Faculty
Core Faculty
Mary Alice Johnston, M.D.
Program Director
- Residency: University of Connecticut
- Medical School: Penn State University College of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: clinical interests including minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, the evaluation and management of infertility, advanced operative hysteroscopy, and multiple gestations antepartum and intrapartum care. Outside clinical practice, Dr. Johnston enjoys spending time with her husband and children, swimming, practicing yoga, traveling to explore new destinations.
- Hobbies: spending time at the beach, yoga, and exploring new places
Carlos Arauco, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: Columbus-Cabrini Medical Center / Northwestern University Medical School
- Medical School: University Nacional Federico Villareal-Facultad de Medicina Hipolito Unanue
- Areas of Interest: Low risk and High risk obstetrics; multiple pregnancies, Di/Di, Mono/Di twins. Evaluation and management of infertility. Congenital anomalies. Diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy; Optimizing diagnostic and treatment of uterine fibroids, myomectomy. Chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis/adenomyosis. Endometrial trauma and intrauterine adhesive disorders. Advanced vNOTE surgery in minimally invasive gynecology. Post menopause evaluation and management.
- Hobbies: Medical Misiones, serve the underserved population. Passionate about teaching. Health maintenance by exercise and healthy nutrition. Traveling and exploring new places. Landscaping and gardening. Beach.
Lakeema Bruce, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: UF-Pensacola OBGYN Residency Program at Ascension Sacred Heart
- Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: Complex, robotic assisted surgery
- Hobbies: Reading, painting, vacationing with family, and relaxing on the beach
Shahira Hanna, M.D.
Associate Professor
- Residency: Hahnemann University Hospital
- Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania
- Areas of Interest: After 30 years in private practice, now enjoying full-time academic medicine, training our next generation of doctors. Special interest in robotic surgery with 15 years of experience
- Hobbies: Outdoor life and activities
Joseph Peterson, M.D.
Associate Professor
- Residency: FSU-Pensacola OBGYN Residency Program at Ascension Sacred Heart
- Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: robotic and minimally invasive surgery
- Hobbies: outdoor activities, reading and computers
Sharon Seidel, M.D., FACOG
Associate Professor, Associate Program Director
- Residency: FSU-Pensacola OBGYN Residency Program at Ascension Sacred Heart
- Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: Infertility, complex obstetrics, vaginal surgery
- Hobbies: traveling with family, reading, outdoor activities
Jonathan Stralka, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: San Antonio Uniform Services Health Education Consortium
- Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: His professional career has focused on maintaining a full scope OBGYN practice in labor and delivery, gynecologic surgery, basic infertility, the evaluation/management of urinary incontinence and pelvic prolapse. His clinical areas of interest include robotic gynecologic surgery and complicated obstetrics.
- Hobbies: He and his wife are the proud parents of 3 children. His personal interests include fishing, spending time with his family, and being in the great outdoors.
Subspecialist Faculty
Steven DeCesare, M.D.
Associate Professor, Director, Gynecologic Oncology
- Fellowship: University of South Florida Moffitt Cancer Center
- Residency: University of South Florida Medical Center
- Medical School: University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
- Hobbies: bike riding, weight lifting, and computers.
Neil Patel, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Fellowship: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- Residency: University of Missouri Kansas City
- Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: advanced ultrasound diagnostics
- Hobbies: early morning workouts, traveling to experience new cultures and cuisines, and spending time with his wife and family
Henry Roque, M.D., M.S., B.A.
Assistant Professor, Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Fellowship: New York University
- Residency: Hartford Hospital
- Medical School: SUNY Health Science Center
- Areas of Interest: treating clotting disorders during pregnancy
- Hobbies: swimming, playing guitar and spending time with his four sons.
William Schwartz, M.D.
Assistant Professor, Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Fellowship: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
- Residency: University of Missouri Kansas City
- Medical School: University of Missouri - Kansas City
- Areas of Interest: treating chronic hypertension and unborn babies that are small for their gestational age.
- Hobbies: spending time with his wife and their three daughters. He enjoys bird hunting, boating, scuba diving, and fishing. Dr. Schwartz is an avid college football and basketball fan.
Barry Ripps, M.D.
Professor, Director, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
- Fellowship: University of Tennessee-Memphis
- Residency: University of Tennessee-Memphis
- Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Areas of Interest: extensive research and publications in the areas of endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, female and male factor infertility and assisted reproduction. Dr. Ripps was also a pioneer in laparoscopic surgery with an emphasis on conservative management of endometriosis-associated infertility and tubal ligation reversal.
- Hobbies: golfing, volunteering, water sports, playing the guitar and ballroom dance.
Stuart Shippey, M.D.
Associate Professor, Residency Research Director; Director, Urogynecology/Female Pelvic Medicine And Reconstructive Surgery
- Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University
- Residency: National Capital Consortium Residency in OB / GYN
- Medical School: Uniformed Services University School of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: Pelvic floor disorders - vaginal prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence, urethral diverticulae, vaginal fistulas, complications of gynecologic surgery
- Hobbies: Running, lifting, swimming, cycling, sailing, dancing, church, family
Helen V. Toma, M.D., MSPH
Gynecologic Oncology
- Fellowship: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Residency: Christiana Care Health Services Program
- Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Areas of Interest: Obstetric care, adolescent gyn care and contraception
- Hobbies: diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the female reproductive system, gynecological surgeries using robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgical techniques
Part-Time Faculty
Erin Bailey, M.D.
Teaching Faculty
- Residency: UF-Pensacola OBGYN Residency Program at Ascension Sacred Heart
- Medical School: East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: substance use disorder in pregnancy, minimally invasive surgery and family planning
- Hobbies: exploring and traveling with her husband and spending time with her dog and cat
Deborah Edgeworth, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: Keesler Medical Center
- Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
John Grammer, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: University Hospital-New Orleans
- Medical School: Medical College of Virginia
Pamela Hyde, D.O.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: Michigan Hospital and Medical Center
- Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Briana Thompson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
- Residency: FSU-Pensacola OBGYN Residency at Ascension Sacred Heart
- Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
- Areas of Interest: Obstetric care, adolescent gyn care and contraception
- Hobbies: Spending time with her family, reading a good book, and art projects with her son
Contact Us
Kadee Kennedy Roddy
Residency Program Coordinator
Florida State University College of Medicine
Email: Kadee.Kennedy@ascension.org
5151 N 9th Ave.
Pensacola, FL 32504
Phone: (850) 416-2418
Fax: (850) 416-2460
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