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Answering the Call: Mairi Wiles Reflects on the Path to Becoming a Nurse-Midwife

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) student Mairi Wiles, BSN, RN, who had a unique journey to her career in midwifery, recently shared her thought-provoking poem and thoughts at FNU’s 2018 Diversity Impact. Just 10 years ago, Mairi was a soul-searching study-abroad student who had only recently learned about progressive birth options.

At the time, she had no plans to pursue a nurse-midwifery specialty given its long, challenging and academically rigorous path. But, the more of the world she saw, the more Mairi realized that her future was missing something.

“To be with women during birth, to keep that moment sacred, to honor each new life as it comes into this world – that was my destiny,” she said in the poem shared at Diversity Impact.

Mairi grew up the child of an internist, watching her mother use the medical model of healthcare to increase health outcomes in their community. Although she knew it wasn’t her calling, Mairi studied psychology at Berry College, graduating in 2009 with her bachelor’s and a minor in business.

But on a boat in the Whitsundays in Queensland, Australia, Mairi made a commitment to shake off the doubts that were holding her back and answer her true calling: nurse-midwifery.

“For me, it was the perfect culmination of varied topics that had always intrigued me,” she said. “I longed to become a Midwife.”

Mairi went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University. She served as a labor and delivery nurse for five years, and is currently working as a birth center nurse at Atlanta Birth Center in Atlanta, Ga. In those roles, Mairi advocates for her patients to ensure they have the best birthing experience possible. She collaborates with them, teaches them and honors their wishes as she helps them through the pregnancy, birth and postpartum process.

Yet her scope as an registered nurse is limited, and the next step was evident for Mairi: becoming a certified nurse-midwife. Mairi is enrolled in CNEP Class 155 at FNU, and completed her final comps on September 12, 2018.

“I want to pursue a career in midwifery, so I can offer women an evidence-based alternative to the current and pervasive medical model of childbirth,” she said. “I want to be a resource for women where they know their feelings and opinions are valued.”

Mairi recently attended her 40th birth as a birth center nurse

Mairi chose Frontier for several reasons. Perhaps the biggest was because of FNU’s natural, holistic approach to health care. She also loved the self-paced distance program and the long-standing legacy that Mary Breckinridge established over 80 years ago.

Though a distance student, Mairi has become connected to the FNU community through its vast network. She is an administrator of the Frontier CNEP Students Past and Present Facebook group and Google Drive, which serves as a resource for research and document studies from over 1600 nurse-midwives who are FNU students and alumni.

Mairi loves to put her feelings into words in the form of poems and heartfelt Facebook posts.

She recently shared these thoughts and more at FNU’s 2018 Diversity Impact Conference, held on June 7-10. Her poem was also featured in AWHONN’s Partners in Care video released last month.

After her CNEP is complete, Mairi is planning another busy season as she pursues her Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner specialty and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree simultaneously from FNU.

For now, she is celebrating each small victory as she goes. In August, she caught her 40th baby during her clinical rotation with the Midwives at both Providence and Nile Women’s Health Care through WellStar North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, Ga.

Thank you, Mairi, for your dedication to creating better birth experiences and healthier mothers through a fulfilling career in Nurse-Midwifery.

Mairi’s poem:

“The occasion of birth is not just about the arrival of a new person but also a transformative and empowering experience. I want to to be with women during birth, to keep that moment sacred, to honor each new life as it comes into this world.

Each day a woman is entrusted in my care is a day she, as a mother, will remember forever.

Birth is sacred; I’m enchanted by the magic, the mystery, and the joy surrounding newness of life. I’m so thankful for the honor of being present.”

Mairi Wiles

Mairi currently serves at the Atlanta Birth Center

Mairi and her husband, Durbin

Mairi recently attended her 40th birth as a birth center nurse

Mairi’s study buddy, Azrael

One of Mairi’s hobbies is dabbling in costume makeup

September 20, 2018
Couriers Impact Appalachian Communities Through Summer of Service

The 2018 Couriers served a vast number of Appalachian community members through their summer of working in clinics and nonprofits. We are pleased to share with you a glimpse of their summer projects and service below:

Molly Craig

Molly serves as a “runner” at the RAM event

Molly Craig served with Kentucky Mountain Health Alliance (Little Flower Clinic) and Bluegrass Care Navigators. For her community project, she worked with a local practitioner to conduct a seminar on combating opioid addiction for inmates at the Leslie County Detention Center, where over 85 percent of the inmates are incarcerated due to drug-related charges.

