About Yvonne S. Thornton, MD, MPH

I’m a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and board-certified specialist in obstetrics, gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine (high risk obstetrics) at New York Medical College, Valhalla, N.Y.  I have personally delivered 5,542 babies in my career and have overseen or supervised more than 12,000 deliveries.  I am a former Vice-Chair of a department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and am the mother of two children.

I’m probably best known as the author of two popular books. The first, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters, is my memoir about growing up in a poor family with parents who were determined to see all their daughters rise above their circumstances and become doctors. The second, Woman To Woman, is a health book that answers many questions women have about their bodies from someone who’s been on both sides of the stirrups.

During my 35-year career in medicine, I’ve conducted research at The Rockefeller University, the National Institutes of Health Pregnancy Research Branch, National Naval Medical Center, Naval Medical Research Institute, and New York Hospital- Cornell Medical Center. I’m the author or co-author of more than a dozen scientific papers. I also serve as a reviewer for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

I received my medical (M. D.) degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and my Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.