Our Staff

All of the professionals on our staff contribute to your total care. We are pleased to offer the services of highly qualified physicians, midwives and nurse practitioners.

As a patient of Coastal Women’s Healthcare, you’ll always have access to quality care from specialized providers. While you will establish a relationship with one physician in particular, there may be times when that doctor cannot be available. In that case, our cross coverage policy ensures that you receive the same high level of care from another provider in our practice.

Physicians

KEVIN P. ANDREWS, MD

Dr. Andrews is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, with special interest in high risk obstetrics, menopause and surgery. He received both his medical and undergraduate degrees from the University of Vermont and has been practicing medicine since 1983. A former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Andrews completed his internship and residency at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. His professional affiliations include: the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the North American Menopause Society and the Maine Medical Association. Dr. Andrews started his practice in 1990. He and his family live in Falmouth.

MARY C. BRANDES, MD

Dr. Brandes received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. She completed her residency at Maine Medical Center in 1988. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, she cites urogynecology as her special area of interest. Dr. Brandes’ professional affiliations include: the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The American Fertility Society, the American Urogynecologic Society, the Society of Pelvic and Reconstructive Surgeons, the International Continence Society, and the Maine Medical Association. Dr. Brandes started her practice in 1988. She and her family live in Falmouth.

CECILIA L. CALDWELL, MD

Dr. Caldwell, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, has a special interest in obstetrics, adolescent care and menopause. She received her medical degree from Pennsylvania State University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island. In 1988, she completed her residency at Maine Medical Center where she also served her internship. Dr. Caldwell started her practice in 1989. She has been associated with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists since 1986. A native of Pennsylvania, she now lives in Portland.

BRUCE L. CHURCHILL, MD

In addition to many professional awards, Dr. Churchill received the Portland Press Herald “Doctor of the Year” award in 2000. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Churchill has special interest in menopause, adolescent care and infertility. He earned his medical and undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan and completed his residency at Maine Medical Center. His professional affiliations include: the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and the Cumberland County Medical So≠ciety. Dr. Churchill started his practice in 1984. He lives with his family in Cumberland.

ERIN C. DAWSON-CHALAT, MD

Dr. Dawson-Chalat, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, joined Coastal Women’s Healthcare in 1995. Her special interests include high-risk pregnancy, menopause, pelvic surgery, colposcopy, laparoscopy and infertility. She received both her medical and undergraduate degrees from the University of Vermont and completed her internship and residency at the University of Miami. She is a member of: the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, the American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Maine Medical Association. Dr Dawson-Chalat started her practice in 1992. A native of Portland, she lives with her family in Cape Elizabeth.

JENNIFER N. SHINNERS, MD

Dr. Shinners received her medical degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University. She completed her residency at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. Her special interests include obstetrics, adolescent gynecology, surgery and colposcopy. She is a member of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. A native of Augusta, she lives with her family in Scarborough.

BARBARA D. SLAGER, MD

Dr. Slager received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University. She completed her residency at Maine Medical Center. Dr. Slager is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with special interest in infertility, adolescent well-woman visits, obstetrics, cervical pathology with colposcopy, contraceptive counseling and postmenopausal bleeding. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Maine Medical Association. Dr. Slager started her practice in 2002. She is a resident of Gorham.

JOSEPH L. WILKIS, MD

Dr. Wilkis received both his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Michigan. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Michigan Medical Center. A board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Wilkis has a special interest in the evaluation and treatment of infertility. His professional affiliations include: the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Surgeons, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, among many others. Dr. Wilkis started his practice in 1973. He and his family live in South Portland.

TASHA A. WORSTER, MD

Dr. Worster is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. She received her medical degree from the University of Vermont and her undergraduate degree from Colby College. She completed her residency at the Maine Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Worster started her practice in 2002 and has a special interest in obstetrics, surgery and infertility. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists and the Maine Medical Association. Dr. Worster lives Portland.

Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners

Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners emphasize wellness and holism in helping you enjoy good health. They care for healthy women from adolescence to old age through education, annual pelvic and breast exams, menopause guidance, and contraceptive counseling and prescriptions.

A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) monitors the health of you and your baby during pregnancy, assists in delivery, and provides follow-up care through the postpartum and breast-feeding period. A CNM has advanced education in nursing and midwifery and has passed a rigorous exam administered by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

A Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) is an experienced registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and a Master of Science in women’s health. In addition, WHNPs have advanced clinical training and have passed a national licensing exam.

KATHERINE BEACH, CNM

Katherine received her training at Columbia University in New York City, earning a BSN in Nursing and an MSN in Nurse Midwifery. Her career and personal commitment to women’s health have taken her from East Africa and the former Soviet Union to numerous points throughout the U.S. Katherine joined Coastal Women’s Healthcare in 1996. Her professional affiliations include: The Health Professional Advisory Committee for the March of Dimes, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Council of Childbirth Education Specialists and the Maine Diabetes in Pregnancy Project. Katherine and her husband live in South Portland.

LINDA A. HACKETT, CNM

Linda has lectured on women’s health in places as remote as the Dominican Republic and the Fiji Islands. Linda earned her CNM at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Maine School of Nursing and her Master of Science from the University of Florida. She started her practice in 1975. Linda is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives, the Nurse's Association of American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Maine Nurse Practitioner Group and the Board of Trustees of the Maine Historical Society. She lives in Portland and is a summer resident of Little Diamond Island.