Molly donated the remainder of her project stipend to Little Flower Clinic’s in-house transportation program. With Molly’s donation, Little Flower Clinic will build benches for the patients to sit while they wait to be picked up for their health appointments. We thank Molly for her dedication and service this year, and wish her luck on her quest to become a physician!

James Rasmussen

James with the FNS historic landmark sign

James Rasmussen served with Mary Breckinridge ARH Hospital and Red Bird Mission. With Red Bird, James performed bone density screenings at a wellness fair at Red Bird Christian School. He also collaborated with local community members and officials to design and implement a large-scale mural celebrating the spirit and culture of Hyden. Volunteers helped design and paint the mural over the course of a weekend.

The completed mural will remain behind Hyden Citizens Bank as a part of the Hyden community. We wish James the best in medical school, and we thank him for his service!

Dania Cervantes Ayala

Dania serves at The Well

Dania Cervantes Ayala served with Hometown Clinic and Bluegrass Care Navigators. She provided end-of-life hospice services, shadowed advanced practice registered nurses and learned about rural healthcare in various settings.

For her community project, Dania handed out backpacks with hygiene, wellness and other often-overlooked items to students at a local back-to-school event. She procured the items by soliciting for financial and in-kind support from the community. We thank Dania for her service and wish her the best of luck as she begins her Baccalaureate Nursing Program!

Courier Volunteer Opportunities

All three Couriers also took other opportunities to volunteer throughout the summer. They each served at a local coffee shop called The Well. Run solely by volunteers, proceeds from The Well are donated toward the local food pantry.

In addition, Couriers participated in the Health Wagon Remote Area Medical (RAM) events in both Hazard, Ky. and Wise, Va. The Health Wagon’s mobile medical clinic delivers free, high-quality vision, dental and medical services to children, individuals, and families who do not have access or cannot afford to visit a healthcare provider.

The Wise RAM event registered 1,349 patients and provided $413,171 in services. In its inaugural year, the Hazard RAM event registered 446 patients and provided $131,951 in services.

We thank RAM for their support of Appalachian communities all over the nation, and our Couriers for their willingness to be a part of such a vital project! Thank you to our Couriers and Community Partners, as well as our sponsors and supporters.

A special thanks also goes to Breckinridge Capital Advisors for covering the program fees for this year’s Couriers, all of their community project costs, and their ongoing advocacy for our internship program. Together we are all serving Appalachia!

Couriers in Dental Assistant Uniforms at RAM event

Dania Cervantes Ayala assists with dental care at RAM event

James Rasmussen and Molly Craig organize shoes for the RAM event

September 18, 2018
Frontier ADN Bridge DNP Students Impact Communities With DNP Projects

Two Frontier Nursing University graduates have implemented impactful doctoral projects into their Kentucky communities.

Nurses Nina Booth and Carrie Dunaway began their education at FNU through the ADN Bridge Entry Option and went straight through earning their Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree to their Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Nina and Carrie each implemented a DNP Project and Practicum as part of the program. The projects serve to provide FNU DNP students with a facilitated service learning opportunity.

Nina’s DNP project established a Palliative Care Program for rural, chronically-ill patients. Originally from the Lake Cumberland, Ky. area, Nina was a hospice nurse for eight years before deciding to enter the ADN-MSN bridge program. She had visited Frontier as an LPN student and was awestruck and inspired by the history and by Mary Breckinridge’s mission.

After completing her MSN in 2017 as a family nurse practitioner, she pioneered the Palliative Care Program in the Lake Cumberland district as part of her Companion DNP that she would complete in 2018.

Nina Booth, FNU DNP Student

Nina formed the idea for the project after noticing a need for improved access among patients with cancer and pain crisis. She provides them with symptom relief, support, education of advanced directives, goals of care planning, helps with equipment needs and supplies, and if necessary, helps them transition into hospice care.

