Our Physicians

Dr. Jones is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. After earning his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, he completed his OB/GYN residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Since then, Dr. Jones has been dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care in private practice in Columbia, Missouri. Outside of his practice, Dr. Jones treasures time with his wife and two daughters.

Dr. Morse, a board-certified Ob-Gyn, has been a valued Women’s Health Associates member since 2003. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Missouri State Medical Association. A lifelong Mid-Missouri resident, Dr. Morse earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia, her medical degree at Saint Louis University, and completed her residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Morse has been married for over 30 years and is the proud mother of two daughters. She enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, golfing, and attending sporting events in her free time. She also volunteers at her church and in various community service projects each month.

Dr. Bernard has dedicated her career to building a private practice in mid-Missouri, where she has cultivated meaningful patient relationships and embraced strong connections within the community. She provides comprehensive OB/GYN care, specializing in prenatal care for higher-risk pregnancies, annual well-woman exams, and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries. Since welcoming twins in 2016, Dr. Bernard and her husband have embraced the joys of family life. She enjoys spending her free time reading on her screened-in porch, gardening, cooking, and taking family walks through the neighborhood. An active member of her local church, Dr. Bernard is involved in children’s and women’s ministries and feels privileged to call Columbia home, contributing to its vibrant community.

Dr. Akella is passionate about all aspects of obstetric and gynecologic care, especially the meaningful connections she builds with patients during life’s important milestones. In addition to delivering babies and performing gynecological surgery, she has special interests in adolescent gynecology, minority reproductive health, and gender-affirming care. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Akella joined our practice from the University of Iowa, where she earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees and completed her OB/GYN residency. Outside of work, Dr. Akella enjoys making music, exploring Columbia, learning new languages, experimenting with recipes alongside her husband, and cheering for the Mizzou Tigers!

Following medical school, Dr. Borgmeyer completed his training in OB/GYN at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. While always intending on returning to Columbia after his training, Dr. Borgmeyer decided to serve his country in the United States Air Force as an active-duty Obstetrician/Gynecologist following residency. As a Major, he served as interim Chief of the Medical Staff and was chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the second largest obstetrical service in the Air Force. While away from Missouri, his family continued to grow and Dr. Borgmeyer decided it was time to return home and be closer to his family. Dr. Borgmeyer met his wife of 25 years in high school. They married after both graduating from the University of Missouri. He and his wife now have two of their three children attending the same university and the youngest attending Rock Bridge High.

Dr. Stiefel, a board-certified Ob-Gyn with over 10 years of experience, joined Women’s Health Associates in 2021. Originally from Shelbyville, Missouri, she earned her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Columbia, followed by her medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences. She completed her OB/GYN residency at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis and previously practiced in Southwest Missouri. Dr. Stiefel and her husband have one daughter. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new travel destinations, experimenting with new recipes, and honing her gardening skills.

Dr. Nicholas brings a unique background to her practice, with 27 years of service in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2021 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Nicholas was born in Mexico and has deep ties to Missouri, where she earned both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She completed her residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu and later served as Department Chair at various Army Community Hospitals. After more than 14 years in the Army medical corps and several relocations, Dr. Nicholas and her family returned to Missouri to be closer to loved ones. Married for over 21 years, she and her husband have two sons. Passionate about all things MIZZOU and her favorite holiday, Day of the Dead, she enjoys cooking, baking, skiing, hiking, and exploring local festivals. Dr. Nicholas’s professional interests include complex obstetrics and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, including laparoscopy and da Vinci robotic surgery.

A board-certified Ob-Gyn, Dr. Smith earned her medical degree and completed her residency at the University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine. She is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and has dedicated her career to private practice, returning to Columbia to be near family and friends. Dr. Smith and her husband have three daughters. She loves family-centered activities and is an enthusiastic supporter of all things Mizzou!

Since joining Women’s Health Associates in 1995, Dr. Puckett has dedicated over 30 years to practicing obstetrics and gynecology. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the Missouri State Medical Association. Dr. Puckett has a keen interest in all aspects of OB/GYN, with specific expertise in complicated obstetric cases, minimally invasive surgery, and the management of perimenopausal and menopausal health. Outside of her professional life, Dr. Puckett has been married for 34 years and is a mother of two. She maintains an active lifestyle, enjoying weight training, skiing, biking, and pickleball. Traveling with her family is another of her cherished activities.

Dr. Wilson specializes in general obstetrics, taking particular joy in delivering babies. She continually advances her knowledge of hormonal balance by attending conferences through The Institute of Functional Medicine and the American Association of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dedicated to empowering her patients through education rather than prescriptions alone, Dr. Wilson spends ample time providing personalized health resources. She has recently been invited to join the Missouri Nutrition Alliance. Dr. Wilson and her husband, Bruce, a retired social studies teacher and now a rancher, have two adult sons living in New York City and Chicago. Dr. Wilson enjoys reading, practicing yoga and Pure Barre, gardening, and exploring new travel and culinary experiences. She also attends the True False Film Festival and frequents Ragtag Cinema.

Dr. Darah Berck, a board-certified Ob-Gyn, joined Women’s Health Associates in July 2020. A Centralia native, she completed both her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Missouri-Columbia and her residency training at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Berck is grateful for the opportunity to practice locally, serving the community she calls home. Married for 15 years, Dr. Berck and her husband are the proud parents of four young boys. Now residing in Hallsville, they enjoy the charm of small-town life. In her free time, Dr. Berck loves relaxing with a good book and experimenting with new baking recipes.