Specialities
_____________
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Robotics Surgery
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Urogynecology
- Fertility
EDUCATION
_____________
- Stanford University, Advanced Laparoscopic Center, Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery Program
- Southern Illinois University, Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency
- University of Illinois, Chicago, Internal Medicine Internship
- Hacettepe University, MD
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
_____________
- International Congress of MIS
Advances and latest in Robotic Surgery Technique and tricks for the treatment of endometriosis and Myoma with Robotic Surgery
Moscow, Russia - AAGL Global Hysterectomy Summit
The role of simulation in hysterectomy training
San Diego, Ca - 3rd Annual MESGE Congress for MIS Robotic Myomectomy
Antalya, Turkey - 43rd AAGL Global Congress of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Virtual Poster presentation
Retroperitoneal Uterine Horn: Finding of a Uterine Didelphys with incoplete dublication of the Mullerian System
Department of OB/GYN Scripps Clinic San Diego, CA - Russian Department of Health GYN Congress
New Developments in GYN Robotic Surgery and Single Site Robotic Surgery
Moscow, Russia - 2nd Annual MESGE Congress for Minimally Invasive Surgery Robotic Surgery in Endometriosis
Antalya, Turkey - AAGL, World Congress Teaching and Training in Robotic Surgery
Istanbul, Turkey - Scripps Memorial Hospital MIS Symposium
Advances in Robotic GYN Surgery
Scripps Memorial Outreach Symposium - Robotic Surgery
Grand Rounds, Scripps Memorial Hospital
Latest in Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery - Grand Rounds, Scripps Encinitas Hospital
Robotic Surgery - Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Meeting
Robotic Surgery - San Diego County Medical Society
Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery - North Coast Medical Group
Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery - Channel 5 TV Interview
Robotic Surgery - KUSI, Channel 10 Interview
- Green Hospital Grand Rounds
Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery
Achievements & Awards
_____________
- AAGL Achievement Award
- Resident Research Awards
- Compassionate Doctor Recognition
- Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award
- Patients’ Choice Award
- CREOG Achievement Award
- ACOG-Burroughs Wellcome Award
- Upjohn Research Grant Award
- California’s Top 10 OB/GYN Award
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
_____________
- American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)
- American College of OB/GYN’s
- Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons
Congratulations Dr. Mel!
_____________
Dr Mel Kurtulus of San Diego Women’s Health has been bestowed the 2009 Patient’s Choice Award, making this the second year in a row to receive this honor.
What is the highly coveted Patients’ Choice Award? It’s an honor that reflects the difference a doctor made in people’s lives through the exceptionally high praise granted to a doctor by patients. Every month, more than 40,000 patients across the U.S. provide online feedback about their experiences with their doctors. They rate various components such as bedside manner, doctor-patient face time, degree of follow-up, courtesy of office staff, and overall opinions. While physicians generally receive positive reviews from their patients, only a select few receive uniformly rave reviews across the board. Of the nation’s 720,000 active physicians, less than 5% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2009.
Dr. Kurtulus, along with a select number of physicians nationwide, was selected based on information gathered from over 800,000 reviews and ratings of patients across the nation. Dr. Kurtulus was also the recipient of the 2008 Patients’ Choice Award.
Dr Kurtulus and the staff at San Diego Women’s health want to thank our patients for their continued support, making us a valued member of the greater San Diego community.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
_____________
- Effect of age on the contraction of pulmonary venous sphincters in rats
Schraufnagel DE, Kurtulus MM, Patel TH Am J Respiratory Critical Care Med 1994 Jan: 149(1):227-31 - Retroperitoneal Uterine Horn: Finding of a Uterine Didelphys with incoplete dublication of the Mullerian System
McMullen ME, Kurtulus MM,
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 21 (2014) S91-S135 - Dermoid Cysts outcomes after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
Nezhat C., Kurtulus MM
Research paper – Stanford Advanced Laparoscopy Center
June 1997 - Cervical length measurements and prediction of preterm deliveries
Kurtulus MM, Kaufmann R.
Research Paper- Best research award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
May 1996 - Ovarien Cancer markers and management of ovarien cancers
Kurtulus MM, Hilgers R.,
Research Paper- Best Research Award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
March 1995
Dr Mel In The Media
_____________
As featured in the San Diego Union Tribune:
SCRIPPS SURGEON FIRST IN SAN DIEGO TO PERFORM SINGLE-SITE ROBOTIC HYSTERECTOMY
Scripps Memorial Hospital – La Jolla recently became the first hospital in San Diego and one of the first in the country to perform a hysterectomy using single site robotic technology.
