Dr. Andrew Leach
Physician
Dr. Andrew Leach has been in practice since 2000. He attended medical school at The
University of Alabama in Birmingham after completing undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University and The University of Alabama. He completed his residency in
obstetrics and gynecology at The University of Tennessee in Memphis where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Leach is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and annually maintains his certification. He is a Fellow of The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, and he is a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia OB/GYN Society, and American Medical Association. He frequently attends continuing medical education conferences and keeps up-to-date with the latest advances in his field. He recently served as Chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Athens Regional Medical Center. Dr. Leach is married and has three sons.
Dr. Stephanie Allen
Physician
Dr. Stephanie Allen received her medical degree from The James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. Her postgraduate work in obstetrics and gynecology was completed at Bethesda Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Allen is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and she is a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia OB/GYN Society, and American Medical Association. She is currently serving as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center. Dr. Allen has a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. She is married and has three children in college.
Dr. Leah D. Lowman
Physician
Dr. Leah Lowman attended medical school and completed her residency in obstetrics 
and gynecology at the Medical College of Georgia in August, Georgia. She has practiced in Athens, Georgia for over 20 years and merged her practice, Classic City OB/GYN, with Women's Healthcare Associates. Dr. Lowman is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is also a member of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Georgia OB/GYN Society. She is married to Dr. Donald Maddox, an ER physician, and lives in Bogart. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys watching the Bulldogs, Falcons, Braves, and Hawks.
Dr. Lara Hart
Physician
Dr. Hart was born in Arlington, TX. She graduated from Gwynedd-Mercy College with a BS is Biology, Chemistry minor. She graduated from Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA.
Her internship and residency were completed at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, June 2012. Dr. Hart is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG).
She specializes in low risk and high risk obstetrics, pediatric/adolescent gynecology, benign gynecology and minimally invasive surgery.
Dr. Hannah Childs - Joining August 1, 2023
Physician
Dr. Hannah Childs was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated with
Honors and Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a BS in Biolog
y and a minor in Spanish. She received her medical degree from the AU/UGA Medical Partnership (Medical College of Georgia) in Athens. Her Ob/Gyn Residency training was completed in Augusta, Georgia at the Medical College of Georgia where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and served on the Quality and Improvement Committee for 3 years. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Childs has special interests in both low and high-risk obstetrics as well as minimally invasive benign gynecologic surgery, including robotics. She is happily married with a beautiful daughter and Labrador Retriever.
Meredith Turner, CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife
Meredith Turner has provided midwifery care since 2006. After earning a Ph.D in Biology from Texas A&M University, she attended the Yale School of Nursing where she received a Master’s in Nursing with a specialty in Nurse-Midwifery. In Athens, she has taught courses in Anatomy and Physiology and in Reproductive Biology at the University of Georgia. Meredith joined the practice in 2009. She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives. Meredith's experience with midwifery care during the birth of her son spurred her to change career paths, from scientific research to women's healthcare. Her practice marries the evidence-based approach of a scientist with the patient philosophy of traditional midwifery. In addition to caring for pregnant women and their families, Meredith also provides gynecological exams, birth control consultations, and menopausal management. Meredith has been married to her high school sweetheart, Christian, since 1992. Christian is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia School of Law. They have two children, Rigel and Abney, and live in the Five Points neighborhood in Athens. In her spare time, Meredith likes to read and watch movies.
R. Hannah Cofield, CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife
R. Hannah Cofield was born in Knoxville, TN; but grew up in Canton, GA. She joined the practice in October 2021. She attended Georgia Southern University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She later continued her education at Frontier University in Hyden, KY where she earned her Master of Science in Nurse-Midwifery. Hannah is passionate about Women’s health and partnering with patients to make the best care decisions possible for their specific family. Hannah loves helping women throughout their lifespan receive the care they deserve. Hannah is married, has one daughter, and resides in Commerce, GA. She loves reading, swimming, and attending Tennessee football games with her family
Hannah Turner, CNM
Certified Nurse Midwife
Hannah Turner earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Clemson School of Nursing. She continued her education at Frontier University in Hyden, KY where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing in Nurse-Midwifery. Her favorite part about being a Certified Nurse Midwife is being able to provide women with positive experiences with healthcare that they were not previously afforded. Hannah is originally from Pickens, SC but now lives in The Classic City of Athens, GA. In her free time she enjoys going to the movies, the pool, and to parks with her three small children.
