Dr. Steven Radtke

Synopsis

High surgical volume for endo, a thin online footprint

Dr. Radtke completed a fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) at the University of Tennessee, which covered a broad range of procedures including severe endometriosis. That is not the same as an endometriosis-specific fellowship. His published research is almost entirely about hysterectomy and general surgical technique, not endometriosis, and patient reviews from endo patients are scarce online.

At the same time, a patient who contacted his office directly in 2026 was told he performs approximately 300 endometriosis excision surgeries per year and that he treats deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), which is the more severe form of the disease that involves organs beyond the uterus. That is a meaningful surgical volume. The online record does not reflect it yet. Patients should go in with questions and weigh both pieces of information.

Endometriosis Focus

Pelvic pain specialist with a MIGS subspecialty credential; excision listed as a named specialty

Dr. Radtke holds the FMIGS designation, a formal subspecialty credential awarded by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology recognizing advanced training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. His fellowship at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Chattanooga explicitly trained in complex pathology including severe endometriosis. Norton Healthcare lists severe endometriosis with excisional surgery as a named specialty. He has said publicly that in his experience, endometriosis is the cause in roughly 70% of patients presenting with pelvic pain, and that the condition can completely impair quality of life.

A patient who contacted his scheduling office directly in 2026 was told he performs approximately 300 endometriosis excision surgeries per year and that he treats deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). DIE is the more advanced form of the disease, where endometriosis grows into organs such as the bowel, bladder, or ureters rather than sitting on the surface. His practice also covers fibroids, mesh removal, pelvic organ prolapse, fertility surgery, and complex hysterectomy. Endometriosis is not prominently surfaced on Healthgrades treatment frequency data, though it does appear further down the conditions list. 

Multidisciplinary Approach

Multimodal treatment philosophy; bowel and urinary tract collaboration not yet publicly documented

Dr. Radtke has stated a strong belief in multimodal treatment plans for chronic pelvic pain, framing endo as a condition that requires more than just surgery to address fully. A patient who spoke with his office in 2026 was told he will call in other surgeons during surgery if needed. For bowel and colon involvement specifically, he will treat what he finds during surgery up to the point where a colostomy would be required. If disease extends beyond that threshold, he would refer to a colorectal surgeon to discuss options at a later date. Norton Women's Care operates within a larger health system that includes access to colorectal and urological specialists, though the broader coordination structure for complex endo cases is not publicly documented.

Diagnosis Methods

No public information found on pre-surgical diagnosis approach

No public information found on how Dr. Radtke approaches diagnosis before surgery. It is not documented whether he uses ultrasound, MRI, or other imaging as part of a first appointment, what his process looks like for a patient who has never had surgery, or whether he considers a negative scan sufficient to rule out endometriosis.

Educational Presence

Strong institutional credentials; limited independent public voice in the endo space

Dr. Radtke is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (JMIG), a peer-reviewed publication central to the MIGS field. He is an active member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) and has held multiple leadership positions in the organization. He received an AAGL award upon graduating residency for excelling in minimally invasive gynecology and robotic surgery. He is also board-certified in the MIGS subspecialty through ABOG, which requires demonstrated competency beyond standard OB/GYN training.

An institution-produced introduction video published by Norton Medical Group in November 2023 features Dr. Radtke discussing his background, his fellowship, and his emphasis on patient empowerment and self-advocacy. A June 2024 article in MD-Update features substantive quotes from Dr. Radtke on excision versus ablation and his clinical approach to chronic pelvic pain. A Doximity editorial piece from March 2022 titled "Why You Should Know More About Endometriosis" appears to reflect some endo-focused writing, though it is not a peer-reviewed publication. No personal social media accounts were found on Instagram, X, or any other platform. No podcast appearances were found on any known endo podcast. No endo-specific peer-reviewed publications were found on PubMed. Published research focuses on surgical technique, postoperative pain reduction, telemedicine, and laparoscopic hysterectomy outcomes.

Patient Feedback

Limited feedback available - three accounts found, including one direct scheduling inquiry

Post-Surgical Care

Two-week post-op confirmed; broader follow-up structure not publicly documented

Dr. Radtke has noted that most patients are seen for a two-week post-operative check, and that at this visit, the majority report needing pain medication for only one or two days following surgery. He has also described an interest in incorporating telemedicine into perioperative care and has published research on telemedicine delivery of postoperative follow-up. One patient account describes discussing endo treatment options at the two-week post-op appointment. The length of ongoing follow-up, who conducts appointments, and the approach to hormonal treatment after surgery are not publicly documented.

Philosophy and Fit

Patient empowerment and self-advocacy; committed to minimizing surgical impact

Dr. Radtke has described his approach as centered on empowering patients to understand their own bodies and actively participate in creating treatment plans that align with their needs. He has stated that pelvic pain interfering with quality of life is not normal and that patients should feel entitled to advocate for themselves with their doctors, including asking for second opinions when solutions feel inadequate. He has framed the goal of surgery as solving a problem while minimizing the effect on surrounding tissues, and has noted that most patients do not need to stay overnight in the hospital.

Dr. Radtke speaks both English and Spanish, which may be relevant for Spanish-speaking patients in the Louisville area and surrounding region. He has described a strong interest in the future of surgical technology, including augmented reality and AI-assisted visualization as tools to help surgeons avoid missing lesions.