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Mainline Health Systems is welcoming a new women’s health provider to its Monticello clinic, and for Dr. Jasmine McKissick, the move represents both a professional milestone and a personal homecoming.
McKissick, a native of Wheatley, recently joined Mainline as an OB/GYN with a background that blends obstetrics, gynecology, and family medicine — a combination she says is especially meaningful in a rural setting like Southeast Arkansas.
“I always knew I wanted to come back to Arkansas,” McKissick said. “When I came to visit Monticello, it felt very similar to how I grew up. Everybody was welcoming. It felt like a good fit.”
McKissick earned her undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before attending medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She later completed her residency training in family medicine in Texas, followed by fellowship training focused on obstetrics in Memphis — giving her broad experience caring for patients at every stage of life.
That family-medicine foundation, she said, shapes the way she approaches women’s health.
“I was trained in family medicine, so I’ve always looked at the whole person,” McKissick said. “I see men, women, and children, and I think that perspective translates really well into OB care.”
At Mainline’s Monticello clinic, McKissick will provide prenatal care, deliver babies, perform annual gynecological exams, and offer routine women’s health services such as breast exams and preventive screenings. She is not a surgical gynecologist, but she does perform deliveries and certain hospital-based procedures as part of her practice.
One of McKissick’s priorities—both professionally and personally—is preventive care.
“Preventive screening is important for everyone — women, men, and children,” she said. “A lot of people come in when they’re already sick, and we can treat that. But when you come in early, it’s easier to prevent problems, or catch something before it becomes more serious.”
That philosophy extends to maternal health, an area of particular concern in rural and underserved communities.
“The importance of early prenatal care and continuity of care can’t be overstated,” McKissick said. “When patients come in early and establish care, they’re able to get information sooner, connect with resources, and build a relationship with their provider.”
She added that consistent care allows providers to better monitor both mother and baby throughout pregnancy, address complications early, and continue that support after delivery.
“It’s about knowing your patient — being there through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care — and making sure mom and baby are doing well,” she said.
McKissick’s decision to practice in Monticello was influenced not only by the medical need, but by the sense of community she experienced during her visit.
“This region reminded me of home,” she said. “I really value relationships, and that’s something that’s strong in small towns.”
As she settles into Monticello, McKissick says her hope is simple: that patients feel supported, heard, and empowered in their health care decisions.
“I really appreciate being able to take care of people,” she said. “And I hope everyone has a good relationship with their doctor — even if it’s not me. That relationship is important for having a good life, for yourself and your family.”
McKissick is currently seeing patients at Mainline Health Systems in Monticello.
