RESOURCES
*Living well with endometriosis requires lifelong management and a whole body emphasis. On this page you will find numerous resources intended to facilitate the process of discovering what is helpful to each individual. As endometriosis is an incredibly personal disease with varied presentations, each patient’s journey, and therefore treatment strategy, will look different. It is important to consult your doctor when considering new treatments or adjunctive therapies.*
MN ENDOMETRIOSIS SPECIALISTS
Dr. Eric Heegaard
ObGyn & Excision Specialist - Department Of Obstetrics And Gynecology At Hennepin Healthcare
Minneapolis
I am an OB-GYN in the Minneapolis area. I have been in practice now for 20 years. I grew up not far culturally from the mythological Lake Woebegon in a hamlet named Alexandria, Minnesota where my father was a general practitioner. It is because of his love for medicine and especially obstetrics that guided me into this profession and finally into the specialty of OB-GYN.
My approach to treatment and management of endometriosis and chronic pain is collaborative. From a surgical standpoint, my goal is excision. I have created a team which involves a pelvic floor physical therapists, colorectal surgeons, and urologists who have interest in endometriosis. My goal is to have everything set ahead of time, prior to surgery, with the necessary team present or available so that, hopefully, all reasonable eventualities can be addressed at the time of surgery. I do not manage any gynecologic problems and especially endometriosis/pelvic pain from a top-down angle. I feel like the best results come from working collaboratively with the patient and, together, coming up with an agreed upon treatment plan. My experience has been that this approach allows the patient to feel like she is a participant in her care and not just the recipient. From my perspective, I also find this extremely satisfying.
Contact:
612.873.6963
Dr. Matthew Palmer
Blaine, Crystal, Maple Grove & Plymouth
ObGyn & Excision Specialist - Oakdale ObGyn
It is the connection that I make with my patients that really make my job exciting and rewarding. Patients come to see their ObGyn with deeply personal and, at times, very troubling concerns. It is very rewarding to me to be able to offer my patients treatments, both medical and surgical, that can sometimes change their whole outlook on life. I love to see the hope in a patient’s eyes that comes when they have been struggling with pain, bleeding or uterine prolapse and I tell them I can help. It is this opportunity to give patients hope and help them through both joyful and difficult times that makes me passionate about being an ObGyn doctor.
For me, minimally invasive surgery is the most exciting part of my practice and I completed an additional two years of fellowship training to acquire advanced surgical skills. With the advancement of surgical instrumentation and robotics, it is good news that most gynecologic conditions can now be treated in a minimally invasive manner that allows for fewer complications, faster recovery, and less pain. Most of my patients lead very busy and active lives and it is gratifying to them to be able to get back to living their lives more quickly than ever before.
I grew up in the St. Paul metro area, and after 10 years away for residency and fellowship training, we are now glad to call the West Metro and Maple Grove our home. We love all the varied seasons that Minnesota has to offer and are active outdoors enthusiasts. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three young children. You may see us around town in a variety of kids team sports and activities.
We enjoy traveling, being active outside, and are big Minnesota sports fans.
Contact:
763.587.7000
Dr. Tatnai L. Burnett
ObGyn & Excision Specialist - The Mayo Clinic
Rochester
Tatnai L. Burnett, M.D., is an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following medical school and residency at the University of Michigan, he completed a 2 year fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery at Southern Illinois University before joining the faculty in his current position, and holds joint appointments in the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Surgery. He is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Clinically, Dr. Burnett specializes in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery with a focus on endometriosis and pelvic pain. He coordinates a complex endometriosis program, the center of which is an interdisciplinary MRI and endometriosis conference co-chaired with radiology that has advanced endometriosis care at Mayo Clinic. His research interests include endometriosis and its relationship to varying patient phenotypes and its coexistence with other pelvic pain generating diseases such as adenomyosis. He is actively involved in education, training residents and fellows.
Contact:
507.538.3270
Dr. Zaraq Khan
ObGyn, Excision Specialist & Endocrinologist - The Mayo Clinic
Rochester
Zaraq Khan is double board certified in OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist and infertility with additional special training in endometriosis excision surgery as well as minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and reproductive organ transplant.
Dr. Khan joined the Mayo Clinic in 2007 where he completed a residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology. He completed an NIH funded masters in clinical research and then went onto start his first fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility also at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in 2015. Dr. Khan was awarded the prestigious Mayo Clinic Scholar which allowed him to complete a 2nd travelling fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic surgery/ Reproductive organ transplantation and endometriosis excision surgery. Through this program, he worked in Kiel Germany at Kiel School of Endoscopy formed by Dr. Kurt Semm (a pioneer in Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery), Kantosspital Aarau in Switzerland and at Center of Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, Georgia under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Sinervo. He completed his training in ovarian Transplantation at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark and received training for uterus transplantation from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Dr. Khan works full time as a reproductive surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN, where he sees patients with advanced endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis and complex Müllerian anomalies. His passion lies in helping women with advanced endometriosis who are eagerly seeking fertility.
In his free time he pursues his passion of traveling to and hiking in remote areas of the world. He is also a self-proclaimed mixologist, so if he is not working or traveling, he is infusing spices and spirits or carving ice blocks for artisanal cocktails.
Contact:
507.538.3270
SUPPORTIVE THERAPIES
Nutrition
As with much of endometriosis, effective nutrition is highly personalized to each patient. Working with a dietician or nutritionist can help improve wellbeing, manage hormones, and minimize inflammation. Reach out to a local practitioner or get in touch with one listed below.
Mental Health
The mind and body are inextricably linked, with rates of depression and anxiety rising dramatically in patients burdened with chronic pain. The pain is real, it is not all in your head, but talking with a professional can greatly improve quality of life in spite of the pain. We strongly encourage all patients to have a mental health practitioner on their treatment team.
Fertility
Infertility is a prevalent concern among endometriosis patients. Lesions and resulting adhesions can physically block reproductive organs or the effects of chronic inflammation can make conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term difficult. For more information, see the link below.
Physical Therapy
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a cornerstone of effective endometriosis management. Chronic pain from endometriosis can lead to muscle tension and dysfunction over time, often felt in the low back, abdomen, pelvis, and vagina. Physical therapy works to reduce this tension often resulting in improved pain, bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
Accupuncture
Acupuncture works by improving blood flow, reducing muscle tension, supporting the immune system, mediating pain responses, and promoting healthy hormone balance. Reach out to a local practitioner or try a clinic listed below.
For more information on how acupuncture can help with management of endometriosis, follow the link below. https://www.endofound.org/can-acupuncture-reduce-endometriosis-pain
Additional resources
Websites:
Podcasts:
The Endo Cast
Endo Battery