Mel Kurtulus M.D., a La Jolla gynecologists and surgeon, led the surgical team that performed the hysterectomy performed from a 1-inch incision at the belly button. The single site technology allows the procedure to be performed using a single incision virtually hidden in the patients navel.
Recently approved by the FDA, this revolutionary surgery not only offers the benefits of robotic surgery such as less scaring, less bleeding, less pain, fast recovery and a shorter hospital stay than with conventional laparoscopic surgeries but it is also a virtually scarless surgery performed from just a small incision hidden in the belly button.
“With the addition of single site surgery, Scripps Memorial continues to lead in the evolution of surgical technologies” says Kurtulus. “We’re thrilled to be the first to offer our patients the most technically advanced surgical options available to address women’s health issues.”
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
_____________
- Effect of age on the contraction of pulmonary venous sphincters in rats
Schraufnagel DE, Kurtulus MM, Patel TH Am J Respiratory Critical Care Med 1994 Jan: 149(1):227-31 - Retroperitoneal Uterine Horn: Finding of a Uterine Didelphys with incoplete dublication of the Mullerian System
McMullen ME, Kurtulus MM,
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 21 (2014) S91-S135 - Dermoid Cysts outcomes after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
Nezhat C., Kurtulus MM
Research paper – Stanford Advanced Laparoscopy Center
June 1997 - Cervical length measurements and prediction of preterm deliveries
Kurtulus MM, Kaufmann R.
Research Paper- Best research award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
May 1996 - Ovarien Cancer markers and management of ovarien cancers
Kurtulus MM, Hilgers R.,
Research Paper- Best Research Award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
March 1995
Mel Kurtulus M.D., F.A.C.O.G
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
SDWH Medical Director
Director of Epicenter for Robotic Surgery, Scripps Memorial Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, UCSD
Instructor of Robotic Surgery, Intuitive Surgery
Medical Director, Scripps Memorial Hospital Hospitalist Program
Dr. Mel Kurtulus completed his training in Medicine at the University Of Illinois School Of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. During his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at the Southern Illinois University Hospitals, he became interested in laparoscopic surgery and attended to a training program at the Advanced Laparoscopy Center, Stanford University. Dr. Kurtulus also completed a training program in Da Vinci Robotic Surgery and has been providing his patients with this minimally invasive surgical option.
Dr. Kurtulus has been selected to be one of the only 23 surgeons in the country and the only surgeon in San Diego to be an EPICENTER Surgeon, qualifying him to be the master surgeon, teaching other surgeons how to perform robotic surgery.
Dr. Kurtulus is the medical director of San Diego Women’s Health. In addition to his practice, he has served as clinical faculty, teaching the medical students, residents and fellows at the University of California, San Diego. He received multiple Research Awards, AAGL Achievement Award in Laparoscopy, an award granted by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, a professional organization dedicated to helping women with minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. He is also the recipient of the Patients Choice Award.
He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is an active member of the American College of OB/GYN’s, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
Mel Kurtulus M.D., F.A.C.O.G
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
SDWH Medical Director
Director of Epicenter for Robotic Surgery, Scripps Memorial Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor, UCSD
Instructor of Robotic Surgery, Intuitive Surgery
Medical Director, Scripps Memorial Hospital Hospitalist Program
Dr. Mel Kurtulus completed his training in Medicine at the University Of Illinois School Of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. During his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at the Southern Illinois University Hospitals, he became interested in laparoscopic surgery and attended to a training program at the Advanced Laparoscopy Center, Stanford University. Dr. Kurtulus also completed a training program in Da Vinci Robotic Surgery and has been providing his patients with this minimally invasive surgical option.
Dr. Kurtulus has been selected to be one of the only 23 surgeons in the country and the only surgeon in San Diego to be an EPICENTER Surgeon, qualifying him to be the master surgeon, teaching other surgeons how to perform robotic surgery.
Dr. Kurtulus is the medical director of San Diego Women’s Health. In addition to his practice, he has served as clinical faculty, teaching the medical students, residents and fellows at the University of California, San Diego. He received multiple Research Awards, AAGL Achievement Award in Laparoscopy, an award granted by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, a professional organization dedicated to helping women with minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. He is also the recipient of the Patients Choice Award.
He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is an active member of the American College of OB/GYN’s, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons.
