Family Medicine and HCHC welcome new physician
Family Medicine of Mt. Pleasant, P.C. and Henry County Health Center are pleased to announce the addition of a new physician. Sarah Ledger, D.O. will begin her practice at Family Medicine on August 16, and she will also serve as full-time Medical Staff at HCHC. Dr. Ledger will specialize in family practice medicine with obstetrics.
“I am very honored to join the Family Medicine and Henry County Health Center family. As I pursued my interest in medicine, I imagined joining a full spectrum, family-centered, rural medical practice such as Family Medicine. I look forward to becoming part of the community, both in the hospital, clinic and beyond,” said Dr. Ledger.
“My husband, Jacob Dodds, worked at HCHC for five years as a Paramedic Specialist and had a very positive experience. HCHC offers wonderful facilities, and I have found the hospital and clinic staff very welcoming and knowledgeable. It is very clear that the staff genuinely care about the patients they interact with. I look forward to meeting and working alongside everyone here. I believe that teamwork and communication are key to providing the best medical care, and it is obvious that they do just that.”
A native of Fairfield, Dr. Ledger attended Loras College in Dubuque, where she received a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry. She graduated from Des Moines University College of Medicine, completing her Family Medicine residency at Iowa Lutheran Family Medicine in Des Moines. She received the American Academy of Family Physician’s Resident Teacher Award, and she is board eligible for family practice.
Dr. Ledger and her husband, who is originally from Danville, are happy to be returning to Southeast Iowa to raise their infant daughter. Dr. Ledger’s rural Iowa background makes rural medicine important to her.
“In medical school I enjoyed every rotation. Even though I strongly considered going into other areas of medicine, I kept returning to Family Medicine. I want to see the entire family from the newborn baby to the pregnant mother to the grandparents. I also think rural medicine is one of the more challenging medical professions because you are responsible for keeping up with all aspects of medicine, not just one specialty,” she explained.
Of special interest to Dr. Ledger is women’s health and obstetrics. At her residency program in Des Moines, the medical students were responsible for running a free Hispanic OB/women’s health clinic. She loved working there and had the opportunity to help and teach so many women.
“I once considered specializing in obstetrics, but didn’t want to miss watching those babies grow up! After having my first child, I realized how inconvenient it would be to live in a rural community without obstetrics care and have to drive 30 minutes to an hour to receive care. Not only do I enjoy practicing obstetrics, I also want to see that obstetric care is available in rural Iowa communities. I look forward to continuing the long legacy of outstanding obstetrics care in Mt. Pleasant,” Dr. Ledger stated.
Appointments with Dr. Ledger can be made by calling Family Medicine at 319-385-6700.