Julie Zemaitis DeCesare, MD
Program Director
Dr. DeCesare brings over 20 years of experience to West Florida GME in education in residency education. She is passionate about resident mentoring and career development and is a four-time winner of the CREOG National Excellence in Resident Education Award. She was also selected by ACOG District 12 as Mentor of the Year in 2014.
She is a patient and dedicated educator, who will spend the time to optimize a resident physician's skills and passions. Dr. DeCesare is a specialist in academic general obstetrics and gynecology and has a diverse skillset that includes vaginal surgery, robotic surgery as well as operative obstetrics. As an accomplished vaginal surgeon, she is passionate about ensuring that the next generation of pelvic surgeons is highly skilled.
Dawn Hannah, DO
Associate Program Director (Maternal-Fetal Medicine)
Dr. Hannah is a board certified maternal-fetal medicine specialist caring for patients in Pensacola, Florida. She completed her undergraduate education with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Miami and then went on to obtain her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
She received her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Sacred Heart Hospital/Florida State University in Pensacola, Florida. After residency, she completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Pinnacle Health Hospital/Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Hannah is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Gina Pearce, CNM
Ms. Pearce completed her midwifery training at the Medical University of South Carolina. She spent her early career in the United States Navy and taught obstetrics to family medicine residents. After retiring from active duty, she chose West Florida Hospice to practice obstetrics and has been in the Pensacola area for over 20 years. She plays an active role in teaching medical students and is looking forward to teaching residents.
Michael Coyle, DO
Urogynecologist
Jacqueline Castagno, MD, FACOG
Board Certified Gynecologic Oncologist
She received her M.D. with Distinction in Research from SUNY at Stony Brook in 1985. She completed her residency at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York in 1989. Dr. Castagno went on to complete Research and Clinical Fellowships in Gynecologic Oncology at The Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where she remained for 3 years as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology after completing her training. Subsequently she joined the faculty at St. Luke’s / Roosevelt Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Castagno moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1998 where she joined a large Gynecologic Oncology group. In 2006, she opened a solo practice in Atlanta.
Dr. Castagno is Board Certified in Gynecologic Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Castagno’s special interests include cancer prevention in women, clinical trials, treatment of vulvar and cervical cancer, HPV-related disease, and Palliative and Hospice care.
Jason Gronert, MD, MBA
Dr. Gronert is a long-time Pensacola local. He completed his training at Sacred Heart in Pensacola and trained under Dr. DeCesare. Prior to becoming an obstetrician/gynecologist he received his MBA at Northeastern University in Boston and taught high school math before matriculating in medical school at Florida State University. Dr. Gronert has a passion for teaching and baseball.
Victor Hultstrand, MD
Dr. Hultstrand earned his medical degree from Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee. He completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency with FSU College of Medicine in Pensacola. As a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Hultstrand is also a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is a member of the American College of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the Escambia County Medical Society. He has provided patient care in the Pensacola area since 2011.
Lisa Jaacks, MD, FACOG
Dr. Jaacks received both an undergraduate degree and a medical doctorate degree from the University of Creighton in Nebraska. Following a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Florida at Pensacola. Dr. Jaacks is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and became board certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery in 2015.
Jack Ricketts, MD, FACOG, FACS
Jack Ricketts, MD, FACOG, FACS is a board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist. Dr. Ricketts received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia where he was a Phi Beta Kappa recipient and Curators Scholar. He graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and did his training in OBGYN at Saint Louis University.
Dr. Ricketts is experienced in adult, adolescent, and geriatric gynecology, postmenopausal care, urogynecology, infertility, antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum care including high risk pregnancy. He received advanced training in minimally invasive gynecologic and urologic procedures such as supracervical hysterectomy, endometrial ablations, tubal ligation, outpatient bladder/vaginal suspension and correction of incontinence. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is an active fellow of the American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), the Americal College of Surgeons (FACS) and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).