The first motivation of pursuing my training in general Urology came from the idea of treating a diverse patient population with urologic conditions. I was very passionate about treating a wide variety of urologic conditions in men, women, and children, which drove me to the speciality.
The Start Of My Journey
The Gender Gap
Early in my training, I noted significant disparities in the care provided to female patients with pelvic floor and voiding dysfunction in comparison to their male patient counterparts. Though these conditions have equally negative impacts on the quality of life of both genders, advanced research, and innovation practices to provide quality care were heavily prioritized toward men. This gender gap was unfair and astonishing to me.
I was the first African American woman in my residency program. It was a male-dominated environment where I found that professors had a knowledge gap and a lack of interest regarding female pelvic floor disorders. Urethral dilation was the common approach to treat any female pelvic health condition. This oversimplified treatment approach was often harmful to female patients. Most of my professors were not interested in UPRS and even discouraged my pursuit of a fellowship program as I was told I could self-teach myself the field or even that “it would be a waste of my time".
Exposure And The Importance Of Mentorship
Fortunately, my residency program director was a female urologist who was highly skilled and passionate about UPRS. She noticed my interest in UPRS and provided me with invaluable exposure to medical and surgical treatments for female pelvic floor disorders. During a second-year clinical rotation, she introduced me to the field of Urogynecology. Later, I also joined her in outpatient clinic sessions at a multi-disciplinary women’s pelvic health clinic.
During the end period of my training, I met a brilliant African American female urologist on a rotation at Cook Country hospital. She was an UPRS fellowship trained urologist who introduced me to additional clinical conditions and surgical techniques such as pelvic organ prolapse repair with mesh, vesicovaginal fistula repair, and mid-urethral sling placement for stress incontinence. She also helped connect me to another African American female urologist at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, who despite never meeting me in person, graciously mentored me, provided me career guidance, and included me in her research pursuits.
Finding My Calling
Thanks to these women who provided me guidance, mentorship, and opportunities during my training, I would have never found a career path in UPRS without their help. Their encouragement solidified my passion for UPRS and I made a commitment to provide high-quality care for women with pelvic floor disorders and to advocate for greater diversity and inclusion in Urology, a field historically dominated by non-diverse male providers.
Education
B.S. degree in Biology at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA summa cum laude
Medical Degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA
6-year General Urology Residency at Northwestern McGaw Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL.
2-year accredited UPRS fellowship at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH
Experience
• 2014 - appointed Assistant Professor at UPMC's Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh PA, where she developed a unique UPRS Urology resident educational program centered on evaluation and management of UPRS conditions.
• Established a collaborative educational program between the Urology department and the division of Urogynecology which played a pivotal role in providing Urogynecology fellows exposure and training to sacral neuromodulation which was not previously offered in their program.
• Taught Urodynamics techniques and interpretation to both Urogynecology fellows and Urology residents.
• Was singularly instrumental in increasing the Urology residents’ exposure to UPRS ACGME required surgical case volume leading to the first two trainees of the residency program pursuing UPRS fellowships.
• 2019 - transitioned from her academic teaching practice to a private general urology large group practice in Maryland to solely focus on patient clinical care.
• Developed a new women's comprehensive UPRS service line for the Anne Arundel region including management of many UPRS conditions as well as female genital aesthetics.
• Served in a dual role as Physician Leader of Quality for the Clinical Urodynamics Program and UDS technician educator.
• Established a first-of-its-kind high volume complex vaginal reconstructive same day surgery ASC outpatient program comprised of standardized minimally invasive surgical techniques for pelvic organ prolapse.
• Helped to facilitate this program's expansion to other practice affiliated ASC locations.
• 2021 - was recognized for providing a center of excellence service line for Axonics sacral neuromodulation, due to exceptional clinical outcomes, in addition to being top Axonics implanter for the practice.
• 2022 - founded Taylored UroGyn Care, LLC an independent physician firm offering a variety of high quality clinical and non-clinical services.
Dr. Taylor is double board certified by the American Board of Urology in both General Urology and Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery.
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