Login

Print Friendly and PDF

Midwives in Harmony for Women's Health

About This Year's Theme

Midwives are attending a record proportion of US births, and the profession is poised for continued growth in the years to come. The ACNM 58thAnnual Meeting celebrates our diversity of practice, perspectives, and backgrounds, and calls on us to channel these strengths in new and more effective ways to enhance the health care of women throughout the lifespan.

The midwifery profession has a vibrant history of championing the unique gifts, rights, and needs of every individual woman. In 2013, ACNM will explore how best to build on this history to create an effective national diversity strategy for our profession. As a kick-off, we are pleased to welcome premier speaker Beverly Malone, CEO of the National League for Nursing and one of Ebony Magazine's100 most influential African Americans. We are also proud to welcome closing premier speaker Ina May Gaskin. Thirty-five years after initial publication of her landmark work,Spiritual Midwifery, Gaskin continues to be an articulate champion for normal physiologic birth, midwifery, and for increased national focus on the persistent tragedy of maternal mortality.

Women need midwives more than ever before. Under the Affordable Care Act, more women will have access to care than ever before, and yet midwives still fight for the ability to practice to the full extent of their education and training, while, at the same time, half of US counties have no OBGYNs. A recent ACNM survey shows that most women aren't getting the kind of health care they want and need. The evidence is clear that midwives, with our commitment to normal, physiologic birth and woman-centered care throughout the lifespan, will be an ever-more important part of the solution.

It's a critical moment in time for our profession. Don't miss this opportunity to add your harmony to the rising voice of midwifery!

 

Tracks for the ACNM 58th Annual Meeting & Exposition

 

  • Clinical Issues? Learn to apply the latest research to everyday care, and the best practices in primary care, patient education, pharmacology, and more.
  • Education? Are you a teacher preceptor, or mentor? Choose the education track to learn how you can enhance your students' experience.
  • Global Midwifery? Get started in international work or help prepare qualified midwives to work abroad. You'll learn about new maternal and newborn health projects, how to give care in a limited resource setting, and the latest international health research.
  • The Business of Midwifery? Many midwives are also small business owners. Perfect your understanding of professional liability, how to get paid, quality standards, and marketing.
  • The Public Perception of Midwifery? We want the whole country to know about and value midwives, and this starts with midwives understanding and getting involved with legislation and promoting our profession.
  • Students? Students are the future of midwifery. Take advantage of opportunities to study for the national certification exam, review skills, and learn how to find the right job.
  • Research? Stay on the cutting edge of the latest research topics related to clinical and international practice and support your colleagues who work in research and academia.