Obstetrician-Gynecologist in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

The term obstetrician-gynecologist, usually shortened to OB-GYN, describes one physician trained across two related areas of women’s medicine. Obstetrics is the pregnancy side, taking in prenatal care, labor and delivery, and the management of high-risk pregnancies; gynecology is everything else, including well-woman exams, contraception, menopause, fibroid care, and surgery carried out with minimally invasive and robotic methods. These physicians hold an M.D. or a D.O. degree and are licensed in Tennessee through the Department of Health, by way of the Board of Medical Examiners for medical doctors and the Board of Osteopathic Examination for osteopathic physicians. In Chattanooga, the seat of Hamilton County and the medical hub of southeast Tennessee, with about 185,783 residents as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), many of these practices are tied to the area’s hospital systems, which makes a group’s hospital affiliation a natural starting point for patients.

That hospital connection matters because OB-GYN care often follows a patient for years, from a first well-woman visit through pregnancy and into menopause, and the delivering hospital is where labor and delivery happen. Alongside it, Chattanooga patients commonly consider whether a practice offers imaging and procedures in its own office and whether its physicians are board certified. Board certification is awarded by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology to physicians who have completed an accredited residency and passed the board’s qualifying examinations; it is a separate credential from the state license. Many certified physicians also belong to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and place the FACOG designation after their names.

Patients in Tennessee can verify these credentials for themselves. The Tennessee Department of Health operates a public license-verification system that confirms whether a physician’s license is active and shows any record of discipline, and it administers the boards that set continuing-education and practice standards for physicians statewide. Complaints about a physician’s conduct or care can be submitted to the Department’s Office of Investigations, while billing, advertising, and other commercial concerns about a medical business are directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

The Chattanooga practices profiled below each offer a range of obstetric and gynecologic services, described here from the practices’ own websites as general information and not as medical advice. Before scheduling care, prospective patients should confirm current providers, services, insurance participation, and hospital affiliations with each office directly, and should verify any physician’s license and board-certification status through the Tennessee Department of Health and the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Top Obstetrician-Gynecologist Providers in Chattanooga

1. Galen Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ridgeside

Address: 929 Spring Creek Road, Suite 102, Chattanooga, TN 37412
Phone: (423) 629-9743
Website: https://galenmedical.com/galen-obstetrics-gynecology-ridgeside/
Services: obstetrics (low and high risk), pregnancy care and delivery, office-based gynecology, menopause management, in-office and complex surgical procedures, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, pelvic relaxation treatment, urinary incontinence evaluation, 3D and 4D ultrasound, birthing classes
Description: Galen Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ridgeside is part of the Galen Medical Group and provides a full range of women’s health services in Chattanooga. Its board-certified physicians are Delmon (Del) Ashcraft, M.D., FACOG, David Barker, M.D., FACOG, Scott D. Harnsberger, M.D., FACOG, and Lauren Thomas, M.D., FACOG, supported by advanced practice providers Erica Angelino, MPAS, PA-C, Melissa Lee, FNP-C, and Karen Tinsley, MSN, FNP-BC. The practice cares for low- and high-risk pregnancies and offers labor and delivery support, office-based gynecology and menopause management, in-office and complex surgical procedures including laparoscopic and robotic surgery, surgical and nonsurgical treatment of pelvic relaxation, urinary incontinence evaluation, 3D and 4D ultrasound, and birthing classes. The group delivers at Erlanger East and also operates a separate Galen OB/GYN East location.

2. Innovative Women’s Health Specialists

Address: 2158 Northgate Park, Suite 300, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Phone: (423) 771-9680
Website: https://www.innovativewomen.net
Services: obstetrics, gynecology, well-woman care
Description: Innovative Women’s Health Specialists is a Chattanooga obstetrics and gynecology practice located on Northgate Park on the north side of the city. The practice is led by Shevonda Sherrow, M.D., FACOG, who is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, with family nurse practitioner Cami Bailey on the clinical team. The practice describes its approach as open and progressive, aiming to align the expectations of women’s health care with a range of services. It serves patients in English, Arabic, and Spanish. Prospective patients should confirm the full scope of obstetric and gynecologic services and the delivering hospital directly with the office.

