Endometriosis Excision Surgeon
Dr. Steven Radtke
Louisville, Kentucky
At a Glance
Strengths
- Holds multiple leadership positions in AAGL, the leading gynecologic surgery society, and serves on the editorial board of its flagship journal
- Severe endometriosis with excision is listed first among specialties at his practice
- Has stated publicly that pelvic pain interfering with quality of life is not normal, and that patients are entitled to advocate for themselves and seek second opinions
Worth Knowing
- Very limited public information found specifically about his endometriosis practice; online footprint does not reflect the surgical volume his office reports
- Published research focuses on hysterectomy and general surgical technique, not endometriosis
From the Editor
Dr. Radtke presents as a specialist,, but the online record is thin compared to most surgeons on this list. Published research focuses on hysterectomy and general surgical technique rather than endometriosis, and patient reviews from endo patients are scarce. He technically meets the criteria for inclusion, and the same was true of other surgeons on this list at the time they were added. The most useful piece of information that turned up came not from a public source but from a patient who called his office directly in 2026 and was told he performs approximately 300 endometriosis excision surgeries per year and treats deep infiltrating endometriosis. That number is significant if accurate. The online record does not reflect it yet; patients should go in with questions.
Patient Feedback
Limited feedback available - three accounts found, including one direct scheduling inquiry
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, and it appears first among the conditions he treats.
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), 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.
Surgical Method
Performs excision; uses both robotic and laparoscopic approaches
Dr. Radtke has stated directly that excision is significantly more effective than superficially burning lesions for resolving pain and reducing recurrence risk. Norton Healthcare lists da Vinci robotic surgery for endometriosis as a procedure he performs, alongside standard laparoscopic excision. He treats deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), including disease found on the bowel and colon.
According to a patient who spoke with his office directly in 2026, if bowel or colon involvement is found during surgery, he will remove it, but he will not remove so much tissue that it would require a colostomy on the same surgical day. If the extent of bowel disease reaches that threshold, he would refer to a colorectal surgeon to discuss options at a later date. One patient account describes endo being removed from several organs in a single procedure. How the choice between robotic and manual laparoscopy is made by case type is not publicly documented.
Ask directly
- Do you perform excision, ablation, or both? What factors determine which approach you use?
- Do you use robotic or manual laparoscopy, and does that vary by case?
Other Areas of Specialty
Broad MIGS scope including fibroids, fertility, mesh, and nerve blocks
Beyond endometriosis, Dr. Radtke's practice covers large fibroid uterus, fertility surgery including reversal of sterilization, complex hysterectomy, pelvic mesh removal, pelvic nerve blocks for chronic pain, and perioperative management of comorbid conditions. He treats the full range of complex benign gynecologic conditions within the MIGS scope. He also performs bisalpingectomy, and at least one patient account describes a combined endo excision and sterilization procedure performed without judgment or pressure.
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.
Ask directly
- Do you work with colorectal, urological, or thoracic surgeons for complex cases, and how is that coordinated?
- Do you recommend pelvic floor physical therapy as part of treatment, and do you have providers you refer to?
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.
Ask directly
- Do you consider a negative ultrasound or MRI sufficient to rule out endometriosis?
- What is your process for diagnosing endo in a patient who has never had surgery?
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.
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.
Ask directly
- Do you see patients personally at follow-up appointments, or does someone else from your team?
- For how long do you continue to see patients after surgery?
- Do you recommend hormonal treatment or birth control after surgery, and what is your reasoning?
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.
Ask directly
- Do you treat patients who want to preserve fertility, and how does that affect your surgical approach? If adenomyosis is found during surgery, how do you handle that in a patient who wants to preserve fertility?
Sources
- Norton Healthcare - Provider Profile, Dr. Steven J. Radtke
- Norton Healthcare Provider News - "Steven J. Radtke Joins Norton Urogynecology Center"
- Norton Healthcare - Endometriosis Patient Education Page (reviewed by Dr. Radtke)
- MD-Update - "Ending Pelvic Pain in Women," June 2024
- YouTube - "Steven J Radtke, MD | Norton Medical Group" (institution-produced, November 2023)
- Doximity - Credentials, training, and publications
- LinkedIn - Dr. Steven Radtke profile
- Healthgrades - Patient reviews and treatment frequency data
- Vitals - Patient reviews (note: location data partially outdated, reflects prior El Paso practice)
- Sharecare - Patient reviews
- Norton Healthcare provider page - Patient reviews
- Reddit - Patient account, 2026 (subreddit not specified; provided by Wulf Women)
- Patient account shared directly with Wulf Women, 2026 (pre-surgery scheduling inquiry)