High-Profile Doctor To Be Planned Parenthood's First Medical Officer

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri has hired one of its most visible doctors as its first full-time chief medical officer.

Colleen McNicholas, who’s worked as an OB-GYN at the organization’s St. Louis clinic, started her job on July 1. As chief medical officer, she’ll oversee and coordinate medical care at Planned Parenthood clinics across the region.

Planned Parenthood clinics, including the one in St. Louis, have often hired doctors from other institutions such as Washington University for part-time medical director positions. But the time commitment involved made it clear the nonprofit needed a full-time employee, said Cathy Williams, the organization’s acting CEO.

“We felt that as we wanted to expand both our footprint here in Missouri and the offering of our services, we need somebody who’s going to be full time on the staff,” Williams said.

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