Specialities
_____________
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Robotics Surgery
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Urogynecology
- Fertility
EDUCATION
_____________
- Stanford University, Advanced Laparoscopic Center, Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery Program
- Southern Illinois University, Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency
- University of Illinois, Chicago, Internal Medicine Internship
- Hacettepe University, MD
LECTURES/PRESENTATIONS
_____________
- International Congress of MIS
Advances and latest in Robotic Surgery Technique and tricks for the treatment of endometriosis and Myoma with Robotic Surgery
Moscow, Russia - AAGL Global Hysterectomy Summit
The role of simulation in hysterectomy training
San Diego, Ca - 3rd Annual MESGE Congress for MIS Robotic Myomectomy
Antalya, Turkey - 43rd AAGL Global Congress of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Virtual Poster presentation
Retroperitoneal Uterine Horn: Finding of a Uterine Didelphys with incoplete dublication of the Mullerian System
Department of OB/GYN Scripps Clinic San Diego, CA - Russian Department of Health GYN Congress
New Developments in GYN Robotic Surgery and Single Site Robotic Surgery
Moscow, Russia - 2nd Annual MESGE Congress for Minimally Invasive Surgery Robotic Surgery in Endometriosis
Antalya, Turkey - AAGL, World Congress Teaching and Training in Robotic Surgery
Istanbul, Turkey - Scripps Memorial Hospital MIS Symposium
Advances in Robotic GYN Surgery
Scripps Memorial Outreach Symposium - Robotic Surgery
Grand Rounds, Scripps Memorial Hospital
Latest in Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery - Grand Rounds, Scripps Encinitas Hospital
Robotic Surgery - Society of Gynecologic Surgeons Meeting
Robotic Surgery - San Diego County Medical Society
Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery - North Coast Medical Group
Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery - Channel 5 TV Interview
Robotic Surgery - KUSI, Channel 10 Interview
- Green Hospital Grand Rounds
Minimally Invasive GYN Surgery
Achievements & Awards
_____________
- AAGL Achievement Award
- Resident Research Awards
- Compassionate Doctor Recognition
- Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award
- Patients’ Choice Award
- CREOG Achievement Award
- ACOG-Burroughs Wellcome Award
- Upjohn Research Grant Award
- California’s Top 10 OB/GYN Award
Congratulations Dr. Mel!
_____________
Dr Mel Kurtulus of San Diego Women’s Health has been bestowed the 2009 Patient’s Choice Award, making this the second year in a row to receive this honor.
What is the highly coveted Patients’ Choice Award? It’s an honor that reflects the difference a doctor made in people’s lives through the exceptionally high praise granted to a doctor by patients. Every month, more than 40,000 patients across the U.S. provide online feedback about their experiences with their doctors. They rate various components such as bedside manner, doctor-patient face time, degree of follow-up, courtesy of office staff, and overall opinions. While physicians generally receive positive reviews from their patients, only a select few receive uniformly rave reviews across the board. Of the nation’s 720,000 active physicians, less than 5% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2009.
Dr. Kurtulus, along with a select number of physicians nationwide, was selected based on information gathered from over 800,000 reviews and ratings of patients across the nation. Dr. Kurtulus was also the recipient of the 2008 Patients’ Choice Award.
Dr Kurtulus and the staff at San Diego Women’s health want to thank our patients for their continued support, making us a valued member of the greater San Diego community.
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
_____________
- American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)
- American College of OB/GYN’s
- Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
_____________
- Effect of age on the contraction of pulmonary venous sphincters in rats
Schraufnagel DE, Kurtulus MM, Patel TH Am J Respiratory Critical Care Med 1994 Jan: 149(1):227-31 - Retroperitoneal Uterine Horn: Finding of a Uterine Didelphys with incoplete dublication of the Mullerian System
McMullen ME, Kurtulus MM,
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology 21 (2014) S91-S135 - Dermoid Cysts outcomes after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy
Nezhat C., Kurtulus MM
Research paper – Stanford Advanced Laparoscopy Center
June 1997 - Cervical length measurements and prediction of preterm deliveries
Kurtulus MM, Kaufmann R.
Research Paper- Best research award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
May 1996 - Ovarien Cancer markers and management of ovarien cancers
Kurtulus MM, Hilgers R.,
Research Paper- Best Research Award
SIU School of Medicine, Springfield, IL
March 1995
Dr Mel In The Media
_____________
As featured in the San Diego Union Tribune:
SCRIPPS SURGEON FIRST IN SAN DIEGO TO PERFORM SINGLE-SITE ROBOTIC HYSTERECTOMY
Scripps Memorial Hospital – La Jolla recently became the first hospital in San Diego and one of the first in the country to perform a hysterectomy using single site robotic technology.
