Neva Gerke, LM, CPM, MSM - MAWS President
Neva is a graduate of Bastyr University with a Master of Science in Midwifery. She has dedicated herself to learning the trade and art of midwifery while participating in midwifery activism on a state and national level. Neva is the owner and midwife at Laoch Midwifery in Tacoma, WA where she is committed to creating a safe environment for all pregnant people and their families.
Kat Potthoff, LM, CPM - MAWS Vice President
It is said that midwifery is a calling. Kat’s decision to become a midwife was born from a deep feeling of being called to it. Prior stepping into the world of birth, Kat received a BA in Psychology and spent nearly a decade nurturing the growth and development of children as a childcare provider. She began attending births in 2009 as a birth and postpartum doula, inspired to serve and support the journey from womb to world and transition to parenthood. Moved to offer more choices to pregnant people and her community, Kat completed her midwifery education at Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery, a MEAC-accredited school in San Diego, CA, and apprenticed with two midwives in Los Angeles. She currently holds licenses in both Washington and California. Kat’s passion for midwifery is rooted in providing evidence based care while tending the emotional and physical changes during pregnancy and birth. It is a deep honor for Kat to accompany her clients through the tenderness and vulnerability of pregnancy and birth. As a member of the MAWS board, Kat hopes to serve to create more structure for local midwives in promoting relationships, building networks of community support and self-care.
Kat Potthoff, LM, CPM - MAWS Vice President
It is said that midwifery is a calling. Kat’s decision to become a midwife was born from a deep feeling of being called to it. Prior stepping into the world of birth, Kat received a BA in Psychology and spent nearly a decade nurturing the growth and development of children as a childcare provider. She began attending births in 2009 as a birth and postpartum doula, inspired to serve and support the journey from womb to world and transition to parenthood. Moved to offer more choices to pregnant people and her community, Kat completed her midwifery education at Nizhoni Institute of Midwifery, a MEAC-accredited school in San Diego, CA, and apprenticed with two midwives in Los Angeles. She currently holds licenses in both Washington and California. Kat’s passion for midwifery is rooted in providing evidence based care while tending the emotional and physical changes during pregnancy and birth. It is a deep honor for Kat to accompany her clients through the tenderness and vulnerability of pregnancy and birth. As a member of the MAWS board, Kat hopes to serve to create more structure for local midwives in promoting relationships, building networks of community support and self-care.
Beth Arcese, MA, LM, CPM - MAWS Treasurer
Beth recently graduated with the first cohort in the new Maternal Child Health Systems program at Bastyr University. Her independent project focused on exploring opportunities and barriers to including Licensed Midwives as care providers in Federally Qualified Health Centers in Washington State. Beth is passionate about reducing barriers to access to the midwifery model and to improving care for marginalized populations in Washington and across the nation. She has a solo home and birth center practice, Salish Sea Midwifery, in Bellingham, WA. Practicing as an LM and CPM since 2012 has only increased her passion for improving health systems that support the midwifery model. Beth recognizes that MAWS has played a significant role in making midwifery viable as a profession in Washington. She looks forward to supporting continued development of the organization, the profession, and access for Washington’s childbearing population. Being a solo midwife, mother of three humans and three cats keeps her heart full and her schedule . . . interesting.
Tiffani Hoffman, LM, CPM - MAWS Secretary
Tiffani Hoffman, LM, CPM, graduated from Midwives College of Utah in November 2016 and has been licensed since January 2017. She is a midwife at Laoch Midwifery in Tacoma, WA. Tiffani is very passionate about all things childbirth and family related and has previously worked with families as a DONA certified Doula and ICEA Childbirth Educator. She looks forward to becoming an active participant in ensuring the sustainability and accessibility of midwifery to those in our communities, state, and nation; hopefully with a balance that midwives can achieve longevity in this vital career. She lives in Puyallup with her husband and eight children. In her ‘free time’, Tiffani loves to enjoy the beautiful NW, camp with her family, read a book, binge watch K-drama, or just sleep.
