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
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 Feb 05.
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 Jan 17.
PMID: 39823218
Effect of Vaginal Prolapse Repair and Midurethral Sling on Urgency Incontinence Symptoms.
Effect of Vaginal Prolapse Repair and Midurethral Sling on Urgency Incontinence Symptoms. Urogynecology (Phila). 2025 Mar 01; 31(3):250-257.
PMID: 39689213
Bladder health in US women: population-based estimates from the RISE FOR HEALTH study.
Bladder health in US women: population-based estimates from the RISE FOR HEALTH study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Nov 07.
PMID: 39521302
The Pelvic Floor Disorders Network: Evolution Over Two Decades of Female Pelvic Floor Research.
The Pelvic Floor Disorders Network: Evolution Over Two Decades of Female Pelvic Floor Research. Urogynecology (Phila). 2024 Oct 01; 30(10):854-869.
PMID: 39752613
Associations of financial strain and unmet social needs with women's bladder health.
Associations of financial strain and unmet social needs with women's bladder health. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Feb; 232(2):200.e1-200.e20.
PMID: 39111516
Single-Port Robotic Sacrocolpopexy: Description of an Advanced Minimally Invasive Approach and Review of the Relevant Literature.
Single-Port Robotic Sacrocolpopexy: Description of an Advanced Minimally Invasive Approach and Review of the Relevant Literature. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Sep; 35(9):1757-1762.
PMID: 39073630
Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN): An introduction to the Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Protocol LURN II.
Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN): An introduction to the Urinary Urgency Phenotyping Protocol LURN II. Neurourol Urodyn. 2024 Nov; 43(8):1800-1808.
PMID: 39075835
Surgical Decision-Making: Who Should Be Offered Sacrocolpopexy?
Surgical Decision-Making: Who Should Be Offered Sacrocolpopexy? Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Aug; 35(8):1577-1580.
PMID: 39066810
Short-term outcomes of single port robotic hysterectomy with concomitant sacrocolpopexy.
Short-term outcomes of single port robotic hysterectomy with concomitant sacrocolpopexy. J Robot Surg. 2024 Jun 21; 18(1):260.
PMID: 38904835
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