JACKSON, Wyo. — St. John’s Health is pleased to introduce the community to its newest full-time OB/GYN: Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston!
From first periods to first babies, annual check-ups to cancer screenings and more—women’s healthcare isn’t a one-time appointment. It’s a lifetime of essential services that are vital to health of the individual, and to the community.
In recent years, access to comprehensive women’s and maternity care has become increasingly strained across Wyoming, and Teton County is no exception. National medical workforce shortages have contributed to and complicated this challenge, with no single solution.
It’s a gap that’s been deeply felt in the community, and it’s one that’s deeply personal to St. John’s Health’s newest full time OB/GYN, Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston. As a Jackson native who grew up skiing, hiking, and exploring the mountains, Dr. Meadows-Eggleston understands both the character of this place, and the unique needs of the people living here. Now, she returns not just as a physician, but as part of a broader effort to strengthen and expand access to care for women and families across the region.
Below find a Q&A with Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston in which she discusses her background, approach to care and the growing need for accessible OB/GYN services in Wyoming.
Dr. Meadows-Eggleston, what first drew you to medicine, and to OB/GYN care specifically?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston:“I’ve always been interested in medicine and wanted to be a doctor since I was very young and received some medical care myself. I had some really wonderful doctors that I looked up to, including my pediatrician Dr. Ridgway. I actually did an internship at St. John’s Health when I was in high school and just kept on that path through college. I was fortunate to get into the Lamby program, and to be able to continue pursuing things that had interested me throughout my life.
As far as going into OB/GYN care specifically, that was a little more of a surprise. I considered different specialties as I entered medical school. But ultimately, I really liked the longitudinal care aspect of OB/GYN. I’m able to care for a person throughout their lifetime, in many different stages. I also enjoy the challenge of gynecologic surgery and am very interested in public health and advocacy. I see women’s health as a way to apply those different interests in a way that comes together as a specialty.”
Can you tell us about your training, and how that experience shaped you?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston: “I trained at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center residency training program in San Jose, California. It was a wonderful experience. It’s a county hospital where I worked with many underinsured patients and immigrant populations. I also worked with a lot of Hispanic patients while I was there and got to really work on my Spanish skills, which has always been important to me. I really enjoy being able to care for patients in their own language—it helps me foster stronger relationships, provide deeper care and advocate for patients as well. I also received great generalist surgical training in my program.”
How do you define great OB/GYN care?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston:“Advocacy comes to mind, and just really being there for patients. When working with patients, I see myself as more of a guide. My role is to provide my knowledge and help patients make decisions that work best for them. Not everything is black and white. I impart my knowledge, but every person ultimately has a different physiology, different lifestyle, different priorities. And so really working with patients to find the right treatments and management strategies that work best for their unique scenario is important to me.”
How would you describe your approach to building patient relationships?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston:“It’s about really sharing in the decision-making process. Whether it’s pregnancy, menopause care, early days of period care, birth control—there’s so many different points where it’s really rewarding to work with women and help them manage different issues. I try to always find ways to really meet them where they are at.”
Teton County has struggled with access to OB/GYN care, and your presence is directly helping to fill that gap. How did that knowledge factor into your decision to join St. John’s Health?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston: “That was a huge factor. I grew up here in Jackson, and I really care about this community and the women of Wyoming as a whole. These are my people! And I’ve always really wanted to give back to this community that raised me. Seeing the way that OB/GYN in particular has transformed has made me feel even more inclined to come back and work in this area. I’m very grateful this opportunity came up and allowed me to do it in a way that worked for my family.
I also want to praise St. John’s Health for creating that opportunity and having the vision to bring Dr. Bussert here initially to start the practice. I’m really seeing a lot of momentum that’s going to lay down a strong foundation for the future, not just for Jackson but for the surrounding communities—which is important as maternity care becomes more sparse across the state. I also really appreciate being able to take patients from all over and support the community outside of the clinic and hospital. I think social resources, education, and access are so important to building community trust in our care. That’s where I see my role outside of medicine as well.”
Speaking of life outside of medicine, what do you like to do when you’re not working?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston: “I’m a typical Jackson girl. I like skiing and climbing, and I’m hoping to do more river rafting this summer. I have two dogs and a husband, and we love just getting out and finding ways to be active in the mountains.”
As a Jackson native, what’s your favorite part about life in Teton County?
Dr. Natalie Meadows-Eggleston: As I’ve gotten older and looked back on life here, after living in other places and cities, I just really love this community. I love seeing young families and kids and the community they create with friends, and the way people support each other here. It’s an incredible place to have a family, and the level of community engagement is very inspiring. I feel like everyone has some way that they are giving back or thinking big or facilitating experiences. For a tiny town, we have incredible access to all kinds of things and that’s thanks to the incredible people who bring that access here. And we just keep growing and becoming more interesting – I just love this place and I’m excited to continue to give back and grow with it.
With the addition of Dr. Meadows-Eggleston, St. John’s Health is continuing its commitment to expanding access to vital women’s health services, from routine exams to specialty care. Dr. Meadows-Eggleston is now accepting new patients at St. John’s Health OB/GYN. To schedule an appointment, please call (307) 739-4880. To learn more about women’s health services at St. John’s Health, visit www.stjohns.health/obgyn.
