Fredericksburg Parent

30 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • August 2020 WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING For Dr. Nikola Alex Letham, practicing obstetrics and gynecology is about empowering women to make informed decisions about their healthcare as they move through different stages of life. When he saw the important role that a dedicated physi- cian could play in this field, he was immediately drawn to it, despite going into medical school thinking he wanted to become a surgeon. "For me, it was the continuity of care," said Dr. Letham, who as of July was taking new patients as one of the newest physicians at Mary Washington Obstetrics and Gynecology. "You really build a relationship with the patient, and it's a field of medicine that helps patients through all different phases with a variety of different tools." Dr. Letham is one of two new physicians that have recent- ly joined Mary Washington Obstetrics and Gynecology. As of this month, Dr. Danielle Holmes is accepting new OB/ GYN patients. Sponsored Material is here for women's healthcare needs— through pregnancy and beyond Building a Better Approach to Women's Health Dr. Letham moved to Fredericksburg with his wife, two young sons and two dogs in part because of the opportunity to be part of a practice that approaches women's health holistically. As part of the Mary Washington Healthcare family, Mary Washington Obstetrics and Gynecology is part of a comprehensive array of women's healthcare services that address women's needs at every stage in their life, from contraception, to fertility, pregnancy, cancer screenings, meno- pause and beyond. As part of Fredericksburg's leading healthcare network, Mary Washington Obstetrics and Gynecology offers patients access to The Family Birth Place at Mary Washington Hospital, the region's only Level III neona- tal intensive care unit (NICU), and a strong partnership with Children's National Hospital that brings world-class expertise to newborns in the region without having to leave the area. Mary Washington Healthcare also offers specialized care to expectant mothers at the Mary Washington Maternal Fetal Medicine Practice, located in the same facility as the OBGYN practice. "Being in this new practice where we are building an evolving whole-preg- nancy approach, it's an excellent environment to take care of women," Dr. Letham said. "Doctors here have access to all of the best resources, and women can feel very assured that should there be a complication, we are prepared and can access the best possible care."

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