Joseph Schaffer, MD

Professor
Endowed Title: Frank C. Erwin Jr. Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Contact Information

UT Southwestern Medical Center
5323 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390

Office Phone: 214-648-3639

joseph.schaffer@utsouthwestern.edu

To make an appointment, call 214-645-8300.

Biography

Dr. Joseph Schaffer is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief of the Divisions of Urogynecology and Gynecology as well as Director for the Urogynecology University Practice. He has written and lectured widely on the subjects of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Dr. Schaffer is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has completed fellowship training in advanced pelvic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic followed by training in urodynamics and urogynecology at Kings College Hospital in London, England. His practice specializes in treating women suffering from pelvic floor disorders such as urinary and fecal incontinence, over-active bladder, voiding dysfunction, pelvic pain, and pelvic organ prolapse.

Education

FellowshipCleveland Clinic Foundation (1992)
ResidencyThomas Jefferson University Hospital (1991)
InternshipThomas Jefferson University Hospital (1988)
Medical SchoolUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine (1987)
PR -Medical/Dental SchoolUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Research Interests

Childbirth Related Pelvic Floor Injury
Non-Surgical and Surgical Management of Prolapse and Incontinence
Pathophysiology of Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Urinary Incontinence

Publications

Featured
Morphometric analysis of smooth muscle in the anterior vaginal wall of women with pelvic organ prolapse

Boreham MK, Wai CY, Schaffer JI, Word RA , Am J Obstet Gynecol , 2002; (187):56-63

Featured
Morphometric properties of the posterior vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse

Boreham MK, Wai CY, Miller RT, Schaffer JI, Word RA , Am J Obstet Gynecol , 2002; (187):1501-9

Featured
Hysterectomy: Still a useful operation

Schaffer JI, Word A , N Engl J Med , 2002; (347):1360-2

Featured
Smooth muscle myosin heavy chain and caldesmon expression in the anterior vaginal wall of women with and without pelvic organ prolapse

Boreham MK, Miller RT, Schaffer JI, Word RA , Am J Obstet Gynecol , 2001; (185):944-52

Featured
Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women with Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

Carley ME, Schaffer JI , Am J Obstet Gynecol , 2000; (182):1021-3

The natural history of posterior vaginal wall support after abdominal sacrocolpopexy with and without posterior colporrhaphy.

Yau JL, Rahn DD, McIntire DD, Schaffer JI, Wai CY , American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 2007;

Anatomical path of the tension-free vaginal tape: Reassessing current teachings.

Rahn DD, Marinis SI, Schaffer JI, Corton MM , American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 2006;

Expression of human macrophage elastase in vaginal muscularis of women with pelvic organ prolapse

Marinis, S.I., Boreham, M.K., Keller, P., Wai, C., Corton, M.M., Nihira, M.A., Schaffer, J.I., Word RA , American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism , 2006;

Vascular anatomy of the presacral space in unembalmed female cadavers

Wieslander CK, Rahn DD, McIntire DD, Marinis SI, Wai CY, Schaffer JI, Corton MM. , American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 2006;

A randomized trial of the effects of coached vs. uncoached maternal pushing during the second stage of labor on postpartum pelvic floor structure and function.

Schaffer JI, Bloom SL, Casey BM, McIntire DD, Nihira MA, Leveno KJ , American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , 2005;

Honors/Awards

CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education

UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1999)

Outstanding Faculty Award

UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (1999)

Faculty Teaching Award

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Medical Center at Stony Brook (1996)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

American Urogynecologic Society

International Continence Society

International Urogynecology Association

Society of Gynecologic Surgeons