Open Door Expands Pregnancy and Women’s Health Services

Dr. Emma Hackett assumes medical directorship for the service area

Open Door has expanded pregnancy services and women’s health care throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties. With the appointment of OB/GYN Emma Hackett, MD, to the role of Pregnancy Services Medical Director, Open Door has reached an important milestone in its services.

Open Door has been steadily increasing access to pregnancy and women’s health over the last few years. In 2018 the opening of the new Fortuna Community Health Center allowed Open Door to expand pregnancy services in the Eel River Valley.

Early in 2020, Dr. Emma Hackett and Amy van Loon, CNM, joined Open Door’s NorthCountry Prenatal Services clinic (which operates from Mad River Hospital).

In July 2020, Timothy Paik-Nicely, MD, Carrie Griffin, DO, Tessa Stone, CNM, Marissa Kummerling, MD, Carolyn Eldridge, LM, as well as behavioral health clinician, Pata Vang, joined Open Door from With Open Arms to begin offering care at Eureka Pregnancy Services, located at 2426 Buhne Street.

“We offer an integrated model of midwifery, family practice, high risk services, infant and lactation that is unique,” says Amy van Loon. “Because our services are so interconnected—from nutrition and pediatrics to behavioral health care to mobile health services—we can care for the whole person, rather than focusing on one or other aspect of a patients’ health.”

Emma Hackett continues to practice obstetrics and gynecology in Eureka and Arcata while providing clinical support across the system. Of her new leadership role, Hackett says “We are really excited about the development of this new service line, strengthening our teamwork across Open Door, and delivering babies, of course!”

The Pregnancy Services team is now accepting pregnant patients at the prenatal care site of their choice. No matter where a patient receives care, they will be served by a care team that honors and empowers families through access, knowledge, and choice.