“I want to bring access to palliative care to chronically ill residents in my community that are seeking aggressive care and having symptom burden, that would otherwise not find relief until giving up curative care and pursuing hospice,” she said.

Her project, the first of its kind in the area, allowed her to complete her Companion DNP. While in the ADN Bridge program, Nina made vital connections with the Frontier community. Her distance learning experience was enhanced by lifelong friends she made and the overall mission she was pursuing.

“I chose to get my DNP so that I could be a healthcare leader in my community,” she said. “I am proud every single day to carry out Mary’s mission of reaching families in rural communities.”

Carrie’s DNP project instituted a Quality Improvement initiative for adult cardiac patients. Carrie serves as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner at Lexington Clinic in Lexington, Ky. Her personal experience of watching her father suffer a heart attack and seeing subpar subsequent cardiac care was what drove her to pursue a nurse practitioner degree after 25 years in the nursing profession.

Carrie Dunaway, FNU DNP Student

The calling to advance her education in cardiology led her to the nurse practitioner role, where she could treat patients autonomously, to the completion of her MSN, and finally to the ADN Bridge Program to earn her DNP.

“Attaining the DNP not only has given me more respect as a nurse practitioner from my colleagues, it has also given me the ability to hopefully become a nursing faculty as well so that I can teach other nurses pursuing their nurse practitioner degree,” she said.

Carrie’s DNP project sought to reduce strokes in atrial fibrillation patients. Her results were successful: she recorded 36% stroke reduction in atrial fibrillation patients by increasing appropriate anticoagulation from 55% to 91% in 90 days. She was asked to present findings to the head of the section meeting at Lexington Clinic.

Following the project’s success, Carrie is now working on establishing an Atrial Fibrillation Clinic in her cardiology practice.

Carrie formed invaluable friendships in her time at Frontier, and received ample support from faculty and ancillary staff while receiving her DNP.

“Coming together with other students at the university was imperative to my success, which is something you do not get at other online institutions,” she said.

She stays connected to the Frontier network and mission through volunteer work as a Family Nurse Practitioner providing health care to underserved and uninsured patients.

“I am so thankful that I was able to attain my degree at an establishment so rich in tradition and history,” she said.

Congratulations, Nina and Carrie, on the success of your projects and the impact you’ve had on our home state of Kentucky!

September 13, 2018
Featured Preceptor: Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) preceptor Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM, from Seven Hills Women’s Health Centers in Cincinnati, Ohio, was honored as FNU’s “Featured Preceptor” for the Summer 2018 term. Cheyenne was nominated by recent nurse-midwifery graduate and DNP student Michelle Gragg.

Cheyenne is a certified nurse-midwife with a master’s degree in public health. She spent many years serving the underserved population of Cincinnati before relocating to work in the Seven Hills birth center. Now, she is working to establish a low-intervention birthing room at one of the local hospitals. Her hope is that this step may lead to another birth center in the future.

“One thing I noticed as a student is how much Cheyenne cares for her patients,” said her preceptee, Michelle.

Cheyenne strives to make each patient feel valued. She begins her appointments by asking how the patient is doing. She listens and then asks, “What else?” and gains the patient’s trust as she elicits an enormous amount of information from them.

DNP Student Michelle Gragg, CNM with Preceptor Cheyenne Brown, APRN, CNM

She has formed incredible provider-patient relationships using this method, and by remembering each patient’s name and details.

“I have learned so much more than skills from Cheyenne. I am learning true patient-centered care,” said Michelle. “She is passionate about midwifery and its advancement, and she meets all patients where they are at in a supportive manner.”

Michelle, a fall 2017 CNM graduate, has an anticipated DNP graduation date of June 2019.

While precepting Michelle, Cheyenne shared with their patients about Mary Breckinridge and the history of FNU. She plans to precept more FNU graduates in the future.

Cheyenne will receive a Starbucks gift card as a small token of our appreciation for her being a great preceptor. Thank you, Cheyenne, for your investment in our FNU students!

Go here to read more on previously recognized preceptors, or to nominate a preceptor.

At the heart of Frontier Nursing University is a talented and diverse community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, Couriers and preceptors. Spotlight blogs feature members of our FNU community that are focused on the mission of educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to deliver quality health care to underserved and rural populations.

