Amanda Yunker, DO, MSCR
Division: Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Research Interests: Pelvic Pain, Surgical Education, Endometriosis, Fibroids
Education
D.O., University of North Texas HSC, 2004
Residency, University of Okalhoma, 2008
Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Pelvic Pain, University of North Carolina, 2010
MSCR, University of North Carolina, 2010
Biography
Her post-residency training included a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecology and Pelvic Pain. Pelvic pain, while being a common reason for a patient to present to a gynecologist, is not a strong focus in residency training for OBGYN. Her unique fellowship training allowed her two extra years to focus on this clinical problem and also develop the surgical skills to address it if a surgical treatment is warranted. During my fellowship, she also spent time with a renowned functional gastroenterologist, anesthesiologists who treat chronic pain, and several pelvic floor physical therapists to augment her knowledge of chronic pain disorders and the benefit of multi-modal therapy. After she joined Vanderbilt, she continued her clinical practice in this area, and is now the director for VUMC's Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery fellowship.
Research Information
Dr. Yunker has studied several areas in which the gynecologist can be an instigator or contributor to the development of chronic pelvic pain. These include studies and publications on post-endometrial ablation pain, post-Essure placement pain, and subtotal hysterectomy in the setting of endometriosis and pelvic pain.