Kate Blake
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), Health Sciences (McMaster), BA in Sociology (Queen’s)
(However, my greatest and most humbling learning has come from giving birth to and raising my own three amazing kids.)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: I was born wanting to be a midwife! I started catching babies over 20 years ago and there is nothing else I could imagine doing.
Before I was a Midwife: I traveled internationally and learned with midwives in Guatemala, Togo and the Netherlands.
Jade Bowman
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), Bachelor of Commerce (UVic)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, starting from the age of 10, my response was always “deliver babies”. Midwifery is so much more than my profession, it is my calling. After every birth I attend, I can’t help but think “how did I get so lucky?”
Before I was a Midwife: I worked as a Midwifery Clinic Administrator, Childbirth Educator and Birth & Postpartum Doula. In addition to my private Doula practice, I provided Doula services for young mothers through SMILE and women with addictions.
Marella Falat
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC) BSc in Global Resource systems (UBC)
Moment I knew I wanted to be Midwife: I was applying to the Masters of public health program and the mother I was nannying for said “Why don’t you apply to midwifery? It would be perfect for you?” All the pieces I cared about: public health, families and babies and education come together in this profession.
Before I was a Midwife: Studying agriculture, First Nations studies in Chiapas Mexico, Cuba and Nepal. I also Nannied and taught Yoga.
Jasmine Freed
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), BA in International Relations (UBC)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: When I went along with my sister to her prenatal visit and heard my niece’s heartbeat for the first time!
Before I was a Midwife: I travelled and worked in China and India for a year and half, managed the finances of a film post-production company, and worked as a birth and postpartum doula.
Alison Humphrey
Education: Midwifery degree (Laurentian University), BA (UofT)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: 10 years old, voraciously reading books about pregnancy and birth.
Before I was a Midwife: I lived in Toronto, worked as a youth employment counsellor and volunteered as a doula at June’s Center for Teenagers (formerly Jessie’s).
Sarah Knowlden
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), BA in Psychology (UBC), MA (Kingston, UK),
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: The midwifery care I received when I had my own three children made me realize there simply isn’t a better or more important job!
Before I was a Midwife: I worked in the corporate world, developing community-based sustainability strategies. I was also a volunteer doula.
Elizabeth Nethery
Education: Masters in Midwifery (Bastyr, Seattle), BApSc in Engineering (UBC), PhD candidate Public Health/Epidemiology (UBC), mum of twins (biggest education, ever)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: Having midwifery care for my twin pregnancy was when I realized this was the work I wanted to do!
Before I was a Midwife: I was a health researcher working on pregnancy and environmental health. I have also been a doula, an engineer and Outward Bound instructor.
Thea Parkin
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), BSc in Nutrition (UBC).
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: 23 years old. The UBC Midwifery program was being developed and on paper it sounded like the most amazing career on the planet– and it is!
Before I was a Midwife: I used to help UBC students (prospective, current and former) get stuff done.
Elie Rushton
Currently on maternity leave until November 2020
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery (UBC), Master of Public Health (SFU), BSC (UVic)
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: I’ve always loved babies! When my aunt and uncle had their two kids with midwives, and I learned how midwives get to take care of families and babies, I was hooked and never looked back!
Before I was a Midwife: I worked in women’s health research, working on projects that aim to improve access to reproductive and sexual health for women. I also taught yoga for many years and travelled as much as I could.
Lena Rowat
Currently on parental leave until April 2020
Education: Bachelor of Midwifery ( Texas/Ryerson University), BA, African American Studies.
Moment I knew I wanted to be a Midwife: Attending births with my mother – a GP who supported home births & midwives.
Before I was a Midwife:I indulged a fascination with world culture and adventure by travelling, working, and studying in a number of places across the globe. I also developed a strong passion for mountain and wilderness pursuits in the local BC mountains, which is still where I can most often be found if not at the clinic or attending births.