Our Team
*click names for full biography
- Alan Schapker, MD
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Dr. Alan Schapker has been in private practice in the Phoenix, Arizona area since 1979, with a special interest in a collaborative practice of obstetrics and gynecology with certified nurse midwives. He is co-founder and CEO of Bethany Womens Healthcare. He has now focused his practice to gynecology, infertility, and women’s health issues with a special interest in operative laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery.
A Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Schapker is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He previously served as a commissioned officer for the United States Public Health Service in the capacity of Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Indian Health Service in Claremore, Oklahoma.
Dr. Schapker earned his medical degree from Indiana University and performed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Indiana’s University of Evansville.
The father of five children, Dr. Schapker has spent much of his free time coaching numerous youth soccer and little league baseball teams over the past 20 years. His community service interests include being the Medical Director for Life Choices Women’s Clinic, serving on the Board of Directors for Crisis Pregnancy Center, and volunteering his time at the St. Vincent de Paul Medical Clinic. The delights of his life are his 3 grandchildren. - Rafael Martin, MD
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Dr. Rafael Martin’s private practice was in New Mexico from 1981 to 1984. He was the staff obstetrician and gynecologist at Kino Community Hospital in Tucson, Arizona from 1991 until he joined Bethany Women’s Healthcare in 2000. Dr. Martin is an official Spanish-English translator, and is also fluent in Portuguese.
Board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Martin earned his medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dr. Martin served in the general medical office, United States Army Medical Corps in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and performed his residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. He completed his Bachelor of Science while studying at the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Dr. Martin is the father of three children and thoroughly enjoys computers and jet skiing. Now a grandfather, his granddaughter brings him great joy. - George Figueroa, MD
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Dr. Figueroa has been practicing in the Phoenix since 2006. He graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology and received his Medical Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo where he also completed his OB/GYN residency training. He has a special interest in performing in-office gynecologic procedures.
In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his children (the smartest and most beautiful children in the world), loves music and dancing. If you're lucky you'll catch him on a day when he is all dressed up in his dance outfit ready to head out after work to heat up the dance floor! He is fluent in Spanish. - Lourdes Melendez, MD
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After completing university at Cornell, medical school at Upstate Medical Center and OB/GYN residency in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Melendez came to Arizona in 1997. Since that time she has practiced mainly in the West Phoenix area. She embraces a philosophy of "Living each day as if it were your last. Loving, forgiving and trusting in God to help stay positive even in the worst of times".
Dr. Melendez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her dad, who recently passed away, worked for the United States Navy as an engineer. Her mother is a retired social worker. She enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her young son and nephew. Her nephew has cerebral palsy and continually reinforces her beliefs in life. Though he cannot walk or talk, he is always smiling. In her free time, she enjoys rollerskating, biking, swimming, reading, dancing and playing with her cats.
She's excited to join Bethany Womens Healthcare where midwives, nurse practitioners and physicians work as a team to provide excellence in women's healthcare. - Lynnette Casey CNM, MS
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Lynnette has been working as a midwife since 1997. Before joining Bethany Womens Healthcare in 2000, she worked at a freestanding birth center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Lynnette’s interest and love for midwifery is very personal, dating to prenatal care provided by a CNM while she was pregnant with her first child. Her goal as a midwife is to make birth a personal rather than technical experience for women and their families.
Lynnette’s professional experience includes eight years as a labor and delivery RN and Perinatal Educator. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Masters of Science degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lynnette was born in central Minnesota and grew up on a family dairy farm, one of seven children. She has three children and has been married for over 30 years to a handsome journalist. His many job changes and transfers have kept the family on the move with stops in Iowa, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Dayton, Raleigh and now Phoenix, where she plans to stay forever. She loves to cook, hike with her three dogs, garden and read. - Lylaine Gavette CNM, MS
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Lylaine is a native Phoenician and co-founder of Bethany Womens Healthcare. She graduated from Good Samaritan School of Nursing, Grand Canyon University College of Nursing and the University of Colorado (Midwifery education). She has been in the field of obstetrics her entire working career. She has mentored numerous midwifery students and taught childbirth classes for many years.
She has learned more about birth from women she has had the privilege of assisting in labor than she ever did from textbooks. She believes birth is a sacred event, unique each time. Rather than a medical procedure, birth is a normal physiologic process and women are powerful negotiators of that process when supported with freedom and encouragement. She has spent time in Alaska, Sri Lanka and New Zealand working in a variety of settings, learning from mothers in other cultures. She tells women she knows she has done her job well when they come to their labors with confidence in their ability to labor and birth successfully. Her role is to be there as a protector of the process and celebrator in the birthday party!
Lylaine is the proud mother of 3 sons. She enjoys hiking, swimming, yoga and traveling to remote spots on the planet. - Lisa Sherwood CNM, MS
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Lisa is a graduate of the University of Southern California Nurse Midwifery Program. A native Californian, she recently relocated to Phoenix to continue practicing midwifery in a holistic manner with dignity and respect for women as individuals. Prior to becoming a midwife, she practiced as an RN in labor and delivery for 20 years, providing a rich backdrop for her midwifery career.
