Cook Women's Health Sponsors Fellowship at University of Calgary

First Canadian Fellowship Will Advance the Study of Pelvic Floor Health

Spencer, IN - Cook Women's Health, a division of Cook Medical, the world's largest privately held medical device company, today announced that it will sponsor a fellowship in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. The fellowship brings together a leading provider of women's health medical device technologies and a well-respected women's health research facility to better the treatment of female patients by advancing pelvic floor health.

Recipients of this fellowship, the first in Canada, will focus on advancing pelvic floor health through increased education and research on procedures such as pelvic floor reconstruction. Pelvic floor reconstruction is commonly used to treat pelvic organ prolapse, a prevalent pelvic floor disorder affecting more than 50 percent of women over age 55¹ and one out of three women who have given birth vaginally². Pelvic organ prolapse leads to urinary and rectal incontinence, which can be both a physical and emotional challenge for women and have severe negative affects on one's quality of life. Pelvic floor reconstruction is currently the best treatment option for a full recovery from prolapse and one in nine women will undergo the procedure³ to correct this problem.

"Pelvic floor reconstruction improves the quality of life for women who suffer from pelvic organ prolapse and the research conducted under this fellowship will lead to great advancements in this procedure," said Dr. Magnus Murphy, Urogynecology Division Chief, Calgary Health Region, University of Calgary. "Both Cook and the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine are comprised of creative, talented individuals dedicated to providing the most innovative treatment options available to patients and I look forward to seeing the progress made through this fellowship."

The funding provided by Cook will allow the University of Calgary to house a urogynecology fellowship as well as a research nurse dedicated to enhancing pelvic floor and urogynecology research and education that will lead to innovative advances in pelvic floor health. To qualify for the fellowship physicians must have finished medical school as well as a specialized gynecological program. Applicants must also participate in a detailed interview process to ensure their goals are in line with program, which aims to compliment the excellent clinical program already in place at the University of Calgary's pelvic floor clinic. The University of Calgary will select fellowship recipients.

"Cook Women's Health is dedicated to the ongoing advancement of pelvic floor reconstruction. With this fellowship we hope to enable smart, creative physicians to take this procedure into the next generation," said Christina Anné, Global Leader of Cook Women's Health. "The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary has a reputation for leading research and innovation in Canada and housing some of the region's most talented physicians, which in conjunction with its fully equipped women's health facilities makes it the perfect host location for this fellowship."

Since the announced launch of the specialized business unit in May, Cook Women's Health has brought a new level of patient-centered innovation to the marketplace. Cook Women's Health is dedicated to developing solutions for patients in the fields of infertility, high-risk obstetrics, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

About the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary is a national leader in health research with an international reputation for excellence and innovation in health research, education and delivery. Through its educational programs, the Faculty of Medicine trains the physicians and scientists who will lead the next generation of health practitioners. Through its clinical work, continuing medical education programs, and close relationship with the Calgary Health Region, the Faculty of Medicine moves new treatments and diagnostic techniques from the laboratory bench to the hospital bedside efficiently and effectively, improving patient care.

About Cook Medical
With international headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, Cook® Medical (www.cookmedical.com), the world's largest privately held medical device manufacturer, is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for radiology, cardiology, urology, critical care medicine, general surgery, assisted reproduction, gynecology and obstetrics, endovascular medicine, gastroenterology and endoscopy. Cook Medical was named the 2006 Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry Magazine Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year.

¹ www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/cr/pelvic_floordisorders, University of Southern California,
² http://www.urologyteam.com/female-urology/pelvic-floor-reconstruction.htm
³ www.surgery.usc.edu/divisions/cr/pelvic_floordisorders, University of Southern California,

MEDIA CONTACT:
Gail McDaniel
Cook Urological and Women's Health
812-369-9727
Email: gail.mcdaniel@cookmedical.com

Shannon Breen
Racepoint Group, Inc.
781-487-4607
Email: sbreen@racepointgroup.com

Robyn Hauck
Faculty of Medicine Communications
403-210-3835
Email: rlwatson@ucalgary.ca

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