National Center for Women's Health

                                Staff | Services

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About the National Center for Women's Health

The National Center for Women's Health is a unique combination of medical and educational services provided through the cooperative efforts of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction and the Pope Paul VI Institute Physicians, PC. These efforts bring together the powerful education programs of the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System; the Patient Services Division of the Pope Paul VI Institute Physicians, PC; the National Hormone Laboratory; and the Reproductive Ultrasound Center. The physicians specialize in obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive medicine and surgery for individuals needing regular or high-risk care and are dedicated to providing the finest medical care available in a climate that is consistent with Catholic moral principles. The practice is disease-based. The physician's goal is to diagnose what is wrong with the woman and then to treat it.

Patients are drawn to this practice for a variety of reasons. Many come for the medical and surgical expertise of the physicians and the successful treatment that thousands of women have received. Some women are attracted to healthcare providers who respect their dignity within a pro-life, pro-family framework. They know that the physicians will not ask them to do any evaluation or treatment that will compromise their values. Many of the patients are not Catholic but appreciate receiving care from physicians who depend on their faith in making moral decisions. Some women come knowing that, because of the CREIGHTON MODEL charting, they will be partners in their health care and that treatment will be individualized to meet their unique needs. They appreciate care that is given cooperatively with their own natural cycles (Healthcare in harmony with nature). Many women come because they want to know what is wrong with them! So often in the area of reproductive health, women are treated with hormones and with artificial technology without ever having an evaluation to find out what disease is causing their problem.

Since 1985, the National Center for Women's Health has served patients from nearly every state in the United States and several foreign countries. Using the expertise gained through the development of the new reproductive science of NaProTECHNOLOGY, the professionals at the National Center offer scientifically and medically sound approaches to reproductive and gynecologic care which are not generally available in other areas. The staff of the Center includes professional registered nurses who are specifically trained in the nursing activities of NaProTECHNOLOGY. In addition, it is staffed by registered diagnostic medical sonographers, experts in hormone evaluation, and other support staff.

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Staff of the National Center for Women's Health

The physicians and other division heads include:

Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, the director of the Pope Paul VI Institute is an obstetrician-gynecologist who specializes in reproductive medicine and surgery. Dr. Hilgers is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Laser Surgery (in gynecologic laser surgery). An expert in microsurgery and reconstructive pelvic surgery, he is a member of the prestigious Society of Reproductive Surgeons. In addition, he has been named, by Pope John Paul II, to membership in the Pontifical Academy for Life. He was also named "Physician of the Year" in 1997 by the Nebraska Family Council.

Catherine E. Keefe, MD, is an obstetrician-gynecologist and a Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant. She is the first John Paul II Fellow in Medical and Surgical NaProTECHNOLOGY .

Teresa Kenney, MSN, APRN, WHNP, FCNP, is a women's health nurse practitioner. She is a NaProTECHNOLOGY medical consultant and also teaches the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System. She is a member of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals and the Nebraska Nurse Practitioner Association.

Kelly Morrow, MA, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who provides a wide range of psychological services. She is an expert in assisting women and couples who have experienced the emotional effects of reproductive problems. She is an associate member of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals and the Nebraska Psychological Association.

John Vasiliades, PhD, DABCC, serves as the National Reproductive Hormone Laboratory director.

Linda Cady, RN, BSN, CFCP, is nurse manager of the Patient Care Division. She has worked as a nurse with Dr. Hilgers for over twenty years. She is a member and a former president of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals.

Jeanine Johnson, Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in the OB/GYN specialty, is the chief sonographer in the Pope Paul VI Institute's ultrasound center. She has been working full time at the Institute for more than ten years. She has been working with 3-D and 4-D technology for more than five years. She is very experienced at visualizing the most subtle ovulation events, a key tool used in identifying one of the causes of infertility and repeated miscarriage.

Jan McAlpine, BS, MT (ASCP), is the medical technologist in charge of the National Reproductive Hormone Laboratory. She has twenty-plus years of laboratory experience and is certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

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Services of the National Center for Women's Health

Evaluation and Treatment Programs
In addition to providing general obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic surgery, the expertise of the National Center for Women's Health specializes in the provision of care for patients with the following conditions:

• Infertility evaluation and treatment
• Repeated miscarriages
• Surgical treatment of endometriosis
• Prematurity Prevention Program
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Recurrent ovarian cysts
• Dysmenorrhea
• Postpartum depression
• Perimenopausal/menopausal care
• Polycystic ovarian disease
• Reversal of tubal ligation

Bone Density Screening Program
This program is housed in the National Center's Adult Bone Density Center. The ongoing commitment to women's health also encompasses the condition of her bones. It is recommended that a baseline test be performed at age 35.

Reproductive Ultrasound Center
This center of excellence uses state of the art diagnostic ultrasound equipment and techniques, including the latest innovation, 4-D ultrasound. It is staffed by registered diagnostic medical sonographers. This was the first program in the state of Nebraska to be accredited in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound by the Commission of the American Institute for Ultrasound. Using high frequency sound waves, ultrasound testing provides the physicians with useful information regarding reproductive health and fetal development.

National Reproductive Hormone Laboratory
All of the reproductive hormones are assayed in the Institute's in-house specialty laboratory. This allows results to be reported promptly and with a high level of accuracy. The monitoring of hormone levels is an extremely important part of reproductive care. Dr. Hilgers has developed specific reference ranges for a woman's hormone cycle as well as progesterone levels for every week of pregnancy, which differentiates the National Reproductive Hormone Laboratory from others.

NaProPsychology
Clinical psychology with principles of NaProTECHNOLOGY. Staffed by clinical psychologist, Kelly Morrow, PhD.

Center for NaProEthics
Under the leadership of Sr. Renee Mirkes, OSF, PhD, the Center for NaProEthics offers consultation services for ethical issues in the areas of reproductive medicine, sexuality, marriage, and family. She is available for telephone (402-390-0812) and e-mail consultations.

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