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Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD

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Specializes in: Urogynecology

Rush Medical College (2010)

Professional interests include: women's health issues, female incontinence, pelvic reconstructive surgery, and more.

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

(319) 678-8417

Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD is an urogynecologist in Iowa City, IA specializing in urogynecology. He graduated from Rush Medical College in 2010 and has 15 years of experience. Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD is affiliated with University of Iowa and University of Iowa Health Care.

Office Locations

Address:

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

Address:

3385 Dexter Court
Davenport, IA 52807

Some issues Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD can help you with:

Gynecologic Surgery

Gynecologic surgery is surgery performed on a woman's pelvic region. It is usually performed by an OB/GYN and can involve the bladder, rectum, or reproductive organs. Surgery in this area may be performed for many reasons, but the most common procedures include:

Hysterectomy
Fibroid removal
Treatment of endometriosis or other heavy bleeding
Cancer treatment, including cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers
Removal of ovarian cysts
Infertility treatment
Treatment for incontinence
Sterilization or 'tube-tying'
Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse
Repair of vaginal tears

More and more, gynecologic surgery is moving towards the use of minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive surgery uses several small incisions and tiny tools and scopes to perform the operation, rather than one large opening. While it is not appropriate in every case, minimally invasive surgery can lead to less scarring, less blood loss, faster recovery, and a lower chance for infection. Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery may be performed with a laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera on the end that allows the surgeon to see inside the body. It may also be performed robotically, using even smaller tools and cameras that a surgeon controls from a computer. Robotic surgery allows even better vision, precision, and control than laparoscopic surgery.

Over the course of a lifetime, many women need pelvic surgery to stay healthy. Qualified gynecologic surgeons will have the right tools at their disposal to provide care with a minimum of discomfort.

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Pelvic organ prolapse is the bulging of pelvic organs into the vaginal canal due to a weak pelvic floor, causing symptoms like discomfort, pain, urinary problems, and constipation. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the pelvic organs, which are made up of the bladder, rectum, small bowel, uterus, and vagina. Vaginal childbirth, menopause, pelvic surgery, radiation treatments, or being extremely overweight may cause the pelvic floor to weaken. Pelvic organ prolapse is a very common disorder among women, particularly for those who are over 50.

The choice of treatment for pelvic organ prolapse depends on the severity of the condition. Mild to moderate prolapse may be managed by doing pelvic floor strengthening exercises, taking hormone replacement therapy, or using pessaries. Pessaries are small devices inserted into the vagina to help support the pelvic organs. Pessary fitting is a quick procedure done in a doctor's office. For severe prolapse, surgical treatment may be necessary. Pelvic organ prolapse surgery repairs the following:

Cystocele or bladder prolapse, where the bladder sags into the vagina. The surgeon repairs a cystocele by strengthening the front wall of the vagina using stitches so that the bladder will no longer sag.
Enterocele or small bowel prolapse, which occurs when the small bowel descends towards the vagina. To correct an enterocele, the tissues between the small bowel and the vagina are sewn together, allowing them to provide more support.
Rectocele or posterior prolapse, which is the bulging of the front wall of the rectum into the back wall of the vagina. Surgery to repair a rectocele removes the excess stretched tissue between the rectum and vagina.
Uterine prolapse, which occurs when the uterus slips down to the vagina. To treat a uterine prolapse, the surgeon may secure the neck of the uterus (called cervix) to a ligament in the pelvis using stitches. Another option for this type of prolapse is a vaginal hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus.

Each of these procedures is performed through a vaginal incision, but an enterocele repair may use the abdominal approach as an alternative. If two or more pelvic organs have prolapsed, a combination of any of these procedures may be performed during the same surgical session.

For women who no longer wish to have intercourse, an operation called colpocleisis

may be a surgical option as well. By closing the vaginal canal, colpocleisis treats pelvic organ prolapse and eliminates any risk of its recurrence.

