“We were always short one room,” Dr Stegeman said.
“At the same time, we were looking at starting a women’s health clinic one evening a month ... then we had the opportunity of procuring UNA House and those three factors combined led to the idea to start a Women’s Health Centre.”
She said almost everything in medicine was written from a male perspective.
“Practically all research has been done on men,” Dr Stegeman said.
“For instance, the symptoms experienced for a heart attack are described from a male perspective, whilst females present with vastly different symptoms.”
Now, the women-focused centre has two local gynaecologists, two visiting gynaecologists, a women’s health physiotherapist, and six general practitioners, two paediatricians and a psychologist who also treat children and men.
Dr Stegeman remains part owner of the practice, but now GPs Jessica Hetherington and Cristina Tolentino, and practice manager Josie Ganino own equal shares.
“It was time to bring new life into management of the clinic,” Dr Stegeman said.
Ms Ganino began working for Dr Stegeman in 2012 as her practice manager.
She said she had always been encouraged by Dr Stegeman to consider buying into the practice when the time felt right.
“Over the years, I’ve developed a deep sense of ownership and pride in what we’ve built,” she said.
“It truly feels like my ‘baby’, so taking that next step was a natural progression.”
Dr Hetherington, a GP who trained under Dr Stegeman when doing her obstetrics and gynaecology rotation at Goulburn Valley Health 20 years ago, has been working at the centre since 2022, after relocating from a GP clinic in Echuca, where she’d worked for 13 years.
“I never thought I would buy into a clinic ... however, after travelling in WA with my family for seven months of 2024, I started to think that maybe it was the logical next step for me,” Dr Hetherington said.
“Before I even returned to work, Margreet just happened to reach out with an offer to buy in and it seemed like it was meant to be.”
She believes taking this step for the centre’s longevity was important, to ensure security and consistency to staff and patients.
“Margreet and Josie have built something really special in SWHC, for the doctors and staff who work there, but also for patients in Shepparton and surrounding areas, and I feel really lucky to have been able to work here and to be given the opportunity to buy in and take it into its next phase,” Dr Hetherington said.
Dr Tolentino, who has been part of the team since 2018, agreed that the environment was appealing.
“The people I work with here, the doctors, nurses, allied health, admin staff, everyone is so good to work with, which makes it a successful business that will continue to thrive in the coming years,” Dr Tolentino said.
“Women’s health care is so complex and ever-changing that we have to keep up to date with everything, from preventative care to the latest treatments, otherwise our patients will miss out.”
While the partners alluded to future expansion of services and potentially space, Dr Tolentino said she’d like to see bone density testing and fat analysis body scans introduced to get a more detailed picture of health measures than just a number from a weight scale.
And, being a sufferer herself, she has a particular interest in endometriosis, and lifestyle modifications, such as anti-inflammatory dieting and regular exercises, that suit women at every stage of their lives.
Dr Hetherington said women sometimes had trouble finding health providers who understood or were properly trained in a woman’s health needs throughout her life’s journey.
“From periods to contraception, to fertility and pregnancy, to motherhood, to menopause and all of the ups and downs that go along with these stages,” she said.
“We aim to offer women, and those identifying as women, evidence-based and up-to-date care, with appointments that aren’t rushed, in a space they can feel comfortable to come and open up and feel understood.“
Dr Hetherington also has a vision to establish a Goulburn Valley Medical Women’s Group where female and non-binary doctors can support and learn from each other.
For more information on the Shepparton Women’s Health Centre, visit the website or its Facebook page.
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