Wayne A. Cohen, MD, FACOG
Dr. Cohen has been providing excellent obstetrics and gynecology services to his patients in Sarasota since 1996. He is a board-certified Gynecologist and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is currently the Medical Director for the Venice and Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Centers, which are non-profit pregnancy counseling services, assisting pregnant women in need or crisis. Dr. Cohen has been married for 28 years and has 2 grown children. He enjoys an active dedication to his church and faith-based activities.
Education
- Harlem Hospital, Affiliate of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital – OB/GYN Residency
- University of West Indies, Jamaica – Medical School
Specialized Training
- 3D High-Definition Surgery
- da Vinci Robotic Surgery
- Essure Tubal Occlusion
- MyoSure Hysteroscopy
- Novasure Endometrial Ablation
Board Certified: Board-Certified OB/GYN
Medical Societies
- Director, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center
- Fellow, American College of OB/GYN
- Member, Sarasota County Medical Society
Joel Hallam, DO
Board Certified OB/GYN
Lyvie-Sara Sylvestre, MD
Dr. Sylvestre is originally from Haiti but has claimed Florida as her home since moving to United States as a teenager. She is a life-long learner who practices evidence-based medicine that is patient-centered. Dr. Sylvestre is known to be charismatic by her peers and her patients. Her educational background and her hobbies make her a true renaissance woman. She enjoys traveling, learning different languages and cultures, playing multiple musical instruments and sports, web designing, community service and of course spending time with her family.
Education
- University of Florida – BS Interdisciplinary Studies with Specialization in Integrative Biology
- The Florida State University College of Medicine – MS in Biomedical Sciences and MD degrees
- Bayfront Health St Petersburg, FL – OB/GYN Post Graduate Residency
Special Interests
- High Risk Obstetrics
- Benign Gynecology
- Minimal Invasive Gynecological Surgery – Laparoscopy and Robotic
- Office Procedures
- Preventive Medicine
Medical Societies
- American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS)
Melisha Baldwin, MD, FACOG
Board Certified OB/GYN
Paulina Lamb, ARNP
Paulina is a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Women's Health and has been practicing as of 2007. Since the age of 9, Paulina has called Sarasota her home. She lives here with her husband of 4 years and their daughter.
Education
- University of Florida – Undergraduate
- University of Miami - Bachelors of Science in Nursing
- University of Miami – Masters of Science in Nursing
Valerie Smith, APRN
Christi James, CNM, APRN
Christi James has been proudly serving women as a Certified Nurse Midwife at Sarasota OB/GYN and Associates since 2022. With a passion for holistic and compassionate care, Christi specializes in prenatal and postpartum services, as well as supporting women through all stages of their obstetrical and gynecological health.
She began her midwifery career in 2019, building on a strong foundation in nursing that included roles in medical-surgical, postpartum, newborn nursery, and labor and delivery care.
Education
- Frontier Nursing University – Master of Science in Nursing
- University of Central Florida – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Valencia State College – Associate’s Degree in Nursing
Amy White, WHNP
Amy White is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner who is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care to women at every stage of life. Born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, Amy has dedicated the past 12 years to working in Women's health while earning her nursing and advanced practice degrees. Her experience has strengthened her commitment to educating and empowering women to take an active role in their health and well-being.
Outside of her work, Amy enjoys traveling with her husband and their two children and spending weekends shelling along Florida's beautiful beaches—something that keeps her connected to the place she has always called home.
Kara Grangaard, PA
Kara Grangaard, PA-C joined Sarasota OBGYN Associates in 2026 and brings over a decade of specialized experience in urogynecology and women’s health. She is deeply committed to helping women feel safe, respected, and well-informed throughout every stage of their care.
Kara specializes in female urologic and pelvic floor disorders, including pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, and pelvic pain. Kara brings prior experience as an urogynecology surgical assistant into a comprehensive understanding of both non-surgical and surgical treatment options. She is passionate about supporting patients through the full cycle of care, ensuring they feel confident and supported before, during, and after treatment.
In addition to her urogynecology expertise, Kara provides comprehensive general gynecologic care. She sees patients for annual well-woman exams, gynecologic concerns, menstrual cycle management, and hormone replacement therapy.
Lindsay Carrasquillo, CMN
Lindsay is a Certified Nurse Midwife, proudly graduating from Frontier Nursing University. She is dedicated to providing kind, compassionate, and evidence-based care to women throughout all stages of life, with a special focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.
Her passion as a midwife is to support women in having safe, empowering, and fulfilling birth experiences. She believes in building trusting relationships with her patients, listening to their goals, and partnering with them to create individualized care plans that honor their values and preferences.
Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with her husband and our two young children. As a family, they love traveling and taking long weekend trips to explore the many beautiful sites and adventures Florida has to offer.
