Stephanie Handler, MD. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Stephanie Handler, MD, has joined the Cottage Surgical Clinics, bringing specialized expertise in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. As one of only 850 urogynecologists in the United States, Dr. Handler’s arrival further strengthens Cottage’s commitment to providing specialized care for women’s health.
Dr. Handler specializes in treating a wide range of complex urogynecologic conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse (when pelvic organs such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum bulge into or out of the vagina), urinary incontinence (the involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder), chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, painful intercourse, recurrent bladder infections and vaginal cysts. She supports patients through every stage of their healthcare journey, from diagnosis to post-treatment care, working closely with other medical providers to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Handler to Cottage Health. Her expertise in urogynecology further strengthens our growing team of specialists dedicated to women’s health,” said Kevin Davidson, Vice President of Ambulatory Services and President of Cottage Medical Group. “As we continue to expand our services in obstetrics and gynecology, women’s heart health and primary care, her addition enhances our ability to provide expert, specialized care for women at all stages of life.”
Board-certified in both Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, as well as Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Handler brings extensive academic and clinical experience. She previously served as Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, where her involvement in teaching medical students and surgical fellows earned her several teaching awards, including the Golden Apple teaching award, outstanding OB/GYN instructor, and junior faculty distinguished service award. She was also nominated and inducted in the Gold Humanism Honor Society, which a national society honoring physicians for excellence in clinical care, compassion, and dedication to humanism in their medical practice.
Dr. Handler graduated Magna Cum Laude from the American University of Paris and received her MD from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. She completed Obstetrics and Gynecology internship and residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and completed Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance. During her training she served as administrative chief resident and earned several honors, such as the award forexcellence in urogynecology, the chief resident teaching award, and the award for outstanding academic achievement.
Dr. Handler is involved in clinical research and is particularly passionate about improving pain control for office procedures and enhanced recovery after surgery. She is an expert in minimally invasive surgical techniques (such as vaginal and robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery). She regularly publishes research or cases in her specialty. Her personal philosophy on patient care is to treat every patient like family. She is mindful of the sensitive nature of her specialty and tries to make her patients feel comfortable and respected. She is supportive of natural medical interventions, if appropriate and evidence-based, and offers both mesh and non-mesh surgical options. Dr. Handler speaks English, French and Spanish.
The Cottage Surgical Clinic is located at 2400 Bath St., Suite 102 in Santa Barbara and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit cottagehealth.org/urogyn or call 805-324-9144.
About Cottage Health | CottageHealth.org
Cottage Health is a not-for-profit health system providing advanced medical care on California’s Central Coast. In the past year, its hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley cared for 20,733 inpatient admissions, 91,649 emergency department visits and 2,005 newborn deliveries. With more than 700 physicians, including specialists typically found only at university medical centers, Cottage offers expert, comprehensive care. As a teaching institution, it trains physicians through residency programs in medical, surgical, pediatric and radiology specialties. Cottage Health is home to the Central Coast’s only Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and an advanced comprehensive stroke center. Its specialty services include Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, the Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute, Cottage Heart & Vascular Center and Cottage Center for Orthopedics. Beyond its hospitals, Cottage expands care through primary and specialty clinics, urgent care centers and 24/7 provider access via Cottage Virtual Care.