Tiffani Hoffman, LM, CPM, graduated from Midwives College of Utah in November 2016 and has been licensed since January 2017. She is a midwife at Laoch Midwifery in Tacoma, WA. Tiffani is very passionate about all things childbirth and family related and has previously worked with families as a DONA certified Doula and ICEA Childbirth Educator. She looks forward to becoming an active participant in ensuring the sustainability and accessibility of midwifery to those in our communities, state, and nation; hopefully with a balance that midwives can achieve longevity in this vital career. She lives in Puyallup with her husband and eight children. In her ‘free time’, Tiffani loves to enjoy the beautiful NW, camp with her family, read a book, binge watch K-drama, or just sleep.
Claire Catania, midwifery consumer
Claire Catania, Midwifery Consumer, originally from the Midwest, has a master's degree in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon, where she specialized in resource development and nonprofit entrepreneurship. She brings significant board experience, having served as a board member with the Wellsprings Friends School, Oregon Research Institute, and Women's Choral Society (all in Eugene, Oregon). After moving to Seattle with her husband in 2014, and the out-of-hospital birth of her daughter in 2017, she has become a passionate advocate for midwifery care. She strongly believes in the MAWS mission to promote reproductive health and well-being, especially the role that midwifery has to play in dismantling institutional racism in healthcare. She currently works as the development director for an environmental nonprofit in Seattle and, as a volunteer, co-leads a monthly support group for arthritis patients.
Claire Catania, Midwifery Consumer, originally from the Midwest, has a master's degree in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon, where she specialized in resource development and nonprofit entrepreneurship. She brings significant board experience, having served as a board member with the Wellsprings Friends School, Oregon Research Institute, and Women's Choral Society (all in Eugene, Oregon). After moving to Seattle with her husband in 2014, and the out-of-hospital birth of her daughter in 2017, she has become a passionate advocate for midwifery care. She strongly believes in the MAWS mission to promote reproductive health and well-being, especially the role that midwifery has to play in dismantling institutional racism in healthcare. She currently works as the development director for an environmental nonprofit in Seattle and, as a volunteer, co-leads a monthly support group for arthritis patients.
Felicia Dunbar, LM
I have always been fascinated by the medical profession. When I was growing up I wanted to be everything from a brain surgeon to an ER nurse. I didn’t discover midwifery until I began to have my own children. Through the birth of my 4 children, two in hospital, one at a freestanding birth center and my last one at home, I discovered that I had a passion for birth. This was not simply a wanting to be part of it, it was a calling to the profession of serving women and babies. Having had four children myself, I have seen and felt that each birth experience is special and unique no matter what the circumstances, or how many times you do it.
When my youngest was just a year old I returned to school for midwifery, first to Everett Community college and then on to Bastyr University where I received my Master’s of Science in Midwifery with an emphasis in Botanical Medicine. Throughout my training I was able to work with many wonderful midwives, including Andrea Henderson LM, CPM, IBCLC from Northshore Midwives, the Eastside Midwives at Puget Sound Birth center and also did training at Providence Portland with a CNM. The botanical side of my training spanned two years and include extensive knowledge about plants and their medicinal uses throughout the childbearing years.
I am very excited to be serving in the communities that I have called home for over 15 years, and had my own babies in. I am honored to be a midwife and to support and help guide families through the transitions of pregnancy, labor and parenthood.
I have always been fascinated by the medical profession. When I was growing up I wanted to be everything from a brain surgeon to an ER nurse. I didn’t discover midwifery until I began to have my own children. Through the birth of my 4 children, two in hospital, one at a freestanding birth center and my last one at home, I discovered that I had a passion for birth. This was not simply a wanting to be part of it, it was a calling to the profession of serving women and babies. Having had four children myself, I have seen and felt that each birth experience is special and unique no matter what the circumstances, or how many times you do it.
When my youngest was just a year old I returned to school for midwifery, first to Everett Community college and then on to Bastyr University where I received my Master’s of Science in Midwifery with an emphasis in Botanical Medicine. Throughout my training I was able to work with many wonderful midwives, including Andrea Henderson LM, CPM, IBCLC from Northshore Midwives, the Eastside Midwives at Puget Sound Birth center and also did training at Providence Portland with a CNM. The botanical side of my training spanned two years and include extensive knowledge about plants and their medicinal uses throughout the childbearing years.
I am very excited to be serving in the communities that I have called home for over 15 years, and had my own babies in. I am honored to be a midwife and to support and help guide families through the transitions of pregnancy, labor and parenthood.