September 10, 2018
The History of Nursing

At its very core, nursing has been around for centuries, although the profession of nursing started at the height of the Roman Empire, around 300 A.D. The Empire wanted to place a hospital within every town under its rule. Nurses were needed to assist doctors in caring for patients in the newly-erected hospitals.

Modern Nursing Born in the Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, the nursing industry became infused with religion, with most nurses being nuns or monks. The early hospitals during this time offered many services, including caring for sick and injured patients and providing housing for refugees and lepers. Nurses were responsible for fulfilling more duties than most nurses today.

Stagnancy Between the 17th & 18th Centuries

At the dawn of the 17th century, the nursing profession began to diminish for many reasons. For one, nuns that had been working as nurses were forced to leave the profession and stay at home. Many monasteries and the hospitals within them also shut down. The nursing profession became stagnant between the 17th and 18th Centuries.

The Dawn of Modern Nursing

Florence Nightingale is credited with helping modernize the nursing profession. Due to the many wars being waged in the mid-1800s – from the Crimean War in Eastern Europe to the Civil War in the U.S. – the need for nursing grew again. Nightingale began her nursing career during the Crimean War, taking care of injured soldiers at a hospital in Turkey. Many soldiers died from their injuries due to a lack of general hygiene and a high number of fatal infections.

Because so many soldiers were suffering, Nightingale asked for and received aid from the British government that helped improve matters. For the remainder of her life, Nightingale advocated for sanitary living conditions for patients. She also demanded that hospitals have higher hygiene standards, an idea that took hold and created a permanent impact on the nursing profession.

Overcoming Barriers and Diversifying Nursing

Until this time, nursing had mostly been reserved for white women. But a few pioneers led the way in fighting to overcome racial, social and economic injustice, obtain professional health care education and acquire professional acceptance in the field.

One such pioneer was Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole, whose efforts closely mirrored Florence Nightingale’s during the Crimean War. Seacole, who was receiving her medical education in Europe, established a facility during the war to provide caregivers, medical attention, food and shelter for the sick and wounded.

A generation later, Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first African American to be formally enrolled as a nursing student in 1878. She worked as a traveling nurse in New England, and co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) to advocate for more opportunities for formal training for African-American nurses.

These pioneers helped break through racial barriers in a predominantly-white field and lead the push for diversity and inclusiveness in the nursing profession for future nurses.

The Emergence of Midwifery in the U.S.

During the 1900s, nurses began taking on more roles than ever before. They were given the opportunity to specialize in areas like trauma, critical care, pediatrics, and orthopedics. Nurses shifted away from simply being doctors’ assistants and toward more important duties, from performing routine procedures to prescribing medications.

The evolution of nursing profession allows nurses today to receive training in over 200 unique healthcare specialties, including nurse-midwifery.

Nurse-midwifery practice made its way from Europe into the United States with Frontier founder Mary Breckinridge as the vehicle. Mrs. Breckinridge established Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) in Leslie County, Ky. in 1925 to provide healthcare for mothers and children in remote rural areas. FNS hired nurses that were also qualified as midwives, and began educating nurses in midwifery practice in 1939 with the establishment of the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery (now Frontier Nursing University).

Learn more about FNU’s history at frontier.edu/about-frontier/history/.

Further Your Career at Frontier Nursing University

At Frontier Nursing University, we have 80 years of experience offering Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with your home community serving as your classroom. If you’re interested in advancing your nursing career, we welcome you to apply today for the graduate nursing program you’re interested in. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

September 6, 2018
FNU to Begin Work on Versailles Campus

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) is making progress on its “New Frontier” in Versailles, Ky.

FNU has secured a contractor and is set to begin the renovations to several buildings and plots on its new property in Versailles, with expected completion date for the new campus set for January 2020. FNU purchased the land in October 2017 with a vision to expand enrollment and educate more nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners. The lot was the former home of United Methodist Children’s Home and its adjacent property.

FNU opened the site up for bids from contractors, and after several months and tweaks to the original plan, is moving forward with Griggs Enterprises, Inc. Ten building renovations and two new constructions will take place to make way for student housing, on-site faculty and staff housing, expanded education and simulation facilities, a large auditorium, a fitness center and more.

