Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes Monica
Brito, MD, FACOG, obstetrician and gynecologist to the Grinnell Regional
Women’s Health Clinic. Brito will begin on Monday, Sept. 16, in the clinic
located on the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.
Brito earned her medical degree from Central
University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador. She completed two residencies in
internal medicine and obstetrics/gynecology at New York University Medical
Center – Bellevue Hospital, in New York.
Brito comes to Grinnell from Woodhull Medical and
Mental Health Center in Brooklyn, New York, where she has been an attending
physician caring for patients in labor and delivery. She also provided
comprehensive perinatal and gynecologic women’s health care and surgeries. Brito
brings exceptional skills with her to Grinnell. She has clinical OB/GYN
diagnostic skills along with specialty skills in surgery and ultrasound.
While providing patient care at Woodhull, Brito served
as an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York Medical
College, Valhalla, N.Y. Brito has also completed an advanced obstetrical
gynecological ultrasound fellowship at New York University Medical Center. She
brings nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare, and is bilingual in English
and Spanish.
“My practice focuses on providing care to patients
with compassion and sensitivity to their problems,” says Brito. “I see each
patient as an individual and not as a disease. My goal is to give each patient
the care I would like a loved one to get. ”
When asked why she became an OB/GYN specialist, Brito
responded with, “I am a mother, woman, and wife. I can empathize with them. I
care for individuals to bring the whole woman together over all ages. I love
surgery and with my internal medicine training, I like the pathology of disease
and helping solve problems.”
“I always just knew I wanted to be a physician. I
didn’t have to decide because I just knew. Surgery just feels so natural – like
a musical prodigy who picks up a musical instrument and they know it just feels
right – I’ve always felt that way about surgery and being a surgeon,” Brito
says.
Brito learned about Grinnell’s medical center and the
practice culture here from Seanna Thompson, MD, GRMC’s former OB/GYN who
recently moved to Minnesota to be near her husband.
Brito trained in New York City hospitals that handled
some of the sickest, most critical patients – often caring for patients
referred by other OB/GYN doctors. This training provided Brito with exposure to
vast cultures and perceptions of medical care.
“I developed a real sensitivity to cultural views and
how each individual experiences disease differently. This training allowed me
to understand that the disease process for one person may not be same for
another patient. Each person is unique and sees the disease in their own way,”
Brito explains.
Though Brito moves to Iowa from New York City, she
feels moving to Grinnell is a natural place for her practice.
“In my South American background, we take care of the
family members, elders, and children. I think this is refreshing to come back
to a practice location where I’m part of the community, schools, and the lives
of people. My medical practice is based on treating patients like family
members. I’d offer patients the recommendations that are in the best interest
of the individual, just like I’d tell my sister or mother,” Brito says.
Grinnell Regional Women’s Health Clinic is located on
the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building. For more information or
to schedule an appointment, call 641-236-2905.
