Dr. Alfred Kobak will be expanding services to women in Northwest Indiana beginning April 3 when the Kobak Center for Women's Health opens.

In addition to annual gynecological exams and specialized surgery, the center will offer consultation, diagnosis and treatment for virtually every female health condition. Areas of expertise provided by Kobak and his associates include diagnosis and treatment of HPV and its associated dysplasia of the cervix, the medical and surgical management of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding, menopausal/hormonal dysfunction, family planning, fertility evaluations, sexual dysfunction, dietary management and colposcopy/hysteroscopy/laparoscopy.

Kobak hopes to devote more time to each patient at the center.

"I wanted to do something that was not based on time segments. What's happened in many offices is the five-minute time segment has replaced the 10- to 30-minute time segment," he said. "It doesn't give you time to get to know your patients. We will schedule in 15 to 30-minute blocks."

Patients also will be able to decrease the time spent in the waiting room or filling out forms, which they can access beforehand online.

Kobak has gotten a few family members involved in the practice as well, including son his son William H. Kobak, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Illinois Medical Center, and son in-law Jacob Rotmensch. who is director of gynecologic oncology at Rush University Medical Center. Other physicians who will be available to patients are Donna Pratt and Amos Madanes.

Female baby boomers are confronting the biggest issues, Kobak said . Along with aging, general health concerns from diabetes to high blood pressure are issues to contend with in women's health. There are areas that are lacking, for example, urologic care for women.

The center will operate from Glendale Medical Center Suite 108 in Valparaiso, Porter Portage Hospital Campus Suite 8, and at Porter Chesterton Medical Campus, 650 Dickinson Road, Suite Z in Chesterton.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (219) 531-7500.