Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Midwifery Providers

Julia Cook, CNM

Julia brings a wealth of knowledge to our team of midwives at Gifford Medical Center. She spent a dozen years as a labor and delivery nurse before becoming a midwife. She works with women of all ages to assist in their reproductive health goals.

“I’m here to provide women the information they need to make healthy decisions for themselves and for the birthing process.”

Julia’s care isn’t just limited to those who are pregnant and loves seeing the children whose births she attended grow and develop.

Heather Johnston, CNM

“Life changes happen when you welcome a new child into your family. It is my job to offer information, support, and sometimes-useful medical skills that help you navigate this journey in your own way. I like to take this same approach with all of women’s healthcare: I empower you to make healthcare decisions and lifestyle choices that work for you—mentally, emotionally and physically.”

Andrea Mendelssohn, MD

Dr. Andrea Mendelssohn provides care as part of the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Midwifery team at Gifford Medical Center. As a general obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Mendelssohn sees women of all ages, from teenagers to women experiencing menopause. She provides a wide range of services, routine to emergency, delivers babies and supports Gifford midwives, and performs surgery.

Dr. Mendelssohn, who takes a holistic approach to patient care, says, “I’m very aware of how all parts of the body are wired and speak to other parts. The body is very wise, and the best kind of medicine is to support the body healing and to know that the body knows what to do best. That applies to illness, or delivering babies.”

Hillary Sylvester MSN, RN, CNM

Hillary Sylvester is a graduate of the Frontier Nursing University Midwifery program and has extensive nursing career experience. Her passion for midwifery came from her love of women’s health and advocacy for sexual assault programs. She fell in love with the birthing process after experiencing an emergency room delivery while working as a nurse.

“Being a midwife is about teaching women how to be the healthiest version of themselves in an environment in which they feel comfortable.”

Sylvester enjoyed studying and learning about postmenopause and would like to pass on that knowledge to patients at Gifford.

Auben Van Meter, CNM

Certified Nurse Midwife Auben Van Meter serves on the Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Midwifery team at Gifford Medical Center. Her philosophy of care is centered on listening to an expectant mother’s wishes.

“I want to honor the woman and what she wants her pregnancy and delivery to be,” she says. “That includes providing education about her options, so she can make informed decisions, and really listening to and honoring her ideal labor and delivery within the scope of supporting a healthy outcome for her and her baby.”