Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS

Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS

Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS, is the director of female urology, a member of the University of Washington (UW) Medicine Pelvic Health Center, and an associate professor of urology at UW in Seattle. Her focus is the betterment of women’s pelvic health. She is committed to women’s global urological health initiatives, as well as national and global advocacy for fellow women in this field of urology, urogynecology, and female pelvic health; she won an American Urological Association (AUA)/Urology Care Foundation (UCF) Humanitarian Grant in 2023. 

Dr. Sutherland completed her medical degree and urologic training at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospital of Cleveland. She gained further specialized training in female urology/urogynecology from the Center for Continence Care and Female Urology in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and from the Institute for Sexual Medicine in Boston. After 10 years with a large multi-specialty urology practice in Minneapolis/St Paul, she joined the academic community at UW in Seattle in 2013. 

She has made numerous contributions to the medical literature: presentations, papers, and book chapters on urinary incontinence, pelvic prolapse and sexual health; she takes an active role in training future female urologists both at the resident and fellowship level. Dr. Sutherland serves as a consultant for pharmaceutical and medical device companies and remains active in associated clinical research through multi-center national and international clinical trials, staying abreast of the newest developments in her field.

Talks by Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS

SUI – AUA/SUFU Guidelines 2017 — Amendment 2023

Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS, discusses the AUA and SUFU guidelines for evaluating and treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In this five-minute talk, Dr. Sutherland reviews the five key components for evaluating a patient with SUI and discusses indications for advanced diagnostic tools such as cystoscopy and urodynamics.
Dr. Sutherland’s discussion continues with the Guideline’s treatment options, both non-surgical (pessaries, vaginal inserts, and pelvic floor muscle exercises), and surgical (bulking agents, midurethral slings). The recent amendment to the guidelines now allows clinicians to offer single-incision slings alongside retropubic and transobturator slings for patients, reflecting their comparable safety and effectiveness.

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Implantable Tibial Nerve Stimulation (iTNS): Revi

Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS, focuses on implantable tibial nerve stimulation (ITNS) for treating overactive bladder and urinary incontinence. In this 17-minute presentation, she introduces the Revi device featured in the OASIS trial.

After discussing the Revi device’s benefits, Dr. Sutherland reviews the implantation procedure and the 12-month data from the OASIS trial, which show promising results. The device is considered safe, with no serious adverse events reported. Minor issues such as discomfort were easily resolved with reprogramming, a feature of note with this device.
Sutherland emphasizes the importance of ease of use, safety, and flexibility in choosing ITNS devices. As more implantable devices enter the market, factors like surgical complexity, reprogrammability, battery replacement needs, and ongoing support will determine their success.

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Bladder Microbiome and Recurrent UTIs: Preventing Those Nasty Buggers

Suzette E. Sutherland, MD, MS, URPS, addresses the role of the microbiome in recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). She begins this 26-minute presentation by reviewing the bladder microbiome, noting that microbes support immune function and maintain the integrity of the bladder lining. She then transitions to prevention and treatment of the condition.

Non-antibiotic prevention strategies are discussed, focusing on hydration, cranberry supplements, estrogen, and probiotics. Probiotics are emphasized for their role in reducing UTI recurrence, but Sutherland stresses the importance of proper diagnosis and judicious antibiotic use to avoid contributing to antibiotic resistance. Catheter-associated UTIs are also addressed, with a preference for clean intermittent catheterization and bladder irrigation with gentamicin in severe cases. Overall, Dr. Sutherland advocates for a conservative, evidence-based approach, using antibiotics only when necessary to preserve the efficacy of these crucial medications.

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