Meet Our Team
Sarah Lewing, MD
Carmelo Hernandez, MD
Shannon Gonzales, CNM
You'll join a tight-knit team of dedicated women's health professionals who have chosen to make their careers in the San Luis Valley, creating the kind of collegial environment where providers genuinely support each other both professionally and personally. The current team represents a perfect blend of experience and local commitment, with providers who understand rural healthcare challenges and have built their practices around collaborative care and mutual respect. Unlike larger hospital systems where you might feel like just another provider in the crowd, this team operates more like a medical family where everyone knows each other's strengths and works together seamlessly.
Dr. Sarah Lewing serves as your primary physician colleague, bringing extensive experience from her training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and recent practice in Washington state. Dr. Lewing specializes in minimally invasive surgical procedures and has particular expertise in laparoscopic hysterectomy and adnexal surgery. Her patients consistently praise her for taking time to explain options and making them feel comfortable with their healthcare decisions. Having spent childhood summers in South Fork, she understands the unique appeal of mountain living and chose to relocate here specifically for the lifestyle and community connection the Valley offers.
Dr. Carmelo Hernandez, the Chief Medical Officer, brings a unique combination of leadership experience and clinical expertise to the team. A former Air Force pilot turned physician, Dr. Hernandez completed his medical training at Wright State and residency in Cincinnati before spending twelve years in rural North Carolina practice. Fluent in Spanish, he connects naturally with the Valley's diverse patient population and takes pride in maintaining high vaginal delivery rates while performing the full spectrum of gynecologic surgery. His dual role as CMO and practicing physician means he understands both the clinical and administrative aspects of rural healthcare delivery.
The nurse midwife team represents the heart of the practice's collaborative model, with both Shannon Gonzales, CNM, and Stephanie Posorske, CNM, bringing deep community roots and exceptional clinical skills. Shannon has lived in the Valley since age 12, worked as an OB nurse for ten years before completing her midwifery training at University of Cincinnati, and embodies the kind of local commitment that makes rural healthcare sustainable. Her patients appreciate her inclusive communication style and collaborative approach to care decisions.
Stephanie Posorske represents the newest generation of local healthcare providers, a Valley native who grew up in Monte Vista and chose to return after completing her CNM training at Frontier Nursing University. As a Certified Lactation Counselor, she brings additional expertise in maternal-child health and demonstrates the kind of comprehensive skills that rural providers develop. Both midwives take first-call responsibilities 20 days per month, significantly reducing physician call burden while maintaining high-quality patient care.
The broader clinical support team includes experienced medical assistants assigned to each provider, ensuring continuity of care and efficient workflows. The labor and delivery nurses have earned praise from physicians for their autonomy, clinical judgment, and commitment to evidence-based care practices. These nurses are cross-trained across multiple units, creating flexibility that's essential in rural healthcare settings while maintaining specialized expertise in women's health.
This team has weathered the challenges of rural healthcare together, developing the kind of professional relationships where providers text each other for quick consults, support each other during difficult cases, and maintain genuine friendships outside the hospital. You'll find colleagues who share cell phone numbers, collaborate on complex cases without territorial concerns, and understand that success in rural healthcare depends on everyone working together toward common goals.
The recent departures that created this opening represent a natural transition rather than systemic problems, and the remaining team is eager to welcome a new colleague who shares their commitment to excellent patient care and community service.