Dr Traci Kurtzer

Dr Traci Kurtzer is the Medical Director of Trauma Informed Solutions for Healthcare (TISH, LLC). Her career started as a private practice and solo OB-GYN for 18 years. For 10 years she practiced as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University where she provided the specialized gynecologic care critical for patients with a trauma history. She started the first trauma-informed, dedicated gynecologic clinic in the Chicago area that cared for patients following sexual assault. She currently provides trainings and consultation services for healthcare systems and advocates for societal policies that promote trauma informed medical treatment for survivors of gender-based violence. As a nationally recognized medical expert, she educates healthcare and other service professionals on menopause care, sexual health and dysfunction, medical trauma, trauma informed care, the neurobiology of trauma, sexual and domestic violence, human trafficking and the intersection of firearm and gender-based violence.

She is a past President of the Chicago Gynecologic Society, past Co-chair of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Healthcare Committee, and the immediate past president of the American Medical Women’s Association – Physicians Against the Trafficking of Humans (AMWA-PATH). She has been recognized by many organizations for her work in the field of women’s health in trauma-informed, survivor centered gynecologic care, as well as her efforts locally and nationally in training health care professionals and in medical advocacy for gender-based violence prevention. In 2019, she was awarded the Certified Practitioner of the Year Award by the North American Menopause Society for her work in providing trauma informed care for menopausal women dealing with sexual pain, whose conditions are often exacerbated by the trauma of gender-based violence. She was honored to receive the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Award in Women’s Health by the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 2022 and the Lila D Wallis Award by the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) in 2024 in recognition of her innovative efforts in identifying the need for and developing the first designated trauma-informed, survivor centered gynecology office for survivors of sexual assault and sexual abuse in Chicago . In 2024 she was honored to receive the Illinois State Medical Society’s Volunteer Physician of the Year and the WEAVE (Working to End Abuse and Violence Effectively) Award by Connections for Abuse Women and Children in Chicago for her state-wide and local efforts in gender-based violence prevention.Malka Shaw, LCSW, is a trauma-focused psychotherapist, educator, and speaker with more than 25 years of experience supporting clinicians, healthcare teams, and organizations navigating burnout, moral distress, high-stakes communication, and the cumulative impact of prolonged stress. Her work translates nervous system science and trauma-informed principles into clear, practical tools that strengthen psychological safety, improve team functioning, and support more sustainable patient care. www.TISH.care