Find a Top OBGYN Near Me in Mission Viejo, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

Hello!
My name is Julie Oates and I am a Board Certified Nurse Midwife. I am passionate about providing integrative healthcare that meets the needs of each individual person. I believe pregnancy and birth are momentous events that have the ability to shape one’s life. It is my honor and privilege to be able to work with people in order to provide a space for everyone to move through these transitions with support, safety, and confidence in their healthcare choices.
I firmly believe in collaborative care that involves both the provider and the person receiving care. YOU are the expert of your own body and we are a team. Together we can make the best choices that will determine the trajectory of your overall health.
I am absolutely delighted to meet you!

Donna A. Richey, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN who’s been named as one of America’s Most Valuable Care Providers by Stanford University’s Clinical Excellence Research Center. Dr. Richey provides high-quality, low-cost, personalized care for women ages 12 and above at her private practice in Torrance, California. 

Dr. Richey is a fourth-generation Los Angeles native who worked at a nurse’s aide, unit secretary, and registered nurse throughout college and medical school. After earning her medical degree at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Dr. Richey finished her internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

With a mission to guide her patients through the adventure of pregnancy, birth, and new parenthood, Dr. Richey works with her patients as partners in their own journey. She provides highly individualized prenatal care and emphasizes the natural childbirth experience. Dr. Richey has a goal of promoting natural childbirth in California and has the lowest Cesarean section rate at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California. 

When she isn’t working with patients, Dr. Richey enjoys traveling, seeing music at Disney Concert Hall, and watching the Los Angeles Dodgers with her husband, Stuart, and daughter, Arielle.

OB/GYN Brano Cizmar, MD, FACOG, is known for his compassionate care. Dr. Cizmar is accepting new patients at North County Women's Specialists in Escondido and San Marcos, California.

After earning his medical degree from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, Dr. Cizmar relocated to the United States. He went through both his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan State University in Grand Rapids.

Dr. Cizmar is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He’s a fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).

Because of his expertise and patient-centric focus, Dr. Cizmar has been recognized as “Physician of the Year” at Palomar Medical Center by his colleagues in the birth center. He was even the recipient of the prestigious “Special Excellence in Endoscopic Procedures” award through the AAGL.

Dr. Cizmar can help patients with routine care and treatment of complex conditions. He has special interests in high-risk obstetrics, daVinci® robotic surgery, pelvic reconstructive surgery, and urogynecology. Dr. Cizmar offers minimally invasive cosmetic surgeries for vaginal rejuvenation, including perineoplasty and labiaplasty procedures.

With his expertise in obstetrics, Dr. Cizmar counsels and treats patients who struggle with infertility issues, and when his patients become pregnant, he monitors them carefully through prenatal checkups. Dr. Cizmar also addresses concerns related to menopause and the associated symptoms and offers effective solutions, including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

When Dr. Cizmar is away from the clinic, he enjoys spending time with his son, and he likes to fish, ski, scuba dive, and swim. Dr. Cizmar is fluent in several languages, including English, Czech, Italian, Slovak, and Spanish.

Nadine Graven MD, FACOG, is from the great State of Wisconsin. After graduationg from the University of Wisconsin, she began the study of the practice she loves at the University of Missouri Medical School. She then completed her residency in OB/GYN at Ohio State with the likes of Fred Zuspan MD and Steve Gabbe MD. (whose books are on every OB/GYN’s bookshelf) She joined a practice of wonderful physicians in Portland, Oregon and learned how to grow roses. One of her pregnant patients kept insisting she needed to meet her boss….. so she did and then she married him!

Dr Graven was convinced to join her new husband in Los Gatos, California in 1994 after a year of commuting from Portland. She started a busy solo practice while having 3 children. Her practice grew to a very busy womens center with 2 MD’s and 3 Nurse practitioners.

She was elected chairman of the OB/GYN department 3 times by her peers. She became chairman of the governing board of her hospital, as well as head of the hospital’s robotic program. She has completed 300 plus robotic cases, thousand’s of Gynecology cases and delivered 5,252 babies. She loves all things hormonal and lectures as a menopause expert all around the country.

