How do you approach caring for mothers and their babies?

I believe in developing a partnership with mothers-to-be and their families, as well as focusing on continuity of care and emotional
support. I try to create personal connections and respectful, unrushed relationships. I offer choices and empower my patients.



What unique expertise do you bring to your patients who are over age 40?

The most important approach to women’s health is preventive screening based on national guidelines for gynecologic cancer, cardiovascular health, breast cancer and osteoporosis. Working as a director for the over-40 women’s healthcare center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore taught me a multi-disciplinary approach that also encompasses nutrition, diet and exercise. For example, women should get plenty of rest, limit alcohol and quit smoking.



What’s the single most important thing a mom can do for her unborn child?

Quit smoking. It can have significant negative effects on the developing fetus and it doubles the risk of delivering a low birth weight or pre-term baby. Certain birth defects are also connected to smoking, such as cleft-lip or palate. Many babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy will experience learning and behavior problems and may have respiratory issues, such as asthma.



What does every woman need to know about maintaining reproductive health?

Regular pap tests save women’s lives and are one of the best ways to prevent cervical cancer for women over the age of 21. The test cannot diagnose HPV, but it does look for abnormal cells in the cervix before they become pre-cancerous or cancerous. If a test result is irregular, appropriate clinical follow-up is important. It is also important to seek medical care whenever there is any unusual pelvic discomfort or fever/chills.



What are some exciting advances in obstetric care today?

The management of postpartum hemorrhage using interventional radiology (IR). In the past when a patient had life-threatening placenta issues, removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) was required to save both the mother and unborn child. This uterine artery embolization procedure, performed by our interventional radiologists, may avoid hysterectomy in certain cases. Another exciting new development at Northwest Hospital is banking newborn cord blood and tissue stem cells. Stem cells are the body’s master cells - they create our organs, tissues, blood and immune system. Saving the stem cells provides the benefits of having access to the lifesaving quality of cord blood and the potential future uses of cord tissue.



What’s your advice to parents on choosing the HPV vaccine for their children?

The HPV vaccine is a choice worth making. It helps protect 9 to 26-year-old males and females against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): HPV type 16 and 18 are known to cause cervical cancer. Currently, there are two HPV vaccines offered – Gardasil protects against four types of HPV, and the other one, Cervarix, protects against two types.



What’s the best thing about practicing at Northwest Hospital?

The natural beauty of the Northwest Hospital campus inspires me to provide quality medical care while working with a dedicated team of staff and medical providers. Having known everyone here for many years, I utilize teamwork to provide a safe and caring atmosphere for my patients. We are part of a small community, yet provide really innovative and advanced medical care.