Dr. A. Dawan Gunter and Team Prepare to Welcome New Babies in Southern Wake County
Dr. A. Dawan Gunter has delivered more than 1,500 babies in his career and doesn’t hesitate when asked what he enjoys most about obstetrics. “Getting to know expectant mothers through prenatal care and following them through delivery, even postpartum, and providing gynecological care after delivery,” said Gunter, medical director of REX OB/GYN at Holly Springs. “I have patients whose daughters I’ve delivered, and now their daughters come to me for gynecological care. That continuum of care is what I value most.” Gunter has worked at REX OB/GYN since it opened in January 2021. “Rex hired me to be the lead, and now we’ve gone to three physicians and two midwives and hope to hire another physician in December,” said Gunter, who will direct the new Birth Center at Rex Holly Springs Hospital. “Rex is known as a place for women’s care and obstetrics care, and now the same level of care is available in southern Wake County, with access to the Rex touch.” Big, open-air rooms with wide corridors, natural light and laboring tubs will grace the Birth Center, and patient rooms will have family spaces with fold-out sofas for fathers. However, there are opportunities for community members to support a few additional Birth Center needs that will help enhance patient experiences. Nikki Dixon, manager of Rex Holly Springs Hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Department, shared that donations help the Birth Center staff meet the unique needs of their patients and families, like books and educational materials, specialty equipment, and resources including Cuddle Cots to support those who experience infant loss. Roy Tempke, Jr., Vice President, Clinical Operations and Chief Operating Officer of Rex Holly Springs Hospital, is equally excited about the services that will be offered at the new Birth Center. “We’re going to have four doctors working in the practice, and we’ve doubled our prediction on how many births we’re expecting for the first year,” Tempke said. “There’s just explosive growth. It’s a brand new, beautiful hospital with every contemporary feature you can imagine, and … we’re bringing UNC Rex’s culture, safety and quality of care to southern Wake County.” Tempke said more than 40 percent of the clinical staff have experience from working at Rex. Having Gunter lead the Birth
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