Jan Weingrad Smith, Ph.D., CNM, MPH
In memory of our dear friend, Jan Weingrad Smith, Ph.D., CNM, MPH, Frontier Nursing University in collaboration with Jan’s daughter, sister and father are creating a scholarship to be awarded to a student who embodies Jan’s love of learning, concern for others, and commitment to midwifery and education.
Jan was a Frontier faculty member from 2015 until her untimely passing in May 2021. Jan served the FNU community as Regional Clinical Faculty for Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island where she enjoyed mentoring clinical CNM and WHNP students and networking with preceptors. Jan always focused on holistically and innovatively meeting her students’ needs, to that end, she invested in the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative virtual clinical simulations during the pandemic when clinical learning for students was abruptly stopped. Jan also served as Course Faculty and contributed her educational expertise, growth mindset, scholarship, and passion for learning. Her educational expertise was teaching, application of knowledge, and critical thinking.
Jan demonstrated her passionate advocacy for women not only in her academic work in midwifery and women’s health but also as a practicing certified nurse-midwife. She was a staunch supporter of breastfeeding and created innovative programs to enhance women’s health, birth, and postpartum experience in her community. She was deeply invested in serving and giving voice to the marginalized, including incarcerated mothers.
Jan was an engaged member of the FNU faculty. Jan attended and actively participated in meetings, generously providing her keen input. She built community with her students and preceptors by regularly holding in-person Case Days. Jan’s devotion to her clinical students was boundless, even talking to some while leaving the hospital in her final days. They needed her, and she wanted to be there for them.
Jan’s “midwife hands” were used in so many ways and touched the lives of so many future midwives and the individuals they serve. She truly understood and shared the influence, power, and privilege inherent in midwifery.
We hope you will join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Jan by making a donation to the scholarship established in her honor. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made by clicking the link below.
