(Utica, NY – Oct. 29, 2013) Dr. Prabhat Ahluwalia, a gynecologist with an office in New Hartford, had a vision of gynecologists using minimally invasive surgery, rather than traditional open surgery, to correct a gamut of conditions affecting women, from cancer to endometriosis and even for hysterectomies. Ten years ago, that vision became real when he began a one-year GYN Fellowship. In 2006, the addition of a second, two-year GYN Fellowship was made.
This year, the position of a two-year fellow has been accepted by Jyothi Chetiyaar, M.D., who started in July. Dr. Chetiyaar, a native of India, is a graduate of M.S.RamaiahMedicalCollege, Bangalore, India, where she earned her medical degree. She worked at St. Philomena’s Hospital, Bangalore and MissionHospital, Mysore in India after finishing medical school. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, NY. Dr. Chetiyaar was awarded the Striving for Excellence Resident Award and Resident Research Award there and was recognized as Resident of the Year in both 2011 and 2012 for her teamwork, professionalism and compassionate care. She was elected administrative chief resident during her last year of residency and was also recognized as best senior resident teacher in the year 2013.
Dr. Chetiyaar has done research at JamaicaHospitalMedicalCenter on shoulder dystocia training showing significant decrease in brachial plexus injury. Dr. Chetiyaar is a member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.
She has received Certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and licensed medical practitioner in New YorkState. She speaks fluent English, Kannada and Hindi and is a U.S. citizen. She enjoys badminton and tennis.
Though the fellowships are under the direction of Dr. Ahluwalia, other fellowship instructors include Surgeon Leo Sullivan, M.D. and Urologists Robert Fleischer, M.D. and W. Anthony Mandour, M.D.
Chetiyaar will have an opportunity to learn, develop, and refine the new techniques of endoscopy and reproductive surgery that make for better, safer and more economically efficient health care for women. For Dr. Ahluwalia, this is an opportunity to impart that knowledge and expertise.
Ahluwalia has been a practitioner and supporter of advanced, laparoscopic, minimally-invasive surgery for the past 30 years. Often referred to as “keyhole” or “pinhole” surgery, laparoscopic surgery differs from traditional surgery in that it requires three to four quarter-inch incisions as opposed to a deep eight-inch incision. The “pinhole” incisions are small enough to minimize tissue and muscle injury, but large enough to admit the passage of precision-crafted surgical
instruments, a laser, a fiber-optic light (laparoscope), and a tiny high-resolution video camera (endoscope). Equipped with advanced digital technology, the endoscope can magnify surgical sites up to 20 times their actual size, permitting the surgeon to view anatomical structures in fine detail and operate with a precision previously unfathomable by traditional methods.
“The benefits are tremendous,” Dr. Ahluwalia said. “The patient suffers less post-operative pain, less surgical trauma, and fewer complications, while enjoying a speedy recovery, early return to work and a better cosmetic result. In addition, if it weren’t for St. Elizabeth Medical Center’s Administration’s passionate commitment to community service and improved, quality healthcare, the fellowships would have been impossible.”