Hi there. My name is Ronni. I am a gynecologist, wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, and boss-lady here in Norman, Oklahoma. I also coach my daughter’s first grade basketball team (Go Pink Tigers!).
I was born and raised in Lawton and moved to Norman for college. I immediately fell in love with the city and community. I also met the love of my life… who happens to be from Norman. So that sealed the deal on where I wanted to get rooted. I attended the University of Oklahoma for college, medical school, and residency. For the past 6 years, I practiced obstetrics and had the privilege of delivering 999 babies during my career. Yes, 999. Isn’t that a silly number to end on? I still can’t get over it. At the end of 2024, I retired from OB and dove headfirst into gynecology, surgery, menopause, and obesity medicine. I have been married to my husband for 15 years. I have two beautiful children and a 13-year-old dog named Cooper Pickles.
Today is National Women Physicians Day. This day honors the birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. As I was reading about her and her contribution to both society and women physicians, I was struck by her following quotes:
“I do not wish to give (women) a first place, still less a second one – but the complete freedom to take their true place, whatever it may be.”
“None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.”
2023-2024 were hard years. Myself and those closest to me experienced many hardships. We lost loved ones and had to say goodbyes way too soon. It left me raw and questioning my life choices and what my “true place” was in this life. In the midst of this, I made choices. Choices regarding my patients, my colleagues, and my practice. Choices that subjected me to vilification. At first, it hurt. But now I am so incredibly thankful because as Dr. Blackwell said “None of us can know what we are capable of until we are tested.” During my “vilification,” one of my favorite things that I heard said about me is that “She’s hard to work with.” I laugh now because it’s true. I can be hard to work with. Why? Because I demand patient safety. I demand evidence-based medicine and standards of care. I demand equality in medicine. I demand individualized care. I demand affordable care. I struggle with rules, regulations, policies, and protocols because the art of medicine cannot always be contained in an algorithm or protocol. And while I absolutely agree that these things are necessary, I can admit that my stubbornness struggles with them and hence the whole “hard to work with” thing.
Why am I telling you all this? Because these things shape who I am and the decisions I have made. Metaphorically, my skin has gotten thicker this past year. I have discovered what I am willing to tolerate and what my standards are. I have learned my value and what I bring to the table. I have sorted my priorities and have determined what is worth my time. I have determined who has a seat at my table and who will never sit at my table ever again. And I am OK with people missing out on me. And I am by no means perfect. I apologize almost daily for things that I have said or done. But the people that matter understand my heart and walk with me in my growth.
So that leads us to today. I own my own practice and am a solo practitioner. I worked my booty off this past year to get certified as a menopause specialist, an obesity medicine specialist, and a specialty surgeon. I am tired of patients receiving uneducated care from these wellness spas and hormone clinics. I am tired of the lack of education in menopause medicine and weight loss medicine. I am tired of patients feeling unheard and feeling like they are just a number to be shuffled through in a busy clinic day. The central Oklahoma community deserves better, and I want to provide this care. BUT, I want to provide it on my own terms because I also want to be able to be “wife, mom, daughter, sister, and friend” to my own personal circle. Because my circle needs me and I need me (if that makes sense from a self-care and health standpoint). So allow me to re-introduce myself: My name is Ronni E. Farris, MD, FACOG, MSCP, DABOM, and I am so excited about what 2025 will bring!
