FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2018
Contact: Maura Christopher
240-485-1822
[email protected]
Silver Spring, MD - The American College of
Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) officially inducted Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FACNM, FAAN
as its new President at ACNM's 63rd Annual Meeting & Exhibition in
Savannah, Georgia, on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Along with Stone, the incoming Secretary,
and the Representatives of ACNM Region II, III, and V were also inducted during
the meeting.
This leadership will be responsible for
establishing and carrying out the goals and objectives of ACNM. Among those
goals will to be to continue to bring attention to the shockingly high rates of
maternal mortality in the United States and the impact that nurse-midwives can
have in addressing this growing health care problem. While studies show that
nurse-midwives can have great impact in addressing maternal mortality and
filling the gaps in maternal health care available to rural and underserved
populations, legislative barriers in many states limit patient access to
nurse-midwives.
"Our country is facing a
maternal health crisis that is garnering national attention," Stone said during
her address at the ACNM annual meeting. "The maternal mortality rate continues
to rise as well as the number of cases of severe morbidity. It is abhorrent
that this is most evident for women of color, especially for black women, who
experience these poor outcomes at three to four times the rate of white women.
These disparities are disgraceful and unacceptable. As midwives, we need to
carry the banner of change and become its forceful catalyst at all levels. Our
women and families are relying on us."
About 10
percent of US births involve midwives, far behind other industrialized
countries, where midwives participate in half or more of all deliveries. Each
state has its own laws and regulations regarding midwives' licensure, their
ability to provide services in different settings, their authority to prescribe medication, their access to
hospital privileges, and the rates at
which they are
reimbursed through Medicaid.
"To make the necessary
changes, we need to not just be present, but
leading in all venues where decisions are being made," said Stone, who also
serves as the President of Frontier Nursing University. "We must be
participating in legislative agenda and mortality/morbidity review committees,
and planning and constructing the health care systems of the future. Midwives
must be central in the decision making process. We are the experts at helping
women become healthy and remain healthy. We are the teachers, the care
providers, and the advocates who can change this picture. Together, with our
present students and future graduates, we can make a difference."
"My priorities as President
will be to position midwives as leaders in national discussions regarding
maternity care and our health care systems, ensure positive collaboration among
midwives and maternity care providers, and to increase the number and diversity
of our midwifery workforce."
Stone's
initiatives will be supported by the leadership at ACNM, which also welcomed the following newly inducted officers
to its Board of Directors:
Bridget Howard, CNM, MSN was
inducted as ACNM Secretary. Howard is
an Adjunct Faculty member at the Midwifery Institute at Jefferson University in
Philadelphia. Additionally, she is a Certified Nurse-Midwife at the Perinatal
Evaluation Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Bridget
has been Chair of the ACNM Midwives of Color Committee as well as a committee
member. She has also served as Secretary of The A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc. She
succeeds Stephanie Tillman, CNM, MSN.
Jeanne
Murphy, CNM, PhD, FACNM was inducted as Region II Representative. Murphy is an Assistant Professor at George Washington
University School of Nursing as well as a Certified Nurse-Midwife at the
University of Maryland, St. Joseph Medical Center. Murphy is Secretary of the
Maryland Affiliate and is a member of the ACNM Public Health Caucus, the Division
of Standards & Practice, the Research Committee, and the Program Committee.
She succeeds Mairi Rothman, CNM, MSN, FACNM.
Elois
Edge, CNM, CLC, MSN was inducted as Region III Representative. Edge is a preceptor at Frontier Nursing University, a certified
nurse-midwife at the Albany Area Primary Health Care in Albany, GA, and is
actively engaged in teaching family medicine residents and midwifery students.
She has been a member of the ACNM for 20 years. Edge succeeds Jennifer Foster,
PhD, CNM, MPH.
Ann Forster Page, DNP, CNM, ARRN, FACNM was inducted
as Region V Representative. Forster Page
is the Nurse-Midwife Director at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.
She is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of
Minnesota School of Nursing, in the Nurse-Midwifery DNP Program. Forster Page
has served as the Co-chair of the Minnesota Affiliate. She succeeds Lynne Himmelreich, ARNP, CNM,
MPH, FACNM.
Kira
Schultz of Marquette University was named new Student Representative to the ACNM Board. Kira will join our Board for a
one-year term, succeeding Lillian Medhus of Georgetown.
Two new members
are also joining the ACNM Nominating Committee and will serve three-year terms.
They are Terri Patrice Clark, PhD, MSN,
MA, CNM, RN, FACNM and Celina del
Carmen Cunanan, CNM, MSN.
The American College of
Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association that represents certified
nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. ACNM
promotes excellence in midwifery education, clinical practice, and research.
With roots dating to 1929, our members are primary care providers for women
throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and
gynecologic and reproductive health. ACNM provides research, administers and
promotes continuing education programs, establishes clinical practice
standards, and creates liaisons with state and federal agencies and members of
Congress to increase the visibility and recognition of midwifery care.
