Meedlen Charles, M.D.

Dr. Charles graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in chemistry from the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ. She later graduated from Drexel University School of Medicine in 2001. She went on to train at Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC where she acted a Chief Resident.

In July 2005 Dr. Charles joined the Army and served as active duty military physician at Ft Riley, KS. In 2007 she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After returning from Afghanistan in 2008 she was appointed Chief of the OB/GYN department at Irwin Army Community Hospital in Ft Riley, KS.

Dr Charles is board certified in general Obstetrics and Gynecology. She manages normal as well as high risk obstetrics complicated by hypertension, gestational diabetes, twin pregnancies. She is interested in VBAC, water births (first delivery at Hudson Valley Hospital was a water birth). She also works in conjuction with doulas. She offers a wide range of services in gynecology including minimally invasive laparascopic surgery, family planning and contraception, adolescent health counseling, menopausal management, urinary incontinence and infertility. She provides outpatient office procedures such as Essure vaginal sterilization, endometrial ablation, hysteroscopy.

Susan Schmidt, CNM, MSN

Susan M. Schmidt, CNM, MSN, is dedicated to empowering women throughout the life cycle by providing supportive healthcare and guidance in a warm, nurturing environment, Susan's belief, consistent with midwifery philosophy, is to educate each woman about her body and her healthcare choices so that each individual woman can make the best choice possible for her own healthcare needs.

During prenatal visits, labor, birth and the postpartum period, Susan's goal is to provide nurturing care and individualized counseling to women and their families that will result in a health happy outcome and a rewarding birth experience.

Susan also provides well woman gynecological care. This includes performing annual pap exams, diagnosing and treating minor problems, sexually transmitted infections, premenopausal and menopausal transitions, family planning and contraception.

Susan provides safe, gentle and non-threatening care to young women seeking contraception counseling and undergoing that all important first exam. She has a particular interest in providing education and counseling for premenopausal and menopausal women, incorporating lifestyle changes, utilizing supplements and prescribing bio-identical hormone replacement,

Susan received her midwifery certificate from this country's oldest midwifery program, Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. She earned nursing degrees from Pace University (Bachelor's) and Case Western Reserve University (Master's),

Susan is an active member of the local chapter of the American College of Nurse Midwives and served several years as vice President. She is past co-chair of the Advanced Practice Providers Work Group at Hudson Valley Hospital Center. Both memberships are aimed at increasing awareness of midwives in the community.

Susan is mother to Benjamin, 24, an unplanned, unexpected Cesarean Section and Margaret, 22, a planned and joyous VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean). Both experiences propelled her into becoming a midwife and both experiences help her to bring a high level of compassion and understanding to her patients.

Joanne Mazzio, CNM, NP, MS

Joanne Mazzio graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lehman College of the City University of N.Y. where her initial interest in women’s health care and midwifery was sparked. After serving her home community of the Bronx as a public health nurse, she went on to work at Westchester Medical Center’s high risk maternity unit to gain the experience and skills that would serve as a foundation for her career as a midwife. Joanne graduated with honors from the Midwifery Education Program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ and later completed her Masters Degree in Midwifery at Downstate University. Joanne initially worked in North Central Bronx Hospital where she headed the Adolescent Prenatal Program and provided care to underserved women and teens in childbirth. After 7 years, she went on to join a private practice providing full scope midwifery care, including both well woman gynecology and obstetrical care to the women of Westchester County.

Dedicated to a personalized and holistic model of care, she has been honored to care for these women, their mothers, daughters and friends; touching the lives of the Hudson Valley community for the past 16 years.

Joanne is excited to be part of the OB/GYN group of The Westchester Medical Practice in order to pursue her commitment to safe and compassionate midwifery care for women throughout their lives; from adolescence through menopause.

Sheila Pongnon, M.D.

Sheila D. Pongnon is a board certified OB/GYN and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She has been practicing medicine in the Westchester area for the past ten years. Dr. Pongnon received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from New York University and her medical degree from the State University of New York – Downstate Medical Center. She completed her OB/GYN training at New York Medical College – Westchester Medical Center.

Dr. Pongnon has extensive surgical training and offers advanced pelvic and minimally invasive surgery including laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery. Dr. Pongnon is certified in the use of the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system and uses this technology in performing hysterectomies. She also provides general obstetrics and gynecology care, including low-risk and high-risk obstetrics, contraception management, adolescent and menopausal treatment.

Sadaf Lodhi, DO

Dr. Lodhi is a board-certified OB/GYN physician. She is originally from the Midwest and attended the University of Michigan, where she obtained her undergraduate degree with Honors, majoring in Biochemistry. She then went on to attend Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in May 2000. Dr. Lodhi performed her internship at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital and completed her residency at St. Joseph Mercy – Oakland, in Pontiac, Michigan.

She moved to New York in late 2004 and has been a practicing OB/GYN physician since 2005. Her professional interests include infertility, adolescent health and family planning. Dr. Lodhi speaks Spanish and Urdu, and resides in Westchester County with her husband and 3 children.