Naval Hospital (NH) Jacksonville is a sought-after duty station where many begin and hope to continue their careers. Naval Branch Health Clinic Mayport’s newest OB-GYN provider carries on that legacy in many ways.
Xiomara Lemmey began her journey as a hospital corpsman at NH Jacksonville in 1988. After a few more duty stations, she was selected for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MCEP) and attended nursing school at the University of North Florida.
“I was born and raised in Queens, New York, but I’ve called Jacksonville my home for 30 years,” Lemmey said. “It’s where I met my husband and we raised our family, but I’m still a die-hard Yankees fan!”
Lemmey was then commissioned to the Navy Nurse Corps, serving at NH Jacksonville and then transitioned to being a civil service nurse.
“I decided to pursue an additional degree as a nurse practitioner with the University of Cincinnati,” Lemmey said.
With her additional degree, she continued her career in infertility and high-risk obstetrics with University of Florida (UF) Health, developing extensive experience caring for women throughout their lifespan.
“My career has remained centered around one goal: providing women with compassionate, evidence-based care while ensuring they feel heard, respected and involved in their healthcare decisions,” expressed Lemmey.
According to Lemmey her patients should expect a provider who is approachable, compassionate and committed to listening. She believes every patient deserves to feel comfortable asking questions and actively participating in decisions about their health and says her goal is to create a welcoming environment where patients feel supported and confident in their care.
“I’m passionate about women's health,and empowering women tobe in control of theiroverall health. One of the most rewarding aspects of women's health is the opportunity to build relationships with patients and support them through different stages of their lives,” she said. “It is incredibly important to ensure that patients trust me with their care.I understand that women’s health can involve very personal and sometimes difficult conversations, and I want every patient to feel comfortable, heard, respected, and supported.”
For patients at Mayport, Lemmey’s position is a well-anticipated welcome as the staffing has been scarce for an extended period. Leadership are pleased to regain these patients at the clinic.
“Restoring women’s health services at Naval Station Mayport is an important step in meeting the readiness and healthcare needs of our active-duty service members and their families. Following the temporary pause caused by staffing shortages, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Mayport has taken deliberate steps to resume care safely and responsibly,” said NMRTU Mayport Officer in Charge Cmdr. Nick Walker. “Our team has worked extremely hard to restore this important specialty-care service and we are excited to once again be able to provide women’s health care within our facility. Our patients can be confident that these services will be delivered with patient safety at the forefront and in accordance with the highest standards of quality. We remain committed to providing timely, compassionate, and dependable care to the Mayport community.”
When starting a new position, it can be nerve-racking but for Lemmey, it’s a homecoming.
“Returning to Mayport is an exciting opportunity, it’s a full circle moment to be able to serve the community that I had been part of for so long.I understand the importance of accessible, high-quality women’s health care and the role that preventive care plays in the health and readiness of our military families,” she said.
Appointments can be made for the Mayport Branch OB-GYN by calling 904-270-4209.