Midwifery Education Program

Midwifery student Maria Freytsis, Class of 2007, receives the First ACNM Region 2, Chapter 1 Student Scholarship.

Prior to entering the SUNY Downstate Midwifery Education Program Maria had already demonstrated impressive professional leadership and long-standing involvement in midwifery advocacy. She attained an MPH from Columbia University while working part-time at the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center. She continued to work as an RN part-time or per diem throughout her full-time midwifery studies while maintaining a very high grade point average.

Maria was a co-founder and president of the board of Friends of the Birth Center (FBC). Even while a student at Downstate, she maintained her commitment to this organization and participated in advocacy, outreach & fundraising efforts.

Her international work has been focused on improving reproductive health services for women through the provision of direct clinical services as well as training local health care providers. She has traveled to many countries over the past 6 years. Examples include working with undocumented migrants on the US/Mexico border, indigenous communities in rural Peru and Guatemala, Turkish & Albanian families in pos-war Kosovo, Tibetans in remote areas of western China and tsunami survivors in Indonesia.

In her application for the chapter scholarship Maria wrote, "My commitment to advocacy and finding creative solutions to the challenges that midwives face, will help move the midwifery profession forward in the ever more complex and highly political birth culture and health care system of this country."

Maria brings compassionate, gentle support to laboring women and although her perspective is wide-ranging she understands that real change is accomplished one birth at a time.

Congratulations Maria!

Midwifery student Keena Gittens received the Lily Hsia Midwifery Student Scholarship Award.