Working with women, their partners and families brings her great professional satisfaction and reward. Lisa recognizes pregnancy and childbirth as normal life events and encourages women to actively participate in preparing for their births making possible an experience of birth without fear, one of empowerment in the process and one that enhances the important lifelong attachment to their infants. Lisa counts it a privilege and honor to provide support and encouragement to women during this exciting life transition.
Lisa is bilingual in English and Spanish. She has been married for over 25 years to her best friend and has 2 college-aged children who are truly the loves of her life. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys working out, painting and spending time with family. - Katherine "Kate" Paxton, CNM
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Katherine "Kate" Paxton, CNM is a native of Phoenix and has been
working with pregnant women and their families for six years. After completing her BA in Sociology at ASU, she worked as a doula and assistant to a midwife in New Orleans, LA. Inspired by the families she served there, Kate moved to New York City to attend Columbia University for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Midwifery. She worked with underservered populations in Brooklyn and experienced births in all settings - homes, hospitals and a birth center.
Kate was called to midwifery to realize her visions of autonomy and health for women at the center of vibrant communities. She loves working with families of all backgrounds and believes that quality healthcare is a human right. She feels blessed by the women who have shared their births with her. Touching the divine as part of her daily work is a challenge and an honor. She feels blessed by this hands-on work with women and their families.
Kate attended her very first birth at age 14, her youngest sister, with Bethany Women’s Healthcare. As she and her middle sister supported her mother, her father helped catch the newest Paxton addition! When not midwifing, Kate loves hiking, playing drums and cornet, bicycling, dance parties and social justice. - Donna Barisich CNM
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Donna is a new member of the Bethany Women’s Health Care team. She recently relocated to Phoenix from Maryland where she worked in a large, busy midwifery practice in a suburban Baltimore hospital. Since her earliest experiences in nursing school, Donna knew that assisting women during birth would be her life’s passion and is committed to providing a safe and satisfying birth experience for all women. Donna believes that birth is a singular, peak event in a woman’s life and her birth experience should be just as memorable.
Donna attended undergraduate school at William Paterson University in New Jersey and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor’ s degree in nursing. She worked for many years in all areas of obstetric nursing including childbirth education, labor and delivery, postpartum and newborn nursery. While working in a freestanding birth center in the early 1990’s, she realized that midwifery was her true calling and attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1997 with a Master’s degree in midwifery.
In addition to her work, Donna’s newest passion is her two beautiful grandchildren, the oldest born into the loving hands of the Bethany midwives. Donna is expecting two more grandbabies in 2011. It will be an exciting year!
Donna also enjoys spending time hiking, traveling and doing “home make-overs” with her wonderful husband of 38 years. She has two handsome sons, two wonderful daughter-in-laws and a beautiful daughter, all of whom live in the Phoenix/Las Vegas area. - Jeanene Traynor, WHNP
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Jeanene Traynor, WHNP, has lived in the Valley of the Sun for most of her life. She worked as a Registered Nurse in local hospitals mostly in labor and delivery suites. She returned to college in 1993, becoming a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She has worked with Dr. Alan Schapker, Bethany Womens Healthcare medical director, for most of her career.
When not providing patient care, she enjoys time with her grand babes: Aidan, one of the last babes born at Bethany Birth Center. Trae, twin of Chloe (age 2), born a bit early (alumi of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) now doing just fine, thank you! She also is a avid fan at her granddaughter Allison's basketball games. Her oldest granddaughter, Lydia, works and attends Glendale Community College. Her goal is to become a pet store owner. Jeanene's three children all live in the Valley, so she has easy access to all the grand kids!!
At home, she enjoys time with her family of Shih Tzus; Maggie, Rokky, Oreo, and the baby, Mollie, age 8 months. They are THE entertainment! Her husband, David, is semi-retired and volunteers for Hospice of the Valley. He also periodically facilitates the Grief Share program at church.
Jeanene and David recently enjoyed a vacation sailing aboard a clipper ship that had only 21 passengers-very low tech and mellow-just beaches, surf and sails! - Trish Kendig, RN, RDMS
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Trish has been capturing images of babies for over 30 years. She is also a Registered Nurse and one of the most knowledgeable sonographers in the Valley and strives to make your ultrasound experience as pleasurable and informative as possible.
She is a native New Yorker and enjoys spending leisure time with her three grown sons and five dogs. - Sharon Olson BS, IBCLC
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Sharon has been assisting breastfeeding families since 1992 as a La Leche League leader. In 2002 she became Certified Lactation Consultant. Sharon grew up in Wisconsin, received her education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and moved to Arizona two days after getting married.
She is married with four daughters who have taught her much about breastfeeding. She credits breastfeeding with giving her an intuitive understanding of each individual child as well as giving her time to grow into motherhood while laying a solid foundation for the enjoyment of parenting.
A homebody at heart, her other interests include developing the curriculum and coordinating the annual Professionals Day sponsored by La Leche League of Arizona, reading, sewing, chocolate, keeping up with her long-distance extended family and driving the daily car pool during the school year.