CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – OBGYN Adds Midwife to Team

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 22, 2023) – CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) has added Lisa Mallard, APRN, CNM, to the team of caregivers. Before transitioning to CHI Saint Joseph Health – OBGYN as a nurse midwife, Mallard spent the past eight years serving at the Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East.

Mallard was always interested in nursing, and she found her passion caring for new moms and babies during a rotation in maternity while in nursing school. She said connecting with mothers from various backgrounds is what she enjoys most about her career. Mallard said she focuses on individualized care and looks at the whole person and approaches every patient holistically.

“Many people see my profession as just childbirth, but there’s so much more to it,” said Mallard. “You must take care of the patient and their family and understand their background, emotional issues, potential trauma, and cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Every patient is different.”

Mallard said she works to build trust with her patients, which she believes is critical to ensuring the best patient care, and she prides herself on being the person they can turn to.

“My superpower is being genuine with patients, and in return, they trust me to tell me what’s going on behind the scenes, which allows me to serve them better,” said Mallard. “Many times, my patients from different cultural backgrounds are surprised I know about their culture, but it allows them to feel comfortable with me.”

Mallard also finds joy in teaching others in health care about midwifery and passing along her knowledge to the next generation. She has taught for 25 years in various roles, including as a clinical preceptor for graduate students at numerous universities and as a hospital-based instructor for the American Academy of Pediatrics. She shares many of her philosophies with her students.

“There’s not a cookie-cutter approach to midwifery, which means you can’t treat everyone the same,” said Mallard. “Sometimes you see women who have gone through in vitro fertilization, a teenager who is unexpectedly pregnant or a mother who wants a home birth. Every day will be different, and I like to make sure those who come after me in this field understand that.”

Earlier in her career, Mallard’s passion for serving others drove her to become a civilian contractor for the United States Navy, where she cared for patients from Desert Storm and their families. After serving as a nurse for 15 years, Mallard wanted to become a provider and graduated with her Master of Science in nursing from the University of Florida and has served as a midwife since 2000. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Indian River State College. Mallard is currently certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

When she is away from work, Mallard spends time at her self-described “happy place,” Keeneland Race Course, and she enjoys paddleboarding, kayaking, reading and spending time with her husband of 40 years and their children and grandchildren.

Mallard is practicing at CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group – Obstetrics & Gynecology in Lexington, located at 170 North Eagle Creek Drive, Suite 104. To make an appointment, please call 859.967.5848.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of CommonSpirit Health, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 100 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes, home health agencies and an ambulatory care center. The hospitals in CHI Saint Joseph Health are Flaget Memorial Hospital, Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph Jessamine, Saint Joseph London, Saint Joseph Mount Sterling, and Women’s Hospital at Saint Joseph East. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to providing a wide array of services toward a goal of building a healthier future for all. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

About the CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group

CHI Saint Joseph Medical Group is the employed provider network of CHI Saint Joseph Health with 88 locations in 17 communities throughout central and eastern Kentucky.

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