Kristin Eggleston, LM, CPM
Kristin graduated from MCU in 2009 and started her homebirth practice in rural south central Washington. Kristin started her path to midwifery with the homebirth of her son in 2002. This was the impetus that linked her previous interest in medicine and anthropology with her new interest in natural health and parenting. She now has offices in Prosser and Yakima and works closely with midwives in Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities. She has been on the MAWS Board since 2014 as the Member Services Chair and a member of the Legislative-Policy Committee. She now lives with her husband, Bryce, and their busy, blended family of five kids and two dogs, in Prosser.
Kristin graduated from MCU in 2009 and started her homebirth practice in rural south central Washington. Kristin started her path to midwifery with the homebirth of her son in 2002. This was the impetus that linked her previous interest in medicine and anthropology with her new interest in natural health and parenting. She now has offices in Prosser and Yakima and works closely with midwives in Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities. She has been on the MAWS Board since 2014 as the Member Services Chair and a member of the Legislative-Policy Committee. She now lives with her husband, Bryce, and their busy, blended family of five kids and two dogs, in Prosser.
Mariah Falin, CD(PALS), Midwifery Consumer
Mariah Falin, CD(PALS) has been a practicing doula in the Seattle area since 2013. She became a consumer of midwifery care with her second birth and has been a longtime advocate for the midwifery model of care. She is a current member of the board of PALS Doulas and has strengthened existing ties and created new opportunities for collaboration in our local perinatal community. Her colleagues describe her as a connector and valuable community resource. She lives in a tiny home in Lynnwood with her partner of 18 years, their two boys, black lab and cat.
Mariah Falin, CD(PALS) has been a practicing doula in the Seattle area since 2013. She became a consumer of midwifery care with her second birth and has been a longtime advocate for the midwifery model of care. She is a current member of the board of PALS Doulas and has strengthened existing ties and created new opportunities for collaboration in our local perinatal community. Her colleagues describe her as a connector and valuable community resource. She lives in a tiny home in Lynnwood with her partner of 18 years, their two boys, black lab and cat.
Deborah Gleisner, ND, LM, CPM
Deborah’s first birth experience was the pitocin-laced, epidural-driven hospital birth of her best friend’s son in 1995. She immediately recognized the value of individualized, continuous support during pregnancy and childbirth without even knowing what a doula was. She supported her friend as a doula through two more hospital births and learned how much she enjoyed educating parents about their options and advocating for their decisions.
Deborah’s degrees in Midwifery and Naturopathic Medicine are from Bastyr University. She trained with a number of midwives in the Seattle area, including Chris at Eastside Birth Center. Deborah moved to California upon graduation and opened Dragonfly Natural Health in Marina Del Rey, where she provided home birth services and naturopathic healthcare to celebrity and medicaid clients alike for more than seven years. After her daughter Arya was born, Deborah chose to return to the Pacific Northwest, land of trees, rain and warm fuzzy sweaters. You will often find Deborah at a birth knitting in the corner and snacking on chocolate.
Deborah’s first birth experience was the pitocin-laced, epidural-driven hospital birth of her best friend’s son in 1995. She immediately recognized the value of individualized, continuous support during pregnancy and childbirth without even knowing what a doula was. She supported her friend as a doula through two more hospital births and learned how much she enjoyed educating parents about their options and advocating for their decisions.
Deborah’s degrees in Midwifery and Naturopathic Medicine are from Bastyr University. She trained with a number of midwives in the Seattle area, including Chris at Eastside Birth Center. Deborah moved to California upon graduation and opened Dragonfly Natural Health in Marina Del Rey, where she provided home birth services and naturopathic healthcare to celebrity and medicaid clients alike for more than seven years. After her daughter Arya was born, Deborah chose to return to the Pacific Northwest, land of trees, rain and warm fuzzy sweaters. You will often find Deborah at a birth knitting in the corner and snacking on chocolate.
Charlee Haller, Student Midwife
Charlee graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2016. Shortly after, in response to an unwavering calling to birth work, she pursued her passion for midwifery and began her journey towards becoming a Licensed Midwife after relocating to Seattle and enrolling at Bastyr University in the Fall of 2017, and is scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2020. Charlee currently serves on the MAWS Board of Directors as a student representative, and anticipates future participation in advocacy and legislative work in an attempt to normalize out-of-hospital birth and help make midwifery care more accessible and inclusive. After graduation, she plans to return to her home in the California East Bay to practice midwifery (and her other love, photography) within her community.
