OFFICE HOURS: 8:30AM - 5:00PM PATIENT PORTAL LOGIN REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT Meet the Team While our practice might seem large, we keep your care personal. DOCTORS PRACTITIONERS STAFF Meet the Doctors Eric Pulsfus, MD Dr. Pulsfus is a graduate of Florida State University (BS) and the University of South Florida (MD), and his practice incorporates all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology, with special interests in contraception, menopause, and urinary incontinence treatments. He is happy to have been a part of the medical community in St. Augustine since 2000. Dr. Pulsfus is the proud father of two sons, who were born at Flagler Hospital. Tom Searle, MD Dr. Searle brings his international experience to OBGYN Associates. He was born in Belize, was educated in the United Kingdom, and is a graduate of Aberdeen University in Scotland. Personalized care plans are a huge part of the culture of care he provides. In addition to general obstetrics and gynecology, he is an expert laparoscopic surgeon, with special interests in all aspects of women’s health. Humor and compassion are hallmarks of his personality. Kelly Jago, MD Dr. Jago is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and completed medical school at Jeﬀerson Medical College in Philadelphia. She did her OBGYN residency at The Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. She served our country as a Navy physician for four years, including a tour in Iceland and humanitarian ship duty during Hurricane Katrina! She practiced in Jacksonville for several years but loves and lives in St. Augustine. Her wealth of experience, warm manner, and careful approach to medicine make her an excellent physician. Dr. Jago enjoys all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology, but she is particularly interested in adolescent gynecology and new, expectant mothers. Laila Needham, MD Dr. Needham knew at an early age she wanted to become an OBGYN. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Reims in France and graduated from University Medical School of King Hassan II in Casablanca. She completed a residency at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, started her private practice in Palatka and St. Augustine in 2009, and joined OBGYN Associates in 2014. In her spare time, she enjoys boating, fishing, and watching basketball games. Karen Toppi, MD Dr. Toppi is a board-certiﬁed OBGYN who has been practicing in Palm Coast, since 2004. She received her medical degree at Chicago Medical School and earned a Fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta Georgia in Advanced Pelvic Surgery. She is well known for her compassionate care for her patients and was just named Top Doc of the Volusia/Flagler Counties by the New Journal. In her spare time, she enjoys being on the water with her paddle board or kayak, and she recently started the nonprofit organization, Hope to Help Foundation. Rachel Kaplan, DO Dr. Rachel Kaplan is new to the practice and delighted to be working with OBGYN Associates. Dr. Kaplan graduated from college and medical school in the blue grass state of Kentucky. While completing her residency in the Detroit area, Dr. Kaplan enjoyed being chief resident and worked to cultivate a productive learning environment for her residents. After her residency, Dr. Kaplan returned to her hometown of Wilmington, Ohio, where she worked in a private practice for five years. She developed a passion and enthusiasm for all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology. She loved serving the community where she was raised, but after several cold winters, she and her family decided to move south. Dr. Kaplan enjoys spending time with her husband and two small children. She enjoys exercising, the ocean, and getting to know her new home in St. Augustine. Majdouline Asher, MD Dr. Asher graduated college from Tulane University in New Orleans with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. She worked two years in the biomedical field before pursuing her medical education at the University of Mississippi. Following her time at the University of Mississippi, she completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her goal is to provide evidence-based medicine with patient-centered care, and to help patients make educated decisions about their gynecologic health. Her area of interest includes the full spectrum of OBGYN care; from adolescence to adulthood, Dr. Asher helps women navigate puberty, family planning, pregnancy, and menopause. She also has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery, including robotic surgery. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two teenage daughters. She loves animals, especially dogs. She enjoys traveling, watching old movies with her family, and exploring Florida’s beaches. Susan Yarian, MD Dr. Yarian is a graduate of the University of Florida with a BS in Industrial Engineering. She worked as an engineer for years before pursuing her medical degree at the University of South Carolina. As the founding partner of OBGYN Associates of St. Augustine, she has been gratiﬁed to watch the practice grow from a one-doctor, one-midwife oﬃce in 2001 to the current practice. She is particularly interested in high-risk obstetrics but enjoys all aspects of gynecology care. Even after 18 years in private practice, she feels it is a privilege to be a part of women’s lives in such an important way. Meet the Practitioners Elizabeth Arnett, APRN, CNM Elizabeth grew up and lived in Saginaw, Michigan until she graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with her BSN degree. She then went on a search for warmer weather and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she worked in the ICU and was a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Duke University Medical Center. Elizabeth knew her passion was caring for women during their pregnancy, so she went back to school at Frontier Nursing University, where she graduated with her MSN degree and became a certified nurse-midwife. Elizabeth moved to St. Augustine with her husband before she started her clinical training with OBGYN Associates. After graduation, she was hired to join the practice as a Nurse-Midwife. In 2016, she started her own family by giving birth to a daughter, Charleston and son, Sheppard. Being able to experience first-hand what pregnancy and midwifery was all about was a wonderful achievement. When Elizabeth is not working in the office or attending births, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and boating. Elizabeth is very excited to continue her career in our community, caring for women. Barbara Dembek, APRN, CNM Barbara Dembek has been in practice in St. Augustine since 1997. She received her BSN from New York University and M.S.N from Case Western Reserve University. After 17 years as a labor and delivery nurse, she became a midwife because of her love of obstetrics, but has come to enjoy the gynecological aspect of her practice. Barbara is currently practicing as a women’s health nurse practitioner, treating patients from adolescence through menopause. Elizabeth Meadows, APRN, CNM Elizabeth has spent her entire career taking care of women. One of her first rotations in nursing school was in labor and delivery, and she was hooked! Elizabeth went straight into obstetrical nursing after graduation. After a few years, she decided to continue her education and returned to school at Frontier Nursing University. In 2003, she graduated with a Masters in Nursing and became a Certified Nurse Midwife. She knew she was going to love “catching” babies, but she was pleasantly surprised at how much she also enjoyed the office and gynecological care aspect of midwifery; both offer great opportunities for education. Teaching women how to obtain their best possible health is very rewarding to Elizabeth. She has a special interest in adolescent gynecology and loves the chance to help young women embark on the healthiest path possible. Elizabeth is a native of the Atlanta area. She and her family moved to St. Augustine in 2010 when CSX Railroad transferred her husband to a position in their corporate office. They jumped at the chance to move to Florida and once in Florida, they realized how lucky they were to live in such a great community. St. Augustine has become home for Elizabeth and her family. Elizabeth has three grown children and will be welcoming her first granddaughter soon. She and her husband enjoy boating, fishing, traveling, and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs. Susan Chappuis, APRN, CNM Sue grew up in Ormond Beach and is a graduate of Florida State University. She received her MS from Drexel University with an APRN certification. With a wealth of experience in gynecology and obstetrics, including fifteen years as a labor and delivery nurse and ten years working in a very busy OBGYN office, she provides thorough, comprehensive care to our patients in the Palm Coast area. Sue has been married for 30 years and she has three grown sons. Her hobbies include kayaking, cooking, repurposing furniture, home decorating, and pottery. Meet the Staff Mickey Andreu LPN – St. Augustine Wandi Ashe Billing Veta Buckholz RN – St. Augustine Lora Carr Administrator Kathee Chalfant RN – St. Augustine Tess Cobbett MA – Palm Coast Tabitha Collier Receptionist – Palakta Wendy Dees MA – St. Augustine Leslie Doucette LPN – St. Augustine Mary Faust Billing April Haines Receptionist – St. Augustine Kelly Howard Sonographer Christine Jackson Billing Nicole Joiner MA – St. Augustine Karen Jones Surgery Scheduling Sabrena Lonergan Receptionist – St. Augustine Samantha Madden MA – St. Augustine Tracy McClain Billing Kristin Minix Receptionist – St. Augustine Tammy Partin Clinical Manager Kari Riggle Receptionist – St. Augustine Natasha Robinson MA – Palm Coast Marilyn Ruado Receptionist – Palm Coast Sheila Sanks-Gouamba MA – St. Augustine Michelle Savage Surgery Scheduler – St. Augustine Angela Stevens Sonographer Kerry Strohm MA – St. Augustine Charlotte Sweat Receptionist – Palatka/St. Augustine Silvana Venegas Receptionist – St. Augustine/Murebella Erica Wood MA – St. Augustine Request an Appointment Please fill out the form and be sure to include your preferred date and time. Name Email Address Phone Number Date Time HH MM AM PM St. Augustine (904) 819-1500 Suite 3002 in Flagler Hospital 300 Health Park Blvd St. Augustine, FL 32086 Palm Coast (904) 819-1500 5 Boulder Rock Drive Palm Coast, FL 32137 Palatka (904) 819-1500 700 Zeagler Drive, Suite 3 Palatka, FL 32177 World Golf Village (904) 819-1500 Village at Murabella 70 Turin Terrace, Suite 200 St. Augustine, FL 32092 © Copyright 2020 OBGYN Associates