By Gil Roth, PhD. Becoming a parent reshapes life in ways that are both profound and disorienting. At AP, we understand this transition as a long arc, not a single moment. Our commitment remains constant: whole person, whole family care—physical and mental—across every stage of life. Small Anchors in a Big Transition. Parenthood brings emotions that often go unspoken. Many feel pressure to stay grateful or “bounce back,” even when the internal landscape is messy or heavy. Naming those...

By Dr. Shefaali Sharma OB/GYN, Physician Partner Associated Physicians, LLP Madison, WI "I still remember my first delivery. Hand-over-hand with the attending physician in the early morning hours, we guided a beautiful baby into the world and placed them gingerly on their mother’s chest as they wailed, kicking their tiny feet. I was smitten. At that moment, I knew that this was what I was meant to do. And there was no place I’d rather be at 2 AM if I couldn’t be in my own bed! The birthing...

By Dr. Shefaali Sharma OB/GYN, Physician Partner Associated Physicians, LLP Madison, WI "I was 18 when they told me having a baby, becoming pregnant, having the family I dreamed of, may not be a guarantee. Stage 4 endometriosis had ravaged my pelvis and the future was unknown. The weight of this was crushing. Fast forward a few years later, a third year medical student and newly married, ready to start the journey to parenthood. We remained optimistic, but month after month, our hearts broke...