Meet Emily. She’s one of the first warm, reassuring faces you’ll see when you walk into Innovations Surgery Center in Rockville, Maryland—an outpatient center operated by the Center for Innovative GYN Care, where advanced minimally invasive techniques are used to treat complex GYN conditions for women from across the U.S. and around the world.
As Director of Perioperative Services, Emily guides each patient through every stage of surgery—before, during, and after—ensuring that no detail is missed and no woman ever feels alone.
A physician’s assistant with GYN surgical expertise, Emily is also a patient advocate and believer in holistic, whole-body care. Her mission: to make sure women struggling with conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and ovarian cysts finally get the answers—and the relief—they’ve been searching for. In a rare pause between surgeries, Emily opened up about her vision for women’s health and the passion that fuels her work.
1) What inspired you to focus on gynecology and surgery?
I’ve always loved using my hands, which naturally led me toward surgery. My first role was in labor and delivery, caring for an underserved Hispanic population where I quickly realized the importance of clear communication and cultural understanding. I even learned Spanish to better connect with patients. Eventually, I discovered my true passion was helping women with complex GYN conditions. At CIGC, I can combine advanced surgical skills with advocacy for women who often feel overlooked.
2) You often talk about holistic care—what does that mean to you?
Holistic care means treating the whole woman, not just her symptoms. Chronic conditions like endometriosis can affect everything—work, relationships, even mental health. By focusing on nutrition, hydration, and nervous system regulation, patients can heal faster and recover with less pain after surgery. Research supports these simple steps, and I see them make a difference every day. For me, it’s about giving women tools that empower their recovery beyond the operating room.
3) What do you find most rewarding about your role at CIGC?
I love watching women reclaim their lives. Many of our patients come in exhausted, discouraged, and burdened by years of pain or heavy bleeding. After surgery, when they say, “I feel like myself again,” it’s incredibly moving. Knowing I played a part in their transformation—whether by answering questions, holding a hand, or guiding recovery—is why I love what I do.
4) Women often wait years for a diagnosis of fibroids or endometriosis. Why do you think that happens?
Women’s health has been underfunded and under-researched for decades, and conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis are especially hard to detect with standard imaging. OB and GYN care are often taught as one specialty, which can leave providers without the tools to diagnose and treat complex surgical conditions. Too many patients are dismissed or told their pain is “normal.” At CIGC, we specialize in the advanced procedures many women have been told aren’t possible, and that changes lives.
5) What advice do you give women about advocating for their health?
Educate yourself and don’t settle for the first answer if it doesn’t feel right. Seek second, third, or fourth opinions—your health is worth it. If symptoms like pelvic pain, bloating, or heavy bleeding are disrupting your life, keep pushing until you find a provider who listens. Most of all, remember you deserve answers, and you deserve relief.
Emily has worked in diverse medical and surgical environments, from OBGYN care at Adventist Health to medical missions in Haiti, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Her unique blend of surgical expertise, holistic health passion, and patient advocacy makes her a trusted ally for women facing complex GYN conditions.
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