Westar OB/GYN opens Sunbury office

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Westar OB/GYN has opened a Sunbury office in the former Sunbury post office building.

Westar has an established office in Westerville, and Westar physicians are on staff at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s.

Dr. Alan Murnane was seeing patients at the Westar Sunbury office recently when he took time for a brief interview.

“We’ve been wanting to come to Sunbury to provide general obstetrics and gynecological services to patients from eastern Delaware County at their convenience,” Murnane said. “From our Sunbury location, we’re able to serve Centerburg, Johnstown, Lewis Center, Delaware and patients from the surrounding area without them having to drive into Westerville.”

Murnane, originally from Galloway, Ohio, graduated from Westland High School in 1979, attended Ohio State University (Class of 1983 with a degree in zoology), and completed his medical degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1987, followed by a residency at Good Samaritan in Cincinnati. After practicing for 11 years in Toledo, Murnane returned to central Ohio and joined the Westar practice in 2003.

Combine Murnane’s background with Westar’s other doctors and the practice’s experience and training level are impressive.

Dr. Angela Rouse earned a doctorate in medicine at the Northeastern Ohio Medical University, followed by residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Akron General Medical Center.

Dr. Eric Overdorf received his undergraduate degree at Indiana University and a doctorate in medicine at the Indiana University medical school, and did his residency at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. He interned at St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital.

Dr. Seretha Ransom did undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, earned her doctorate in medicine at the University of Cincinnati, and did residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Greenville Health System in Greenville, South Carolina.

Murnane noted that a fifth doctor will join the Westar practice in August — Dr. Cheryl Lodwick — and Westar has two certified nurse practitioners on staff – Sunbury resident Katie Elliot and Joy Shoemaker.

“We do a lot of obstetrics, so we have the advantage of offering prenatal care and in-office ultrasound here in Sunbury, and delivery at St. Ann’s, a Level III neonatal care hospital,” Murnane said. “As our Sunbury patient base grows, we’ll have one physician here, one at our other office, and one at St. Ann’s, and one off-duty. That way we’re not pressured to get a baby delivered.”

Murnane also noted that Westar has a healthy mix of both male and female physicians. He said some patients want a male doctor attending their needs, and some are more comfortable with a woman physician.

“Part of our philosophy is that people who are having a baby are healthy,” Murnane said. “Patients should enjoy their pregnancy, while at the same time they’re taking care of themselves. We try to make delivering a child as safe as we can, and we’re there if things go wrong.”

In addition to prenatal care and in-office 3D and 4D ultrasound, Westar obstetric services include birth plan support, vaginal birth after a C-section, prenatal care for patients with existing hypertension and/or diabetes, most other high-risk pregnancies, pre-pregnancy counseling, and post-partum support.

Westar also offers doulas professional labor support.

“Our doulas are independently employed, and trained and certified through DONA International,” Murnane said. “Professional doulas provide emotional, physical and informational support during pregnancy, birth and the early post-partum period. Westar doulas support women and their partners with a wide variety of plans.”

Westar is not just about obstetrics. Murnane said gynecological services include cervical cancer screenings, short- and long-term contraception, hormone therapy, incontinence problems, minimally invasive surgery, menopausal care and menstrual problems, fibroid management, endometriosis management, sexually transmitted disease (screening, education, and prevention), and vaginal discharge.

“We have electronic charts so patients can visit either office, and ultrasound at both locations,” Murnane said. “We offer a full range of gynecology, but we don’t do abortions. Our mission is to be nondirective but pro-life. We have a sacred trust to our patients. We understand they’re happy that they’re having a baby, but we also understand they’re worried about the baby, so we take our responsibilities seriously.”

The Sunbury Westar office is at 65 E. Granville St. and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. until noon on Friday. The Westar Westerville office is at 444 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 120. The phone number for all locations is 614-818-0300.

Westar is online at westarobgyn.com.

Murnane
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/05/web1_DrMurnane.Westar.OBGYN_.01.a.jpgMurnane Lenny C. Lepola | For The Gazette

By Lenny C. Lepola

For The Gazette

Lenny C. Lepola can be reached at 614-266-6093. Email: [email protected].

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