Obstetrics

Dr. Covlin has over 25 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics & Gynecology and has been with Heartland Women’s Healthcare since 2009. When working with patients, he is a strong listener and finds joy in his work helping his patients to overcome their medical concerns focusing on preventative care.

Dr. Covlin is a native of North Dakota and enjoys visiting the area to hunt. He loves mountain biking, grilling, and prefers sunsets over sunrises. His hidden talent is ballroom dancing, which he taught while in college. He considers being a dad the most daring thing he’s ever done. When not at work, you can find him with his two kids playing catch or lounging in a hammock.

Dr. Wikoff has over 26 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Providing personal and compassionate care for women of all ages is a point of professional pride.

Her interests include jigsaw puzzles, yard work and gardening, and helping her grown kids “launch” into the world.

Dr. Bishop is a native of Southern Illinois with over 30 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics & Gynecology. He is certified with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Bishop lives in Carbondale with his wife and together they’ve raised 6 children.

Dr. Gates received his medical training and OB-Gyn residency at Loma University School of Medicine and Medical Center in Southern California. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Gates is passionate about making every birth experience joyful and memorable. If you are the father, don’t be surprised if he puts gloves on you and puts you to work helping deliver! He has been helping families grow in Southern Illinois since 1995.

During his off hours, Dr. Gates may be found spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. His hobbies include planting trees and maintaining his yard, learning other languages and travel.

Dr. Boyd has over 16 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is a Southern Illinois native originally from McLeansboro, Illinois, and a graduate of McLeansboro Township High School.

Dr. Boyd is a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP), demonstrating her ability to provide optimal menopause-related healthcare in addition to her expertise in other areas of obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr. Olufeyisayo (Sayo) Taiwo, MD is an obstetrician-gynecologist who joined Heartland Women's Healthcare in 2020 and practices at the Mount Vernon, IL, location. Her services include pregnancy care, high-risk pregnancy care, infertility evaluation, testing, and treatment, genetic testing, gynecology, birth control, long-term birth control such as IUDs, contraception counseling, STD/STI testing and treatment, adolescent gynecology, pediatric gynecology, minimally invasive gynecological surgery (MIGS) and menopause care.

Dr. Rubenacker has over 10 years of experience and is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology. A Southern Illinois native, Dr. Rubenacker is deeply passionate about serving the community that raised her.

What led you to join this profession?
The versatility within the specialty. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor and always thought I would go into pediatrics. However as I progressed during my education, I began to fall in love with surgery. During my OB/GYN rotation in medical school, I quickly realized that this specialty not only had a surgical aspect but still allowed me to practice foundational/preventable medicine that I had been drawn to in pediatrics.

What do you enjoy most about your profession?
As an OB/GYN I love being able to make life-long relationships with patients and have the ability to support them through multiple stages of their life. We have the privilege to provide care for women for not only their reproductive health but also their general well-being and that is an honor to me.

Tell us a little about yourself.
My husband, Brad, and I just moved here from Kalamazoo, Michigan with our dogs (Louie and Clark). I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago. I completed my undergrad at SLU and am excited to be back in the area. We are outdoor enthusiasts; hiking, biking, camping, and kayaking. I also enjoy reading, photography, running with Clark, and am an avid sports fan.

Donna is a native of Southern Illinois and worked as a Labor & Delivery Nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital for over 14 years. She obtained her specialty nursing certification in inpatient obstetrical nursing from the National Certification Corporation.

Donna grew up in Washington County and was one of 7 girls in her family. When not at work, Donna loves to run and cycle. If she could eat one food for the rest of her life, it would be eggs. She owns several chickens and has become very creative with egg recipes.

Susan has over 30 years of experience in the Women’s Healthcare field including direct patient care and the clinical management of Ob-Gyn patients.

Anja Schifano, CNP, WHNP, PMH-C is a women’s health nurse practitioner at the Shiloh, IL, location. Her services include pregnancy care, infertility evaluation, testing, and treatment, gynecology, birth control, long-term birth control such as IUDs, contraception counseling, STD/STI testing and treatment, adolescent gynecology, pediatric gynecology, menopause care, pelvic floor therapy, lactation consulting, and perinatal mental health support. Anja has a certification in Perinatal Mental Health. 

In her free time, Anja enjoys cooking new recipes and considers that her hidden talent.

Ashley’s background is in Labor & Delivery at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. She is a Southern Illinois native, originally from Freeburg. She currently lives in Edwardsville with her husband and their two children.

In her free time, Ashley loves to travel with her family, remodel homes, and dance.

Bailey Notzke is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP). She has been a nurse since 2014. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Capella University. She has experience as a nurse in the following areas: medical/surgical, high-risk Labor and Delivery/Antepartum, and Transport Nurse.

She has worked in Women’s Health since 2015. This experience helped her to realize her passion for Women’s Health. She went back to school and earned her Master’s degree from University of Cincinnati, specializing in Women’s Health. As a board-certified WHNP, Bailey enjoys helping women achieve lifelong health. She believes in patient centered care and keeping her patients educated in the process.

When she’s not at work, Bailey loves to read, travel, and go to the movies. She also loves to spend time with her husband and her dog, an adorable Australian labradoodle named Sophie.

Jasmine received a Master of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain University and is a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has more than 10 years of nursing experience and a background in gynecologic/obstetric triage, Labor and delivery, and cardiovascular care. She has a strong passion for patient education and health literacy.

She currently lives in Edwardsville and enjoys the arts and outdoors, as well as being a houseplant hobbyist.

Marla was born and raised in Southern Illinois and has been practicing as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner since 2007. Additionally, her background includes over 21 years of labor and delivery nursing. Marla enjoys helping women in all stages of their life through preventative health care.

She lives in Waterloo with her two daughters. In her free time, she loves to travel with her friends and family. If she could eat one food for the rest of her life, it would be chicken wings!