Dr Jenny Dowd is a respected Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Melbourne. She has experience in all areas of maternity care and prides herself in sharing the benefit of her knowledge with her patients and their families. Jenny enjoys empowering women to be fully informed about all aspects of their care so that they can make their own decisions; but she’s always happy to recommend and guide as necessary. While Jenny is always open to considering new trends, her scientific bent means she prefers to evaluate new ideas before advocating sudden change.

Jenny began her studies in Melbourne as an altruistic medical student hoping to make a positive difference. During her final years of study, she undertook electives in surgery in the UK and at the Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin. It was there that she realised her future lay in obstetrics.

Over the last 30 years, Jenny has been a student politician, a women’s health activist and an academic at Melbourne University. She has undertaken research into perinatal infections and preterm labour for her B Med Sci and MD theses. Jenny was the clinical director of the Emergency Department at the Royal Women’s Hospital for ten years, and has encouraged and mentored many younger colleagues as a RANZCOG examiner and training supervisor. In 2018, Jenny was elected by her peers to be one of the four Victorian representatives on the RANZCOG Federal Council.

Jenny provides complete obstetric services for both low- and high-risk pregnancies. She recommends pre-pregnancy planning so that women and their partners are in the best physical condition to begin their journey. Jenny ensures that antenatal care is individualised, birth preferences are explored and options such as vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), elective caesarean, vaginal twin births and care of women with recurrent miscarriage and cervical incompetence are routine.  

Jenny is a founding member of Women’s Obstetric & Gynaecology Specialists (www.womensogs.com.au), the pioneer of private group practice in Melbourne. WOGS is the only group private practice located at Frances Perry House. Together, the five female specialists provide the highest level of obstetric and gynaecological care 24 hours a day. Patients are delivered exclusively at Frances Perry House which means all patients have access to the full range of specialist and emergency services should the need arise.

Along the way, Jenny has also been a consumer of obstetric services herself, having had two (now adult) sons. Outside her practice, she enjoys reading, writing and escaping Melbourne.