Today, May 5, Cape Fear Valley Health celebrated the opening of a new women’s subspecialty clinic with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new clinic is located at 413 Owen Dr., Suite 101.

The clinic, which is around 5000 square-feet in size with 12 patient rooms and features four physicians: Dr. Jerlinda Ross, Dr. A.H. Cinar Aksu, Dr. Fauzia Baqai and Dr. Leah Scarlotta. These doctors will treat patients at the new facility on a referral basis. Women will be able to receive care for reproductive cancers such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, primary peritoneal cancer and uterine cancer, care that previously required trips to clinics out of town. 

“Today marks a new chapter for the women of our community. This clinic represents more than a building. It represents a commitment, a commitment to equity, to care and to partnership,” shared CFVH Medical Director for OBGYN Dr. David Schutzer. “For too long, women in our community have had to travel long distances, often hours away, to access the care they need. These journeys have not only placed a heavy burden on patients and their families, but have also left women without care altogether. Today, that changes. Now, right here in our community, women will have access to expert, compassionate care close to home, whether it's life saving gynecologic oncology services or the specialized support women need at different stages of life, this clinic is here to meet those needs without the hardship of long travel and long wait times.” 

This clinic will make a difference in the lives of patients and physicians now and in the years to come. With the new Methodist University Cape Fear Valley Health School of Medicine under construction and set to open in July 2026, this clinic offers another opportunity for medical students to get hands-on training. 

“As we look ahead, the impact of this clinical stretch far beyond patient care. It offers a rich and meaningful training ground for our OBGYN residents and soon for our future medical students. It will give them firsthand experience in delivering complex, holistic women's health care, care grounded in equity, empathy and excellence, and this clinic is essential in preparing the next generation of physicians to understand the science of medicine and the social realities that shape access and outcomes,” remarked Dr. Jerlinda Ross.

The new clinic is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

“We are not just treating illnesses, we are fostering wellness, resilience and hope. To the women who will walk through these doors, this is your space, a space where your health, your dignity and your voice matter,” added Schutzer.