Dr. Kimberly Kenton is a Tenured Professor and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at University of Chicago. She also serves as the Chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. She has devoted her 20-year career to improving pelvic floor care for women as a surgeon-scientist and educator. She has built a thriving clinical and surgical program that spans Chicagoland and neighboring states and earned international recognition for her innovative, minimally invasive treatments for women with complex pelvic floor disorders using laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques. Dr. Kenton is a prolific scientist and served in educational leadership roles in all national standard setting and certifying organizations. She has two decades of continuous federal funding from the National Institutes of Health for her paradigm shifting patient-oriented outcomes research and multicenter randomized clinical trials. She is currently the primary investigator on multiple federal grants including the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network, 2 U01, U18, and R01 and authored over 250 peer reviewed publications. Dr. Kenton is a trailblazer in urogynecology and surgical education serving as both a residency program director in Obstetrics & Gynecology and fellowship program director in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery as well as holding leadership roles in most national and international specialty societies including the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Urogynecologic Society, the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, the International Urogynecologic Association, and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists. Dr. Kenton has received numerous national awards for her teaching excellence and mentorship and sponsorship of women in gynecologic surgery.
Dr. Kenton earned international recognition for treatment of women with complex pelvic floor disorders and minimally invasive vaginal, laparoscopic, and robotic surgical techniques.
Dr. Kenton is committed to improving the quality of life of women with pelvic floor disorders (urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, complications from mesh or gynecologic surgery, and complex fistulas) and possesses substantial expertise in clinical outcomes research, earning a Master of Science in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis at the University of Michigan. She has had continuous National Institutes of Health funding for nearly 20-years and is/was primary investigator on numerous studies, which led to advances in surgical treatment and outcomes for women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Dr. Kenton has authored or co‐authored more than 200 scientific papers and served on the editorial boards of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Journal of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery.
Dr. Kenton is a trailblazer in urogynecology and surgical education holding leadership roles in most national and international specialty societies including the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Accreditation Counsel for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Urogynecologic Society, the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, the International Urogynecologic Association, and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
MS - Clinical Research & Statistical Analysis
2005
Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, IL
Fellowship - Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery
2002
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL
Residency - Obstetrics/Gynecology
1999
Rush Medical College
Chicago, IL
MD - Doctor of Medicine
1995
University of Illinois
Urbana, IL
BS - Biology
1988
Cross-Sectional Associations of Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety Symptoms, and Emotional Support Seeking with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Bladder Health.
Cross-Sectional Associations of Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety Symptoms, and Emotional Support Seeking with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Bladder Health. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Sep; 36(9):1827-1837.
PMID: 40928694
Small Bowel Complications After Sacrocolpopexy: A Case Series.
Small Bowel Complications After Sacrocolpopexy: A Case Series. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Aug 01; 31(8):816-821.
PMID: 40179039
Association of menopausal status and hormone use with bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms in US women: results from the RISE FOR HEALTH study.
Association of menopausal status and hormone use with bladder health and lower urinary tract symptoms in US women: results from the RISE FOR HEALTH study. Menopause. 2025 Jul 01; 32(7):583-591.
PMID: 40298786
Black and Hispanic Women's Views on LUTS Treatment and a Home-Based Intervention.
Black and Hispanic Women's Views on LUTS Treatment and a Home-Based Intervention. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 May 30.
PMID: 40454706
Reducing Waste During Midurethral Slings: A Quality Improvement Initiative.
Reducing Waste During Midurethral Slings: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 May 01.
PMID: 40310876
Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN II) Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Study: Methods and Baseline Urinary Symptoms by Age and Sex.
Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN II) Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Study: Methods and Baseline Urinary Symptoms by Age and Sex. Neurourol Urodyn. 2025 Jun; 44(5):1007-1021.
PMID: 40275438
Expanded Physiological Testing of the Lower Urinary Tract in Asymptomatic Women and Those With Urgency Urinary Incontinence: Findings From the LURN-Organ Study.
Expanded Physiological Testing of the Lower Urinary Tract in Asymptomatic Women and Those With Urgency Urinary Incontinence: Findings From the LURN-Organ Study. Neurourol Urodyn. 2025 Jun; 44(5):987-996.
PMID: 40159923
Rate of Urine Culture Contamination with Different Methods of Urine Specimen Collection.
Rate of Urine Culture Contamination with Different Methods of Urine Specimen Collection. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 May; 36(5):1029-1035.
PMID: 39907771
Pessary Placement for Voiding Dysfunction Due to Prolapse Among Neurologically Intact Women.
Pessary Placement for Voiding Dysfunction Due to Prolapse Among Neurologically Intact Women. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Apr 01; 31(4):384-389.
PMID: 39823218
Ethnic and racial social identity, socioeconomic position, and women's bladder health.
Ethnic and racial social identity, socioeconomic position, and women's bladder health. Soc Sci Med. 2025 Oct; 382:117694.
PMID: 40753068
CREOG Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education
2015
Friends of Prentice Distinguished Professor Award
2014
Outstanding Teacher Award
Feinberg School of Medicine
2014 - 2020
Chicago Top Directors
2014 - 2020
American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology Junior Fellow Mentor Award
2011 - 2012
Society for Women's Health Research Award for Scientific Contributions
2009
CREOG Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education
2007
APGO/Solvay Outstanding Scientific Project Award
2005
Berlex Foundation Junior Faculty Development Award
2002
Sigma Xi Society Outstanding Scientific Project Award
1999
Rush Surgical Society Resident Research Award
1998
Obstetrics & Gynecology Resident Research Award
1998
Berlex Laboratories Resident Teaching Award
1997
GATE Pharmaceuticals' Outstanding Ob-Gyn Student Award
1995