Dr. Lee Rippy, MD

Board-Certified: American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Residency: Emory University Medical Center
MD: Duke University
BS: University of North Carolina
Member: American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Association, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
Medical Director for the Refuge Center.

Dr. Rippy is a board certified obstetrician and gynecologist who has been practicing in the Conyers area for the past 10 years. He is a native of Anderson, South Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and received his M.D. degree from Duke University. He completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University Medical center in 1991.

While in college, Dr. Rippy worked with psychiatric and mentally disadvantaged patients at the John Umstead Psychiatric Hospital in Butner, North Carolina. In medical school he trained at Duke University Medical Center, Durham County Medical Center, and the Durham Veterans Administration Hospital. He also rendered medical care as a volunteer at various public health clinics in Durham County.

While at Emory University, he managed patient services at Emory University Medical Center, Crawford Long Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital. He has most recently served as an attending physician at Georgia Baptist Medical Center.

Dr. Rippy's research interests have been numerous. He has performed studies on thyroid cancer at the University of North Carolina. While at Duke University, he was was a part of a team that developed a contraceptive vaccine and performed studies in infertility. While at Emory University, he conducted extensive studies on the effects of drug use during pregnancy at Grady Memorial Hospital.

"Being a doctor means wearing many different hats. One of the areas that has been of particular interest to me is research. Over the years, I have been involved in numerous studies. It's rewarding to think that perhaps the research I have conducted may one day help improve women's healthcare."

Karen M. Morin, RN, CNM, RDMS

Karen Morin is a certified Nurse-Midwife practicing with Dr. Rippy. Her expertise is in obstetrics and she also manages the wellness care of gynecology patients.

Karen received her nursing degree from Baylor College, Knoxville Tennessee in 1982. Karen's decision to further her education into the field of midwifery was the birth of her niece in 1980. This event was so stimulating; she realized her destiny was to care for women during the childbirth process.

She attended Baylor College of medicine and received her certification in nurse midwifery in 1987. She began her career as a certified nurse midwife after entering a private practice with five physicians in Knoxville.

In 1995, Karen moved to Atlanta to join a high-risk obstetric practice at Northside Hospital that included other midwives. During this time, she furthered her education and became a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer in Ob/Gyn and continues to perform ultrasounds today.

Karen was instrumental in opening a large ob/gyn practice at Gwinnett Hospital in Lawrenceville, GA. The practice included five physicians and seven midwives. It was during this time she learned "medical Spanish" to aid in care of multicultural women.