Charlee graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2016. Shortly after, in response to an unwavering calling to birth work, she pursued her passion for midwifery and began her journey towards becoming a Licensed Midwife after relocating to Seattle and enrolling at Bastyr University in the Fall of 2017, and is scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2020. Charlee currently serves on the MAWS Board of Directors as a student representative, and anticipates future participation in advocacy and legislative work in an attempt to normalize out-of-hospital birth and help make midwifery care more accessible and inclusive. After graduation, she plans to return to her home in the California East Bay to practice midwifery (and her other love, photography) within her community.
Sunita Iyer, ND, LM
Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM is a licensed primary care naturopathic doctor and licensed midwife in the state of Washington. She earned her doctorate and midwifery training from Bastyr University. She served on the MAWS board from 2004-2010 as both a student and professional midwife, and left the board in 2010 to serve as both a member and Chair of the Midwifery Advisory Committee until 2015. She is currently in active clinical practice and is on faculty at the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. Her interests and expertise are in pediatrics, women’s health, and preconception & perinatal care. She loves seeing whole families from beginning to end, and enjoys a bit of the “town doctor” life. She runs an integrative clinic alongside her better half, Eastside Natural Medicine, in Kenmore, WA, and practices alongside many incredibly talented colleagues who share the love of caring for and encircling families. She is looking forward to serving the midwives of Washington State with some fresh eyes and a renewed perspective. Thank you!
Dr. Sunita Iyer ND, LM is a licensed primary care naturopathic doctor and licensed midwife in the state of Washington. She earned her doctorate and midwifery training from Bastyr University. She served on the MAWS board from 2004-2010 as both a student and professional midwife, and left the board in 2010 to serve as both a member and Chair of the Midwifery Advisory Committee until 2015. She is currently in active clinical practice and is on faculty at the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell. Her interests and expertise are in pediatrics, women’s health, and preconception & perinatal care. She loves seeing whole families from beginning to end, and enjoys a bit of the “town doctor” life. She runs an integrative clinic alongside her better half, Eastside Natural Medicine, in Kenmore, WA, and practices alongside many incredibly talented colleagues who share the love of caring for and encircling families. She is looking forward to serving the midwives of Washington State with some fresh eyes and a renewed perspective. Thank you!
Cynthia Jaffe, LM
I began my journey to midwifery with the birth of my own children in Israel, where midwifery was the standard of care for all healthy women. I began in the apprentice model, following an older, more experienced midwife until we moved to Whidbey Island and I attended what was then Seattle Midwifery School. I graduated in 1990, and immediately began a home birth practice. In 1992, I built a free-standing birth center and, since that time, have offered birth services in both settings.
I have delivered over 1200 babies in my 28 year career as a solo midwife, and am taking time now, with the help of my new partner Diana Miller, CPM, LM, to contribute to midwifery on the political level. I have been a tireless advocate for midwifery care and have lectured and written extensively over the years. I believe in midwifery care and want to contribute and further the amazing work MAWS has done over the years.
I began my journey to midwifery with the birth of my own children in Israel, where midwifery was the standard of care for all healthy women. I began in the apprentice model, following an older, more experienced midwife until we moved to Whidbey Island and I attended what was then Seattle Midwifery School. I graduated in 1990, and immediately began a home birth practice. In 1992, I built a free-standing birth center and, since that time, have offered birth services in both settings.
I have delivered over 1200 babies in my 28 year career as a solo midwife, and am taking time now, with the help of my new partner Diana Miller, CPM, LM, to contribute to midwifery on the political level. I have been a tireless advocate for midwifery care and have lectured and written extensively over the years. I believe in midwifery care and want to contribute and further the amazing work MAWS has done over the years.
Laura Kuhs, LM, CPM
Laura has been a CPM since 2010, and recently moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Kitsap Peninsula. Laura has previously served on the governing boards of the Midwives Alliance of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Midwifery Guild, where she gained legislative and lobbying experience in a particularly midwife-hostile region of the country. She is particularly interested in learning more about how Washington has come to have such a successful midwifery licensure program and helping to increase access to midwifery care in other parts of the country.
