Meet the provider who built this practice because she believed women deserved something better.
Meet Melissa
Hi! My name is Melissa Courtney. I have been serving the women of Central Kentucky now for 30 years in Women’ Health. I am a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse-Midwife. The main purpose of starting this practice is to provide exceptional women's health care, because women deserve it! In my own health care experience, I have personally dealt with complex gynecological health issues including endometriosis and breast cancer. My journey as a patient has given me the perspective to understand the value of what it feels like to really be heard and feel supported versus not being heard when you are feeling at your most vulnerable. I believe these experiences have allowed me to have a deeper level of empathy for my patients and a strong understanding of the importance of being intentional to have every patient feel heard.
I take pride in always approaching each patient with humility with the awareness they chose to see me for their care when they do have choices. It is important to me to always be kind, approachable, and respectful to each patient attempting to meet each person where they are on their health journey. If you have felt your concerns have been dismissed elsewhere, I love complex patient issues and enjoy assisting patients in discovering the cause and manageable solutions. I look forward to working with you as a partner in your health.
Every practice has a story. Ours begins with a woman named Joy.
Joy Women's Health is named in honor of Joy Smith Speer (April 17, 1951 – September 18, 2015).
As a nurse, Joy dedicated her career to bettering the health of her patients. She was an entrepreneur with a clear vision for what healthcare could be. Years before it was common clinical practice, she opened her own practice using prescription weight loss medication to help patients improve their overall health – Prescription Weight Loss. Beyond her professional work, Joy volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating in court for children who had experienced abuse or neglect.
Joy's life and career were cut far too short. She was a spirited woman who was always learning and keeping herself very informed from the latest medical advancements to political policies impacting healthcare, so she could speak up for those who needed it. She was known for her kindness, always ready to listen and genuinely care for the people she served. Joy was beautiful inside and out, and she is deeply missed.
Joy Women's Health vows to honor her legacy — advocating for patients and striving every day to improve their health by providing exceptional care.
What Sets Us Apart
You're a partner, not a patient number.
We believe the best care happens when provider and patient work together. Your perspective isn't a footnote — it's essential.
Experience you can trust.
Melissa brings 30 years of women's health expertise and the personal understanding of someone who has navigated complex health challenges herself. That combination is rare.
Whole-person care.
From adolescence through menopause, from routine concerns to complex diagnoses — we treat the full person, not just the presenting symptom.