About Dr. Assia Stepanian
Founder of Academia of Women's Health & Endoscopic Surgery — surgeon, educator, and lifelong advocate for women.
A women's health center for every life stage
Academia of Women's Health & Endoscopic Surgery is a women's health and gynecology center conveniently located in Atlanta, Georgia. Seeing patients from ages 11 to over 100, we serve women through every life stage with care and attention. Patients of Dr. Assia Stepanian are surrounded by an atmosphere of love, compassion, serenity, and confidence.
Academia was founded by Dr. Stepanian in 2011 with the mission of serving the needs of women with full consideration of their current and future health — taking into account medical conditions, cultural beliefs, immediate and ultimate life goals, and genetic predispositions. Specializing in minimally invasive surgery techniques, the practice provides the highest level of care with a patient-centered approach founded on mutual trust and communication, with continual follow-up and support.
"Academia is a special combination of generational knowledge, collegiality, and mutually enriching educational exchange with your patients."
— Dr. Assia StepanianAssia Stepanian, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.
Download Dr. Stepanian's CV (PDF)
Dr. Assia Stepanian grew up in Moscow, the daughter of two illustrious physicians. Much of her training was supervised by her mother, Professor Leila Adamyan, developer of some of the most advanced techniques and classifications used today in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.
Dr. Stepanian received her medical degree at the world-famous I. M. Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy in 1992 and completed her OB-GYN residency at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Center for Perinatology, Obstetrics, and Gynecology in 1994. She moved to the United States and completed an OB-GYN residency at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine in 2005.
She completed the AAGL/SRS fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (2005–2007) under Dr. Thomas Lyons, and received additional training in urogynecology and pelvic floor reconstruction with Drs. John Miklos and Rob Moore. She studied laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis with Professor Arnaud Wattiez in Strasbourg, France.
Areas of special focus
Dr. Stepanian's surgical and clinical expertise spans some of the most complex areas of gynecology:
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Fertility-enhancing surgery
- Office-based intrauterine surgery
- Hysterectomy in advanced pelvic disease
- Ovarian preservation in complex ovarian disease
- Müllerian anomalies
- Pelvic floor reconstruction & rehabilitation
SurgeryU and a global teaching legacy
Dr. Stepanian founded SurgeryU, the AAGL's online media and educational platform — home to the world's first and largest collective online video-library in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery — and served as its Editor-in-Chief. Through this work, as a founder and mentor, she has helped educate more than 11,000 physicians worldwide.
Her live web events and lectures have reached surgeons from every country of the United Nations. Her teaching extends well beyond surgical technique, bringing an understanding of health and disease that spans genetics, embryology, behavioral and environmental factors, and cell-to-cell interaction in the prevention and treatment of disease. She has served on the AAGL Board of Trustees and multiple committees, and on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, and has been a member of AAGL since 1995.
A legacy of scholarship
In recognition of her contribution to education and research, she received an honorary professorship from the Russian Federal Center for Perinatology, Obstetrics, and Gynecology (named after V.I. Kulakov). She has co-authored, with Professor Adamyan, the definitive classification of female genital malformations.
Her leadership in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery has been honored by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), including the prestigious Harry Reich Award.
"My focus is always on learning about the total woman. I spend a great deal of time talking with each patient, and I find that I am both teacher and student. It can be a deeply fulfilling experience for us both."
— Dr. Assia StepanianRecognized for excellence
- Patients' Choice Award
- Modern Luxury
- Best Self Atlanta
A global community of surgeons
Generationally, Dr. Stepanian learned from internationally acknowledged surgeons and academicians. Collegially, she helped create the world's first web-based educational portal in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery — building bridges among surgeons across more than 110 countries.
Ready to meet Dr. Stepanian?
Schedule your visit and experience women's health care built on trust, expertise, and compassion.