A recent multidisciplinary health center dedicated exclusively to women has opened its doors in Lattes, near Montpellier, France, offering coordinated medical care from puberty through menopause. The center, named Mahila – meaning “woman” in Hindi – aims to provide a holistic and supportive environment for women’s health needs.
The center’s design prioritizes patient comfort, with a calming atmosphere and thoughtfully chosen décor. “I wanted people to perceive fine, to feel welcomed, and for it not to feel medical when you walk through the door,” explains Camille Salles, a physiotherapist and the center’s founder. This focus on creating a welcoming space reflects a growing trend in healthcare toward patient-centered care and holistic wellness.
Salles conceived of the center after years of practicing in traditional settings, recognizing the need for a more integrated and collaborative approach to women’s health. “When I was working in private practice, I dreamed of working in a multidisciplinary setting,” she says. “To be more effective for patients and to be closer to them, it was necessary to bring together different specialties in one place.”
Specialized Care for Women
Mahila’s exclusive focus on women’s health allows for streamlined care and improved communication between practitioners. “Everything is on site, it’s efficient. We share patient files with each other, and the follow-up is more comprehensive,” Salles notes. This coordinated approach can lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatment plans.
The center’s team, all of whom are in their thirties, includes a general practitioner, Joanna Borras, specializing in gynecological concerns; psychotherapist Clothilde Palmieri, focusing on perinatal mental health; and physiotherapists Camille Salles and Aurore Guepratte, specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation. Additional specialists include Ryme Afane, a sonographer and midwife; Alice Foraison, a sex therapist; Manon Durand, a dietitian; and Emilie Jegou, an osteopath. “It wasn’t necessarily intentional, but it happened that way,” Salles says. “We all have the same mindset, the same dynamic, and the same motivation.”
Convenient and Comprehensive Care
The center offers a wide range of services, extending beyond maternal and infant care to encompass women’s health needs throughout all stages of life, from puberty to menopause. To further support patient well-being, Mahila also provides adapted sports classes, yoga, and Pilates, led by the center’s physiotherapists. The goal, according to Salles, is to support women “in all their complexity, their uniqueness, and their evolution.”
