Coco Rudy, CNM

“My role is to be the expert in my field with the patient being the expert in themselves, their bodies and their needs,” says Coco Rudy, CNM. “I respect that and try to form a partnership with folks to make decisions to optimize their health. I provide evidence-based information in an unbiased way. I strive to ensure people feel heard and that they are being treated with respect and dignity. I help make experiences that can feel vulnerable and scary feel safe and inviting; I want these experiences to be good, positive and empowering.”

Coco cares for women throughout their lifetime and enjoys establishing relationships with people over this timeframe.

“I enjoy working with adolescents who may be having their first contact with the world of gynecology. A person’s first pap smear, for example, can be a scary thing – but it doesn’t have to be. Using trauma informed care, I work to support people through these experiences so that they feel safe during these vulnerable moments.

“I really love working with people around family planning and fertility. Family planning is a huge part of people’s reproductive lives and is an area I am particularly passionate about.

“I also love birth and view pregnancy and childbirth as normal processes. I am honored to be a part of these incredible moments.
“I enjoy working with women during the menopausal transition and I am pursuing additional training to expand my knowledge around helping folks during this time and beyond.”

Coco is also very passionate about mental health and has completed additional training on prescribing for and managing psychiatric illness in reproductive-age women.

“There is sometimes hesitancy around treating depression and anxiety during pregnancy and breastfeeding as well as misinformation about the safety of commonly used antidepressants and antianxiety medications during these times,” she shares. “It is very important to me to provide evidence-based information about those medications and make sure we are adequately addressing mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period. And our social workers are incredible – I am grateful for our team approach to caring for our patients.”

Coco lives in Southeast Portland with her partner. Together, they enjoy being outside, hiking and backpacking. Dancing is a hobby of Coco’s – she especially loves hip hop and is learning Salsa. Cooking, Portland’s food scene, and practicing her gardening skills are also activities Coco enjoys. She speaks basic, conversational Spanish.