Dr. Bennett has been with Valley Women’s Health for 5 years and has been practicing medicine for 31 years. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center and went on to complete a Family Medicine Residency with University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, TX and an OB/GYN Residency with University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT. She loves Hot Tamales, music and spends more time working than doing hobbies because she absolutely loves being an OB/GYN. We know many of you already love Dr. Bennett and hope this helps you get to know her just a little bit better!

Why did you choose to become an OB/GYN?

I originally didn’t know I was interested in Obstetrics. After medical school I completed a family practice residency. My first month of residency was OB in a very busy OB hospital in Houston. That was the first time in my education where I realized that this is what I love to do. I was able to get a lot of obstetrics experience in my family practice residency. When I moved to Utah, I came to Springville to work with a friend of mine and I knew that I would be able to do obstetrics because he was an OB.

At the time, I was the only female primary care physician in the area. It made me nervous because people would either love it or hate it. I ended up doing very well in the area. I practiced “true” family practice for about 8 years and was then convinced to leave my practice and go work with two OB/GYNs in Provo. I did that for another years. At that point I decided to “bite the bullet” and complete an OB/GYN residency. I went to Salt Lake for 3 years and then came back and began practicing OB/GYN in Utah County. It was nice to also be able to do GYN because I love the surgery aspect and I was able to see my patients through to the end, in the surgical aspect, instead of having to refer them out.

Do you remember the first time you delivered a baby?

I don’t really remember my first deliveries. I know I had a couple of deliveries as a medical student and then a whole bunch in my first residency because I did OB as my first month of residency in my family practice residency. I was at a very busy maternity hospital, so I did hundreds of deliveries that month. We have many memorable deliveries—the hard ones, the exciting ones, the ones that are fraught with complications. I love them all.

I delivered my grandson. That was an awesome delivery. It was a very easy delivery and though it was exciting, it was also anxiety provoking because you are responsible on a different level. Those are exciting deliveries! Twin deliveries are some of my favorite because you get to deliver the second one breach.

What makes being an OB/GYN a memorable part of your life?

That goes back to the good and the bad. You usually remember the good deliveries, but you don’t remember them as significantly as the difficult deliveries. Our patients that have complications, whether it be bleeding complications or health issues that are fraught with complications and we have to deliver them early, those are the life and death situations, are very memorable. 

The patients are also wonderful! It’s very rewarding. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s a hard lifestyle but, it’s very rewarding to be able to do what I do! To be with patients, at their deliveries, that’s the most rewarding part of it all. And the patients who are a little more sick or the delivery is a little more difficult, those are even more rewarding because you get to help them through it.

What do you love about Valley Women’s Health?

I’ve been with Valley for 5 years. The thing that I love most about working with Valley Women’s Health is that the physicians in the group are equal. We all work very hard and we are all willing to support our fellow physicians at a moment’s notice. It doesn’t matter if we are on call. It doesn’t matter what we are doing. If any one of my partner’s called and said, “Could you come in and do this for me?” there would be no question. Everybody’s the same and that is very rewarding! Not very many practices have that kind of camaraderie.

What is one thing that you wish all women could know?

I wish that everyone knew how important it is to take care of yourself, to take time for yourself and to decrease your stress. Ultimately your health revolves around your personal happiness and your personal success. Your personal success is definitely related to your health and your happiness. If we take care of ourselves, then it’s much easier to take care of everyone else, in every facet of life. It’s like when you are on an airplane and they tell you to put your own mask on and then put your child’s mask on. If you exercise, eat right and take care of your own body, then you are more able to take care of everyone else around you

Tell me about your family.

I am married and my husband is in construction. I have 3 children, all boys, who all live close by. My oldest son completed his degree at the University of Utah. He’s married and they have one child and are expecting their second. He is a catering supervisor at Sundance. My middle son is a welder and he lives in Springville with his family. My youngest son attended the University of Utah and is now working and supervises the Bear Claw restaurant at Sundance.

What is your favorite treat?

Anything. I eat junk food all the time! Hot Tamales are my favorite “junk food”. I love cookies. And chips.

What is something patients don’t know about you?

I have no idea. I’m pretty much an open book. They know most things about me. Especially my patients that I’ve seen for years and years and years.

What are your hobbies or favorite things to do?

Not much because I’m working all the time. I train my dogs. I mountain bike. I have a great backyard, so I enjoy spending time there. I used to ride motorcycles a little bit. There’s a lot of things I used to do, but don’t have time to do anymore.

What is something that always puts you in a good mood?

Music puts me in a good mood. That’s why it’s playing constantly in the office. If you listen to the music, it’s always Motown on Friday. My favorite band is Maroon 5. Adam Levine is mine! I’m from Austin and it’s big music place. I’ve seen Rolling Stones, Natalie Merchant, U2, Elton John and Billie Joel. I’ve seen all the oldies—the Eagles, Joe Walsh, Journey, Bob Seager. I saw Paul McCartney at Rio Tinto. That was excellent!

What is your favorite restaurant?

I’m a seafood person, so it would probably be Market Street in Salt Lake.

Learn more about Dr. Bennett