Women’s health collaborative expands into new space

Women’s health collaborative expands into new space

Courtesy Grand Rapids OB/GYN

A growing collaborative of women’s health care practices has a new space in town.

Grand Rapids OB/GYN, which also houses the Center for Women's Sexual Health and Grand Rapids Specialty Therapy, moved to 4070 Lake Dr. SE in Kentwood and opened for patients last month.

Grand Rapids OB/GYN and the Center for Women's Sexual Health moved from 5060 Cascade Rd. SE in Forest Hills.

Expanding the space from 3,200 square feet to 7,001 square feet, the move allowed the two businesses to be joined by the new Grand Rapids Specialty Therapy, which had been leasing space for about three months in another suite in the new building.

Grand Rapids OB/GYN and the Center for Women's Sexual Health had outgrown their previous space and wanted to expand their physical therapy space and plan to add services that require hiring a nutritionist, acupuncturist, massage therapist and physical therapy assistant, according to Judy Harvey, business manager for the collaborative.

The new space has a waiting room, several provider offices, nine exam rooms and one procedure room.

The collaborative

Dr. Stephen Dalm is the owner of Grand Rapids OB/GYN, which is affiliated with Mercy Health Saint Mary’s. Nisha McKenzie, a certified physician assistant, is the owner of the Center for Women's Sexual Health. Grand Rapids Specialty Therapy is owned by Justine Braford, a certified sex therapist and social worker, and Audrey Mitchell, a social worker and therapist.

With “so many road blocks for women” in health care, McKenzie said, the collaborative offers a one-stop women’s health care space that includes medical and surgical care, some Eastern medicine, psychological care, nutritional therapy, personal training, massage therapy, physical therapy, including for pelvic floor issues, and sex education and counseling.

Between the three businesses, there are 10 employees at the collaborative, including certified physician assistant Erin Walker and physical therapist Lily Dawson.

The collaborative serves more than 5,000 patients.

McKenzie said the primary goal for the move is to expand services as the “one-and-only sexual medicine center in Michigan,” one that cultivates an environment of caring.

“Often, women are given instruction from a medical provider regarding improving their overall health without concern about how they may actually make that work in the real world,” McKenzie said.

“Our mission is to continue to serve women in a manner that cares for the entire human they are — that is one who has a heart, a mind, a soul, relationships and a life outside the medical office.”

Firms on the project

The contractor on the project was Robert Hibbs of Grand Rapids-based PURE Real Estate Management.

The architect was Grand Rapids-based Ghafari Associates/Concept Design.

The interior designer was Grand Rapids-based CUSP Group Interior Design.

The building landlord, Michael Maier, paid for the cost upfront, and the collaborative is contributing about $400,000 over the life of the seven-year lease, McKenzie said.