Fitzgerald, CMAcupuncture for female bladder pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. The Canadian journal of urology 2022 ;29(3)
Westbay, LC; Adams, W; Barnes, HC; Gevelinger, M; McKee, D; Fitzgerald, CM; Acevedo-Alvarez, M; Mueller, ER; Pham, TTHow Involved Do Patients Want to Be in the Medical Decision-Making at the Initial Urogynecology Clinic Visit? Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery 2022 ;28(3)
Wyman, JF; Cain, CH; Epperson, CN; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Newman, DK; Rudser, K; Smith, AL; Vaughan, CP; Sutcliffe, SUrination Frequency Ranges in Healthy Women. Nursing research 2022 ;
Shoham, David A.; Wang, Zhenxun; Lindberg, Sarah; Chu, Haitao; Brubaker, Linda; Brady, Sonya S.; Coyne-Beasley, Tamera; Fitzgerald, Colleen M.; Gahagan, Sheila; Harlow, Bernard L.; Joinson, Carol; Low, Lisa Kane; Markland, Alayne D.; Newman, Diane K.; Smith, Ariana L.; Stapleton, Ann; Sutcliffe, Siobhan; Berry, AmandaSchool Toileting Environment, Bullying, and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in a Population of Adolescent and Young Adult Girls: Preventing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Consortium Analysis of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Urology 2021 ;151(8)
Barnes, HC; Wolff, B; Abdul-Rahim, O; Harrington, A; Hilt, EE; Price, TK; Halverson, T; Hochstedler, BR; Pham, T; Acevedo-Alvarez, M; Joyce, C; Fitzgerald, CM; Schreckenberger, PC; Brubaker, L; Wolfe, AJ; Mueller, ERA Randomized Clinical Trial of Standard Versus Expanded Cultures to Diagnose Urinary Tract Infections in Women. The Journal of urology 2021 ;
Fitzgerald, CM; Bennis, S; Marcotte, ML; Shannon, MB; Iqba, S; Adams, WHThe Impact of a Sacroiliac Joint Belt on Function and Pain using the Active Straight Leg Raise in Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain. PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation 2021 ;
Westbay, LC; Adams, W; Kistner, M; Brincat, C; Bresler, L; Yang, LC; Fitzgerald, CMClinical Outcomes of a Multidisciplinary Female Chronic Pelvic Pain Program. Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery 2021 ;
Harm-Ernandes, I; Boyle, V; Hartmann, D; Fitzgerald, CM; Lowder, JL; Kotarinos, R; Whitcomb, EAssessment of the Pelvic Floor and Associated Musculoskeletal System: Guide for Medical Practitioners. Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery 2021 ;27(12)
Sutcliffe, S; Cain, C; Bavendam, T; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Markland, AD; Shoham, DA; Smith, AL; Rudser, KChanges in Bladder Health Over Time: A Longitudinal Analysis of Adult Women in the Boston Area Community Health Survey. The Journal of urology 2021 ;
Shoham, DA; Wang, Z; Lindberg, S; Chu, H; Brubaker, L; Brady, SS; Camenga, DR; Coyne-Beasley, T; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Harlow, BL; Joinson, C; Low, LK; Markland, AD; Newman, DK; Smith, AL; Stapleton, A; Sutcliffe, S; Berry, ASchool toileting environment, bullying, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a population of adolescent and young adult girls: Preventing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Consortium (PLUS) analysis of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Urology 2020 ;
Ye, AL; Adams, W; Westbay, LC; Fitzgerald, CMEvaluating Disability-Related Quality of Life in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery 2020 ;26(8)
Dune, TJ; Kliethermes, S; Mueller, ER; Fitzgerald, CM; Brubaker, L; Brincat, CAScreening for Microscopic Hematuria in a Urogynecologic Population. Female pelvic medicine & reconstructive surgery 2020 ;26(6)
Brady, SS; Berry, A; Camenga, DR; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Hardacker, CT; Harlow, BL; Hebert-Beirne, J; LaCoursiere, DY; Lewis, JB; Low, LK; Lowder, JL; Markland, AD; McGwin, G; Newman, DK; Palmer, MH; Shoham, DA; Smith, AL; Stapleton, A; Williams, BR; Sutcliffe, SApplying concepts of life course theory and life course epidemiology to the study of bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms among girls and women. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2020 ;39(4)
Sutcliffe, S; Cain, C; Bavendam, T; Epperson, CN; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Markland, AD; Shoham, DA; Smith, AL; Rudser, KRevisiting the Spectrum of Bladder Health: Relationships Between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Multiple Measures of Well-Being. Journal of women's health (2002) 2020 ;29(8)
Wolff, BJ; Joyce, CJ; Brincat, CA; Mueller, ER; Fitzgerald, CMPelvic floor myofascial pain in patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection. International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2019 ;145(2)
Dwarica, DS; Collins, GG; Fitzgerald, CM; Joyce, C; Brincat, C; Lynn, MPregnancy and Sexual Relationships Study Involving wOmen and meN (PASSION Study). The journal of sexual medicine 2019 ;16(7)
Wolff, BJ; Joyce, CJ; McAlarnen, LA; Brincat, CA; Mueller, ER; Fitzgerald, CMConsideration of pelvic floor myofascial release for overactive bladder. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies 2019 ;24(2)
Bresler, L; Westbay, LC; Fitzgerald, CMBladder Pain Syndrome in Women. JAMA 2019 ;
Sutcliffe, S; Bavendam, T; Cain, C; Epperson, CN; Fitzgerald, CM; Gahagan, S; Markland, AD; Shoham, DA; Smith, AL; Townsend, MK; Rudser, KThe Spectrum of Bladder Health: The Relationship Between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Interference with Activities. Journal of women's health (2002) 2019 ;28(6)
Lowder, JL; Bavendam, TG; Berry, A; Brady, SS; Fitzgerald, CM; Fok, CS; Goode, PS; Lewis, CE; Mueller, ER; Newman, DK; Palmer, MH; Rickey, L; Stapleton, A; Lukacz, ESTerminology for bladder health research in women and girls: Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms transdisciplinary consortium definitions. Neurourology and Urodynamics 2019 ;38(5)
Bresler, L; Price, TK; Hilt, EE; Joyce, C; Fitzgerald, CM; Wolfe, AJFemale lower urinary tract microbiota do not associate with IC/PBS symptoms: a case-controlled study. International Urogynecology Journal 2019 ;30(11)
Dixon, AM; Fitzgerald, CM; Brincat, CSeverity and bother of prolapse symptoms in women with pelvic floor myofascial pain. International Urogynecology Journal 2019 ;30(11)
Shannon, Megan B.; Genereux, Madeleine; Brincat, Cynthia; Adams, William; Brubaker, Linda; Mueller, Elizabeth R.; Fitzgerald, Colleen M.Attendance at Prescribed Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in a Diverse, Urban Urogynecology Population. PM & R: Journal of Injury, Function & Rehabilitation 2018 ;10(6)
Taege, Susanne K.; Adams, William; Mueller, Elizabeth R.; Brubaker, Linda; Fitzgerald, Colleen M.; Brincat, CynthiaAnesthetic Cream Use During Office Pessary Removal and Replacement: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2017 ;130(1)
Billquist, EJ; Michelfelder, A; Brincat, C; Brubaker, L; Fitzgerald, CM; Mueller, ERPre-operative guided imagery in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery: a randomized trial. International Urogynecology Journal 2017 ;29(8)