June 29, 2007

30 Years of Delivering Babies

Drs. Kerns and Mihm celebrate anniversary

DAVENPORT, IOWA - Lisa Nelson didn’t think much about the identity of the doctor who delivered her nearly three decades ago until months after she had worked at Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialists, P.C.

One day, the certified medical assistant got curious and asked her Mom: “Who was the doctor who delivered me?”

Turns out, the first man ever to lay eyes on her in June 1978 was obstetrician/gynecologist Harold Mihm, M.D., one of eight physicians and a total of 14 providers with whom she works at the Davenport practice called “The Group.”

Celebrating 30 years at the practice this year, it’s only natural that Dr. Mihm and Eugene Kerns, M.D., are now caring for pregnant women who they delivered as babies more than two decades ago. The two estimate they have brought into the world at least 5,000-6,000 babies each at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport and its predecessor hospitals St. Luke’s and Mercy.

“I thought I would feel really old the first time a pregnant woman came in and said, ‘You delivered me,’ but I didn’t,” Dr. Kerns says.

Next week, office staff will dress up in ‘70s apparel and have cake for patients to celebrate the special milestone.

It was 1977 when Drs. Mihm and Kerns joined Dr. Donald Heming in his practice on Spring Street. Both had graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed their residencies in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. A year later came Dr. Delos Hanson, who still practices gynecology at The Group but retired from delivering babies a couple of months ago. He and Dr. Mihm were in the same med school class.

Since then, the practice now located in Paul Revere Square has grown to eight physicians, three certified nurse-midwives, two nurse practitioners, one physician’s assistant and a total of 55 employees. Each year, the Group delivers at Genesis an estimated 50 percent of the babies born in Scott County, says practice administrator Russ Rodriguez.

More than 3,000 babies, or nearly 70 percent of babies born in Scott and Rock Island counties, are born at Genesis birth centers each year.

“It has been a rewarding 30 years. I’d do it all over again,” Dr. Mihm says. “I think being able to practice with a group where everyone gets along well makes it a lot easier. We’re compatible and respect each other. It’s nice to have associates to share call with and share concerns. It’s a very family-like atmosphere.”

Over three decades, Drs. Mihm and Kerns have seen many changes – from more female obstetrician/gynecologists and nurse-midwives; to ultrasounds for every pregnancy; to advances in fertility; to more outpatient procedures; and, the advent of the Internet. They have seen advances in caring for pre-term babies, particularly now that the Genesis BirthCenter is staffed with neonatologists from the University of Iowa.

“The patients are far more involved and informed, which is good,” Dr. Kerns says. “Knowledge is beneficial. Women are a lot less frightened if they understand what is happening to them.”

Women also are more health-conscious, and there’s more emphasis on healthy living before and during pregnancies. “We were kind of a lone voice in the ‘70s when we encouraged women to stop smoking, watch their diet and exercise,” he says. “Now, there’s a lot more research to back up those recommendations.”

More women also are delaying motherhood, and a lot of first-time mothers are more mature. “In the ‘70s if a woman had a baby in her 40s, it was usually the last of several babies – never the first,” Dr. Mihm says. “Now oftentimes, it’s her first or second child.”

After 30 years, one thing hasn’t changed for families – the joy and exhilaration that comes with a new baby. Dr. Kerns tells about the letter he received from a mother whose baby he had delivered nearly 20 years ago.

“She sent me a photo of her daughter and told how she had graduated from college. After all that time, it was very nice of her to take the time to thank me for the small part I played in her daughter’s life,” he says. “Babies are little miracles, and it's really nice to be part of that."

In addition to Drs. Mihm, Kerns and Hansen, the group’s providers include: Rita Aronson, M.D.; Briana Barclay, M.D.; Thomas Gellhaus, M.D.; Carolyn Martin, M.D., Kenneth Naylor, M.D.; Jo Ann Neilsen, ARNP; Stacey Flynn, ARNP, MSN; Kristi Bullock, PA-C; Beth Carlson, CNM, MSN; Kimberly Sprague, CNM, MSN; and Kim Wiseman, CNM, MSN.

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