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There are few Black OB-GYNs in her state. This doctor returned home to help fill the need
Rural Iowa clinics face severe OB-GYN shortages, forcing women to travel for care; Dr. Carr, one of few Black OB-GYNs, is booked five months out, highlighting access issues.
- On Mar 16, 2026, Dr. Wanakee Carr returned to practice at The Iowa Clinic and serves as board president of the Des Moines chapter of the American Heart Association.
- According to the American Medical Association, Iowa ranks at the bottom nationally for practicing OB-GYNs per capita, and statements say politics discourage minority physicians from relocating there.
- Carr is one of Iowa's only Black OB-GYN physicians and says she's booked about five months out, while patients tell staff 'Oh my gosh, I can let my guard down,' creating a responsibility to those who look like her.
- Rural clinics are struggling to stay open, with funding gaps between 750,000 and $1,000,000, forcing women to drive to metropolitan areas in Iowa for OB-GYN care.
- After training at the University of Iowa and completing her residency in Kansas, Carr says delivering a baby on her first day helped shape her decision to return and serve local patients.
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There are few Black OB-GYNs in her state. This doctor returned home to help fill the need
Dr. Wanakee Carr, one of Iowa's few Black OB-GYNs, faces challenges and responsibilities in her role, advocating for better health care access and representation in the state.
·Sacramento, United States
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