Erika Moody, MD

After receiving her master’s degree in biological science at Drexel University, Dr. Moody attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

She was drawn to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation because of its multidisciplinary nature and did her residency in PM&R at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Dr. Moody then brought her focus to pelvic pain, completing a fellowship with San Antonio’s University of Texas Health Science Center, during which she was an invited co-author of a review entitled “Interventional Management for Pelvic Pain.”

Dr. Moody practiced in Houston for three years with a particular focus on pain management, using advanced treatment modalities such as ultrasound-guided pain injections.

She has completed a 300+ hour medical acupuncture certification through the Integrated Structural Acupuncture course. She joined the team at Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine in 2021.

• American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Global Pelvic Health Alliance Membership

I have always been fascinated by the workings of the human body and enjoyed being able to help people be healthier and happier. What appealed to me about physical medicine and rehabilitation was how the specialty incorporates several disciplines and draws in a lot of different techniques to treat the patient as a whole, not just a collection of symptoms.

My approach is interdisciplinary, holistic, and patient centered. There is not one single treatment that is going to resolve a chronic pelvic pain diagnosis, but working with a team of other healthcare providers, in addition to PRM’s treatment, physical therapy, medication management, nutrition, and behavioral strategies to modify pain processing, we can work together to improve function and reduce suffering.

Patient care encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of patients, and the role of the physician is multifaceted and crucial. We are responsible for diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring in coordination with other healthcare professionals. This care starts with active listening, validating patient concerns and experiences, and developing a mutually agreed upon treatment with the patient in the driver’s seat.

I really value the relationship I have with my patients – partnering with people to help them have less pain, better function, and a higher quality of life. One of the most important things I can do is to make my patients really feel like they’re being heard and to empower them to play an active role in their recovery

Treating pelvic pain isn’t just about addressing the physical symptoms and musculoskeletal issues, it’s about addressing all aspects of lifestyle and health that could be contributing. That means factoring in things like diet, exercise, and any underlying issues in the patient’s medical history that may be impacting their experience of pelvic pain.

I don’t want people to be suffering, waiting, or having unanswered questions. People feel alone when this happens, so it is very rewarding to be able to help someone to have less suffering in their lives, especially when some of those patients have suffered for decades and have now achieved their goal of better function. I want everyone to know that conservative and interdisciplinary treatment works.

Team care is important for helping women suffering with endometriosis, often that has not been identified for many years. Every endometriosis patient’s experience is very different due to the symptoms they suffer with, so their approach to treatment will be different as well. It’s important to tailor the treatment to the individual patients, and those treatment options can range from conservative, like at PRM, to excision surgery.

For me, it’s baffling to see that patients have been offered treatment in the past that ranges from absolutely nothing to surgery, with no options in between. PRM fits into this left-out space, where we are able to decrease the suffering that endometriosis patients have been experiencing, through an interdisciplinary and multimodal approach.

I went into healthcare because I wanted to help people achieve healthier and happier lives. I am passionate about empowering patients to help them achieve their goals. , and I strive to inspire hope for health and wellbeing. I want patients to know that getting better is possible, even when they have been told there’s nothing that can be done for them, or that a healthcare professional didn’t know what was wrong with them or how to help them.

It’s rewarding to actively listen to patients, to address their concerns, and to educate and partner with them to instill hope for their recovery. Patients feel broken and I want to help put the pieces back together to improve their pain and function, or whatever their goals may be.

Presenting Grand Rounds at local area hospital physician specialty and physical therapy groups as well as contributing to PRM patient and audience education on multiple pelvic health topics.