Joining forces to create an empowering female-focused healthcare practice, Drs. Kimberly Kraus and Mildred Cardona, along with Certified Nurse-Midwife Susan Krieger, are the faces of women’s health of Premier Physicians

By Laura Briedis

Three remarkable women have joined forces all with the same goal: to offer personalized care for women through all life stages.

Dr. Kimberly Kraus and Dr. Mildred Cardona, who are Obstetricians-Gynecologists, and Certified Nurse-Midwife Susan Krieger, are working together as Women’s Health Specialists for Premier Physicians, supporting each other and, ultimately, providing the best patient care.

All three have their own patients but can rely on each other if the need arises. If the midwife’s patient has complications or needs a cesarean delivery, a physician will be available. If one of the doctors is out of town, another familiar face will be there for the birth. If a patient can benefit from hormone replacement therapy, it is available in the same office.

“I went into private practice so I would be there for my pregnant moms,” says Dr. Kraus.

“With this patient-care model, we get to know our patients well and can provide more personalized care in the perfect setting, which is not too large and not too small,” adds Dr. Cardona. “We are working individually but together at the same time. One of the benefits is we can offer different services that are not available at most OB-GYN offices, such as the MonaLisa Touch Laser.”

Experience Matters
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and trained in Manhattan, Dr. Cardona came to Ohio in 1993 for a job opportunity and met her husband here, and now calls Cleveland home. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she has worked in Southwest Hospital’s maternity unit for 19 years, in a solo practice, and in a large group practice, so she has experience in a variety of settings.

Dr. Kraus also has been working in this community for 24 years. Growing up in Middleburg Heights, Dr. Kraus did not stray far from home. She has been located at Southwest General Hospital since 1999. A mother of three, Dr. Kraus can relate to her patients. She was pregnant with twins during her first year in medical school and had preterm labor, so she has experienced many of the same issues her patients have.

In addition to caring for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Kraus is also a Biote bioidentical hormones provider (for both women and men). She performs in-office ablations for heavy periods and performs robotic surgery (minimally invasive surgery including hysterectomies). Patients also can get same-day 3D mammograms at the Premier Physicians office in Westlake.

Holistic Care
Adding a holistic focus, Susan offers prenatal, birthing and postpartum care, as well as annual exams and gynecologic health care. She is hands-on during labor and is very calming and compassionate.

“I try to affirm, encourage and empower my patients,” says Susan, who also speaks Croatian-Serbian fluently. “I want women to be strong and confident in their bodies, their lives, and their healthcare.”

To that end, her goal is not only to help patients physically but also emotionally and spiritually. As a mother of six, she has a nurturing personality that parlays to all she does.

A Certified Nurse-Midwife since 2013, preceded by 20 years of experience as a registered nurse in labor and delivery, Susan tends to her patients the entire time during labor to support them and offer personalized care. To help minimize any discomfort, she offers hydrotherapy and other techniques during the birthing process.

Outside of the office, all three women volunteer at Womankind, a local prenatal care center. And Dr. Kraus and Susan also have gone on several mission trips to Haiti to offer primary care to residents in underserved communities.

A Trio of Specialty Services
Board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Kimberly Kraus not only helps deliver healthy babies but also focuses on women’s overall health. Here are three innovative treatments she offers:

• MonaLisa Touch: To help women with vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and recurrent vaginal infections, Dr. Kraus uses the MonaLisa Touch laser. This non-surgical laser therapy revitalizes the vagina by stimulating collagen, elastin and revascularization within the vaginal wall, helping to restore vaginal pH and lubrication.

• Biote Bioidentical Hormones: To help you feel better, hormone replacement therapy can improve memory fog, hot flashes and night sweats, and enhance libido, increase muscle strength and manage weight. The bioidentical hormone pellets are customized to each individual and placed subcutaneously in the body. Once placed under the skin, the pellets are absorbed into the body based on cardiac output and blood flow.

• Morpheus 8: Combining microneedling and radiofrequency, this treatment helps boost collagen and tighten skin. It directs energy toward the adipose fat that is notorious for creating jowls and bra rolls, so you can target areas to reduce fat on the body and diminish facial wrinkles, acne scarring, enlarged pores and irregular skin tone and texture. As an add-on treatment, they now offer Pro-Nax inhaled analgesia to minimize any discomfort or anxiety.

Premier Physicians Women’s Health is located at the Southwest General Main Campus, Building C, at 7255 Old Oak Boulevard, Suite C112, in Middleburg Heights. Call 440-816-5517 for more information.