Robert Halterman, D.O., knew from childhood that he wanted to be a doctor, and was working as an orderly in his hometown’s small hospital by the time he was a teenager.

Despite the size of the community, there were plenty of role models for his medical school goal in the Midwestern town where he grew up. One was Dr. Cook, the family practice physician who also delivered babies. Another was Dr. Riley, who had taken care of the Halterman family for years.

Still the idea of specializing in obstetrics and gynecology didn’t occur to Dr. Halterman until he was a medical intern. “Most of my elective rotations were in OB/GYN,” he recalls.

Dr. Halterman recently joined the FirstHealth Richmond Medical Group Women’s Center. He sees patients in offices in the FirstHealth Medical Office Park at 921 Long Drive, and delivers babies at FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.

“It’s a happy part of medicine,” he says about his obstetrics practice. “You’re dealing with the happiness of delivery. I also really enjoy the surgical aspect of my practice. I seem to excel at that, so I have the best of both worlds there.”

According to John Jackson, president of Richmond Memorial Hospital, Dr. Halterman is the first of several physicians who will eventually be associated with FirstHealth Richmond Medical Group Women’s Center. “Dr. Halterman knows and enjoys Richmond County, and will offer high-quality OB/GYN care to the women in our community,” Jackson says. “We welcome him back and look forward to a long and successful relationship with him and the Richmond Medical Group Women’s Center.”

Dr. Halterman was born in Norborne, Mo., and raised on a 1,200-acre grain farm on the Missouri River. He attended high school in Richmond, Mo., and then headed for the American Northwest and Tacoma, Wash., for his undergraduate degree from Pacific Lutheran University.

He received his medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences before completing his internship and residency at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo., and Doctors Hospital of Stark County, Massillon, Ohio/Ohio University.

He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, and has a special interest in high-risk obstetrics, advanced laparoscopic and reconstructive pelvic surgery, urogynecology and infertility.

Dr. Halterman, who previously practiced medicine in Richmond County before returning to his native Missouri for a period of time, is happy to be back in the area and with FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital.

“I like the community, and I’m an avid golfer,” he says. “There’s a lot of that around here.”

Robert L. Halterman, D.O., is now accepting OB/GYN patients at FirstHealth Richmond Medical Group Women’s Center. To make an appointment, call (910) 417-3477.

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital is a division of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.