“We think about the patient not just in terms of diagnosis, but where they are in their life.”
For more than 20 years, Dr. Nicole Donnellan, MD, has dedicated her career to improving women’s health through innovation, advocacy, and compassionate care.
A minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at UPMC Magee-Women's Hospital, Dr. Donnellan specializes in surgical treatments for conditions such as endometriosis, benign fibroids, and chronic pelvic pain. She is also a founder and director of the UPMC Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Center, a groundbreaking team that provides comprehensive care for women with complex pelvic conditions.
“Unfortunately, many reproductive-age women are not listened to,” she says. “The void to try to help coordinate care and elevate the care for these individuals is something that we pride ourselves in.”
For Dr. Donnellan, one of the greatest advances in gynecologic surgery has been the ability to offer minimally invasive procedures that allow patients to recover faster, experience fewer complications, and often return home the same day.
“When patients find out that even the most advanced pathologies can be treated with a minimally invasive approach, they’re relieved,” she says.
But technology alone isn’t what makes UPMC Magee unique. Dr. Donnellan believes the hospital’s culture of collaboration and patient-centered care is one of its greatest strengths. Physicians, researchers, nurses, and specialists work together to treat the whole person rather than focusing solely on a diagnosis.
“Having been heard, listened to, and advocated for is incredibly important,” she says. “That is something I try to impart to every trainee and future colleague.”
At UPMC, Life Changing Medicine means delivering patient-focused care, not just in terms of diagnosis, but where they are in their life.
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