Jerri Walker, CNM, IBCLC
Certified Nurse Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Jerri grew up in Georgia, near Atlanta. She attended Georgia Baptist Hospital School of Nursing and graduated in 1981. She went on to work mostly in Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby at various hospitals in Maine, Georgia, and Tennessee. She became a lactation consultant in 1990. In 1997, Jerri moved to Brunswick, Maine with her family. During this time, she worked in Maternity Services at a local hospital. She developed and ran the Lactation Department, along with working in the LDRP unit. She completed her BSN during that time from Graceland University by distance learning. In 2007, she started midwifery school and was finally able to realize her dream of becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife. She graduated in 2010 with a MSN from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, now known as Frontier University. Shortly after graduation, she began working at Back Cove Midwives, an independent midwifery practice in Maine. Jerri has recently moved back to Georgia. During the first 1.5 years, Jerri worked in Conyers. Now, she is pleased to be a part of Women's Healthcare Associates in Athens. She and her husband will be living in a rural area near Crawfordville, Georgia, enjoying the peace and quiet of country life. During her time away from work, Jerri enjoys knitting, reading, and spending time with family. She loves peace signs! She and her husband John enjoy traveling and camping with their dog Maggie May.
Lydia Elliot, CNM, FNP
Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner
Lydia is a native of Charleston, SC who joined the practice in July 2020. She attended the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree and then went on to Vanderbilt University where she received her Masters of Science in Nursing with focuses in Midwifery and Family Practice. She is a board certified Nurse Midwife as well as Family Nurse Practitioner. She began practicing in 2015 and spent 5 years of practice in a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural South Carolina where she focuses on increasing access to obstetric and primary care. Now she is equally passionate about providing services to patients of Athens, GA and feels particularly strongly about incorporating mental health services into obstetrics and primary care. She also hopes to help people of the LGBTQI community find a comfortable place for reproductive healthcare. She lives with her partner and two children in Athens and loves all the great outdoor activities that Georgia has to offer.
Jamie Gallagher, CNM, FNP
Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner
Jamie Gallagher joined the practice in December 2020. She attended Emory University where she received her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Nursing. She is a board-certified Nurse Midwife as well as Family Nurse Practitioner. Jamie is passionate about shared decision-making with her patients and making patients feel involved and educated about their sexual and reproductive healthcare across their lifespan. She began practicing in 2014 and spent over 5 years practicing in Northwest Georgia before relocating to the Classic City. She lives with her partner and daughter in Watkinsville and loves hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and anything outdoors.
Julia Sacha, CNM, FNP
Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner
Julia grew up in Charleston, SC and joined the Women's Healthcare team in 2022. After getting her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Davidson College in North Carolina she moved to Asheville, NC where she coordinated research trials for Type 1 and 2 diabetes and worked with patients to improve blood sugars. While in Asheville, she volunteered with young mothers which sparked her passion for birth, labor, and women’s health. She decided to pursue midwifery because of the emphasis of birth, menstruation, and menopause as normal physiologic processes. She completed her midwifery education at Vanderbilt University where she received her Masters of Science in Nursing and is a board certified Nurse Midwife and Family Nurse Practitioner. Julia is excited to be with women and honor their inner strengths throughout labor, birth, and the postpartum period. In her free time, Julia loves to bike, dance, paint, and play frisbee.
Sarah Carey, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Sarah Carey is a certified Physician Assistant. She graduated cum laude from Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Biology degree in 2000, then went on to attend Arcadia University in Philadelphia, where she earned a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Sarah is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Georgia Academy of Physician Assistants. She practiced in pediatrics and internal medicine for five years before coming to work at Women's Healthcare Associates in 2006. Sarah is on St. Mary's Young Professionals Board, and she is a member of the Athens Area Cancer Auxiliary which raises money for local cancer patients. She lives in Athens with her husband and three sons.
Sandi Hayes, WHNP
Nurse Practitioner
Sandi Hayes graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia in 2003. She worked for eight years at St. Mary's in labor and delivery. Her passion for women's health led her back to school. She graduated in 2007 with a Master’s of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University. Sandi is certified as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner by the National Certification Corporation. She joined our practice in 2013. Sandi previously worked with Dr. Leah Lowman at Classic City OB/GYN. She lives in Watkinsville with her husband and daughters, Abbie and Caroline, and her son, Hudson.