Dr Samantha Pillay, MBBS FRACS FUSANZ GAICD, is a Urological Surgeon. A 1992 graduate of the University of Adelaide Medical School, she started serving urology patients in South Australia in 1996, when she commenced specialist urology training. Dr Pillay became the first woman to complete surgical training in Adult Urology in South Australia.
Samantha was driven to improve incontinence treatment for men and women, providing specialised services and bringing the best treatments available to South Australians.
She undertook further training in the sub-specialty of Female Urology and Neurourology in Melbourne and worked in Christchurch, New Zealand, before returning to Adelaide to start Continence Matters in 2002, becoming the first Australian urologist to exclusively sub-specialise in Female Urology, Neuro-Urology, Functional and Reconstructive Surgery.
She served as the inaugural Chair of the Female Urology Special Advisory Group for the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) from February 2007 to June 2013 and the President of the South Australian branch of the Continence Foundation of Australia from February 2011 to November 2014. She was the first female Scientific Chair for the 60th USANZ Annual Scientific Meeting in 2007, Chair of the Female Urology Program for the 65th UASNZ Annual Scientific Meeting 2012, the first female USANZ SA section president (2017 - 2018), and the first female State USANZ Meeting Convenor (2018). She is the Principal Investigator for the Australian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry at Calvary North Adelaide (2022 - present), awarded Best Clinical Data for Australia, 2024 and Site Award, 2023.
At Continence Matters, located within Calvary Hospital North Adelaide, she provides;
- Comprehensive evaluation with Fluoroscopic Urodynamics.
- Specialist Urology Assessment of all male and female bladder and voiding problems, incontinence, and prolapse.
- Management of complex incontinence cases, including complications from or failed previous surgery and complications from mesh slings.
- Surgical and Non-Surgical Treatment Options.
- Autologous fascial slings (no mesh) for surgical treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence. She is also able to discuss other treatment options, including injectable urethral bulking agents and the pros and cons of mesh mid-urethral slings (tapes).
- Surgical treatment options for Overactive Bladder include onaBotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections and sacral neuromodulation.
- She predominately treats patients from age 16 and up.
- (She is not a urogynaecologist; which is a subspecialty of gynaecology, and not of urology.)
She currently holds specialist medical registration with the Medical Board of South Australia.
Dr Pillay is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. (2017)
She was one of four SA finalists for the 2022 Australian of the Year and a 2023 Telstra Best of Business Award finalist in two categories: Accelerating Women and Championing Health.
Dr Pillay was the recipient of the 2024 Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Low-Arnold Award. Other USANZ Awards include the AstraZeneca Travel Grant 2006, The St Paul's Ball Best Presentation twice (1995 and 1999) and co-author for Best Presentation 2005. She has provided ten preceptorships over the years to newly qualified urologists who have visited Continence Matters to gain teaching and learning from Dr Pillay and further preceptorships for Continence Nurses and Physiotherapists. She has been the Investigator for five clinical trials, including the Principal Investigator twice.
Dr Pillay was the 2024 Women In Innovation Social Impact Award recipient. She has worked extensively in Community, medical student, GP, specialist, and Health Professional education to raise awareness, end incontinence stigma, and educate health professionals. She has spent years developing educational resources on the Continence Matters website, which are accessed by over sixty thousand visits worldwide annually. She has created an online video Continence Course for Health Professionals and a video lecture series for the University of Adelaide Medical School. She has delivered over 140 medical lectures and workshops, including International and National Scientific Meeting Invited Speaker, in addition to other speaking engagements on various topics, including gender equity, business and entrepreneurship, and leadership for women. Her philanthropic work for positive social impact and advocacy includes producing award-winning AI films, An Incontinent Truth (Round The Globe Film and Music Festival, Texas, 2024) and the soundtrack, Break the Silence, to raise awareness of urinary incontinence. She collaborated with colleagues to produce another award-winning film, JUST SAY PSA, a short film to raise prostate cancer screening awareness. She also created What's a Urologist, showcasing some of the conditions urologists treat, and Become a Surgeon to inspire women in a surgical career.
Dr Pillay is a current member of;
- Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) (member 2001 - present)
- Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ - including past SA President 2017-2018, Board Member 2003-2006, member 2001 - present)
- Female Urology Special Advisory Group (FUSAG - including Past Chair 2007-2013, member 2007 - present)
- American Urological Association (AUA) (member 2007 - present)
- Continence Foundation of Australia (including Past SA President 2012-2014 and Elected Member of the National Board 2004-2005. Member 2002 - present)
- International Continence Society (ICS) (member 2002 - present)
- Society of Women in Urology (member 2021 - present)
- Australian Medical Association (AMA) (1992 - present)
- Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology (SUFU) (member 2005 - present)
- Australian Institute of Company Directors (Graduate 2017, member 2017 - current)
- Association of Women Surgeons (member 2021 - present)
- Professional Speakers Association (Professional member 2022 - present)
- Australasian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry Steering Committee (Proxy 2004 - present)
- Women in Innovation (2023 - present)
She has served on Advisory Boards and worked as a consultant for the Medical Industry, including Allergan, Astellas, Ferring, and Medtronic.
She has previously served as a Board Member on;
- Australian Medical Association (AMA) SA (Women in Medicine Representative 2003 - 2005)
- Australia and New Zealand Board of Urology (2003 - 2006)
- Continence Foundation of Australia National Board (2004 - 2005)
- Curriculum Review Committee for the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (2011 - 2013)
- Expert Review Panel for the Australian Pelvic Floor Procedure Registry (2018 - 2021)
Dr Pillay’s goals are;
- To bring care and treatment to men and women with disabling bladder conditions.
- To build acceptance and understanding of these conditions by the wider community.
- To provide surgical training, mentorship, and promotion in the field of Female Urology.
- To provide health education to the community and other health professionals. View the online video lesson Continence Course for Health Professionals.
- To promote women’s health issues.
- To support women as leaders.
- To support programmes that help to empower women around the world.
Samantha enjoys cooking, gardening, exercising, teaching and public speaking, but her greatest passion is being a mum. She is a multi-award-winning, five-time International No1 best-selling author of The No Recipe Cookbook. and the Inspirational Careers for Kids picture book series, including the No1 Amazon Best-Seller, When I'm a Surgeon. She has published ten children's books to inspire girls to believe in themselves, dream big and aim high. She has undertaken three courses in AI filmmaking and is using this technology for social impact projects. Her AI films can be viewed on YouTube and AI music on Spotify and most streaming platforms. The When I'm an Astronaut music video won the Best in Creative AI at the 2024 Australian XR Festival Awards. You can keep up to date with her advocacy work and hobbies at samanthapillay.com