After some back surgery followed by Covid, she and her husband moved to Oceanside to wait it out. She worked for a locums company all over California, filling in for doctors who were out and ended up getting placed at Palomar Health OB/GYN. After 2 months, they asked her to permanently join them. She has been delighted to accept.

Dr. Graven loves all phases of Ob/Gyn practice. She is especially interested in hormones and menopause. She is skilled at patient management in everything from birth control pills, fibroids and pelvic pain, to infertility, prenatal care and breastfeeding. An accomplished ultrasonographer, she has done over 35,0000 obstetric and gynecologic ultrasounds.

In her rare free time she loves to walk the beach with her cute Italian Greyhound rescue Marley, add as many plants to her yard as she can, make jewelry, play her piano and travel with the love of her life to see their beautiful kids.

She looks forward to meeting and being a helpful resource for the primary care providers and the women of Escondido and San Marcos.

With his expertise in overall women’s health, infertility, and prenatal care, board-certified OB/GYN Paul Hinshaw, DO, is a trusted expert for patients throughout Escondido and San Marcos, California. Dr. Hinshaw is currently accepting new patients at North County Women's Specialists.

After Dr. Hinshaw earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan, he went on to complete his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He headed back to Michigan to finish his obstetrics and gynecology internship and residency at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, where he served as chief resident.

Dr. Hinshaw is board certified through the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While Dr. Hinshaw is skilled in preventive care and treating chronic women’s health issues, he has a special interest in hysteroscopy and minimally invasive surgical procedures including endometrial ablation, laparoscopy, and daVinci® robotic surgery.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Hinshaw spends time with his wife and their son. He enjoys traveling, skiing, biking, and running in his spare time.

Melissa Grier, MD, is an experienced OB/GYN providing patients in Pasadena, California, with patient-centered care. At her practice, Melissa Grier, MD Women’s Healthcare, she specializes in all areas of gynecological conditions and treatments, including minimally invasive robotic surgery.

A native of Michigan, Dr. Grier received her Bachelor of Science in zoology from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, in 1997. She earned her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor in 2001. While in medical school, she was exposed to all fields of medicine. She realized the need for providers dedicated to gynecology and decided to pursue women’s health. She then relocated to Los Angeles, where she completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology from the LAC+USC Medical Center, affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. During her residency, she conducted research on menopause, evaluating the normal range of estrogen levels in postmenopausal women. 

She began her career in private practice in 2005. At Melissa Grier, MD Women’s Healthcare, Dr. Grier offers a wide range of gynecologic services, including birth control, well-woman exams, and fat reduction using Venus Bliss™. She also specializes in minimally invasive robotics surgeries and provides advanced treatments for patients suffering from endometriosis, fibroids, and infertility. 

Dedicated to staying current in her field, Dr. Grier is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is affiliated with Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

To schedule an appointment at Melissa Grier, MD Women’s Healthcare, call the office or use the online booking tool. Telemedicine appointments are also available.

Natalia Babkina, MD, PhD, is academically trained and board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Genetics. She serves the community of Escondido, California, at North County Women's Specialists.

Dr. Babkina received her Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy with honors from Voronezh State Medical University in Russia. She went on to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New Jersey Medical School in Newark and her fellowship in Medical Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles, Intercampus Exchange Program.

During her training, Dr. Babkina served as a chief administrative resident and fellow, receiving multiple awards and co-authoring several publications.

Dr. Babkina is highly experienced with high-risk pregnancies and complex gynecological surgery. She is most passionate about minimally-invasive surgery using the advanced da Vinci® robotic system that offers exceptional precision and accuracy.

In her free time, Dr. Babkina likes spending time with her family, traveling, skiing, scuba diving, and riding horses.

With his expertise in overall women’s health, infertility, and prenatal care, board-certified OB/GYN Paul Hinshaw, DO, is a trusted expert for patients throughout Escondido and San Marcos, California. Dr. Hinshaw is currently accepting new patients at North County Women's Specialists.

