Joseph Schaffer, M.D.

Dr. Joseph Schaffer – Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology – is Chief of the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and Medical Director of the Division's university practice. He is also Chief of the Division of Gynecology. Dr. Schaffer holds the Frank C. Erwin, Jr. Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Schaffer completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and then trained in the Advanced Pelvic Surgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Subsequently, he obtained additional training in urogynecology and urodynamics at Kings College Hospital in London. After practicing urogynecology at the University Medical Center at Stony Brook in New York, he joined the faculty at UT Southwestern Medical Center in 1997.

Dr. Schaffer is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and a member of the American Urogynecologic Society, the International Continence Society, and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. He is past president of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons.

Dr. Schaffer has written and lectured widely on the subjects of urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.

PR -Medical/Dental School

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Medical School

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (1987)

Internship

Thomas Jefferson University (1988), Obstetrics & Gynecology

Residency

Thomas Jefferson University (1991), Obstetrics & Gynecology

Fellowship

Cleveland Clinic Foundation (1992), Advanced Pelvic Surgery

Other Post Graduate Training

University of Texas at Dallas (2015)

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

Featured Publications

Hysterectomy: Still a useful operation

Schaffer JI, Word A N Engl J Med 2002 347 1360-2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• 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)

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Urogynecologic Society
• International Continence Society
• International Urogynecology Association
• Society of Gynecologic Surgeons