Mel Kurtulus M.D., a La Jolla gynecologists and surgeon, led the surgical team that performed the hysterectomy performed from a 1-inch incision at the belly button. The single site technology allows the procedure to be performed using a single incision virtually hidden in the patients navel.
Recently approved by the FDA, this revolutionary surgery not only offers the benefits of robotic surgery such as less scaring, less bleeding, less pain, fast recovery and a shorter hospital stay than with conventional laparoscopic surgeries but it is also a virtually scarless surgery performed from just a small incision hidden in the belly button.
“With the addition of single site surgery, Scripps Memorial continues to lead in the evolution of surgical technologies” says Kurtulus. “We’re thrilled to be the first to offer our patients the most technically advanced surgical options available to address women’s health issues.”
Patient Testimonials:
Patient Testimonials:
—
Carole
_____________
The best minimally invasive doctor in San Diego! I had a condition called adenomyosis with additional fibroids within the uterine walls. I was told It was about the size of a 20 week pregnancy. I went to 5 doctors searching for one that could do it without cutting across the abdominal wall (similar to a C-section). None of them would do it – not even Homer Chin, Director of the Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology @ UCSD. Then I found Dr. Mel Kurtulus. His bedside manner was wonderful and his staff is incredible. We encountered a few obstacles prior to surgery – low iron levels and bleeding, which he addressed and corrected within a month. He was able to get a surgery date quickly & the robotic hysterectomy went off without a hitch. Prior to the surgery he did state that if there were any complications or the uterus was too big he may have to resort to an abdominal removal. The uterus was the size of a volleyball, yet he was still able to finesse the beast out with the robot. Amazing!! I was told I was able to leave that day, but I made the personal decision to stay overnight. I was walking that night and cruising the floor of the hospital passing time until I was able to be discharged. I left the next morning with the doctor’s blessing and I felt great! (a bit achy, but great) I only had 4 tiny incisions and one of them was inside my belly button and virtually invisible! I would recommend Dr. Kurtulus to anyone needing or entertaining a gynecological surgery. The time spent in the hospital was reduced (and thus the cost of staying over) and healing was SO much faster than any other method I had researched. Within two weeks I was back to hiking Iron mountain)
S. Summers
_____________
Dr. Kurtulus is great, and robotic surgery is amazing. I went from severe, continuous pain to no pain. I had only minor soreness from the surgery. The short hospital stay was pleasant, and I was ready and able to be home on my own the next morning. Four days later I drove myself to a 4th of July BBQ, and in less than a week I was walking farther than I have walked in years. After a week, I was back working out with my personal trainer. I feel so much better, I can’t believe that anyone wouldn’t want this surgery. I just had my two week follow-up appointment and it went great… don’t tell anyone, but I went ballroom dancing last night.
Patient
_____________
Dr. Kurturlus has chosen an amazing staff who also took great care of me with every pre-op & post-op visit. Bethany & Cindy are always friendly & professional. Everything is organized & thoroughly documented. They made sure everything was in order for my surgery to be approved! (Got to love those HMO’s right? Uh ‘No-no’). Love these Ladies! Impressive!
Christine
_____________
Dr. Mel Kurtulus is the best! He not only cares for your current health, but he is also proactive in your future health. He has the latest in medical equipment. I am a member of the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides for Breast Cancer Champions Committee & I was happy that he also offers the “Halo” used for breasts paps. If you’re looking for an OB/GYN, Dr. Mel Kurtulus is an excellent choice. You’ll be impressed too. When you see his pictures, you will be looking through the eyes of an artist. Artists see things the average person does not see. He has mastered the art of Gynecology/Obstetrics. Impressed & Grateful, – Christine
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Focused on You.
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Locations
9850 Genesee Avenue Ste 820
La Jolla, CA 92037
477 N El Camino Real, Suite C208
Encinitas, CA 92024
M-Thur: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fridays: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
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© 2020 All Rights Reserved. SD Women's Health.
The
9850 Genesee Avenue - Suite 820
La Jolla, CA 92037
477 N El Camino Real Unit C208
Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: 858-677-0777
Fax: 858-677-0666
M-Thur: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Fridays: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm
Click here to write us a review
©2020. All Rights Reserved. San Diego Women's Health.