Colleen M. Horan, MD

I pursued medicine as a career because I was drawn to the continuous learning and problem-solving of science, and the opportunity to use that problem-solving to help people. After 20 years of practice, the relationships I have with my patients remain the most rewarding part of my career.

As my career has progressed, I’ve become increasingly passionate about team-based care and shared decision-making. Health care has become more complex, and it’s more important than ever to have not just a doctor or provider, but a solid care team. 

I’m proud to have helped develop a collaborative team of obstetricians and certified nurse midwives for pregnancy-related care. At the center of the care team, of course, is the patient. Learning about each patient as an individual and understanding their goals and values allows me to apply my medical knowledge to their unique situation and help them understand what may be going on with their bodies. 

This is where shared decision-making becomes especially rewarding. Most situations in obstetrics and gynecology can be safely approached in more than one way. I enjoy combining my medical expertise with the patient’s goals and values to create a personalized care plan and adjust it as needed.

More recently, I’ve developed a growing interest in midlife and menopause care. In 2024, I received additional training to become a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. I enjoy helping empower women to take an active role in how they approach this stage of life.

This begins with understanding what they’re experiencing, their goals and their values, and then providing education about what’s normal versus worrisome, along with safe, evidence-based options for care.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, my daughter and our Labrador retriever. I’m on my own midlife fitness journey and have rediscovered my enjoyment of running, hiking and rowing, while also incorporating strength training. 

During COVID, I started gardening. I also love to travel — when my husband and I first got married, we took a break from our jobs to travel around the world, visiting 22 different countries.