After Dr. Hinshaw earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Michigan, he went on to complete his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He headed back to Michigan to finish his obstetrics and gynecology internship and residency at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, where he served as chief resident.

Dr. Hinshaw is board certified through the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While Dr. Hinshaw is skilled in preventive care and treating chronic women’s health issues, he has a special interest in hysteroscopy and minimally invasive surgical procedures including endometrial ablation, laparoscopy, and daVinci® robotic surgery.

Outside of the clinic, Dr. Hinshaw spends time with his wife and their son. He enjoys traveling, skiing, biking, and running in his spare time.

OB/GYN Brano Cizmar, MD, FACOG, is known for his compassionate care. Dr. Cizmar is accepting new patients at North County Women's Specialists in Escondido and San Marcos, California.

After earning his medical degree from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, Dr. Cizmar relocated to the United States. He went through both his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Michigan State University in Grand Rapids.

Dr. Cizmar is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, through the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He’s a fellow of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is a member of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).

Because of his expertise and patient-centric focus, Dr. Cizmar has been recognized as “Physician of the Year” at Palomar Medical Center by his colleagues in the birth center. He was even the recipient of the prestigious “Special Excellence in Endoscopic Procedures” award through the AAGL.

Dr. Cizmar can help patients with routine care and treatment of complex conditions. He has special interests in high-risk obstetrics, daVinci® robotic surgery, pelvic reconstructive surgery, and urogynecology. Dr. Cizmar offers minimally invasive cosmetic surgeries for vaginal rejuvenation, including perineoplasty and labiaplasty procedures.

With his expertise in obstetrics, Dr. Cizmar counsels and treats patients who struggle with infertility issues, and when his patients become pregnant, he monitors them carefully through prenatal checkups. Dr. Cizmar also addresses concerns related to menopause and the associated symptoms and offers effective solutions, including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

When Dr. Cizmar is away from the clinic, he enjoys spending time with his son, and he likes to fish, ski, scuba dive, and swim. Dr. Cizmar is fluent in several languages, including English, Czech, Italian, Slovak, and Spanish.

Nadine Graven MD, FACOG, is from the great State of Wisconsin. After graduationg from the University of Wisconsin, she began the study of the practice she loves at the University of Missouri Medical School. She then completed her residency in OB/GYN at Ohio State with the likes of Fred Zuspan MD and Steve Gabbe MD. (whose books are on every OB/GYN’s bookshelf) She joined a practice of wonderful physicians in Portland, Oregon and learned how to grow roses. One of her pregnant patients kept insisting she needed to meet her boss….. so she did and then she married him!

Dr Graven was convinced to join her new husband in Los Gatos, California in 1994 after a year of commuting from Portland. She started a busy solo practice while having 3 children. Her practice grew to a very busy womens center with 2 MD’s and 3 Nurse practitioners.

She was elected chairman of the OB/GYN department 3 times by her peers. She became chairman of the governing board of her hospital, as well as head of the hospital’s robotic program. She has completed 300 plus robotic cases, thousand’s of Gynecology cases and delivered 5,252 babies. She loves all things hormonal and lectures as a menopause expert all around the country.

After some back surgery followed by Covid, she and her husband moved to Oceanside to wait it out. She worked for a locums company all over California, filling in for doctors who were out and ended up getting placed at Palomar Health OB/GYN. After 2 months, they asked her to permanently join them. She has been delighted to accept.

Dr. Graven loves all phases of Ob/Gyn practice. She is especially interested in hormones and menopause. She is skilled at patient management in everything from birth control pills, fibroids and pelvic pain, to infertility, prenatal care and breastfeeding. An accomplished ultrasonographer, she has done over 35,0000 obstetric and gynecologic ultrasounds.

In her rare free time she loves to walk the beach with her cute Italian Greyhound rescue Marley, add as many plants to her yard as she can, make jewelry, play her piano and travel with the love of her life to see their beautiful kids.

She looks forward to meeting and being a helpful resource for the primary care providers and the women of Escondido and San Marcos.