Bridging Science and Support: Meet Dr. Alecia Fields, Lake Cumberland’s Newest Advocate for Empowered Women’s Healthcare

By Michael R. Grigsby, Editor | Somerset-Pulaski Advocate

Dr. Alecia Fields, DO, FACOG, (C) 2026  Image Courtesy, Dr. Alecia Fields. All Rights Reserved.

Somerset, Kentucky (SPA)---I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lake Cumberland's new medical addition, Dr. Alecia Fields, a board-certified OB/GYN with Lake Cumberland Family Medical Center right here in Somerset, Kentucky. A Kentucky native with a passion for expanded reproductive healthcare access, health equity, and patient education, Dr. Fields brings a holistic, compassionate approach to every stage of care—from adolescence to pregnancy and beyond.

A Kentucky story

Dr. Fields’ connection to Kentucky is personal and deep-rooted. She has said that after training and working out of state, returning home was always the plan and that bringing what she learned back to Kentucky is both a professional responsibility and a chance to help the state grow. She also described Somerset as feeling like home, saying the community reminded her of family and the values she grew up with. Her perspective was shaped by family members who modeled hard work, resilience, and lifelong learning. She spoke about her grandparents’ humble beginnings, their determination to build a future, and the way that example left a lasting impression on her own path into medicine.

Dr. Fields was born in Georgetown, where her grandparents lived for most of my memory. She saw firsthand the impact of hard work and determination, witnessing what those values could build for a family, which left a deep impression on her. Though her grandparents lacked access to higher education, they worked tirelessly to build a life from the ground up. Her grandfather constructed their house with his own hands and raised a beautiful family alongside her grandmother. That resilience and perseverance struck her deeply, as did his lifelong pursuit of knowledge. Even without formal opportunities, he was driven to learn, brimming with pride whenever she brought her organic chemistry textbook over to show him. While he may not have had access to higher education himself, he forged the path for his grandchildren to pursue it. To her, that fierce commitment to family is a defining spirit of Kentucky, where roots, family, and community run deep.

Although she always imagined returning to Kentucky eventually, she had not expected to settle in a rural town. Yet when she arrived in Somerset four years ago, it felt like coming home—evoking the exact warmth and comfort of sitting at her "Nana's" and "Papa's" kitchen table, surrounded by family. The community embraced her completely, and now, her driving goal is to give back to Somerset the very foundation and sense of belonging her roots gave to her.

Care with connection

What stands out most in Dr. Fields’ practice is her emphasis on relationship-driven care. She has explained that rural healthcare works best when patients know and trust their providers, because that trust can reduce barriers to seeking care and make it easier to stay engaged in treatment. In her view, establishing those relationships is especially important in areas where travel, distance, and provider shortages can make care harder to access.

At Women’s Care of Lake Cumberland in Somerset, she provides obstetrical and gynecological care across the lifespan, including adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum care, and menopause. Her clinical interests include reproductive health, contraceptive counseling, postpartum care, and other women’s health concerns, reflecting a broad and practical approach to patient care.

When asked about her approach and how she applies it to her practice, she said, "Honestly, yes. I really feel like I can integrate this into my day-to-day practice, and I think my patients would respond really well to it. So much of my care already revolves around education and giving people clear options. I want my patients to feel engaged, make informed decisions, and really feel empowered to advocate for themselves in the healthcare system. A lot of that mindset actually stems from my background as a doula. That work really shaped how I view patient autonomy and support."

The formation of DoulaDoc

Dr. Fields founded DoulaDoc as a side endeavor to help bridge the gaps that the traditional healthcare system so often leaves behind. Operating within a system driven by strict time limits, she faces the reality of practicing in a rural area with a severe provider shortage. Her clinic days are frequently packed and double-booked, making it challenging to spend as much time as she would like conducting comprehensive check-ins or diving deep into health education and the pregnancy experience.

Creating DoulaDoc allowed her to prioritize the holistic care she believes every patient deserves—support that the broader system rarely makes space for. Holding dual perspectives as both a trained doula and an OB-GYN, she understands the vital role both skill sets play in the patient experience. Ultimately, she strives to balance the urgent need for accessible medical care in an underserved region with the social and emotional support that is so integral to reproductive health and pregnancy.

I asked Dr. Fields, "How has this dual role allowed you to better engage with your patients?" She explained, "I think patient education, informed consent, and advocacy are huge. I try to present patients with their options, ask open-ended questions, and then sit back and keep my mouth shut. It's easy to get in there and talk. It's harder to sit back and listen, and that's what patients deserve. I can give them my clinical expertise and everything I know as a physician, and then my training as a doula has really influenced my ability to sit there, keep my mouth shut, and let them talk, so I can listen to what they're saying and find a plan, a path, and a care model that works for them and their values. At the end of the day, everyone is unique and different. They have their own set of values, and I want to respect those within their healthcare."

When asked about birth advocacy, she believes a significant portion of the process relies on self-reflection. In her view, mainstream media often promotes an "us-versus-them" narrative—suggesting that providers will push unwanted interventions and that patients must constantly fight back. However, she feels this mindset misses crucial nuance.

Rather than preparing for conflict, she emphasizes that patients simply need to understand their own values and priorities. Because healthcare, pregnancy, and birth are inherently unpredictable, no one can foresee exactly how labor will unfold. What remains constant, however, is what matters most to the patient and their family. When those core values are clear, care can be tailored around them. She noted that entering the experience with the assumption that doctors are adversaries—without taking time to understand why a recommendation is made or why a patient might prefer an alternative—leads to people talking past one another. True collaboration on care can only happen when there is mutual understanding rather than opposition.

Why Dr. Fields Stands Out

Dr. Fields embodies the absolute best of modern women’s healthcare leadership: exceptionally skilled, deeply rooted in her community, and passionately dedicated to every patient who walks through her door. She pairs top-tier medical expertise with a warm, reassuring presence that immediately puts patients at ease, ensuring they feel truly seen, heard, and valued. Bringing this heartfelt mission home to Kentucky, Dr. Fields is making a profound impact in Somerset. Her dedication goes far beyond medicine—she inspires confidence, sparks meaningful connections, and empowers patients to feel informed, supported, and genuinely cared for through every stage of life.