Research: Female triathletes at risk for pelvic floor

disorders and other complications

MAYWOOD, Ill. Female triathletes are at risk for pelvic floor disorders, decreased energy,
menstrual irregularities and abnormal bone density, according to researchers at Loyola
University Health System (LUHS). These data were presented July 24, 2014, at the American
Urogynecologic Society 2014 Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.

The study found that one in three female triathletes suffers from a pelvic floor disorder such
as urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. One in four had one
component of the female athlete triad, a condition characterized by decreased energy,
menstrual irregularities and abnormal bone density from excessive exercise and inadequate
nutrition.

There has been a surge in popularity of high-impact sports such as triathlons, but little has
been known until now about the prevalence of pelvic health and certain other issues
associated with endurance training and events, said Colleen Fitzgerald, MD, study
investigator and associate professor, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery,
Stritch School of Medicine.

Researchers surveyed 311 women for this study with a median age range of 35 44. These
women were involved with triathlete groups and most (82 percent) were training for a
triathlon at the time of the survey. On average, survey participants ran 3.7 days a week, biked
2.9 days a week and swam 2.4 days a week.

Of those who reported pelvic floor disorder symptoms, 16 percent had urgency urinary
incontinence, 37.4 percent had stress urinary incontinence, 28 percent had bowel incontinence
and 5 percent had pelvic organ prolapse. Training mileage and intensity were not associated
with pelvic floor disorder symptoms. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed screened positive
for disordered eating, 24 percent had menstrual irregularities and 29 percent demonstrated
abnormal bone strength.

While both pelvic floor disorders and the female athlete triad are prevalent in female
triathletes, both are often ignored, said Johnny Yi, MD, urogynecologist and study
investigator. Doctors should be aware of how common these conditions are in this group of
athletes and treat patients appropriately to avoid long-term health consequences.
The Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division (HSD) advances interprofessional,
multidisciplinary, and transformative education and research while promoting service to
others through stewardship of scientific knowledge and preparation of tomorrow's leaders.
The HSD is located on the Health Sciences Campus in Maywood, Illinois. It includes the
Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, the Stritch School of Medicine, the biomedical research
programs of the Graduate School, and several other institutes and centers encouraging new
research and interprofessional education opportunities across all of Loyola University
Chicago. The faculty and staff of the HSD bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a
strong commitment to seeing that Loyola's health sciences continue to excel and exceed the
standard for academic and research excellence. For more on the HSD, visit LUC.edu/hsd.
MEDIA RELATIONS
Nora Plunkett
Media Relations
(708) 216-6268
nplunkett@lumc.edu
Joseph Pixler
Health Sciences Division
jpixler@luc.edu
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Loyola launches Institute for Transformative
Interprofessional Education
Initiative to focus on collaborative education for better patient care
MAYWOOD, Ill. Loyola University Chicago has established the Institute for
Transformative Interprofessional Education (ITIE) to educate future health-care
providers and professionals to work as a team to better care for patients.

This initiative will offer a joint curriculum with select classes for medical, nursing,
public health, law, health systems management, business, bioethics, social work,
nutrition and exercise science students to learn together. Forty-nine faculty
ambassadors, representing broad areas of specialization, will come together to lead the
curriculum, practice and culture change necessary to fulfill the mission of the institute.
The institute also will encourage faculty development and scholarship in
interprofessional education and leadership. Loyola is among the first universities in
the United States to implement such a collaborative model.

This team model will allow us to decrease silos and provide a safer and more holistic
educational approach to patient care, said Aaron Michelfelder, MD, FAAFP,
FAAMA, co-director, ITIE.

ITIE programs will include an interprofessional education day and team simulation.
All students will be required to participate in simulated patient experiences in
Loyolas Center for Simulation Education. This facility includes a six-bed virtual
hospital and home-care environment where teams of students learn together how to
better care for patients in a low-risk environment.

Other interprofessional programming will include a poverty simulation day where
faculty, practitioners and students will role-play what it is like to live in poverty. The
goal is to better understand the impact poverty has on health and to learn how to
collaboratively care for these patients in the context in which they live.

