LaparoscopicHysterectomy near Charlotte, NC

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: 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: 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.

Biography: Dr. Deepa Etikala, MD is an Obstetrics /amp Gynecology Specialist who practices in Charlotte, NC. She is 33 years old. Dr. Deepa Etikala, MD is affiliated with Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center.

Biography: Dr. Jessica Rhodes, DO is an Obstetrics /amp Gynecology Specialist who practices in Mooresville, NC. She is 38 years old and has been practicing for 11 years. Dr. Jessica Rhodes, DO is affiliated with Novant Health Huntersville Outpatient Surgery.