Laura has been a CPM since 2010, and recently moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to the Kitsap Peninsula. Laura has previously served on the governing boards of the Midwives Alliance of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Midwifery Guild, where she gained legislative and lobbying experience in a particularly midwife-hostile region of the country. She is particularly interested in learning more about how Washington has come to have such a successful midwifery licensure program and helping to increase access to midwifery care in other parts of the country.
Sara Lille-Lugo, Student Midwife
Juniper Moon, LM, CPM
Juniper Moon is a passionate midwife with an eagerness to serve. She provides support and outreach for families in South Seattle who continue to slip through the cracks, and is determined to address inequity and disparity in the POC and LGBTQ2S communities which she is apart of. Juniper believes that the process of becoming a parent is a sacred experience and should be reverenced as such. Therefore, it is her mission to facilitate a platform by which her community can be reminded of its unshakeable resilience through the unfolding of each client’s individual experience.
In Juniper’s spare time, she enjoys studying plant medicine and exploring the many ways we can facilitate self-healing using herbalism. She is thrilled to incorporate this work in her practice and share these traditional practices with her community.
Juniper graduated from Bastyr University with a Masters of Science in Midwifery in 2016. She is a Licensed Midwife in Washington and Louisiana and is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
Juniper Moon is a passionate midwife with an eagerness to serve. She provides support and outreach for families in South Seattle who continue to slip through the cracks, and is determined to address inequity and disparity in the POC and LGBTQ2S communities which she is apart of. Juniper believes that the process of becoming a parent is a sacred experience and should be reverenced as such. Therefore, it is her mission to facilitate a platform by which her community can be reminded of its unshakeable resilience through the unfolding of each client’s individual experience.
In Juniper’s spare time, she enjoys studying plant medicine and exploring the many ways we can facilitate self-healing using herbalism. She is thrilled to incorporate this work in her practice and share these traditional practices with her community.
Juniper graduated from Bastyr University with a Masters of Science in Midwifery in 2016. She is a Licensed Midwife in Washington and Louisiana and is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) through the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).
Susan Rainwater, MSW, Midwifery consumer
Susan Rainwater was raised in Montana and always knew she wanted to work in a helping field. She first received a Bachelor’s in Arts and Sciences with a double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology from Gonzaga University. She then went on to graduate with a Master’s in Social Work in Clinical Contextual Practice with a focus on Children and Families from the University of Washington. Following graduate school and over the next five years, Susan worked for the State of Washington as a Social Worker in child welfare, as a regional licensor for foster home agencies, and as a union representative working for employee rights. She and her partner later welcomed their first child in 2011 at the Puget Sound Birth Center in Kirkland. Then their additional children were all birthed at home in 2013, 2015, and 2018. During the past seven years, Susan has been a stay-at-home parent to her four amazing children along with the continual support of her stunningly handsome and entertaining partner, Mark.
Susan Rainwater was raised in Montana and always knew she wanted to work in a helping field. She first received a Bachelor’s in Arts and Sciences with a double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology from Gonzaga University. She then went on to graduate with a Master’s in Social Work in Clinical Contextual Practice with a focus on Children and Families from the University of Washington. Following graduate school and over the next five years, Susan worked for the State of Washington as a Social Worker in child welfare, as a regional licensor for foster home agencies, and as a union representative working for employee rights. She and her partner later welcomed their first child in 2011 at the Puget Sound Birth Center in Kirkland. Then their additional children were all birthed at home in 2013, 2015, and 2018. During the past seven years, Susan has been a stay-at-home parent to her four amazing children along with the continual support of her stunningly handsome and entertaining partner, Mark.
Jen Segadelli, JD, MSM
Jen graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2010. Her experience as a reproductive rights attorney in resource-constrained nations inspired her to further her professional interest in reproductive health and, in particular, maternal health and childbirth. International law, human rights advocacy, and reproductive rights were central to Jen’s interest in pursuing a legal career. Jen’s passion for maternal health and childbirth evolved as her reproductive rights work in Kenya pulled her closer to the inexcusable and highly preventable loss of mothers and infants in pregnancy and labor. In 2012, Jen traveled to Haiti to volunteer with Haitian midwives in a small community where she had the honor of serving pregnant persons during the prenatal and postpartum period, assisting experienced midwives during births, and learning local traditions and healing techniques from Haitian midwives and staff. As she could not imagine a more meaningful way to serve pregnant people and families, Jen pursued her interest in midwifery and graduated from Bastyr University with a Masters of Science in Midwifery in June of 2016.