The renovations planned for the historic home on campus and the construction of a new Dining Hall, which will include the gift shop and fitness center, will be contracted as a separate project.

Though many FNU staff have already moved their offices to the new campus, the original Hyden, Ky. campus will continue to run all student events until early 2020.

The transition to the new campus is slower than expected, but FNU administrators are confident that this move will be worth the wait.

“Change is necessary to continue advancing our ultimate mission of improving healthcare for families everywhere,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone.

“This new campus will make room for the growth needed to establish Frontier as the leader in advanced nursing and midwifery education.

To follow the renovations, subscribe for email updates or visit Frontier.edu/versailles-kentucky-campus.

Versailles Campus quad rendering

Versailles Campus entrance rendering

Versailles Campus nurse practicals lab rendering

Versailles Campus auditorium and education building rendering

Versailles Campus dining hall rendering

Versailles Campus administration building rendering

Versailles Campus full campus rendering

*Examples only: Please note that actual plans may deviate from this illustration.

September 4, 2018
FNU PRIDE Students Attend NBNA and NAHN Conferences

Students, staff and faculty in the Frontier Nursing University (FNU) PRIDE Program represented FNU at two nurse association conferences in July.

The PRIDE Program at FNU promotes diversity in nursing and nurse-midwifery by recruiting and retaining underrepresented students with the goal of becoming nurse-midwives or nurse practitioners.

PRIDE members attended both the National Black Nurses Association and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses annual meetings in July of 2018.

FNU booth representatives with NBNA President Eric J. Williams

The 46th annual National Black Nurses Association Conference and Exhibit was held in St. Louis from July 31 – August 5. FNU Diversity PRIDE Program Coordinator, Wilvena Bernard, along with FNU Faculty Dr. Diane John and FNU PRIDE Student Ambassador Homecia St. Clair, attended the conference. The trio represented FNU as they gave out information to prospective students on the DNP program and employment opportunities at the university.

FNU students at NBNA

FNU also sent students from the NWD HRSA Professional Mentorship program to the NBNA conference. The mentorship program is a new university initiative to connect currently enrolled nursing students with faculty mentors at FNU. The mentorship program allowed FNU students Shani Pitts, Essence Williams, Catherine Orji and Ameenah Jackson to attend the conference with faculty mentor Dr. Tracy Hicks. Each left with invaluable experiences.

Student Ameenah Jackson presents at NBNA

Student Catherine Orji attended a Nurse Doctorate Symposium as part of her NBNA itinerary.

“l have a deeper understanding of the difference between a doctoral prepared nurse DNP and a PHD nurse,” she said. “l also embrace the importance of networking in my career.”

During the conference, student Ameenah Jackson presented a session entitled “A Nursing Call to Action: Black Maternal Mortality Crises.” Wilvena Bernard and Dr. John gave a presentation called “Unconscious Bias: The Impact of Communication and Healthcare Outcomes.” Both sessions received an enthusiastic regards from attendees.

FNU students also received honors at the conference. PRIDE member Essence Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM was presented with the NBNA “Under 40” Award, and newly-admitted student Crystal Norman, BSN, RNC-OB received the “Staff Nurse of the Year” Award.

See photos from FNU at the NBNA Conference

FNU booth representatives at NAHN

On the same weekend, the 43rd annual National Association of Hispanic Nurses Meeting and Exhibition was held in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference began July 31 and concluded August 3. FNU Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Dr. Maria Valentin-Welch attended as a mentor for several students in the NWD mentorship program, and all represented FNU with information on its specialty tracks and educational opportunities.

FNU attendees with NAHN President Anabell Castro-Thompson

The students attending through the mentorship program were Leticia Fernandez, Onidis Lopez, Elizabeth Martinez, Elizabeth Aviles, Martha Travieso, & Kalena Lanuza.

This year’s conference theme, “Latino Health Care: Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity,” focused on addressing timely issues surrounding Latino healthcare regarding equity, diversity and inclusivity to bring awareness to health inequities affecting Hispanic communities of color.

Students attended workshops and sessions diving into that theme, and came away with powerful reflections.

Kalena, a DNP student at FNU, created a video sharing a synopsis of what she learned at the conference and why her mentorship experience was important.

