Meet the 2 women who are changing the paradigm of the pelvic exam 

Melissa Hines, DPT, is a pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of the leading interdisciplinary pelvic health clinic in Boston. Melissa loves teaching clinicians who do pelvic exams how to assess pelvic floor muscle tone and motor control.

Kathy Kates, FNP, ran a women’s health program for a decade and didn't think about the pelvic floor until she had dyspareunia while going through breast cancer treatment. 

We created Beyond the Kegel™-the foundational pelvic health course for healthcare providers because we want to share their combined 20+ years of clinical experience with you so that you can confidently care for your patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. 

We are published authors.

We are moms.

We are dear friends.

We are revolutionizing pelvic health- won't you join us?

Giving back

By investing in your pelvic health education you’re creating a community for empowering clinicians to provide equitable, culturally competent care with the appropriate health literacy to all patients. A portion of all profits are donated to the Fistula foundation; a mission that transforms the lives of women suffering with obstetric fistula.

Dear community,

At the Institute for Pelvic Health, (IPH), our vision is to create a bold and empowered community of clinicians who care for the pelvic health of women and people who identify as women.

We will continue to work until every person feels safe and cared for with regards to their pelvic health.  We are saddened and outraged by the multitude of disparities and health inequities that we see every day. 

As white cisgender females with privilege, we are keenly aware that we have significant blind spots, regardless of the amount of racial justice and health equity education that we pursue. However, we are dedicated to our mission of health equity. We have signed the Anti-Racism Small Business Pledge.

Our goal is to create a community in which clinicians are empowered to provide equitable, culturally competent, diverse and inclusive care with the appropriate health literacy to all patients.  

We recognize the need for more representation of BIPOC practitioners and community members across physical therapy and nursing disciplines. The underrepresentation of BIPOC in these disciplines affects healthcare delivery and access to resources. We strive to provide resources and uplift voices that reflect clinicians and patients in all communities.

We hope that through this health equity lens, we will help to create a community that reflects a greater diversity in the pelvic health field. Thank you for being with us as we continue to learn.

In solidarity,

Melissa and Kathy