‘I Feel Like I Have the Best Job Ever’

When Dr. Catherine Cantwell first arrived in Canandaigua in 1993, fresh off her OB/GYN residency, she learned she was F.F. Thompson Hospital’s first-ever female surgeon.

She also discovered something curious about the hospital’s new maternity unit – there was a “Men’s Locker Room” and a “Nurses’ Locker Room.” The former had much bigger lockers to accommodate doctors’ overnight stays and occasional shifts lasting up to three days. Undaunted, she began using the room with the bigger lockers.

Dr. Cantwell didn’t think anything of it, because it was simply better suited to her, but sometimes new staff or expectant parents on childbirth tours would see her darting into the “Men’s Locker Room” and do a double-take.

Similarly, all of the patient consent forms in the hospital at the time referred to the surgeon with male pronouns. She was instrumental in bringing attention to and getting those changed as well.

As she shared during a recent 30^th anniversary surprise party thrown by her team at Canandaigua Medical Group’s OB/GYN practice, Dr. Cantwell has witnessed – and been a part of – plenty of other changes over the years.

For example, when she first joined the practice, it was just her, Dr. W. Jeffrey Page, and Dr. Philip Nevin, with Dr. Robert Scott joining soon after. Today, the practice has four locations with seven physicians, three advanced practice providers, and four nurse-midwives, with more providers slated to join soon.

At the beginning of her career, the OB/GYNs performed many abdominal hysterectomies. Now, the vast majority are laparoscopic procedures and the hospital’s da Vinci® robotic surgical system has further expanded the surgeons’ capabilities for minimally-invasive techniques. In addition, Caesarean sections now follow a family-centered approach designed to make the operating experience more warm, welcoming, and personalized.

Other procedures which once took place in the hospital can now be safely offered in the office setting, which is more cost-effective and comfortable for patients.

In recent years, the practice expanded its patient base to include transgender males and more women who are acting as surrogates for gay men starting families.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is the ongoing opportunity to get to know patients, sharing not only the big moments but also the everyday ones, just like one would with friends. Dr. Cantwell has even forged relationships with second-generation patients.

For example, once when she was on call at the hospital, she walked into a room and the expectant parents exclaimed, “We’re so glad to see you! You delivered both of us!”

A couple of years later, again on call, she walked into a room and it was the same couple with the same reaction saying, “You delivered both of us and you caught our last baby!”

“It was spectacular,” Dr. Cantwell said. “It was really cool having that connection.”

“I’ve just had this incredibly rich career,” she added. “I feel like I have the best job ever, and even on hard days, I’ll say that.”

As the current medical director for CMG OB/GYN and also the current chief of OB/GYN for the hospital, Dr. Cantwell looks to the future and anticipates being able to offer even more procedures in the office setting, as well as more growth within the practice.

“We’re dramatically expanding our services in the Victor and Farmington areas,” she said. “That’s going to be a tremendous benefit to the community.”