Jennifer L. Gruenenfelder

Dr. Gruenenfelder knew from a young age that she wanted to become a physician, drawn to a career combining science and service. Her love of biology and English helped her see medicine as a way to improve quality of life while listening to each patient's experience. She credits her family with encouraging her to set high goals and working hard to achieve them.

Her passion for urology comes from helping patients regain comfort, confidence and independence. Many women she treats live with incontinence or prolapse, conditions that can be difficult to discuss and may cause embarrassment or shame. She finds it rewarding to help patients get their lives back after treatment. She also values the relief urologists can provide for kidney stones and other common urological conditions.

Dr. Gruenenfelder discovered urology during medical school rotations. After a day that moved from surgery to clinic and back to surgery, she realized that any specialty capable of making her lose track of time was worth pursuing. Soon after, assisting with a kidney transplant confirmed that calling. Encouragement from her chairman helped her enter the field when no woman from her medical school had become a urologist. Later, she pursued fellowship training in Female Urology, now known as Urogynecology, to care for conditions unique to women's bodies.

Thoughtfulness guides Dr. Gruenenfelder's approach to care. She works to understand why each patient sought help, what they understand about their condition and what goals matter most. She then explains evidence-based treatment options so patients can make informed choices, with care that is meticulous and detail oriented.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Gruenenfelder enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have three children and recently became empty nesters, giving her new time to explore hobbies. She loves hearing what patients do in their spare time to give her ideas.