FNU students with renowned Nursing Caring Theorist Dr. Jean Watson

“Seeing a group of dedicated, mostly Latino nurses, working together to navigate the current healthcare nursing landscape, while seeing to it that their cultural values and traditions were infused into the process was one of the highlights of this experience!,” she said.

See photos from FNU at the NAHN Meeting

Thanks to our students and mentors who attended and represented FNU!

August 30, 2018
Student Kudos: Essence Williams, Jessie Tinglan and Shoshanah Blaiss

Frontier Nursing University (FNU) seeks to empower its students to make a difference in their communities and in the field of health care.

We are recognizing three students who have taken significant steps over the last several months to better their education and the care they provide.

FNU Student Awarded NBNA “Top 40 and Under” Designation

Essence Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM

The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) announced FNU student Essence T. Williams, RN, BSN, CBC, CCE, SNM as one of 19 “Top 40 and Under” awardees.

Essence, in CNEP Class 140 at FNU, is a public health nurse at Nurse Family Partnership in Crum Lynne, Pa. She belongs to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Area Black Nurses Association.

She was nominated for the NBNA 40 and Under Award for having made significant contributions in the field of nursing and showing promise in her career.

Essence received her award on Friday, August 3, 2018 during the 46th Annual NBNA Institute and Conference in St. Louis, Mo. She created a video diary reflecting on her experience.

The NBNA is comprised of nurses at all levels, from LPNs to doctorally prepared nurses; bedside clinicians, chief nursing officers, deans of schools of nursing, researchers, academicians, case managers and entrepreneurs. Its mission is to serve as the voice for black nurses and diverse populations ensuring equal access to professional development, promoting educational opportunities and improving health.

Congratulations on your accomplishment, Essence!

FNU Student Ambassador attends COMON in Lansing, Michigan

Jessie Tinglan, BSN, RNC-OB, CLS

FNU CNEP (Class 173) student Jessie Tinglan, BSN, RNC-OB, CLS was chosen to attend a Coalition of Michigan Organizations of Nursing (COMON) meeting in Lansing, Mich. at Lansing Community College on May 15, 2018.

COMON is an organization dedicated to the advancement of Nursing in the state of Michigan. Its strategic plan focuses on practice, policy, regulation, and nursing shortage, with particular emphasis on obstetrics, surgery, and critical care nurses.

Jessie, currently enrolled in Frontier’s CNEP (Class 173) is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). She volunteered to join after leaders of the ACNM Michigan Affiliate reached out for an attendee for May’s COMON meeting.

Jessie met and networked with nurse leaders from a broad spectrum of nursing specialties.

“Overall, this was a wonderful leadership experience packed with nurse leaders representing their specialties with as much passion and drive as I do for midwifery,” she said. “I am certainly humbled by the opportunity, and look forward to advocating many years with ACNM.”

Great work, Jessie!

Student Spotlight: Shoshanah Blaiss, RN, BSN, CLC, CMRN

Shoshanah Blaiss RN, BSN, CLC, CMRN

FNU student Shoshanah Blaiss recently completed an internship at the Georgia Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).

Shoshanah, currently in CNEP Class 155 at FNU, was one of four students chosen as a Leadership Intern for 2018 by the Georgia Affiliate of the ACNM. She was the first to represent FNU in this role and was selected based on personal references and an essay on the importance of leadership in midwifery.

While interning, Shoshanah worked on the Market area for the 63rd Annual ACNM Meeting & Exhibition that took place on May 20-24, 2018 in Savannah, Ga. She was responsible for putting together elements of the “Come Sit Awhile” circle, where she served as a conversation facilitator. The area, complete with rocking chairs and sweet tea, was created to encourage attendees to sit and discuss a variety of topics.

As Student Representative, Shoshanah took advantage of several networking opportunities to build relationships with midwives from around the nation. She also joined both the Bridge Club and the Healthy Birth Initiative sub-committee during the annual meeting.

“I really enjoyed attending the 2018 ACNM national meeting as a student – I felt like it was a glimpse into my future as a CNM!,” she said.

“I love that students are celebrated and encouraged to participate at all levels of ACNM, and I look forward to being involved as much as possible throughout my career.”

Well done, Shoshanah!

Congratulations to each of these students for representing FNU in their hard work.

August 27, 2018

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