Obstetrics is multi-generational for local family

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Sometimes careers run in families.

We occasionally hear of a second or third generation police officer, business owner or teacher.

In this case, one local father and daughter are the fourth and fifth generation in their field of medicine, and this week, one of them is hanging up their hat.

For 37 years, Dr. John Shie has been helping bring new life into the world.

“I’m going to miss my patients and miss the excitement of delivering babies,” said Dr. Shie, Senior Partner at Far Hills OBGYN.

As Dr. Shie puts it, delivering babies is kind of a family thing.

“I consider myself part of the legacy because my father was an OBGYN, my brother, my great grandfather was a family doctor in horse and buggy days” Dr. Shie said. “And my grandfather was a family doctor.”

If you’re counting, that’s four generations. And now, his two daughters are OBGYNs also.

Making it five generations who have had a hand in delivering hundreds–if not thousands–of babies.

“It means a lot to the patients,” said Miranda Greene, Dr. Shie’s registered medical assistant for nearly 15 years. “Like we get patients that come in here all the time that he delivered them when they were babies.”

Dr. Shie says he always wanted to be a doctor.

“I just felt like that was what I was cut out to be,” Dr. Shie said.

Asked what it’s like to have his dad watch him as he followed in his footsteps, Dr. Shie reminisced further.

“Well, he was very proud,” Dr. Shie said. “And we, in fact, had him come visit early on. He came and scrubbed in surgery with me.”

These days, it’s Dr. Shie scrubbing in with his daughter, Dr. Jennifer Mittlestead. She’s also a partner at his practice, Far Hills OBGYN.

Like her dad, she knew she wanted to be a doctor from a young age, but not necessarily an obstetrician.

“Obstetrics was always something I said, probably not for me, that’s what Dad does,” Dr. Mittlestead said. “Then I did it and I knew that was it.”

Eight years in, she’s never regretted following in her dad’s footsteps.

“He’s always been really well respected,” Dr. Mittlestead said. “And so, when people find out that I’m his daughter, I already have gained some sort of respect.”

So, will there be a sixth generation?

“Thinking about my children, I’m like, I don’t want to put pressure on them,” Dr. Mittlestead said. “But at the same time, that’d be really cool.”

While we wait to see what they do, there’s still a chance you might see Dr. Shie around the hospital.

“I still want to continue to work a shift or two at the hospital,” Dr. Shie said. “It’s the most fun thing to do, is to deliver children and help those moms.”

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