Women's Wellness: Empowering Women through Better Health
- Thomas Smugala
- Oct 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 10
Nestled in the heart of rural Bloomsdale, Missouri, the Women's Wellness Services clinic, part of Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital (SGCMH) stands as a beacon of compassionate care. Women's Wellness Services is leading the charge locally in advanced breast and holistic women's health, addressing the unique needs of women from adolescence through menopause and beyond, fostering lifelong relationships built on a tradition of trust and personalized attention.
Young women receive guidance on reproductive health and preventive screenings to start building a medical history with their provider that includes breast health. Gynecology services encompass a wide range of care, from routine exams to complex procedures, ensuring timely interventions for conditions such as endometriosis or hormonal imbalances.
Dr. Angela Ware, breast surgeon, and Mary Crecelius, nurse practitioner...
Breast health is a flagship focus, with the Métis Breast Care Center employing cutting-edge digital mammography and diagnostic tools for early detection. Led by experts such as Dr. Angela Ware, breast surgeon, and nurse practitioner, Mary Crecelius, WHNP. APNG-BC, DipACLM, the team emphasizes proactive Wellness—encompassing nutrition counseling, fitness programs, and mental health resources—to empower women against chronic health risks.
Women's Wellness Services isn't just healthcare—it's a lifelong partnership...
Women's Wellness Services isn't just healthcare—it's a lifelong partnership for a thriving life. Recently, we met up with Angela Ware and Mary Crecelius for a hike at Hawn State Park to talk about all things health. You know, a healthy hike and a healthy chat.
Meet Angela Ware, DO
I am originally from the Denver area. I decided that I wanted to be a doctor at a pretty young age, around 7, when I cut my ankle riding my bike and needed stitches. I was enthralled watching the doctor fix me up! I attended college in Colorado and then moved to the St. Louis area for medical school and residency. I met my husband when I was a resident. We decided to settle down in Jefferson County. I have two amazing, crazy little boys who keep me on my toes and challenge me every day. I love playing with my boys, spending time outdoors, hiking, and taking long walks, as well as biking. I stay pretty active, and you will often find me walking outside on my lunch breaks. I love art, reading, and music. I enjoy creating things with my hands, painting, pottery, and crafts.
It's team work that makes Women's Wellness Services so great.
I am grateful and fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I do. I genuinely love caring for patients with breast cancer. Being able to walk with them through such a frightening and uncertain time is one of the greatest privileges of my work. I get to offer not only medical care, but also compassion, encouragement, and hope. What means the most to me is getting to know my patients and their families—their stories, their strength, and the small moments we share along the way.
I perform biopsies myself in the office using a mammogram and an ultrasound.
This clinic is so unique! We provide state-of-the-art care that feels like home. Métis Breast Care and Bloomsdale Women's Wellness collaborate as a team to deliver exceptional and comprehensive women's healthcare. We focus on prevention and early detection. We utilize the latest technology to diagnose and treat both benign and malignant breast diseases. We offer same-day results for screening and diagnostic imaging. I perform biopsies myself in the office using a mammogram and an ultrasound. When Ultrasound biopsies are needed, they are often performed on the same day as the initial consultation. We also follow patients at high risk for breast cancer and offer full panel genetic testing.
We focus on prevention and early detection.
Métis Breast Care and Bloomsdale Women's Wellness collaborate as a team...
We offer same-day results for screening and diagnostic imaging.
Just what the doctor ordered—stress-free time and exercise.
Hawn Park was absolutely beautiful! I'm eager to go on a long hike this fall, when the leaves are changing. What a lovely place to get immersed in nature and get some exercise! Regular exercise significantly improves women's health by regulating hormones, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, strengthening bones, and enhancing mental well-being and mood. It also decreases the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer! We recommend aiming for at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. Any exercise is great! Walking, stretching, yoga, running, move your body. Weight training is also essential, especially as we age. As women, we can start to lose muscle mass during perimenopause and menopause, making weight training even more critical for maintaining health and mobility.
What a lovely place to get immersed in nature and get some exercise!
Regular exercise significantly improves women's health by regulating hormones, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, strengthening bones, and enhancing mental well-being and mood.
Meet Mary Crecelius, WHNP, APNG-BC, DipACLM
I am a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, an Advanced Practice Nurse in Genetics and a Diplomat of the College of Lifestyle Medicine. I have been at SGCMH for almost 15 years. I am lucky to get to work with an amazing staff who share my goal of providing personalized care to women through all stages of their lives. Not surprisingly, I have met some of the most incredible women and feel privileged to get to be a part of their lives.
I have a passion for Lifestyle Medicine and incorporate talking about healthy eating, exercise and other strategies
I do well women exams, birth control including IUD’s, follow up of abnormal paps with colposcopy, evaluation of abnormal bleeding, perimenopause and menopause care, hormone replacement including bioidentical hormones, bone density and mammograms.
My patients really are my family.
I have a passion for Lifestyle Medicine and incorporate talking about healthy eating, exercise and other strategies to help women be the healthiest and most balanced version of themselves into visits. I also provide hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic testing. I look at family histories and personal histories and identify women who would benefit from a blood test to look at genes that help our body prevent cancer. If we find a gene that does not work before we find cancer we can create strategies for women to prevent cancer. My patients really are my family.
Outside of work I love to bike ride, kayak, hike, travel with my husband and spend time with our beautiful grandson.
I look at family histories and personal histories and identify women who would benefit from a blood test...
Get Out There! Create something. Learn something new. Take a hike. Start a business. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you.
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