3. Chattanooga Obstetrics and Gynecology

Address: 7155 Lee Highway, Suite 200, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 551-3560
Website: https://www.chattobgyngroup.com
Services: obstetrics (prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, high-risk pregnancy management, preconception counseling), gynecology (annual wellness exams, contraception counseling, menstrual disorders, menopause care, pelvic health), aesthetics, medical weight loss
Description: Chattanooga Obstetrics and Gynecology is a women’s health practice on Lee Highway in the East Brainerd area of Chattanooga. The practice’s lead physician is Stephen Kerley, D.O., who graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Chattanooga campus, with more than two decades of experience. The office provides obstetric care that includes prenatal care, labor and delivery, postpartum care, preconception counseling, and high-risk pregnancy management, along with gynecologic services such as annual wellness exams, contraception counseling, treatment of menstrual disorders, menopause care, and pelvic health, plus aesthetic services and medical weight loss. According to the practice, its physician delivers at Parkridge East Hospital, Erlanger East Hospital, and Erlanger Baroness Hospital.

Frequently Asked Questions About Obstetrician-Gynecologist in Chattanooga

Q: What is the difference between an obstetrician and a gynecologist?

Obstetrics and gynecology are two related fields that most physicians in this specialty practice together. Obstetrics focuses on pregnancy, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and the management of high-risk pregnancies. Gynecology focuses on the female reproductive system outside of pregnancy, including well-woman exams, contraception, menopause, fibroids, and gynecologic surgery. An OB-GYN is trained in both, which is why a single physician can care for a patient through routine visits, pregnancy, and the years that follow.

Q: How do I verify that a Chattanooga OB-GYN is licensed in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Health maintains a public license-verification system where patients can confirm that a physician holds an active medical license in the state and review any record of disciplinary action. Medical doctors are licensed through the Board of Medical Examiners and osteopathic physicians through the Board of Osteopathic Examination, both under the Department of Health. Confirming a license through this system before scheduling care is a straightforward step.

Q: What does it mean that a physician is a D.O. rather than an M.D.?

Both M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) and D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) are fully licensed physicians who can practice obstetrics and gynecology, prescribe medication, and perform surgery. They complete similar training and residencies. In Tennessee, M.D. physicians are licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners and D.O. physicians by the Board of Osteopathic Examination, both under the Department of Health. The two degrees reflect different medical schools rather than a difference in scope of practice.

Q: What is minimally invasive or robotic gynecologic surgery?

Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery uses small incisions and specialized instruments rather than a large open incision. Common approaches include laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, and some Chattanooga practices also offer robotic-assisted surgery. These techniques are used for procedures such as hysterectomy, myomectomy, and the treatment of fibroids and endometriosis. Whether a given approach is appropriate depends on the individual patient, and that decision is made with the treating physician.

Q: Does it matter which hospital an OB-GYN delivers at?

For patients planning a pregnancy, the delivering hospital can be an important consideration, since that is where labor, delivery, and any related care will take place. Chattanooga practices deliver at hospitals such as Erlanger East, Erlanger Baroness, and Parkridge East, and a group’s website or office staff can confirm its delivery facility. Patients often weigh the hospital’s location, its labor and delivery services, and its level of newborn care when choosing a practice.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a physician or medical practice in Chattanooga?

Concerns about a licensed physician’s conduct or care can be reported to the Tennessee Department of Health’s Office of Investigations, which reviews complaints against the professionals its boards license. General consumer concerns about a medical business, such as billing or advertising practices, may also be directed to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records of appointments, communications, and any disputed charges supports a complaint.