Prior to her birth work, Jen worked as an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights and the Gender Violence Recovery Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. She has previously served on the MAWS board as a student member, and hopes to join the board in full to continue to use her legal expertise to lobby, research, and write about the intersection of law and midwifery because for Jen, legal advocacy and direct service will always be inextricably linked. Jen is currently the Clinical Education Supervisor and adjunct faculty in the Department of Midwifery, and adjunct faculty in the Department of Health Psychology at Bastyr University.
Brittany Seidel, Midwifery Consumer
Brittany graduated from Bastyr University with a Master of Science in Midwifery. She completed her last year of study pregnant with her first child, and was able to experience midwifery as a consumer and a student. This experience deepened her respect for the exhaustive and personalized care midwives provide. She worked at the University of Missouri, where she studied nursing and women and gender studies, as the lead designer of the Women’s Center Family Room that sought to provide a safe and supportive space for breastfeeding student-parents. She hopes that her time on the MAWS board will be spent supporting the midwives who tirelessly work to provide such stellar client-oriented care. Brittany is passionate about midwifery sustainability in the state and hopes to further her knowledge in fostering accessibility in midwifery as inspired by her time studying with midwives in rural Missouri and western Washington. She currently lives in Tacoma with her husband and daughter, where silly dancing and play dough art are normally part of the day to day agenda as they connect and foster relationships with parents and caregivers in their community.
Brittany graduated from Bastyr University with a Master of Science in Midwifery. She completed her last year of study pregnant with her first child, and was able to experience midwifery as a consumer and a student. This experience deepened her respect for the exhaustive and personalized care midwives provide. She worked at the University of Missouri, where she studied nursing and women and gender studies, as the lead designer of the Women’s Center Family Room that sought to provide a safe and supportive space for breastfeeding student-parents. She hopes that her time on the MAWS board will be spent supporting the midwives who tirelessly work to provide such stellar client-oriented care. Brittany is passionate about midwifery sustainability in the state and hopes to further her knowledge in fostering accessibility in midwifery as inspired by her time studying with midwives in rural Missouri and western Washington. She currently lives in Tacoma with her husband and daughter, where silly dancing and play dough art are normally part of the day to day agenda as they connect and foster relationships with parents and caregivers in their community.
Lisa Stotts, LM
Lisa graduated from Bastyr University in 2014 with her Masters of Science in Midwifery and is currently finalizing her national Certified Professional Midwife credential. While attending Bastyr University, Lisa and fellow researcher Alyssa Hahn, completed the first phase of their original qualitative study titled Birth Center and Home Birth Emergency Transfers: The EMS Factor; phase two is currently under implementation. Lisa is a member of the Midwives’ Association of Washington State (MAWS) and the Professional Midwives Affiliation. While building her midwifery practice, she also is a teaching assistant for the Department of Midwifery at Bastyr University.
Lisa also holds a degree in Paramedic Science and has worked in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) industry for 14 years. During her EMS career, she gained experience in both urban and rural communities across the United States. She currently volunteers for the Buckley Fire Department serving as a Paramedic, EMT instructor, is a member of the FEMA disaster response team and the EMS Integrated Community Healthcare committee. Lisa is collaborating with local EMS colleges and agencies to aid in the development of protocols and training.
Lisa graduated from Bastyr University in 2014 with her Masters of Science in Midwifery and is currently finalizing her national Certified Professional Midwife credential. While attending Bastyr University, Lisa and fellow researcher Alyssa Hahn, completed the first phase of their original qualitative study titled Birth Center and Home Birth Emergency Transfers: The EMS Factor; phase two is currently under implementation. Lisa is a member of the Midwives’ Association of Washington State (MAWS) and the Professional Midwives Affiliation. While building her midwifery practice, she also is a teaching assistant for the Department of Midwifery at Bastyr University.
