Pallavi Khanna, MD, has successfully met the criteria and has passed the examination necessary to become a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause Practitioner (NCMP). Dr. Khanna specializes in OB/GYN services at Regional One Health.

“When I joined Regional One Health a couple of years ago I saw that there was a need for more gynecological care in our community,” she said. “We have great obstetrics care but when it came to gynecological care for older women I realized there isn’t much in the community. When women came in with these problems I thought maybe this would be good to pursue more education for our patients.”

Founded in 1989, NAMS is North America’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and quality of life through an understanding of menopause. Holders of the NCMP certification have demonstrated special interest and competency in the field of menopause. That includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurses and pharmacists.

Dr. Diane Todd Pace, Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC, NCMP, FAAN, is an associate professor and the director of special academic programs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Nursing. She is the first nurse practitioner to serve as president of the North American Menopause Society, and has had her NCMP certification since 2001. She said the certification represents to clinician colleagues and the public that Dr. Khanna has taken additional steps to validate her knowledge, skills and competency in midlife and menopausal care of women.

“I am so excited that Dr. Khanna has been welcomed into a very esteemed, select, expert group of clinicians who has achieved a specialty certification as a menopause practitioner,” Dr. Pace said. “This exam is not easy and is very comprehensive. I look forward to collaborating with her in developing a focused clinical environment that will provide specialized care for women at this phase of their reproductive life. Women have so many unmet needs and there is truly no specialized, focused clinic in this community.”

Dr. Khanna took the exam in May after talking to Dr. Pace about her interest in menopausal medicine. The certification became valid in July.

“Now that I have proven I’m interested in this field I want to launch a menopause clinic in this city,” she said about her long-term goals. “I want to reach out to women who are told to just deal with it. Society tells them their issues are normal and natural, but I can help them.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Khanna, call 901-515-3800.