Memorial Hospital Gulfport Launches Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine Services for High‑Risk Pregnancies
GULFPORT, Miss. – June 22, 2026 – Memorial Hospital Gulfport is expanding access to high risk pregnancy care through a new outpatient partnership with LCMC Health, bringing maternal–fetal medicine specialists Cecilia T. Gambala, MD, and Gabriella C. Pridjian, MD, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Beginning this summer, the physicians will offer weekly outpatient clinics at Memorial Hospital Gulfport on the first floor next to the outpatient pharmacy. A referral from an OB-GYN is required.
“Memorial is committed to expanding resources that protect the health and safety of mothers and babies. This partnership strengthens our ability to care for high risk pregnancies at a time when Mississippi families need it most,” said Dr. Shawn Dufford, Chief Medical Officer at Memorial. “Providing outpatient maternal–fetal medicine services close to home is a critical step forward.”
Dr. Gambala and Dr. Pridjian bring extensive expertise in maternal–fetal medicine, including advanced care for conditions such as preeclampsia, diabetes in pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and obesity. They will work in close coordination with each patient’s preferred OB GYN to ensure seamless, comprehensive care.
“Our goal is to ensure every mother has access to the specialized support she needs, especially during high risk pregnancies,” said Dawn Shepard, Director of Women & Children’s Services. “This clinic strengthens the safety net for families across the Gulf Coast.”
Memorial’s new outpatient maternal–fetal medicine services reflect the hospital’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for mothers and infants and reducing preventable complications statewide.
Cecilia T. Gambala, MD
Gabriella C. Pridjian, MD
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ABOUT MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Memorial Health System has been serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1946. Located in Gulfport, Mississippi, Memorial is a not-for-profit public community hospital organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and is jointly owned by the City of Gulfport and Harrison County. Memorial Health System includes three hospitals (Gulfport, Biloxi, and Stone County) licensed for 481 beds, a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, two nursing centers, outpatient surgery centers, satellite outpatient diagnostic and rehabilitation centers, and more than 100 Memorial Physician Clinics. Memorial offers several of the region’s most comprehensive clinical programs and medical specialties unique to the area, including a Level III Neonatal ICU and Mississippi’s first nationally certified Primary Stroke Center. Memorial is accredited by The Joint Commission, a Baby-Friendly Designated hospital, and is a member of the Mississippi Healthcare Collaborative. Visit wearememorial.com to learn more.