Press release from Ozarks Healthcare:
WEST PLAINS, MO – As Ozarks Healthcare continues to advance women’s healthcare across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas, the organization is proud to welcome board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) Roxanna Torres, MD, FACOG, to its growing Women’s Health team.
Torres is the eighth provider to join the service line, reinforcing Ozarks Healthcare’s commitment to expanding access to expert, compassionate care for women at every stage of life. She will see patients at the recently relocated Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Health Clinic, located at 1115 Alaska Avenue in West Plains.
Torres brings more than 20 years of experience providing compassionate, patient-centered care. She offers comprehensive women’s healthcare, including routine and high-risk obstetric care, preventive gynecology, menopause and perimenopause management, adolescent gynecology, and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, including robotic-assisted procedures.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Torres earned both her bachelor’s degree and medical degree from Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences before completing her obstetrics and gynecology residency at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ponce. After residency, she and her husband, fellow Ozarks Healthcare OB/GYN Dr. Jose Crespo, relocated to Ohio, where they practiced before making the move to Missouri.
“We’ve always wanted to work together because having two OB/GYNs in one family can be very challenging,” Torres said. “When my husband joined Ozarks Healthcare, he immediately felt at home. He spoke so highly of the organization and the people here, and after seeing how much he loved it, I knew this was where I wanted to be too.”
Throughout her career, Torres has served in community hospitals and physician practices, caring for women through every stage of life while also holding leadership positions, including serving as chair of an OB/GYN department and on a hospital medical executive committee.
She says her passion for obstetrics and gynecology began early because the specialty combines two things she loves most: building lifelong relationships with patients and caring for them through both medical and surgical needs.
“I’ve always loved the surgical side of medicine, but OB/GYN is so much more than that,” Torres said. “You have the privilege of caring for women through many different stages of life and developing relationships that can last for years. You care for the whole woman, and that connection is what makes this specialty so rewarding.”
While Torres provides care for women of all ages, she has a particular interest in caring for women during perimenopause and menopause, helping them navigate a stage of life that is often overlooked.
“I really identify with women during this phase of life because I’m experiencing it myself,” she said. “I want my patients to know they don’t have to simply accept symptoms as a normal part of aging. There are treatments available, and my goal is to help women feel heard, understood, and supported while providing the medical and surgical care they need.”
She also enjoys caring for adolescents, helping young women feel comfortable discussing sensitive health concerns and establishing healthy habits early in life.
Torres encourages women to prioritize preventive care throughout every stage of life – not just during their childbearing years.
“Women’s healthcare doesn’t end after having children,” she said. “In many ways, that’s when it becomes even more important. Routine visits allow us to discuss your personal and family history, identify potential health risks early, and focus on prevention so you can stay healthy for years to come.”
Having spent much of her career practicing in rural communities, Torres looks forward to building lasting relationships with patients throughout the Ozarks.
“I’ve always enjoyed practicing in rural healthcare because it’s so family-oriented,” she said. “You really get to know your patients and their families. That trust helps people feel comfortable coming to the doctor, and together we can identify health concerns early and help prevent bigger problems down the road.”
Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO Terence Farrell said Torres’ arrival further strengthens the organization’s commitment to providing exceptional care for women close to home.
“Our goal is to ensure women throughout our region have access to high-quality healthcare services tailored to their unique needs,” Farrell said. “The addition of Dr. Torres, along with our new Women’s Health location, allows us to continue providing the compassionate, patient-centered care our community expects from Ozarks Healthcare.”
The newly relocated Women’s Health Clinic at 1115 Alaska Avenue offers a full spectrum of services, including well-woman exams, obstetrical care and delivery, gynecologic surgery, infertility evaluations, menopause treatment, incontinence treatment, pelvic relaxation treatment, ultrasound services, and more.
In addition to outpatient services, Ozarks Healthcare is home to the state-of-the-art Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Center, featuring modern labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum suites, gynecologic surgery facilities, a dedicated lactation suite, and a collaborative Certified Nurse Midwifery Program designed to provide personalized care throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Torres is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG), certified in robotic surgery, and fluent in both English and Spanish.
Outside of caring for patients, Torres enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children, traveling, and cooking.
To schedule an appointment with Torres or another Women’s Health provider, call Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Health at 417-256-1838. For more information, visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com.
