Christine Vaccaro (Colonel, Retired) D.O.

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point, Graduated in 1999, Majored in Chemistry/Life Sciences, Nuclear Engineering Track
University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Graduated in 2003, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

ObGyn Residency Training: Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA, Graduated in 2007
Urogynecology Fellowship Training: Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, Graduated in 2011
Sexual Medicine Fellowship Training, Bethesda, MD, 2024

Biography

Dr Christine Vaccaro entered the military in 1994 as a cadet at West Point and retired from the military at the rank of colonel in 2024. She was the Fellowship Director for Urogynecology at Walter Reed from 2020-2024, during which time she doubled the fellowship size, making it the largest program in the nation. She spent her career as an educator, teaching medical students, residents and fellows, as well as allied health professionals.

She is passionate about women's health education and continues her service to military medicine as an associate professor at the Uniformed Services University.
She is active on social media regarding women's health issues, primarily: pelvic health, pelvic pain, menopause management and female sexual dysfunction. She can be followed on Instagram at: @drchristinevaccaro

Dr Vaccaro is now practicing at the Offices of Rachel Rubin, MD in Bethesda, MD.

Career Highlights: Positions, Projects, Deployements, Awards and Additional Publications

Vaccaro CM, Clemons JL. Anal sphincter defects and anal incontinence symptoms following repair of obstetric anal sphincter lacerations in primiparous women: A prospective study. Int Urogynecol J. 2008:19;1503-8.

Vaccaro CM, Mutema GK, Fellner AN, Crisp CC, Pauls RN. Histologic and cytologic effects of vaginal estrogen in women with pelvic organ prolapse: a randomized controlled trial. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2013;19:34-9.

Legion of Merit, Awarded at Retirement

Crisp CC, Vaccaro CM, Estanol V, Oakley SH, Kleeman SD, Fellner AN, Pauls RN. Intra-vaginal diazepam for high-tone pelvic floor dysfunction: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Int Urogynecol J. 2013;24:1915-23

Legion of Merit, Awarded at Retirement

Greer JA, Heye KR, McGlynn A, Johansson S, Vaccaro CM. Association of Pelvic Floor Disorders, Perceived Psychological Stress, and Military Service in U.S. Navy Servicewomen: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Urogynecology (Phila). 2023 Dec 1;29(12):966-973. PMID: 37326238.

Fellowship Director, Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 2020-2024

Deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, 2013

Welch EK, Dengler KL, DiCarlo-Meacham AM, Wheat JE, Pekny CJ, Aden JK, Vaccaro CM. Bladder instillations vs onabotulinumtoxinA injection for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 May 18:S0002-9378(24)00609-4. MID: 38768800.

Crisp CC, Bandi S, Kleeman SD, Oakley SH, Vaccaro CM, Estanol MV, Fellner AN, Pauls RN. Patient-controlled versus scheduled, nurse administered analgesia following vaginal reconstructive surgery: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2012;207:433.e1-6.

Representative Bibliography

Dengler KL, Vaccaro CM. Incidence of Pelvic Floor Disorders in US Army Female Soldiers: Editorial Comment. Urology 2020;00:1-7 (In press), PMID: 32650018

Hertz A, George E, Vaccaro CM, Brand T. Head to head comparison of three virtual reality robotic surgery simulators. JSLS 2018;22:1-6.

Chen CC, Fialkow M, Vaccaro CM. ACOG Simulation Consortium Surgical Curriculum: Anterior and Posterior Repair, Oct 2017, published online: https://cfweb.acog.org/scog/

Vaccaro CM. The use of magnetic resonance imaging for studying female sexual function: A review. Clin Anat 2015;28:324-30.

Crisp C, Vaccaro C, Fellner A, et al. The influence of personality and coping on female sexual function: a population survey. Sex Med 2015;12:109-15.

Vaccaro C. The clitoral complex is ‘the’ spot. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2014; 180:192.

Vaccaro CM, Fellner AN, Pauls RN. Female sexual function and the clitoral complex using pelvic MRI assessment. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2014;180:180-5.

Oakley SH, Vaccaro CM, Crisp CC, Estanol MV, Fellner AN, Kleeman SD, Pauls RN. Clitoral size and location in relation to sexual function using pelvic MRI. J Sex Med 2014;11:1013-22.

Crisp CC, Vaccaro CM, Pancholy A, Kleeman S, Fellner AN, Pauls R. Is female sexual function related to personality and coping? An exploratory study. Sex Med 2013;1:69-75.

Vaccaro CM, Crisp CC, Fellner AN et al. Robotic virtual reality simulation plus standard robotic orientation alone: a randomized controlled trial. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2013;19:266-270.