News

Archive

Fall 2008

With fall comes a time to reflect on changing seasons, and what we are thankful for as we approach the holiday season. Please enjoy learning about the program growth and alumni activities.

• The KU program is growing rapidly with interested applicants and accepted students into the midwifery specialty track. The current class of 10 students will graduate in May 2009 and include a diverse range of women from outside Kansas City, as well as two post masters FNP students. They are actively preparing for their Integration capstone experience and future employment positions. Pictures capture students learning advanced skills on simulation models Baby Hal and Noelle® at KU SON. The cohort of students beginning midwifery in spring 2009 now includes 7 students; the class of 2010 is at 8 students enrolled to date, and one student is enrolled for a 2011 midwifery start. We are so excited that the program is growing and that most of our alumni are working full-scope midwifery throughout the Midwest. (See student pictures)

• KU Midwifery Preceptors grow with the growth of students! New preceptors that have joined the KU Faculty include: Deborah Cuthill, CNM, Saint Luke’s Plaza Residents’ Clinic, KC MO; Pam Auman, CNM Clinic for Women, KC, MO; and the Mayo Clinic Midwives, Rochester, MN. Our continued appreciation is also extended to on-going KU preceptors: Jill Fuert, Lindsay O’Neil, Crystal Murphy, Cara Busenhart, Marcia Schlotman, Julie Talley, Marilyn Maier, Kim Anderson, Sheila Roth, Cathy Gordon, Kim Keen, Manya Schmidt, Rebecca Otte, Sherri Franklin, Ky Kuntz, Sally Pritchett, Tucker Allen, Norla Todd, Gail Gray, and Kimberly Negrete.

• Terrah Stroda was recently supported at a fundraiser with many students and alumni joining in the out “pouring” of support for Terrah and her family. We are all beside Terrah in this journey and have learned so much through her willingness to share and speak out on breast cancer. (See pictures)

• Nurse midwifery week was celebrated in Kansas City at the Greater KC Chapter meeting with the in-person signing by Kansas City, MO Mayor Mark Funkhouser for national “Nurse Midwifery Week” on October 8th at Ruth Chris Steakhouse.

• Military Midwives Hold Week-Long Celebration
  Our awesome team of midwives at Irwin Army Community Hospital at Fort Riley, KS, were so excited for National Midwifery Week that we made every day a celebration at our hospital. A press release was printed the Friday before in the Fort Riley Post Paper. On Monday we held our first community birthday party for the women, babies, and families we have served. Our guest speaker was Mrs. Judie Wika, CNM, and first nurse-midwife on record with the state of KS attending the first baby (by a midwife) in KS. Our Deputy Commander and Chief Nurse also signed a Midwifery Week Proclamation. We celebrated with cake, ice cream and punch, and music and gave away toys and ACNM bibs for the babies. Tuesday and Thursday we showcased midwifery services at our facility with a lobby display. Wednesday we held a potluck breakfast for our clinic and staff and read our favorite midwifery and birth poems. Our staff and physicians then surprised us with cards and gifts. We are truly blessed to work at such a wonderful facility with such awesome staff and physician and administrative support. Submitted by: Kyanna Kuntz, CNM (See photo)

• Upcoming meeting dates!
• December 10th, Wednesday Evening – Tentatively sponsored holiday meeting for Greater KC ACNM Chapter – TBD
• January 2009 – Kansas Chapter of ACNM to meet in Kansas City, TBA
• March 2009 – UMKC hosted Women’s Health Conference. March 26/27th, 2009. Sheraton Overland Park, KS This will include CNM CE credit. NO ACNM Region V-18 CNM conference will be held this year. Please think about attending this relevant OB/GYN Kansas City conference, and receive ACNM credit. See www.devsys.org for more information and registration! We hope to see MANY midwives and students there.
• May 22 – 26th, 2009   54th ACNM Annual meeting – Seattle, WA

• News of Ginger’s departure as Program Director: It is with bittersweet emotion that I have decided to leave KU and head to a new adventure in leadership in May of next year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at KU, the faculty, growth of our program, and most of all helping give ‘birth’ to new midwives working in all corners of the U.S. and world. For those who know me, about every 10 years or so a new drive wells within me to take on a new leadership/visionary opportunity. I was not quite feeling that urge at this moment in time, particularly as Terrah Stroda just joined KU this January to be mentored as our future program director. However, I received a phone call from a Search Committee that led me down a path that is calling me in many ways. I have accepted a newly created position as Academic Associate Dean of Saint Luke’s College of Nursing affiliated with the Saint Luke’s Health system in KC, MO. This position will allow me to facilitate innovative curriculum for pre-licensure nursing students and be a part in the evolution of a College of Health Professions. I know that growing midwifery is multi-faceted, and influencing young students beginning nursing is a key time. So, I do believe I will continue to carry the torch of recruiting future midwives into the profession. I also will remain active in practice working at KC Free Health clinic, and planning international midwifery/maternal child health experiences for all levels of health professions students (so midwifery students get ready for some overseas trips). I will continue to work at KU through May, 2009 to assist in the completion of our 10 current midwifery students. The KU Administrative team, Terrah and I are working on transition activities, and finding a new faculty member to replace my position. I know the program will remain strong, continue to be facilitated by passionate midwives, and carry the philosophy of educating midwives to serve childbearing families and women in the spirit which only midwives do!

Happy & Blessed Holidays to everyone!

Ginger

Archive