“I’ve been waiting 25 years for women’s health to get the attention it deserves. Now is the time,” said Dr. Jane Varner, newly appointed medical director for the growing Cottage Center for Women’s Health.
Dr. Varner is a family physician with 25 years of experience in both patient care and health care leadership. She joined Cottage in 2024 as the medical director for Cottage Primary Care, and has overseen the expansion of the department to 20 providers across four clinical locations.
She will continue to care for her patients in the Santa Barbara location in conjunction with her leadership work of partnering with community and colleagues to build a new Cottage Center for Women’s Health, according to Cottage Health.
An advocate for women’s health and health equity, Dr. Varner brings a bold vision to her new leadership role and begins a new chapter for advancing women’s health in our region, Cottage said.
“Cottage Center for Women’s Health will offer a new model for the women’s healthcare experience,” Cottage Health said. “It will be a haven for coordinated care within a welcoming, supportive environment. It will put women at the center of their health care journey, with care backed by research and innovation.”
The center and its programs will bring together primary and specialty care, diagnostics and supportive services to offer a single, trusted entry point for integrated care across the outpatient and hospital settings, Cottage said.
Nurse navigators and care teams will collaborate on scheduling, communication and care transitions for each patient.
Cottage Center for Women’s Health will offer physical spaces that will evolve over the coming years. The spaces are being designed by women to welcome all women for clinical care, wellness activities, learning, and community connection.
Specialties currently offered by Cottage Women’s Health include obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, menopause care, breast care, urogynecology, gynecologic oncology, rheumatology, cardiology, neuro-oncology, general and colorectal surgery.
In the coming months and years, more services will be added to meet comprehensive care needs of women in the community.
“I’m honored to help lead the development of a center focused on redefining the women’s healthcare experience,” said Dr. Varner. “We have an opportunity now to create a more integrated and innovative model of care that better supports women throughout every stage of life.
“I was so fortunate to grow up in a tight community of strong, resilient women–my mother, grandmother, aunties, cousins, and dear friends. We have supported, inspired and learned from each other every step of the way.
“One thing that I can say with absolute confidence is that life’s challenges are much easier to navigate when we do it together.”