At 6 feet 7 inches tall, Douglas Gearity, M.D., is the epitome of a gentle giant. His size contrasts to the end result of his work - babies - the smallest and most vulnerable of all human beings.
Dr. Gearity practices obstetrics and gynecology through The Womens Center, a private practice he established in April 2001, after working for four years with OB/Gyn Associates in Kissimmee. During the past six years, he has filled scrapbooks with photographs of the children he delivered and thank-you notes from their grateful parents. The letters attest to the doctors gentleness and the concern he has for his patients:
Dr. Gearity, thank you so much for making the birth of our first baby so wonderful and memorable. You are gifted with a pleasant personality and talented hands.
B. and J.
The birth of a child is important, said Dr. Gearity, who does not keep track of the number of babies he has delivered. I treat patients as individuals not numbers. I dont take labor and delivery for granted. It might be my thousandth delivery, but it could be their first.
Following each birth, The Womens Center sends gifts to the new baby and mother.
I missed the marriage, but Im here for the birth, he said. I can make that special and a fond memory.
The New York City native set his sights on medical school when he was a high-school freshman. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., and completed his internship in Bridgeport, Conn. Dr. Gearity moved to Orlando to serve a residency at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women and became so fond of the area, he decided to establish his career here. He continues to deliver babies at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women, as well as Florida Hospital Celebration Health and Osceola Regional Hospital.
Dr. Gearity enjoys his work as an obstetrician because, Its people giving birth and life. However, he said, It also gives me the most heartache when things dont work out right. Im happy when the day has gone by, and Ive delivered two [babies], and theyre both healthy.
Dr. Gearity, youre a special doctor, and you really care about your patients. You take time to explain everything thats going on, and you make sure the patient understands. - N.L.
In addition to providing prenatal care and delivering infants, Dr. Gearity also provides comprehensive gynecological services, including Pap smears, infertility counseling, intrauterine insemination, diagnostic hysteroscopy, ultrasound, treatments for abnormal bleeding, laparoscopic surgeries, hysterectomies, and general gynecology.
According to Dr. Gearity, an ob/gyn physician is "one of the few specialties that is an all-around doctor. He explained that many of his patients rely on him to check other areas of their health care, for example, testing blood cholesterol or ordering a colonoscopy.
When he treats a patient, he listens to their symptoms and cares for the whole person.
I try to give everyone individual care and listen to their questions, Dr. Gearity said.
Dr. Gearity, thank you for everything youve done to ease our minds with my pregnancy.
- J. and R.
Dr. Gearity said his gynecological patients are as thankful as new mothers when he corrects a problem for them. The key objective he keeps in mind when treating women of all ages is quality of life.
With diagnostic hysteroscopy, Dr. Gearity can discover the cause of abnormal bleeding, such as polyps or fibroids, and check the lining of the uterus for cancer or precancerous conditions. During this minor surgical procedure, a thin, flexible tube with a miniscule camera on the end is inserted through the cervix and into the uterus, where he views its lining.
Some patients with abnormal bleeding who have completed childbearing are offered a new form of treatment called the NovaSure System. This provides an alternative to a traditional hysterectomy, and because a patient can keep her uterus intact, she may have a better quality of life. The NovaSure System is a new endometrial-ablation device that uses electrical energy to permanently remove the lining of the uterus to reduce or eliminate menstrual bleeding. Dr. Gearity performs this outpatient procedure at the Kissimmee Surgery Center and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women.
Also working closely with patients is physicians assistant Linda Kenney. Among her various responsibilities, Kenney helps menopausal women with their concerns, such as hormone replacement.
An in-house sonographer conducts ultrasounds, scanning to diagnose diseases and examine unborn babies during pregnancy. An ultrasound is considered safe and is a quick procedure Dr. Gearity provides to allow expectant parents to see their babies.
It make parents happy, and we give our best guess on whether its a boy or a girl, Dr. Gearity said.
Dear Dr. Gearity, going to the gynecologist is no ones idea of fun, but you have a real concern for your patients and a great outlook on life. You make the experience not so bad.
- R.
Expectant parents are invited to participate in Lamaze classes that are taught at The Womens Center. Rather than attending several weeks of classes, participants attend a one-day session that is held on a weekend for the convenience of parents. The program includes a catered lunch.
The Womens Center strives to make appointments convenient and as pleasant as possible. Coffee and cookies are available in the waiting room, and a kids corner invites children to play.
Dr. Gearity plans to keep his practice from becoming too large or hectic. He enjoys establishing relationships with his patients, seeing them on a regular basis, and watching their babies grow up.
The nicest thing a patient can do is say thank-you - to let me know Ive done a good job. Then I feel really happy about it.
Douglas Gearity, M.D., maintains a private obstetrics and gynecology practice at The Womens Center in Suite 201, 14050 Town Loop Blvd., in Hunters Creek. For more information visit http://www.thewomenscenteronline.com or to schedule an appointment, call (407) 857-2502.
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