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ACNM Awards

ACNM Awards

2025 Awards Nomination Period Is OPEN Through July 1, 2025

Submit Award Nomination

If you have questions about the ACNM awards, please contact Liliana Mecke at [email protected] for further assistance.

Lifetime Visionary Award  (Previously Known as the Hattie Award)

The Lifetime Visionary Award honors an exceptional CNM/CM who is an ACNM member, has been certified for at least ten years, and has provided either continuous outstanding contributions or distinguished service to midwifery and/or MCH, or contributions of historical significance to the development and advancement of midwifery, ACNM, or MCH. **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Excellence in Leadership and Innovation Award  (Previously Known as the Kitty Award)

The Excellence in Leadership and Innovation Award honors an exceptional, relatively new CNM/CM who is an ACNM member, has been certified for less than ten years, and has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and/or women’s health clinical practice, education, administration, or research.  **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Additional Awards

The following awards are not necessarily given yearly and there may be more than one recipient in a given year. Nominations must come from an ACNM member or staff. Nominees may be a CNM/CM, ACNM staff, other professional or a consumer. If the nominee is a CNM/CM, then he/she must be an ACNM member in good standing. 

Exemplary Partner Award 

This award honors an individual and/or organization partner that aided in the development and advancement of midwifery. 

Health Equity Award 

This award honors an exceptional CNM/CM who is an ACNM member and has provided outstanding contributions in advancing health equity and eliminating health disparities through clinical practice, education, administration, scholarship, research, community building, or advocacy. **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes a CNM/CM who is an ACNM member for an unusual and exemplary effort in the field of community service, innovation in midwifery practice, education or research. **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Media Award

This award honors a media event, a book, a film, an expression of art that presented midwifery in an accurate and positive manner and in doing so helped to promote the profession of midwifery. The nominee need not be a CNM/CM.  **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Public Policy Award

This award recognizes legislative, regulatory or health policy effort that furthered the profession of midwifery or has a significant impact on the practice of midwifery either nationally or locally. The nominee need not be a CNM/CM. **Sitting Board of Directors members are not eligible for this award.

Outstanding Preceptor Award

This award honors a preceptor of student CNM/CMs who has shown outstanding qualities for leadership and teaching, been a mentor for multiple students, and has repeatedly promoted high standards of midwifery education. Nominations will be submitted by educational programs. The preceptor need not be a CNM/CM. If the preceptor is a CNM/CM, ACNM membership is required. 

Excellence in Teaching Award

This award honors one teacher from each ACME pre-accredited/accredited education program who has shown outstanding qualities for teaching, who has inspired students to excel and who repeatedly promoted high standards of midwifery education. The nominee need not be a CNM/CM. If the nominee is a CNM/CM, ACNM membership is required. 

Regional Awards

The following awards are presented by the ACNM BOD Regional Representatives at any time during the year with the exception of the Exemplary Affiliate Award, which is presented at the ACNM Annual Meeting. Submission criteria is listed for each award.

Exemplary Affiliate Award

This award is decided by the Regional Representative and the National Office staff and given to an affiliate that demonstrates one of the following:

  • Exemplified aspects of effective member communication and organizational structure
  • Tackled a challenging project
  • Actively engaged members in effecting a positive change in legislation
  • Overall, represented the ACNM Vision, Mission, and Values on the affiliate level

Clinical Stars Awards

This award is given in honor of midwives in clinical practice for 25 or more years who are members of ACNM and who have demonstrated excellence in clinical practice and positive mentoring of other CNM/CMs.

“Midwifing Midwives for a Lifetime” Commendation

This honor recognizes midwifery education programs that have educated midwifery students, increased access to midwifery education through innovation and service and put the heart of midwifery into their educational program. Award applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

With Women for a Lifetime Commendation

This honor recognizes midwifery services that have provided innovative and compassionate midwifery care to families, expanded access to women’s health care as provided by certified nurse-midwives and/or certified midwives, and put the heart of midwifery into practice.

