grmedcenter.com | 3 Gretchen Hilt, Certified Nurse-Midwife Location: 1339 E. Court St., Suite 210, GRMC Campus Phone: 830.379.1500 Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in women’s health? A: I’ve been in women’s health for 20 years. I started in labor and delivery, and I am still there. What inspired me is the belief that women need someone in their corner. We give so much of ourselves to others that we often forget to prioritize our own health. It is so important to have someone you can trust to motivate and support you in caring for yourself so that you can continue caring for others. I love building those lasting relationships with patients and being someone they can trust, from pregnancy through every stage of life. Becoming a midwife has allowed me to continue that journey of care. Q: What would you like to share about midwifery care at GRMC? A: Midwives practice across the full spectrum of care, from home births and birthing centers to in-hospital deliveries. What we offer at GRMC is in-hospital midwifery care that allows women with low-risk pregnancies to have a more hands-off, lowintervention experience while still having the safety and support of a hospital setting. Our goal is to educate patients, promote shared decision-making and help them understand their options, including when certain interventions are necessary for safety. I want to bring balance to both approaches, offering the personalized, hands-on support of midwifery with the reassurance of medical resources available if needed. Shaliah Howard, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Location: 417 S. King St., Cypress Building Phone: 830.372.2791 Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in women’s health? A: Throughout my nursing career, I found myself most fulfilled when caring for women, from adolescence to menopause and beyond. I was drawn to the opportunity to build ongoing relationships, provide evidence-based education and advocate for health equality. Becoming a women’s health nurse practitioner has allowed me to combine my clinical skills with my passion for promoting wellness and preventive care in a population that often faces unique and complex challenges. Q: What keeps you motivated to come to work every day, especially on the long or difficult days? A: What keeps me motivated is the combination of patient impact and professional growth. I’m inspired by the resilience of the women I care for and by the collaboration I share with my colleagues. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn something new and become a stronger provider. Remembering that I am contributing to something bigger—improving women’s health and access to care—helps me push through those long days. Alyson Kirchner, MD Location: 1339 E. Court St., Suite 210, GRMC Campus Phone: 830.379.1500 Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in women’s health? A: I wanted to be a physician for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Seguin and started working in GRMC’s emergency room when I was 17, and I fell in love with medicine right away. I always knew I wanted to be a surgeon because I love being in the operating room, so when I discovered OB-GYN, it felt like the perfect fit. It combined my passion for surgery with the opportunity to care for women at every stage of life, from adolescence through menopause. The ability to build long-term relationships with patients is truly unique to this specialty, and it drew me in from the start. Q: Was there a patient experience that confirmed you were in the right profession and felt especially fulfilling? A: There are so many, but what stands out most are the moments in my own community. I grew up here—I went to the same schools my children now attend, and my parents still live here. I have cared for my friends, their mothers and grandmothers, and now their children. I once attended a high school game and realized 10 of the kids on the court were babies I delivered. Moments like that and seeing families grow and being part of their stories remind me that I am exactly where I’m meant to be. Vivian Lipton, MD Location: 1352 E. Walnut St., Walnut Building Phone: 830.475.4321 Q: What do you love most about being a Family Medicine and Obstetrics physician? A: What I love the most about being a family physician who delivers babies is being able to be present when a new life comes into the world. I feel that childbirth is very scary, and every time a baby comes into the world a family is reborn and the dynamic
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