Women’s healthcare needs are complex. Having exceptional OB-GYN care close to home makes a huge difference on their long-term health. We’re proud to offer a wide range of services with talented teams providing care. One of those talents is Dr. John Smith. He previously worked at the Mayo Clinic and is now part of our OB-GYN team and is dedicated to providing the best care for women in the Northland.
Growing the OB-GYN Team
Dr. Smith is the newest member of the Fairview Mesaba Clinics OB-GYN team, joining Dr. Lane Meyer and Certified Nurse Practitioner Amy Tuthill in providing our region with comprehensive obstetric, gynecological, and prenatal care. He sees patients at the Hibbing and Mt. Iron clinic locations.
“I really like working with my partners and team,” states Dr. Smith. “It’s such a good group and we work really nice together. Our clinic nurses do an excellent job and are so experienced. We’re all very committed to taking care of all the needs of the patient.”
What Is Obstetrics and Gynecology?
OB-GYN, or obstetrics and gynecology, is actually two disciplines. The first, obstetrics, is the focus on pregnancy and birth, and gynecology is caring for women’s reproductive health. OB-GYNs typically see women across a wide range of ages – some are just hitting puberty and other are past menopause. It’s a complex field and every woman’s journey is different.
What Services Do OB-GYNs Provide?
This varies by clinic. At Fairview Range, the team delivers a lot of services that save women from having to drive to Duluth or the Twin Cities. From a practice standpoint, both Dr. Smith and Dr. Meyer do a full range of laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, perform vaginal surgeries, hysterectomies, and treat abnormal bleeding, cervical dysplasia, endometriosis, incontinence, infertility, ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, and of course, deliver babies.
They provide full obstetric services including management of both low and high risk pregnancies including twins, obstetric emergencies, vaginal deliveries and surgical deliveries. The team also provides family-planning, sexual health resources, birth control options, preventive care checkups, and urogynecology care.
Dr. Smith adds, “Having these services locally saves patients so much time and keeps them close to home and family.”
Dr. Smith’s Philosophy
Dr. Smith and his team want their patients to feel like family.
“We really take the time to get to know our patients and provide the best care possible,” says Dr. Smith. “The more services we can provide here, the more that women in our community can have healthcare needs met by people they know and trust. We will do everything we can to solve patient’s problems locally, but will not hesitate to recommend a larger facility if that’s what is best for the patient.”
Finding His Place
Dr. Smith originally grew up in Texas and discovered Northern Minnesota through trips to the Boundary Waters through Boy Scouts. His troop leader is actually who inspired him to go into medicine.
“My scout master was a physician and inspired a lot of us [boy scouts] to go into medicine,” comments Dr. Smith. “I chose OB because I get to do preventative care and surgery. It’s a pleasure to work with these women and help them work through the pregnancy and deliver healthy babies.”
He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Tech University and completed his medical degree at Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Lubbock, Texas.
He also served in the Air Force as a physician on active duty for nine years. Over the years, he has worked in many different states such as Mississippi and Illinois, but up north was always in the back of his mind.
“My goal has always been to get back to the Northwoods,” explains Dr. Smith. “My family has visited here again and again for vacations and are so happy to finally call it home.”
When he isn’t serving patients, you can find Dr. Smith kayaking with his wife and three kids. They still take trips up to the Boundary Waters like Dr. Smith did as a kid – but now it’s right in their own backyard.
Now Taking Patients
If you’re in need of OB-GYN care, the team at Fairview Range is here for you. Whether you’re a young woman interested in family planning, an older woman hitting menopause, or just a woman looking for a healthcare provider, give us a call today at 218-362-6937.
