Biography
Shawna Ruple, M.D. practices at MidMichigan Obstetrics & Gynecology in Midland, Michigan. As an obstetrician/gynecologist, she provides care for women of all ages, including: overall wellness, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, postpartum, adolescent care, contraception options, prevention of female reproductive cancers, incontinence and menopausal transitions.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Ruple’s philosophy is: “Listen to the patient.”
“I feel you have to really listen to the patient to understand their concerns from their perspective. I can then try to put myself in their situation.”
“I want my patients to feel like they are part of my family. I love being able to walk in to an exam room and feel like I’m catching up with an old friend. If we are going to be a successful team, they should feel comfortable telling me anything.”
Dr. Ruple enjoys the balance of seeing patients in the office as well as providing for their surgical or inpatient women’s healthcare needs. “Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology allows me to make long-term, meaningful relationships with patients. I get to follow them through multiple seasons of their lives,” she said. “Seeing healthy moms and babies and happy, satisfied patients is the most rewarding part of my work.”
One area of advancement in her field that Dr. Ruple notes is preventing and detecting cervical cancer. “We’ve made great strides in our understanding of cervical cancer, and that has led to less invasive screening and the ability to detect cancer earlier and prevent morbidity and mortality in patients. New vaccines also enable us to actually prevent cervical cancer. There are also vaccines in trials for post-Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) exposure use.
Dr. Ruple is originally from the Great Lakes Bay Region, and after completing her residency training in the South is glad to be back home.
“I chose Midland, because I wanted to live and practice in a place where I could raise my family, invest in a community and make an impact on women’s health. The referral network and resources that are available due to MidMichigan’s affiliation with University of Michigan Health System are also extremely beneficial. It allows our patients access to high quality care.”
“I’m a mid-Michigan girl who wants to be a voice for women in this community. I came home to help empower women to take charge of their health.”
Dr. Ruple’s hobbies include being on the lakes of Michigan in the summertime and downhill skiing in winter. She and her husband, have two young daughters. She is currently accepting new patients and looks forward to meeting you.
Special Interests and Procedures
- Annual exams & preventive healthcare
- Minimally invasive surgery/Robotic surgery
- Urinary incontinence/Pelvic Floor surgery
- Breastfeeding/supporting post-partum moms