Lisa also holds a degree in Paramedic Science and has worked in the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) industry for 14 years. During her EMS career, she gained experience in both urban and rural communities across the United States. She currently volunteers for the Buckley Fire Department serving as a Paramedic, EMT instructor, is a member of the FEMA disaster response team and the EMS Integrated Community Healthcare committee. Lisa is collaborating with local EMS colleges and agencies to aid in the development of protocols and training.
Chelsey Swan, LMT, Midwifery Consumer
Chelsey is a midwifery consumer and Licensed Massage Therapist serving families on their perinatal journey in the greater Seattle area. She joined the massage therapy profession after years of working in administration, realizing that her great passion is helping people one-on-one with her own two hands. Her background is in women’s perinatal health and the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and sexuality through her studies at the University of Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women Studies. Originally, she thought she wanted to be a midwife and worked actively toward this goal. She trained as a birth doula at Basty University’s Simkin Center and attended births in this role as well as in the role of birth assistant-in-training. During her work as the past Office Manager of Puget Sound Birth Center, she decided that although her love of the midwifery model of care was great, midwifery was not the route she wanted to go.
After she graduated from Cortiva Institute of massage, in Seattle, she opened her first private practice in Kirkland, called Grounded Touch Therapeutic Massage. During this time, she immediately began working on her perinatal specializations, adding breast massage and prenatal massage certifications. She is deeply connected to the birth community in the greater Seattle area and through massage supports birth givers and their families. She is dedicated to providing quality care to her clients no matter their sexual orientation, race, gender, sex, or abilities.
Chelsey currently lives in Kenmore with her wife, Jessica, who is a midwife at Puget Sound Birth Center. Her next goal is to become an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in order to better serve her clients with lactation support.
Chelsey is a midwifery consumer and Licensed Massage Therapist serving families on their perinatal journey in the greater Seattle area. She joined the massage therapy profession after years of working in administration, realizing that her great passion is helping people one-on-one with her own two hands. Her background is in women’s perinatal health and the intersectionality of race, class, gender, and sexuality through her studies at the University of Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women Studies. Originally, she thought she wanted to be a midwife and worked actively toward this goal. She trained as a birth doula at Basty University’s Simkin Center and attended births in this role as well as in the role of birth assistant-in-training. During her work as the past Office Manager of Puget Sound Birth Center, she decided that although her love of the midwifery model of care was great, midwifery was not the route she wanted to go.
After she graduated from Cortiva Institute of massage, in Seattle, she opened her first private practice in Kirkland, called Grounded Touch Therapeutic Massage. During this time, she immediately began working on her perinatal specializations, adding breast massage and prenatal massage certifications. She is deeply connected to the birth community in the greater Seattle area and through massage supports birth givers and their families. She is dedicated to providing quality care to her clients no matter their sexual orientation, race, gender, sex, or abilities.
Chelsey currently lives in Kenmore with her wife, Jessica, who is a midwife at Puget Sound Birth Center. Her next goal is to become an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in order to better serve her clients with lactation support.
Jessica Swan, LM
Midwifery found me in 2008. I was an undergrad student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and my roommate suggested we go to a screening of “The Business of Being Born.” By the end of the film I knew midwifery was my future. At that point I was the President of a group called Project Dinah; our mission was to end rape culture through education and advocacy. I was also volunteering for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. While the work was and continues to be extremely important, I was burnt out from constantly being surrounded by sadness and stories of brutality. A career on the brighter side of women’s healthcare sounded perfect to me.
Bastyr University’s program appealed to me as it offered a Master’s Degree and a chance to move to the West Coast. Having been born and raised in North Carolina I was ready for a change of scenery. I set my sights on Bastyr but in the meantime I had to finish my Bachelor’s degree. I studied abroad for five months in The Netherlands and had a wonderful time exploring European culture. When I returned, I completed my degree, took a few prerequisite science classes and applied to Bastyr. After I was accepted I packed my bags, drove across the country, and began the three year midwifery program in 2012.
I wrote my Master’s Thesis on a device, the Laryngeal Mask Airway, that may improve the success of neonatal resuscitation; and I have trained dozens of midwives to use the device. The rigorous academics of the Master’s Degree program at Bastyr and the privilege of training with excellent midwives more than prepared me to do this work. I graduated in 2015 and have been practicing with Eastside Midwives ever since. Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is my heart’s work and I am grateful to be able to live my passion every day.
