News Release #13-021 October 7, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Krista A. Kittle (315) 785-4504

SMC GYNECOLOGIST AMONG FIRST CLASS TO ACHIEVE SPECIALIZED BOARD-CERTIFICATION Dr. Nanci Hawkins Now Dual Board-Certified
Watertown, New York ----- SMC Gynecologist Dr. Nanci Hawkins sat among the top gynecologists in the nation, as well as some of the physicians who taught her in medical school, to take a Board-certification examination in a new sub-specialty. Dr. Hawkins took the exam in June and was notified in September that she passed and is one of the first gynecologists in the nation to be Board-certified in this new medical specialty, Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery (FTMRS). This sub-specialty includes treatment and procedures for conditions such as urine loss, incontinence and pelvic support issues, including pelvic prolapse. It is definitely an honor to be among the first group of physicians to achieve this certification, explains Dr. Hawkins. To know that my mentors and some of the best physicians in the field sat for this exam is very humbling. The FTMRS is jointly run by the American Board of Gynecologists and the American Board of Urology. This new subspecialty is primarily achieved by gynecologists and urologists. One prerequisite for the examination is that the physician must already be Board-certified in either Gynecology or Urology. If that criterion is met, then the physician must further qualify by demonstrating that 50 percent of his/her caseload is within this sub-specialty. Because this is a new sub-specialty, experienced Board-certified physicians were able to take the exam as long as they could prove that they perform these types of procedures on a regular basis, concludes Dr. Hawkins. Now that the first class has been certified, any physician wishing to take the examination from this point forward, is required to take a fellowship (usually a two-year program) in order to even qualify to take the exam. ###