Dr Karen McKertich is a Urological Surgeon specialising in the assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence, bladder problems, and Female Urology including prolapse.
Karen graduated top of her year in Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1991. She completed Urological training in Australia and obtained her Fellowship in Urological Surgery from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) in 2000.
Karen is a Full Member of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and a member of the Female Urology Special Advisory Group. Karen is the current Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Urological Surgeons (ANZAUS) and a Board Member of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Board of Directors.
After obtaining her Fellowship in Urology, Karen has undertaken further sub-specialisation in Female Urology, Neurourology and Urodynamics, prolapse and incontinence surgery in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Karen is actively involved in teaching at both a medical undergraduate and postgraduate level and clinical research into incontinence.
Karen is a member of Australian Urology Associates - a group practice of Melbourne Urologists offering comprehensive Urological services with areas of subspecialisation in Urology.
Karen practices in both private and in public hospitals. Her private practice is based in the south-eastern and bayside suburbs of Melbourne.
In the public hospital system Karen is a member of The Alfred Hospital Urology Unit and runs the Bayside Urology Continence Clinic based at Caulfield General Medical Centre.
So why on earth did you choose to become a Urologist?
While people are never surprised about my choice to be a doctor, they are often surprised about my choice to be a Urologist and moreover a Urologist specialising in urinary incontinence surgery and bladder problems.
“Why would you specialise in this area?” is a question I am not infrequently asked especially by my patients.
Why? Because these problems are very common, very embarrassing, extremely debilitating and often under treated. Problems such as incontinence are not as high-profile or as easy to talk about as cancer or kidney stones, but to individuals suffering from these problems, they are just as important.
There are many Urologists and doctors specialising in cancer surgery and other conditions that are potentially life-threatening but not as many with an interest in these embarrassing and hidden conditions. Conditions such as urinary incontinence, bladder infections, prolapse and painful bladder conditions may not reduce years of life but they do have an enormous impact on a person’s quality of life and that’s an area worthwhile making my life’s work as an incontinence surgeon in Melbourne.
It is immensely satisfying to be able to make a difference to a person’s quality of life with non-surgical treatments as well as minimally invasive surgical procedures. I frequently reassure patients that they do not have to suffer in silence and there is much can be done to help everyone with urinary symptoms.
Dr Karen McKertich’s Goals
- To clearly communicate with patients in order to define their problems
- To educate patients about their diagnosis
- To give patients options for treatment
- To help and guide patients in their management plan and choice of treatment
- To improve community, doctor and other health professional awareness and education of bladder problems and incontinence
- To advocate for the needs of people with incontinence and other bladder problems
- To promote research in the area of incontinence and bladder conditions
Urological and Incontinence-Related Conditions Treated at this Surgery
- Urinary incontinence in women and men
- Investigation of urinary incontinence
- Treatment of urinary incontinence by non-surgical means as well as minimally invasive surgery
- Stress urinary incontinence in women
- Urge urinary incontinence
- Overactive Bladder
- Female Urology
- Neurourology – neurological abnormalities affecting the urinary system
- Urodynamic testing
- Pelvic floor problems in women
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Conservative management
- Treatment with pessaries
- Surgical treatments for prolapse
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Bladder pain
Hospital Affiliations
- Cabrini Medical Centre, Malvern
- Cabrini Medical Centre, Brighton
- Cotham Private Hospital, Kew
- The Alfred Hospital, Prahran
- Caulfield Medical Centre
Professional Memberships and Affiliations
- Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ)
- Female Urology Special Advisory Group of USANZ
- Australian and New Zealand Association of Urological Surgeons (ANZAUS)
- Chairman of ANZAUS
- UroGynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA)
- Continence Foundation of Australia (CFA)
- Continence Foundation of Australia Victorian Branch (CFA Vic)
- Board Member and
- Vice President of the Board
- Australian Medical Association (AMA)
- American Urological Association (AUA)
- International Continence Society (ICS)
- Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU)
- International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA)
- Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU)
