News

Spring 2006

Welcome to the Incoming Nurse Midwifery 2006/2007 Class
Eight students make up this group including a diverse group from outside the Greater Kansas City area. Students include: Julie Smith, Gail Mayberger, Melissa Curtice from Kansas City area; Denise Nickel from Topeka, KS; Terri Jones from Lawrence, KS; Jenny Swanson from Wichita, KS; and post masters students Kathy Weir from Johnson, KS; and Tammy Meisel from Lakin, KS. (See photos)

Conference News:
The Greater Kansas City V-18 Chapter of the ACNM will be hosting the 11th annual Midwife means with Woman conference on March 3 and 4th, 2006 at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park, KS. Featured speakers include MFM physician Dr. Elizabeth Wickstrom (an honored guest speaker for 11 years); Harriet Hartigan (Internationally known birth photographer, author and speaker); and Dr. Steven Nakajima (Reproductive Endrocrinology Professor from University of Louisville).

The 51st annual ACNM meeting will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 26 to June 1, 2006. Early bird deadline for reduced registration fees is March 17th. More information about the annual meeting and to register, visit www.midwife.org

Student Scholarships:
Students should visit the ACNM website for many student opportunities related to the Annual meeting and scholarship awards. These awards include the Varney student scholarship, and Basic student scholarships. The ACNM Region V-18 conference will also have scholarship award opportunity for midwifery students in attendance.

Alumni Updates:
The KU Midwifery Alumni held their first "Welcome to Midwifery" dinner on February 2nd at the home of Ginger Breedlove. Alumni attending included: Kimberly Negrete (Class 01), Jeane Ward (Class 02), Susan Cohen and Terrah Stroda (Class 03), and Cara Busenhart (Class 04). A great meal included getting to know each other, news about midwifery practice in Kansas, and a birthday celebration for Judie Wika, Senior Midwifery Faculty. (See photos)

Class 05 Updates:
Samantha Nardella is busy working in her new position in Overland Park, KS with the office of Dr. Jim Mirabile. Torri Edwards is working as a CNM in Minnesota, and Liz Itote is pursuing a CNM position in the D.C. area at this time. Congratulations to them all!

Political News:
The Missouri Legislature is considering a bill, HB 974, on legalization of direct-entry midwifery this session and has passed the Children and Families House Committee. Region V-18 has sent a chapter letter responding to this bill and will continue to track work-ups and progress. The Kansas Legislature is reviewing issues concerning maternal child health including: Newborn screening, birth defects surveillance, family planning waivers and Medicaid reimbursement. Terrah Pendarvis, CNM is working the national ACNM office to coordinate a State Capitol Lobby day for Kansas and Missouri sometime this Spring, stay tuned!

Ginger Breedlove, PhD, CNM Program Director

Recent activities:

Alumni dinner for new students

Class 07:
Names front row left to right: Melissa Curtice, Tammy Meisel, Gail Mayberger, Denise Nickel
Back row left to right: Kathy Weir and Julie Smith

Denise Fryzelka (Midwifery Faculty) and Julie Smith

Students 07 Melissa Curtice, Kathy Weir and Tammy Meisel