Meet Dr. Madeline Kaye, M.D.

Experience

Dr. Madeline Kaye has always loved working with her hands.

Before getting her medical degree, she completed a yearlong certificate program in Professional Pastry Arts at the New England Culinary Institute, with a focus on cake decorating. “These days, I mostly make my kids’ birthday cakes, but I still take great pleasure in this art form,” Dr. Kaye shares. “I get to practice my dexterity and patience in solving detailed visual and structural problems—skills that bear a marked resemblance to those I also use while performing surgery.”

As an OB/GYN, Dr. Kaye has a knack for intricate and complex procedures and enjoys actively managing this aspect of her patients’ physical health. But she’s also drawn to supporting their psychological journey—a time she recognizes can be immensely fulfilling while also vulnerable and difficult to navigate.

Her desire to work with patients during this emotionally layered time stems from her family history—her grandfather was a practicing OB/GYN for over 50 years. “Whenever we went to visit him, we would run into people in town who would remark how wonderful he was and tell stories about how he had helped their family through good times and bad,” Dr. Kaye remembers.

As she developed her practice, she found that helping patients build their families brought together her many interests and passions. “This work involves problem-solving, working with my hands, and developing intimate relationships. It is so special and rewarding to help my patients through their fertility journeys.”

As a former high school Mathlete and self-declared nerd, Dr. Kaye also shares that she’s always loved solving problems: When her middle school math teacher would hand out logic puzzles for extra credit, she completed them for pleasure—not the grade. Methodically thinking through complex problems to come up with a solution brings her a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

As Dr. B’s advisor on sexual and reproductive health care, these skills help our clinical team develop health assessments that offer patients effective and efficient care. And as you’ll read below, Dr. Kaye continually guides our management teams through a shifting reproductive rights landscape so that all Dr. B patients consistently feel protected, safe, and understood.

CURRENT MOTIVATION

“It's a privilege to work with patients and help them through what can be a very difficult time in their lives—to provide expertise and experience to help them through their journey. That motivates me to come to work every day.

“I have long been an advocate for women’s health. My mom loves to tell the story that when I was three years old, I refused to get into the tub during bath time and yelled, ‘I don’t want to take a bath—my body, my choice!’

“In all seriousness, though, being in Texas definitely adds a layer of stress for many of my patients. It's difficult to navigate the situation here, as it has started to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and the way we're able to practice medicine. We have to spend more time talking patients through a lot of what-if situations. One newer thing I've been working on is getting more involved with advocacy and policy-making because I need to help stand up for my patients and all women in Texas.”

WORDS OF WISDOM

“Oftentimes, my patients are worried that they have done something or not done something that has caused a bad outcome. It is my job to work with you to help identify any barriers to your health goals and determine if any changes could help. But most of the time, you’re already doing everything right—and these things are out of our control. Probably one of the best things you can do for your health is to take time for yourself, lower your stress levels, and stop blaming yourself.

“Also, take a proactive role in your health. Don’t wait to talk to your doctor until you’ve suffered through symptoms for years. Do what you can to prevent problems. But if they arise, don’t ignore them.”

HEALTH IS A JOURNEY

“I recently had my second baby, so I’ve been working a lot on adjusting both physically and emotionally. Having a baby is an amazing, wonderful thing, and it’s also very difficult. I’m trying to rebuild my strength, maintain my supply of breastmilk, bond with my baby, encourage a relationship between my two kids and get a reasonable amount of sleep! Doing all this and adjusting to new family dynamics while working within a system that is not conducive to new moms can sometimes feel overwhelming. I try to focus on the small victories, savor the sweet moments, and maintain the big picture.”

GIVING CARE = GIVING SELF-CARE

“It’s always easier to preach self-care than to do it. The best thing I do for myself is try to get outside and go for a walk almost every day. It gets me moving, gives me a little exercise, clears my head, and helps me get some vitamin D. Sunlight, especially in the morning, helps with circadian rhythm, so it helps my sleep, too. My Aussie Doodle enjoys it, and I often bring my kids, so I get to spend time with them, too. It has so many physical and psychological benefits and is something I often recommend to my patients.”