Every midwifery practice is eligible to apply for one silver (at least ten years of service) and golden (at least twenty years of service) commendation, and one platinum (at least 40 years of service) commendation.

There are also scholarships, awards, and opportunities available from the A.C.N.M. Foundation.

If you have questions about the ACNM awards, please contact Lily Mecke at [email protected] for further assistance. 

ACNM Award Winners

The A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc. Awards, Scholarships, and Grants

Learn More

Midwives and student midwives are the prime beneficiaries of the Foundation’s mission-related support through scholarships, awards, and grants for:  

  • students enrolled in ACME-accredited midwifery education programs.  
  • midwives pursuing research-based and practice-based doctoral education.   
  • research conducted by midwives or about midwifery.  
  • business skill development for midwifery practice leaders.  
  • advancement of global health competencies and experience for midwives.   
  • diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within midwifery; and,   
  • innovative community-based projects around the world.    
 

The Foundation also supports various education, research, practice, and leadership initiatives that advance the profession of midwifery overall, often in collaboration with other mission-aligned organizations, including the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). 

jMWH Awards

Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health Best Article of the Year Awards

The Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health (JMWH) Best Original Research Article Award and Best Review Article Award are given annually to honor authors for contributions to the Journal that enhance midwifery and women’s health through publication. Prior to 2012, a single Best Article of the Year Award was given.

Best Research Article

Nicole S. Carlson, CNM, PhD, Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, Nancy K. Lowe, CNM, PhD
Labor Intervention and Outcomes in Women Who Are Nulliparous and Obese: Comparison of Nurse-Midwife to Obstetrician Care
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2017; 62(1):29-39

Best Review Article

Loren Fields, WHNP-BC, MSN, Alison Hathaway, WHNP-BC, MSN
Key Concepts in Pregnancy of Unknown Location: Identifying Ectopic Pregnancy and Providing Patient-Centered Care
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2017; 62(2):172-179

Best Research Article

Marit L. Bovbjerg, PhD, MS, Melissa Cheyney, PhD, CPM, LDM, and Courtney Everson, MA, PhD
Maternal and Newborn Outcomes Following Waterbirth: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project, 2004 to 2009 Cohort
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2016; 61(1):11’20

Best Review Article

Cheri Van Hoover, CNM, MS and Lisa Holt, RN, MSN, MS

Midwifing the End of Life: Expanding the Scope of Modern Midwifery Practice to Reclaim Palliative Care

Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2016; 61(3):306?314

Best Research Article

Carmen Giurgescu, PhD, RN, WHNP, Christopher G. Engeland, PhD, Thomas N. Templin, PhD
Symptoms of Depression Predict Negative Birth Outcomes in African American Women: A Pilot Study
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2015;60(5) (September/October 2015)

Best Review Article

Robyn Schafer, CNM, MSN, RN, EdM, IBCLC, Catherine Watson Genna, BS, IBCLC
Physiologic Breastfeeding: A Contemporary Approach to Breastfeeding Initiation
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2015;60(5) (September/October 2015)

Best Research Article

Jeremy L. Neal, CNM, PhD, Jane M. Lamp, MS, RN-BC, CNS, Jacalyn S. Buck, RN, PhD, Nancy K. Lowe, CNM, PhD, FACNM, FAAN, Shannon Gillespie, MS, RN, Sharon L. Ryan, CNM, DNP
Outcomes of Nulliparous Women with Spontaneous Labor Onset Admitted to Hospitals in Preactive Versus Active Labor
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2014;59(1) (January/February 2014)

Best Review Article

Whitney Pinger, CNM, MSN, FACNM, Tekoa L. King, CNM, MPH, FACNM
Evidence-based Practice for Intrapartum Care: The Pearls of Midwifery
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2014;59(6) (November/December 2014)

Best Research Article

Susan Rutledge Stapleton, CNM, DNP, FACNM, Cara Osborne, CNM, SD, Jessica Illuzzi, MD,MS, FACOG
Outcomes of Care in Birth Centers: Demonstration of a Durable Model
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2013;58(1) (January/February 2013)

