LaparoscopicHysterectomy near Monroe, NC

Biography: Growing up I knew I wanted to be part of a profession that gave me a strong sense of purpose and allowed me an opportunity to have a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of others. One of the best places to do that is in the fight against cancer; and one of the best ways to help cancer patients is to involve them in the decisions surrounding their care. \n I take time to help my patients understand their options for getting a diagnosis and treatment for their illness. While being diagnosed with cancer is never easy, my experience has been that patients find this approach empowering and helpful. My 13 years of medical training prepared me well for this educational aspect of my job. \n A great physician is one who continues learning. I accomplish this as a member of the National Gynecological Association and through clinical research. My interest in research started during my fellowship training, when I was awarded grants for ovarian cancer research. Since then, I have logged considerable hours in the lab, researching ovarian cancer vaccines and immunotherapy. I also continue to publish clinical research on ovarian and uterine cancer treatments and outcomes. \n A native of Britain, I moved to Chapel Hill at an early age. I now live in Charlotte with my wife and dog "Moose." My wife and I love playing soccer, spending time with family and friends and working on our house. We also enjoy hiking, particularly when we can do that in Scotland.

Biography: I am a surgeon and breast cancer survivor who specializes in treating gynecologic cancer. Taking care of women and being a part of their complete cancer journey are areas of my work that I love. I chose medicine as a career because I believe it is the best way to integrate my interest in science, solving problems and helping people and my community. I specialize in gynecologic oncology because it provides a unique opportunity to combine my surgical skills with cancer care, where there is a strong and growing emphasis on caring for the whole patient. \n As lead physician and head of the operating room committee at my clinic, I play a leading role in evaluating surgical techniques to determine which ones work. My status as a fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists means you can have confidence that I rely on the latest medical guidelines, treatments and techniques in women's healthcare. \n Though I'm a surgeon, I support any therapy that improves outcomes for my patients. At Novant Health, I have spearheaded a clinical trial to help determine whether a new drug therapy improves outcomes for patients with late-stage endometrial cancer. This disease is rarely cured by radiation therapy or surgery alone. \n As a breast cancer survivor, I empathize with the emotions cancer patients experience as they move from diagnosis and treatment to remission, recovery, sometimes relapse, and survival. My approach to care focuses as much on guarding your quality of life in the here and now as on finding a cure for your illness. \n When not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband, son and daughter and our two dogs. My hobbies include long-distance running, music and sports. My husband and I both attended Auburn University and love following their sports teams.

Biography: Dr. Kathleen Persavich, MD is an Obstetrics /amp Gynecology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. She is 44 years old and has been practicing for 16 years. Dr. Kathleen Persavich, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Matthews Medical Center.

Biography: Becoming a physician has been a very natural path for me. As a child, I preferred to admit all of my stuffed animals into my personal hospital with various ailments. My parents would come by to observe and correct their wristbands from "Numonya" to "Pneumonia" and "A Pendasidus" to "Appendicitis." \n I'd have done anything to get to be a hospital patient. I put paper clips on my teeth to mimic braces and tried to make an arm cast out of papier mache in middle-school art class. I desperately wanted appendicitis because I had heard somewhere that post operatively you got all the ice cream you could eat for weeks. Plus, I'd get to see the Operating Room... and so my fascination with medicine began. \n Both my parents were postdoctoral fellows in chemistry, so biochemistry seemed a natural choice for my undergraduate studies. Afterward, I began medical school in my hometown of Cincinnati. That's when I fell in love with the practice of caring for women. \n I completed my residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Living in Nashville introduced me to country music and to my amazing spouse, Lewis, who was a fellow resident in internal medicine. I joke that our meeting was a very dialed down version of the popular series, Grey's Anatomy. \n After marrying in Alabama, we moved to Washington, D.C., where I taught medical students and residents at The George Washington University Medical Center. We had our first child there before moving back to the South to raise our family, which includes a son and two daughters. \n Having practiced as an OB/GYN for over 20 years, I've learned a great deal about providing personalized care. I think it starts with being an excellent listener. Women have tremendous knowledge and intuition about our bodies. That is a key concept I incorporate into my practice and instill in young professionals preparing for a career in medicine. \n Over the years, I've been a teacher and mentor and have enjoyed volunteering in the indigent care setting as well as practicing medicine. The field of medicine is always advancing. I continue to challenge myself to learn and grow with the latest practice advisories and new surgical techniques. It is an honor and a privilege to work in healthcare and a blessing to take care of others.

Biography: Dr. Avery-Benjamin's experiences as a young teen on the labor and delivery floor in a hospital volunteer program helped shape her passion for providing excellent care for women and children. During her residency, she received awards for excellence in teaching and administration, as well as an award from the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists for special excellence in endoscopic procedures. Dr. Avery is interested in teen and young woman wellness, preventive healthcare and minimally invasive surgery techniques. In her free time, Dr. Avery enjoys spending time with her husband, Derek, and their daughter, traveling, relaxing on the beach, reading, listening to music and participating in community service.

