We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Elyse Cho. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Elyse below.

Hi Dr. Elyse , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

From the moment I opened that pink, plastic doctor play kit, and hopped on my Fisher Price rocking horse to ride to work, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. I would convince all of my family to play doctor any chance I could. As I grew up, I did all of the “doctor-y” things. I spent many hours with my grandfather, who owns a large-game ranch, dissecting animal hearts, and brains, and whatever else I could get my hands on while he was busy processing the animals for customers., I volunteered, I “doctored” our pets, and I took a health science class in high school so I could experience what working in the hospital was like. The summer before my senior year, I was invited to a conference at Emory University for students like me- who knew they wanted to explore the medical field. During my time there, I thoroughly enjoyed all of the seminars on obstetrics. We were able to have a few days in the hospital, shadowing physicians, and I could not wait. As I approached the OB/GYN I was scheduled to be with, I heard him say- a little loudly, I might add- “I am way too busy to have a high school student, she’ll have to find something else to do!” I was crushed. As I tried to shrink back into the grey walls of the hospital, a sweet older woman came by and introduced herself. “I’m a certified nurse midwife, and I have a patient that is in labor. Why don’t you come with me for the day?” I was not 100% sure what a nurse midwife was, but she was kind and she had a patient in labor so I went. During my time with her, she seemed to genuinely care about the experience I was going to have.

The day was amazing. She spent the day listening to and supporting her patient. She asked her what she was feeling, how she was feeling. She hugged her, and supported her choices fully. She allowed the patient to labor in positions that were comfortable to her, and when it was time for that sweet baby to be born, it was in a quiet room, no chaos, just the nurse midwife, Mama, Dad, a nurse, and myself. After witnessing the most calm and beautiful hospital birth, and I left knowing I had solidified my path.

Fast forward to my college years, and I landed at Baylor University. Baylor happens to be the only school in Texas that offers a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Midwifery. I knew then, that was my end goal. I graduated with my Doctor of Nursing practice when I was a fresh 25 years old, ready to conquer the world. I got my first job as a nurse midwife, and it was eye opening. I was working in a very busy public hospital. Many times, I was not even done with one patient, and was needed in another room. I learned so much there, but ultimately knew it wasn’t the place for me. I wanted to be somewhere that I could form lasting relationships with my patients.

My own family grew by two feet, then two more, and life brought many twists and turns. Throughout the years I have practiced in private and public hospitals, as well as birth centers. I also have personal homebirth experience with my own two little ones, and feel like I have seen many sides of midwifery. My family is myself and my two babies, and looks a little different than I had envisioned. When life gives you lemons, you move forward in your career path, isn’t that how the saying goes?

All of the pieces seemed to fall into place. Finding a small enough space that felt manageable to me, but big enough to see patients, being able to move forward with all of the parts and pieces of opening a new practice, and finding a new part-time job with some amazing colleagues that allow me to set my own schedule so I could have time to focus on what I needed to focus on. There have been many challenges, setting up my new practice, but I cannot say that I would have done anything differently.
I often wonder, what a practice would it look like if I had taken these steps earlier in my life, and not waited, but I learned so much from each of my employers. From each work place I have grown immensely, and I feel like my path is what it is because I was patient. I am so grateful now that I am able to practice nurse midwifery in my own space. One that I worked so hard to make it feel comfortable, warm, and inviting.

I currently do not exercise the obstetric part of my practice. Babies do not always come during “working hours” and my own little ones need me at home. I focus on women’s wellness care, thyroid management, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and I love it! I practice with a root cause approach. I want to know why my patients feel the way they do, so we can work together to figure a treatment plan. Starting my own business has been a challenge, but one I would encourage anyone to embark on this journey of entrepreneurship if they feel called. My advice is DON’T GIVE UP, because your day is coming, I promise!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The Hive Women’s Wellness is a functionally focused place for holistic minded healing. Dr. Elyse Cho, an advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse midwife focuses on well woman care, thyroid health and management, hormone evaluation, and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. She also offers birth control, supplement guidance, parasite cleanses, and can address problems such as urinary tract or yeast infections.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think being obtainable to patients and being personable is so important. Yes, we are experts in our fields, but we are constantly learning. I take time to listen to my patients. I want to learn about them, and what makes up their life. My initial appointment is an hour long, and often runs over that. I hope when my patients leave their first appointment, they feel like they have made a new friend who truly cares about their health and wants to guide them on their healing journey.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

It is so easy to get caught up in social media and marketing, and of course those things are an important part of growing your clientele, but nothing gets around like word of mouth. When patients come in to my office, and feel heard, they leave knowing they can trust me, and they go tell their circle about their experience. Many of my clients are referred to me through word of mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hivewomenswellness.com
• Instagram: @hivewomenswellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drelysechocnm

Image Credits
Ellaway House Photography