General Practitioners

• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Medical Weight Loss
  Janet Flowers received her BSN from University of North Carolina at Charlotte, her MSN from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her Nurse Practitioner Certificate from East Carolina University. Janet has served as a nursing instructor and childbirth educator, and has a special interest in weight loss counseling, pre-conception counseling and contraceptive and menopausal management. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Honors Society, and Sigma Theta Tau. When away from the office, Janet stays busy with her three active children. She also makes time to volunteer with their school and work with the youth at her church.
• Emergency Care
  If you have a life threatening emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you need urgent medical attention after regular office hours, call 828.322.4140 and the physician on call will be notified.
• Urinary Incontinence
  You may be one of millions of people who experience frustrating and embarrassing bladder control problems. These conditions prevent you from controlling when and how much you urinate. This can make simple, everyday activities a challenge and social lives very difficult. More than 13 million people in the United States experience urinary incontinence, about 85% of whom are women. Loss of bladder control is a common problem and there are many treatment options available. However, it is important to seek professional help. If you have symptoms that affect your daily life, tell your doctor. A complete and thorough exam is needed to find the cause of the problem. In most cases, urinary incontinence can be greatly improved with treatment.
• Immunizations
  The Well-Woman Exam is a key part of preventive care. This consists of an evaluation of your general health and an exam of your breasts and pelvic (reproductive) organs. During this exam, the physician or nurse professional will look for health problems in their early stages, work with you to detect health risks and help you develop a plan to lower these risks. Depending on your age and health history, certain tests and immunizations may be necessary. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends a Well-Woman Exam on a routine basis if you are sexually active or age 18 or older. Most women should see their OB/GYN once a year. Based on your health risk factors, more frequent exams may be needed. Contact our office at (828) 322-4140 to schedule an appointment for your Well-Woman Exam.

Gynecologists

• Gynecology
  Dr. Thornton graduated from Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, VA before completing her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Originally from Raleigh, NC, she also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public health graduating magna cum laude from Clemson University. She is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons.
• Female Infertility
• Menopause
• Obstetrics
  Julia received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Lenoir-Rhyne University. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and licensed through the North Carolina Board of Nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honors Society and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing. Julia has two national certifications in In-patient Obstetrics and Electronic Fetal Monitoring.
• Endometriosis
  At Catawba Women’s Center we are resolved to deliver the full scope of medical services related to women’s health. Dr. Harold Dufour, a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, takes a special interest in the treatment of infertility. We offer treatment for endometriosis, fibroids, tubal disease, irregular ovulation, male subfertility and unexplained infertility. In addition to advanced surgical treatment, we offer convenient medical treatment, which is otherwise unavailable in Catawba County. Catawba Women’s Center works collaboratively with Infertility Treatment Centers in Charlotte and Winston-Salem to provide convenient, local monitoring for In Vitro Fertilization. If you have questions about our Infertility Services, contact our office at (828) 322-4140.
• Pregnancy
• Labor and Delivery
  Brittney received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Master of Science in Midwifery from Frontier Nursing University in 2022. She is a board-certified Nurse Midwife by the American Midwifery Certification Board and is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Before becoming a midwife, Brittney worked as a Registered Nurse for 10 years on several different units such as adolescent psychiatrics, med-surgical, and LDRP. Brittney is passionate about partnering with pregnant individuals and their families towards the goals of healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. She strives to empower pregnant people to have the childbirth experiences they envision in an environment of safety. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends..

Internists

• Cervical Cancer
• Interstitial Cystitis

Psychiatrists

• Depression

Radiologist

• Ultrasound
  Can’t wait to see your baby? Now you don’t have to. Get your first look at the face you’ve been dreaming of with 3D/4D ultrasound imaging at Catawba Women’s Center. Now you can watch your baby live in real-time. Our package includes a CD of images, perfect for your baby book and sharing with friends and family. It’s just the latest reason why, next to a mother’s love, you won’t find better care anywhere than Catawba Women’s Center.
• Mammography
  These are busy times for everyone. Demands on personal and business schedules require efficiency.....and running from one appointment to the next is not efficient! With our In-Office Digital Mammography service, your annual screening mammogram is performed as part of and just a few minutes before your Well Woman exam. The result? Shortly after check-in at our front desk with friendly staff dedicated to ensuring optimal patient care, two important annual exams vital to every woman's health maintenance are performed in one location and within just a few minutes. After booking your next annual exams, you can be on your way.

Surgeons

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
  Dr. Whitton graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine. She joined Catawba Women's Center in 2003 after completing her OB/GYN residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. She is Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Her husband and two boys are as happy as she is to be in Hickory, where they are active in soccer and scouting. She is an avid equestrian. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery techniques (including daVinci Robotic Surgery), surgical and nonsurgical management of pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, as well as a strong emphasis on preventive care and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Robotic Surgery
• Hysterectomy
  At Catawba Women’s Center, we’re proud to be one of the first practices in our area to offer an innovative hysterectomy option with the shortest patient recovery time and tiny scars. If you’re thinking about having a hysterectomy, we have great news: a minimally invasive procedure developed to reduce pain, minimize scarring and shorten recovery time. It’s called Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy (LSH), and it’s an innovative procedure that could get you back to most of your routine in less than a week – much quicker than the month or more you’d need after a traditional hysterectomy. Of course, LSH isn’t for everyone, and all medical procedures involve risk. Because most hysterectomies are elective, you do have time to explore your options. If you want to learn more, ask your healthcare provider about LSH.
• Endometrial Ablation

Physical Therapists

• Physical Therapy