Biography: Dr. Ashley Fento, MD is an Obstetrics /amp Gynecology Specialist who practices in Monroe, NC. She is 38 years old. Dr. Ashley Fento, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Louise Rogers always wanted to be a surgeon but also wanted to get to know patients in a primary care setting. Obstetrics and gynecology provided an opportunity to do both. Dr. Rogers' commitment to women's healthcare extends to her multiple missionary trips to Africa, Haiti, Mexico and Pakistan and she was honored to pass on the gift of education by sponsoring the residency of an OB/GYN doctor in Africa. Closer to home, Dr. Rogers is an advocate for blood and bone marrow donation. As the niece and sister of blood cancer victims, she encourages all healthy adults to donate blood and to register as bone marrow donors. Dr. Rogers enjoys spending free time with family and friends, as well as traveling and being outdoors.

Biography: My journey into medicine began in college when a personal illness gave me a profound appreciation for the dedication and compassion of healthcare providers. I was drawn to the art of diagnosing and developing personalized care plans that improve patients' health and well-being. Women's healthcare, in particular, has been especially fulfilling, as it allows me to support patients through multiple stages of life - whether providing obstetric, gynecologic, preventive or surgical care. It is a privilege to care for women during some of their most joyous moments, as well as their most challenging ones. \n I strive to create a healthcare experience where every patient feels heard, supported, and empowered to make informed decisions about their own health. As a strong advocate for women's health, my goal is to provide accurate, comprehensive information and to help each patient achieve their personal health goals with confidence. \n I am originally from Maine, and my OB-GYN training brought me to Charlotte, where I fell in love with the city and met my husband. We decided to make it our home, and now our two young daughters keep us on our toes. We love exploring new restaurants and traveling as often as we can. In my free time, I enjoy reading and take great pride in my skills as an avid fantasy football player - with multiple championships to my name!

Biography: I knew I wanted to go into healthcare as a young child. I got involved in medicine in high school. In college, I worked as a nursing assistant to gain more experience in the healthcare field. It was in medical school that I developed a passion for obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) and, beyond that, chose to specialize in gynecological cancer. \n Every day that I care for patients, I continue to learn. I am a member of various gynecologic associations and serve on the community board for Lydia's Legacy, an organization that supports education, awareness and research funding for gynecologic cancers. \n I look at and treat each patient as if she were a member of my family. That is the reason I strive to introduce a level of humanism and warmth to each visit and help put my patients' minds at ease. But above all else, I put honesty first. In my field, I do not always have good news to discuss with my patients. Honesty and compassion can help a patient and her family formulate realistic expectations, which is extremely important during the course of care. \n My husband and I live in Charlotte with our two girls and dogs, Paco and Maui. We absolutely love being outdoors, enjoy spending time by the pool, spending time in the mountains, and taking trips to the beautiful Carolina beaches with our family.

Biography: As a young student, I always enjoyed science. But it was the prolonged illness of one of my best friends during college that led me to choose medicine as my career. \n I have learned that the best advice can be given only after careful listening. That's why I am passionate about taking the time to really listen to my patients so I can help empower them to make the best decisions for their health. \n Over the years, I have listened to women who are frustrated that they can't successfully lose weight and keep it off. Many have tried a variety of diets and supplements that aren't always effective. I became a diplomate in obesity medicine - a distinction awarded by the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) - to provide the best, safest and most effective care for these patients. \n Medicine is always changing, and I make it a priority to keep up to date on the latest treatment options available. My philosophy also includes using natural healing to complement medical treatments. As a result, I have earned several advance certifications, including North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner and a hypnobirthing certified practitioner. \n My hypnobirthing training helps my patients who want a natural birth experience to be more comfortable during labor. \n I'm also a certified (by the North American Menopause Society) menopause practitioner and am passionate about providing excellent care during and after menopause - and that includes prescribing bioidentical FDA-approved hormones. \n My wife and I have lived in Charlotte for about 15 years. We met during training at Duke University Medical Center. We have three children and enjoy spending as much time with them as possible. I enjoy being outdoors and spend a lot of time hiking on nature trails. I also enjoy baking with my kids. As a Formula One racing fan, I love cheering for Max Verstappen and the Red Bull racing team.

Biography: As far back as I can remember, I would tell anyone who asked that I was going to be a physician when I grew up. Caring for people has always felt like a calling. \n During my medical school rotations, I found my passion in women's health. Every day, I feel honored to care for women of all ages and at all stages of their lives. \n My philosophy on patient care is to treat people the way I want my doctor to treat me or any member of my family. I strive to practice evidence-based medicine while partnering with patients to achieve their health goals. \n In addition to my practice, I'm a clinical assistant professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine's Charlotte Campus. I also serve as clerkship director of the application phase for students in the OB-GYN rotation. \n I've been honored to receive several recent awards. My peers voted me one of Charlotte's top doctors in 2023 and 2024 in Charlotte Magazine. And in 2022, I was nominated for the Novant Health Distinguished Physician Award. \n I am a working mom who strives to be active in my community. At my church - St. John's Baptist Church - I volunteer as a Sunday School teacher and with the children's ministry. I also volunteer as competition director for the Charlotte Swim and Racquet swim team. When not working, I'm probably driving my two children to swim or basketball practice, working the computers at a swim meet or reading.