Gary Newman, D.O., FACOOG is a board certified fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. His practice interests include normal and high risk obstetrics, pelvic surgery for incontinence and other disorders, and all aspects of female health maintenance and preventative care.

Dr. Newman graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Nutritional Science. His medical school training was in California at the Western University of Health Sciences. He then completed his residency in Detroit at a Michigan State University affiliated program.

Heather Lesmes M.D. graduated from University of Arizona, College of Medicine in 2010. She completed her residency at Banner University Medical Center (formally Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center). She has been working at Banner Del Webb Hospital since 2014.

She enjoys all aspects of being a general OB/GYN, but has special interests in minimally invasive surgery including vaginal hysterectomies, conservative measures to control heavy periods, contraception including IUDs and Nexplanons, hormone replacement therapy, and helping women through pregnancy (normal or high risk). She strives to be someone that is easy to talk to about sensitive topics and enjoys educating women to make the best decisions about their health.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her three children, running, cooking and traveling.

Janelle Drogowski, CNM,WHNP-BC is our Certified Nurse-Midwife and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.

Janelle Drogowski graduated in 1998 from the obstetrics and gynecology nurse practitioner program of the University of Phoenix. She is certified in obstetric, gynecologic and neonatal nursing through the National Certification Corporation. She also earned her certificate as a certified Nurse-Midwife form PhiladelphiaUniversity in January 2012. Janelle professional interest include preconception care and counseling, normal pregnancy and birth, well woman screenings and STD prevention. She also treats common gynecologic problems, menstrual disorders, as well as care during menopause including hormone replacement therapy. With a strong commitment to women’s health, Janelle is honored to serve her patients. She is passionate about patient education and strives to empower women to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Desiree Arias is our newly graduated Certified Nurse-Midwife with over twelve years of experience serving women and families as a labor and delivery nurse. She graduated in 2007 from Arizona State University with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and gained experience within the Banner system. She then began an exciting 3-year career as a travel nurse and used her nursing specialty in cities around Arizona, California, and Texas. It was during her time of travelling as she cared for birthing women in diverse settings and populations that she felt called to be a change in the birth culture. She is a proud graduate of Frontier Nursing University with her Master of Science in Nursing degree after completing her intense preceptorship and training under the guidance of Premier Care for Women Midwives and Physicians.

Desiree is a native to Arizona and lifelong Surprise resident. She is excited to give back to her hometown community and provide individualized and compassionate full-scope midwifery care to women as they transition through all stages of life. She is committed to empowering and educating women during pregnancy and childbirth, family planning, well-women care, and menopause.

Alexis Bischof graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2020 and immediately pursued continued education in midwifery, as it has always been her calling. She is a 2022 graduate of Bethel University’s Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery program. She has experience caring for women in various settings including hospital, federally qualified health center, and a freestanding birth center. These various clinical settings have given Alexis experience providing care for women with a varying degree of obstetric health risks as well as diverse backgrounds of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Alexis chose the path of midwifery because she believes in the philosophy of supporting physiologic birth and empowering women throughout their healthcare experiences. She is passionate about advocacy and providing trauma-informed care.

During her free time, Alexis enjoys reading, hiking, going to sporting events, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Ashley Caldwell has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife since 2018 when she moved to Arizona with her husband and children from Oklahoma. After receiving a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2009, she attended nursing school at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and graduated in 2011. She then completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2014.

She has always been drawn to childbirth and had worked several years as a neonatal intensive care nurse, labor and delivery nurse, childbirth educator, and clinical nursing instructor before pursuing her midwifery education.

She fell in love with the midwifery model of care because it centers care around the woman and views labor and birth as normal physiologic processes. Her passion is to be “with woman” by educating, empowering, and supporting women through their labor and birth experience and women’s healthcare needs. Ashley attended Frontier Nursing University’s Nurse-Midwifery program and graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing in 2018.

Ashley enjoys swimming, reading, relaxing with a cup of coffee, and spending time with her husband and children.