Patients will interact with providers from a broad range of specialties and disciplines
as they navigate the complexities of the health-care system, said Fran R. Vlasses,
PhD, RN, NEA-BC, ANEF, FAAN, co-director, ITIE. Loyolas program will prepare
future professionals to work together to meet the needs of each patient.
The Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division (HSD) advances
interprofessional, multidisciplinary, and transformative education and research while
promoting service to others through stewardship of scientific knowledge and
preparation of tomorrow's leaders. The HSD is located on the Health Sciences Campus
in Maywood, Illinois. It includes the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, the Stritch
School of Medicine, the biomedical research programs of the Graduate School, and
several other institutes and centers encouraging new research and interprofessional
education opportunities across all of Loyola University Chicago. The faculty and staff
of the HSD bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a strong commitment to
seeing that Loyola's health sciences continue to excel and exceed the standard for
academic and research excellence. For more on the HSD, visit LUC.edu/hsd.
Workers top off Loyola's $137 million medical
research and education center

Workers top off Loyola's $137 million medical research and education center on the
Maywood campus.
On June 9, construction workers topped off Loyola University Chicagos $137
million medical research and education building in Maywood, Ill..
Ironworkers signed their names and attached an American flag to the final beam to be
placed in the Center for Translational Research & Education. A crane hoisted the
beam, which workers secured to the top floor of the five-story building.
Construction of the center began in August 2013. The center is on schedule to open in
April 2016 on the universitys Health Sciences Division campus in Maywood.
The 227,000-square-foot building is a collaboration between Loyola University
Chicago, Loyola University Health System and CHE-Trinity Health. The center will
support nearly 500 scientists and staff working together to improve health.
The center will include bench laboratory and support space for 72 principal
investigators plus space for 40 lead scientists engaged in desktop research such as
public health, health services, nursing, bioinformatics and epidemiology. A 250-seat
auditorium will provide a link with the local community, serving primarily as a
showcase for health-related programming.
The center will accommodate principal investigators, postdoctoral trainees, physicians,
nurses, residents, fellows, graduate students and students from Loyola University
Chicagos Stritch School of Medicine and Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.
Researchers now scattered among buildings throughout the Health Sciences Division
campus will be centralized in the research and education center. The center is located
between the Maguire office building and Loyolas Stritch School of Medicine.
Charles Hemenway, M.D.,Ph.D.
Director, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine MD/PhD Program
Ronald McDonald House Charities Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology
Welcome to the Loyola University Chicago-Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM)
MD/PhD Program website. The Loyola MD/PhD program incorporates superb
medical and graduate education with high impact scientific research in both
translational and basic science disciplines. Our integrated educational program is
designed to be individualized and tailored to meet the professional goals of each
student. In addition to the scholarly development of compassionate and highly
proficient clinical skills and research accomplishments, students are encouraged in
their exploration of community service opportunities and perspectives on global
health. Positioned at the nexus of scientific research and clinical education at SSOM,
the MD/PhD program integrates creative approaches to multidisciplinary graduate and
medical training while promoting a strong academic and social community. Graduates
of the combined MD/PhD program are well-positioned to become leaders in their
chosen academic medical and research specialties.
The following pages and downloadable brochure describe our MD/PhD program in
greater detail and provide information regarding admission to the Stritch School of
Medicine, as well as requirements for matriculation into the MD/PhD program. You
will find links to the SSOM medical and graduate schools, including academic
timelines, descriptions of both clinical and basic science research departments on the
Maywood campus, as well as links to the research programs of our faculty and
students. We encourage you to explore these resources and if you would like
additional information please contact our program administrator or the SSOM
admissions office.
Loyola MD/PhD Program
Program Overview
Preparing students for a career in academic medicine, our program is designed for
outstanding students to earn both an MD and PhD degree. Ideal candidates for this program
should demonstrate a strong interest in and exceptional motivation toward research.

Our MD/PhD candidates undergo a challenging and excellent research training experience
tailored to the interests and career goals of each student.

Program Duration
Guided by a specialized and highly individualized training, the ultimate goal is for the student
to achieve both degrees in seven to eight years, depending on the students goals,
background, workload, and specific course schedule.

Program Details
The students of the MD/PhD Program benefit from all the biomedical science departments of
the graduate school located at Loyola University Medical Center. Our medical and graduate
education programs are fully integrated. For details see information under the current
student timeline.

Through our Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences (IPBS), we offer a wide range of
excellent research opportunities, teaching faculty, courses, and seminar programs which will
afford the student a rich experience in the field of their choice. For details on each of the
following department or program, visit the Graduate School of Biomedical Science website:
http://stritch.luc.edu/graduate_school/
o Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
o Cell and Molecular Physiology
o Integrative Cell Biology
o Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics
o Microbiology and Immunology
o Neuroscience

Monthly Meetings
Students actively partipate in presenting their respective research and/or clinical work at
appointed MD/PhD monthly meetings.