Best Review Article

Joanna Bloomfield, MPH, Sharon Schindler Rising, CNM, MSN, FACNM
CenteringParenting: An Innovative Dyad Model for Group Mother-infant Care
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health. 2013;58(6) (November/December 2013)

Best Research Article

Cara Osborne, CNM, MSN, SD; Jeffrey L. Ecker, MD; Kimberlee Gauvreau, ScD; and Ellice Lieberman, MD, DrPH
First Birth Cesarean and Risk of Antepartum Fetal Death in a Subsequent Pregnancy
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2012;57(1) (January/February 2012)

Best Review Article

Katrina Alef Thorstensen, CNM, MSN, and Debra L. Birenbaum, MD
Recognition and Management of Vulvar Dermatologic Conditions: Lichen Sclerosus, Lichen Planus, and Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2012;57(3) (May/June 2012)

Best Research Article

Cheryl Tatano Beck, CNM, DNSc, Robert K. Gable, EdD, Carol Sakala, PhD, MSPH,
Eugene R. Declercq, PhD, MBA
Postpartum Depressive Symptomatology: Results from a Two-Stage US National Survey
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2011; 56(5):427-435.

Best Review Article

Megan K. Kloetzel, MD, MPH, Colleen E. Huebner, PhD, MPH, Peter Milgrom, DDS
Referrals for Dental Care During Pregnancy
Journal of Midwifery & Women?s Health 2011; 56(2): 110?117.

Leissa Roberts, CNM, DNP, Brenda Gulliver, RN, MS, Janet Fisher, RNC, BSN, and Kristin G. Cloyes, RN, PhD
The Coping with Labor Algorithm: An Alternate Pain Assessment Tool for the Laboring Woman
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2010; 55(3):107-116

Gwen Latendresse, CNM, PhD
The Interaction Between Chronic Stress and Pregnancy: Preterm Birth from A Biobehavioral Perspective
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2009;54(1):8-17

Patricia Aikins Murphy, CNM, DrPH, FACNM, Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS, Jane M. Dyer, CNM, MS
Cervical Cancer Screening Practices of Certified Nurse-Midwives in the United States Journal of Midwifery &Women’s Health 2008;53(1):11-18

Barbara Hackley CNM, MSN, Abigail Feinstein CNM, MSN and Jane Dixon, PhD
Air Pollution: Impact on Maternal and Perinatal Health
Journal of Midwifery &Women’s Health 2007;52(5):435-443

Katharine K. O’Dell, CNM, PhD
Common Problems of Urination in Nonpregnant Women: Causes, Current Management, and Prevention
JMWH;51(3):159-73

Leah Albers, CNM, DrPH, FACNM, FAAN
Midwifery Care Measures in the Second Stage of Labor and Reduction of Genital Tract Trauma at Birth: a Randomized Trial
JMWH;50(5):

Barbara L. McFarlin, CNM, MS, RDMS
Elective cesarean birth: Issues and ethics of an informed decision.
JMWH;49(5):

Lisa Kane Low, CNM, PhD, FACNM; Karin Martin, PhD; Carolyn Sampselle, RNC, PhD, FAAN; Barbara Guthrie, RN, PhD; and Deborah Oakley, PhD
Adolescents? Experiences of Childbirth: Contrasts with Adults
JMWH2003;48:192’98

Julie Mottl-Santiago, CNM, MPH
Women?s Public Health Policy in the 21st Century
JMWH 2002;47:228’38

Catherine Carr, CNM, DrPH; Pat Burkhardt, CNM, DrPH; and Melissa Avery, CNM, PhD
Vaginal Birth after Cesarean Birth: A National Survey of US Midwifery Practice.
JMWH 2002;47:347’53

Cara J. Krulewitch,CNM, PhD; Marie Lydie Pierre-Louis, MD; Regina de Leon-Gomez, MD;
Richard Guy, MD; and Richard Green, MD
Hidden from View: Violent Deaths among Pregnant Women in the District of Columbia 1988?1996.
JMWH 2001;46:4’10

Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, FACNM
A Model of Exemplary Midwifery Practice Results of a Delphi Study.
JMWH 2000;45:4’19

Cindy Belew, CNM
Herbs and the Childbearing Woman: Guidelines for Midwives
JNM 1999; 44:231’52

Leah Albers, CNM, DrPH, FACNM on behalf of The CNM Data Group
Midwifery Management of Pain in Labor
JNM 1998;43:77’82

Current Issues in the Midwifery Management of Women Living with HIV/AIDS.
Aileen MacLaren, CNM, PhD and Wendy Imberg, MN, ARNP
JNM 1999;43:502’25

Deborah S. Walker, CNM, DNSc and Deborah Koniak-Griffin, RN, EdD, FAAN
Evaluation of a Reduced-Frequency Prenatal Visit Schedule for Low-Risk Women at a Free-Standing Birthing Center.
JNM 1997;42:295’303

Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health Mary Ann Shah New Author Award

The Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health Mary Ann Shah New Author Award is given annually in honor of the accomplishments of Mary Ann Shah, CNM, MS, FACNM, Editor Emeritus of the Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health (JMWH), and recognizes her outstanding achievements as Editor-in-Chief for 25 years. This award is given annually to an author who published an original research or review article as the first/primary author for the first time in JMWH in the preceding year.

Katie Page, CNM, MSN

Examination of the Pharmacology of Oxytocin and Clinical Guidelines for Use in Labor co-authored with William F. McCool CNM, PhD and Mamie Guidera CNM, MSN Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health
2017; 62(4):425-433

Jyesha Wren Serbin, CNM, WHNP-BC, MS

The Impact of Racism and Midwifery’s Lack of Racial Diversity: A Literature Review co-authored with Elizabeth Donnelly, CNM, WHNP BC, MS Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2016;61(6):694-706

Simon Adriane Ellis, CNM, MSN

Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth Experiences of Male and
Gender Variant Gestational Parents: It’s How We Could Have a Family
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2015;60(1) (January/February 2015)

Dorothy Brewin, CNM, PhD

Using a Life Course Model to Examine Racial Disparities in
Low Birth Weight During Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2014;59(4)
(July/August 2014)

Kathie L. Lloyd, CNM, MSN, RN, CNS

Protecting Pregnant Women, Newborns, and Families from
Pertussis
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2013;58(3) (May/June 2013)

Jeanne Murphy, CNM, MSN

Cervical Cancer Screening in the Era of Human Papillomavirus
Testing and Vaccination
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2012;57(6)

Annette Manant, CNM, MN, APRN

CenteringPregnancy: An Integrative Literature Review
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2011;
56(2): 94-102

Jeremy Neal, CNM, PhD, RNC

‘Active Labor’ Duration and Dilation Rates Among Low-Risk, Nulliparous Women With Spontaneous Labor Onset: A Systematic Review Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2010; 55(4):308-318

Kim J. Cox, CNM, PhD

Midwifery and Health Disparities: Theories and Intersections
Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2009;54(1):57-64

Peggy Rosati Allen, CNM, WHNP, MS

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Implications for Women and their Health Care Providers During the Childbearing Years Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2008;53(4):289-301

Felicia Mancini CNM, MPH, MSN

Use of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale in a Collaborative Obstetric Practice Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health 2007;52(5):429-34

Cynthia
Tara Ferguson, CNM, MSN Providing Quality Care to the Sexual Assault Survivor: Education and Training for Medical Professionals JMWH;51(6):486-92

Gwen Latendresse, CNM, MS
A Description of the Management and Outcomes of Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Birth in the Homebirth Setting JMWH;50(5):

Jennifer Foster, CNM, PhD

Fatherhood and the meaning of children: An ethnographic study among Puerto Rican partners of adolescent mothers JMWH;49(2):

Stacey M. Smalley

Breast Implants and Breast Cancer Screening JMWH;48(5):

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