I am a preceptor to three students per year in the clinical setting and I am also an instructor at Bastyr, teaching three of the courses in the midwifery program. The ability to teach and guide student midwives is one of my favorite things about my job.
Currently, I live in Kenmore with my wife, Chelsey. Our favorite way to spend an evening is by sampling PNW cuisine at one of the hundreds of local restaurants and cafés. I also enjoy cooking (especially for guests), books on tape, and exercising. Hot yoga is my respite, where I find peace and balance and I hope to take a teacher training within the year. When time permits, I love to travel and am looking forward to several trips in the coming years.
I am settled into my role as Lead Midwife of Eastside Midwives and in my instructor role at Bastyr. I am now ready to venture into serving my profession on a larger platform. MAWS has done great work over the past years and I want to be a part of advancing midwifery in WA State and beyond. As a board member I will dedicate time and attention to doing just that and I will be grateful for the honor to serve my community.
Midwifery found me in 2008. I was an undergrad student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and my roommate suggested we go to a screening of “The Business of Being Born.” By the end of the film I knew midwifery was my future. At that point I was the President of a group called Project Dinah; our mission was to end rape culture through education and advocacy. I was also volunteering for the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. While the work was and continues to be extremely important, I was burnt out from constantly being surrounded by sadness and stories of brutality. A career on the brighter side of women’s healthcare sounded perfect to me.
Bastyr University’s program appealed to me as it offered a Master’s Degree and a chance to move to the West Coast. Having been born and raised in North Carolina I was ready for a change of scenery. I set my sights on Bastyr but in the meantime I had to finish my Bachelor’s degree. I studied abroad for five months in The Netherlands and had a wonderful time exploring European culture. When I returned, I completed my degree, took a few prerequisite science classes and applied to Bastyr. After I was accepted I packed my bags, drove across the country, and began the three year midwifery program in 2012.
I wrote my Master’s Thesis on a device, the Laryngeal Mask Airway, that may improve the success of neonatal resuscitation; and I have trained dozens of midwives to use the device. The rigorous academics of the Master’s Degree program at Bastyr and the privilege of training with excellent midwives more than prepared me to do this work. I graduated in 2015 and have been practicing with Eastside Midwives ever since. Supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum is my heart’s work and I am grateful to be able to live my passion every day.
I am a preceptor to three students per year in the clinical setting and I am also an instructor at Bastyr, teaching three of the courses in the midwifery program. The ability to teach and guide student midwives is one of my favorite things about my job.
Currently, I live in Kenmore with my wife, Chelsey. Our favorite way to spend an evening is by sampling PNW cuisine at one of the hundreds of local restaurants and cafés. I also enjoy cooking (especially for guests), books on tape, and exercising. Hot yoga is my respite, where I find peace and balance and I hope to take a teacher training within the year. When time permits, I love to travel and am looking forward to several trips in the coming years.
I am settled into my role as Lead Midwife of Eastside Midwives and in my instructor role at Bastyr. I am now ready to venture into serving my profession on a larger platform. MAWS has done great work over the past years and I want to be a part of advancing midwifery in WA State and beyond. As a board member I will dedicate time and attention to doing just that and I will be grateful for the honor to serve my community.
Christine Tindal, LM, CPM, MSM
Christine Tindal is a midwife practicing in West Seattle and South King County. She earned her BS in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington in 2006 followed by her Master of Science in Midwifery at Bastyr University in 2011. Christine is committed to helping women and their families thrive during pregnancy and birth by providing them with information, by fostering community and supporting families through the transition inherent in welcoming a new baby. As a member of the MAWS board, she also serves on the Quality Management Program committee and acts as the Peer Review Coordinator.
Christine Tindal is a midwife practicing in West Seattle and South King County. She earned her BS in Cellular, Molecular and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington in 2006 followed by her Master of Science in Midwifery at Bastyr University in 2011. Christine is committed to helping women and their families thrive during pregnancy and birth by providing them with information, by fostering community and supporting families through the transition inherent in welcoming a new baby. As a member of the MAWS board, she also serves on the Quality Management Program committee and acts as the Peer Review Coordinator.