In most instances, pelvic organ prolapse surgery only requires a hospital stay of one day. Patients may experience vaginal bleeding for the first few weeks following surgery. If this happens, patients should use sanitary pads rather than tampons, as a higher risk of infection is associated with the use of tampons. To further help with recovery, patients should begin doing gentle pelvic floor strengthening exercises a few days after surgery. Doing these exercises at least three times a day as a routine tightens the pelvic floor muscles and prevents the recurrence of prolapse.

doctor visit	41
urologic procedures	8

**Gender**
Male	0
Female	54

**Age**
From 65 to 74	21
From 75 to 84	22
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	0
Diabetes	22
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

anorectal procedures	20
diagnostic procedures	20
doctor visit	163
lab tests	17
urologic procedures	74

**Gender**
Male	0
Female	157

**Age**
From 65 to 74	69
From 75 to 84	46
85 and over	16
Less than 65	26

Hypertension	70
High Cholesterol	45
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	30
Chronic Kidney Disease	27
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	13
Diabetes	21
Dementia	8
Cancer	10

anorectal procedures	26
diagnostic procedures	26
doctor visit	186
incontinence surgery	11
lab tests	21
pelvic surgery	37
reconstructive surgery	37
urologic procedures	109

**Gender**
Male	0
Female	180

**Age**
From 65 to 74	86
From 75 to 84	57
85 and over	14
Less than 65	23

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	28
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	10
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	17
Dementia	0
Cancer	9

anorectal procedures	17
diagnostic procedures	17
doctor visit	153
lab tests	16
pelvic surgery	26
reconstructive surgery	26
urologic procedures	88

**Gender**
Male	0
Female	164

**Age**
From 65 to 74	91
From 75 to 84	42
85 and over	14
Less than 65	17

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	41
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	18
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	0
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	25
Dementia	7
Cancer	12

anorectal procedures	25
diagnostic procedures	25
doctor visit	482
gynecologic procedures	10
incontinence surgery	12
lab tests	91
minimally invasive procedures	10
pelvic surgery	84
reconstructive surgery	84
urologic procedures	261

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2017 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD treated as an urogynecologist in Iowa City, IA were urologic procedures, reconstructive surgery, pelvic surgery and lab tests.

anorectal procedures	22
diagnostic procedures	22
doctor visit	206
gynecologic procedures	10
incontinence surgery	11
lab tests	36
minimally invasive procedures	10
pelvic surgery	49
reconstructive surgery	49
urologic procedures	109

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2017 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD.

**Gender**
Female	55
Male	0

**Age**
85 and over	4
75 to 84	16
Less than 65	6
65 to 74	26

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD From 2017 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, depression and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension	26
High Cholesterol	17
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	8
Depression	11
Chronic Kidney Disease	10
Asthma	1
Osteoporosis	4
Heart Failure	3
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	2
Diabetes	8
Atrial Fibrillation	1
Cancer	3
Dementia	1

Education & Training

Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD graduated from Rush Medical College in 2010. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has a state license in Iowa.

Medical School: Rush Medical College (2010)

Board Certification: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University of Iowa

University of Iowa Health Care

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Joseph Thomas Kowalski, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Medtronic USA, Inc.	$2,823 INTERSTIM $1,707	Sacral Nerve Stimulation - Neuro $1,117
Boston Scientific Corporation	$349 SOLYX SIS SYSTEM $323	Solyx $26
Coloplast Corp	$119 Pelvic Floor Repair $119
Medtronic, Inc.	$63 INTERSTIM $63

**Types of Payments**
Travel and Lodging	$2,025
Food and Beverage	$1,330

Biography

Dr. Joseph Kowalski is an urogynecology specialist in Iowa City, IA and Davenport, IA. His areas of clinical interest consist of pelvic reconstructive surgery, female incontinence, and onabotulinumtoxinA (botox, botox cosmetic). Dr. Kowalski is affiliated with the University of Iowa Health Care. He studied medicine at Rush Medical College.