Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery has performed more than 450 complex excisions and begins seeing patients at Viva Eve’s Madison Avenue office on December 23, 2026
NEW YORK, NY — November 12, 2026 — For many women with endometriosis, the pain comes first and the answers come years later. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age worldwide, and the World Health Organization puts the average time to diagnosis at four to twelve years. Along the way, many women are told their pain is normal, try one treatment after another, and keep looking for a specialist who will take their whole story seriously.
Starting December 23, 2026, women in New York City will have a new place to take that search. Viva Eve – The Women’s Health Experts™ — is welcoming Theodoros Kapetanakis, MD, PhD, FACOG, as Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). Dr. Kapetanakis specializes in advanced endometriosis excision surgery. He has performed more than 450 complex excisions and is frequently sought out by women with challenging cases, including those who have tried other treatments or want a second or third opinion.
Key facts
- Who: Theodoros Kapetanakis, MD, PhD, FACOG, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Viva Eve
- What: Advanced endometriosis excision surgery and personalized endometriosis care, including for patients with fertility concerns
- When: Begins seeing patients December 23, 2026
- Where: Viva Eve, 635 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022
- Appointments: https://vivaeve.com/book-now-pre/?service=endometriosis or (212) 988-2111
“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Kapetanakis join us,” said Dr. James Gohar, Co-Founder and CEO of Viva Eve. “His background in complex endometriosis surgery brings a whole new level of surgical care to Viva Eve. It means we can take on more challenging cases and offer patients treatment options that weren’t previously available within our practice. It’s exciting to see how much more we can now do for our patients.”
Why the timing matters for patients
In February 2026, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued its first clinical practice guideline on diagnosing endometriosis. It recommends that clinicians can make a presumptive diagnosis from a patient’s symptoms, a physical exam, or both, and that surgery is not required before treatment begins. ACOG also calls for patients and clinicians to decide together between diagnostic laparoscopy and medical treatment, and for treating suspected lesions at the time of initial laparoscopy when possible, to help avoid the need for future surgery.
Diagnosis may now come sooner for more women. The next question is which treatment fits.
Endometriosis care built around each patient
Dr. Kapetanakis sees women who have spent years living with endometriosis symptoms, searching for answers, or trying treatments that have not brought relief. His surgical approach focuses on treating complex disease while preserving healthy tissue, and on addressing the many ways endometriosis can affect a woman’s health. Endometriosis has no cure, and surgical results depend on how extensive the disease is, so every recommendation starts with the individual patient.
“Endometriosis affects every patient differently, and treatment needs to reflect that,” said Dr. Kapetanakis. “I want to understand how the condition is affecting the patient’s life and what she hopes to achieve through treatment. Surgery can be the right answer for some patients, while others may benefit from a different approach. What matters is knowing the difference.”
“Women have often told us their pain was real, many years before anyone confirmed it. Now that diagnosis can happen sooner, what comes next matters just as much: understanding what she needs, and offering the treatment, surgical or not, that fits her goals.”
Just as important is the way Dr. Kapetanakis cares for his patients. Known for his warmth and kindness, he takes the time to listen, understand what each woman has been through, and make sure she feels heard and comfortable discussing her concerns and treatment options.
“After feeling gaslit by my previous doctors, I found a real sense of comfort with Dr. Theo. I travel from out of state to see him, but it’s worth everything to me. My excision surgery changed my life and I hope more women will follow in my footsteps as his patient.” – Alison M. Patient of Dr. Kapetanakis.
Many patients also come to him with questions about fertility. Endometriosis is associated with infertility, and the WHO notes that as many as 25% to 50% of women with infertility have endometriosis. Dr. Kapetanakis works with these patients to understand whether endometriosis may be affecting their ability to conceive and whether excision surgery could help improve their chances, taking each woman’s reproductive goals into account.
Viva Eve also offers ReceptivaDx, a test that analyzes an endometrial biopsy for BCL6, a protein marker of uterine-lining inflammation most commonly associated with endometriosis. Results are weighed alongside a patient’s symptoms, exam and imaging, and can add information when the clinical picture is unclear. A positive result does not replace clinical evaluation or surgical confirmation.
Dr. Kapetanakis will also train Viva Eve’s Ob/Gyn surgeons in endometriosis excision, extending access to this care across the practice’s providers and locations.
About Dr. Kapetanakis
Dr. Kapetanakis earned his medical degree at the University of Athens Medical School and completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of Oklahoma. He is a board-certified minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon and an adjunct instructor in obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He is a co-author of a 2025 study in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology on patient-reported symptom and quality-of-life outcomes after laparoscopic excision versus ablation of endometriosis.
Appointments
Dr. Kapetanakis will begin seeing patients on December 23, 2026, at Viva Eve’s Madison Avenue office, 635 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10022. To schedule an appointment, visit vivaeve.com or call (212) 988-2111.
About Viva Eve – The Women’s Health Experts™
Viva Eve is a multidisciplinary women’s health practice in New York City offering Ob/Gyn care, obstetrics, fibroid and endometriosis treatment, vein care, and nutrition under one roof, with offices in Midtown East (Manhattan), Forest Hills and Astoria (Queens). VIVA EVE® is a registered trademark of Spectrafem, LLC, which provides administrative and business support services to independently owned physician practices.
Media contact
Olga Chernin, Viva Eve – The Women’s Health Experts™ ochernin@vivaeve.com | 917-406-6542
Endometriosis FAQs
What is endometriosis excision surgery? Excision is surgery that cuts out endometriosis lesions, adhesions and scar tissue. It is one of several approaches, and whether it fits depends on a patient’s symptoms, extent of disease and goals.
Who is Dr. Theodoros Kapetanakis? Dr. Kapetanakis, MD, PhD, FACOG, is Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Viva Eve – The Women’s Health Experts™. He specializes in advanced endometriosis excision surgery and has performed more than 450 complex excisions.
When and where can I see him? He begins seeing patients on December 23, 2026, at Viva Eve, 635 Madison Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, NY. Call (212) 988-2111 or book at vivaeve.com.
Is surgery the only treatment for endometriosis? No. The World Health Organization lists pain medicines and hormonal treatments as options, and surgery can remove lesions for some patients. Dr. Kapetanakis evaluates each patient to decide which approach fits.
Can endometriosis affect fertility? It can. Endometriosis is associated with infertility, and the WHO notes that as many as 25% to 50% of women with infertility have endometriosis. Dr. Kapetanakis works with patients to understand whether endometriosis may be affecting their ability to conceive.
Do I need surgery to be diagnosed? Not necessarily. ACOG’s February 2026 guideline says a diagnosis can be made from symptoms, a physical exam, or both, and that surgery is not required before treatment begins.
Sources
Opened and read, November 9, 2026:
- World Health Organization, Endometriosis fact sheet (October 15, 2025): 10% (190 million) prevalence, 4 to 12 years to diagnosis, no cure, 25% to 50% of women with infertility have endometriosis, surgical results depend on extent of disease
- Healio, “ACOG updates guidance on diagnosing endometriosis” (February 20, 2026): clinical diagnosis sufficient to start treatment, shared decision-making on laparoscopy, treating suspected lesions at initial laparoscopy
- Boston University profile, Theodoros Kapetanakis, MD, PhD: adjunct instructor, 2025 Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology study (PMID 39490891)
- Hartford HealthCare physician listing: University of Athens medical degree, University of Oklahoma residency, board-certified minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon
- Contemporary OB/GYN coverage of ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 11, which gives the DOI used in the release link (10.1097/AOG.0000000000006181)
