Midwifery Education Program

Suzanne Schechter , CNM, LM, MS, FACNM - Was Inducted Into The Fellowship of ACNM

This honor is bestowed upon those midwives whose professional achievement, outstanding scholarship, clinical excellence, and/or demonstrated leadership have merited them special recognition both within and outside of the midwifery profession. In light of the vast wealth of expertise and collective wisdom represented within the body of Fellows, its mission is to serve the ACNM in a consultative and advisory capacity.

Suzanne Schechter received a BA in English from Clark University, a MS in Nursing from Pace University and a midwifery certificate from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center where she has been a member of the faculty since 1985 and the program’s Education Director since 1995. Professor Schechter contributed to the transformation of the nurse-midwifery certificate program into a graduate level program that, for over a decade, has been offered not solely to students whose background is in nursing, but also to those whose education and experience is in disciplines other than nursing. She is currently the co-investigator of an on-going educational research project comparing direct entry and RN graduates of the SUNY Downstate Midwifery Education Program from 1997 through 2006.

Professor Schechter served as a member of the Board of Review and is a site visitor for the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (formerly the Division of Accreditation). She has also been a member of the Division of Education, Continuing Education Section’s reader panel since 2001. As an active member of ACNM Region 2, Chapter 1 for over twenty years, she has served in a variety of capacities including two terms as Treasurer, Chair of the Nominating Committee and has mostly recently joined the Editorial Staff of the chapter newsletter. In 2006 she spearheaded the formation of a Student Scholarship Committee which she has Chaired since its inception.   

While the principal focus of her midwifery career has been in the area of education, Suzanne Schechter has provided direct health care services to mothers, babies, and families for over thirty years. In 2004, she was a recipient of the ACNM Regional Award for Excellence and in 2008 the ACNM Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award. Suzanne is grateful to her midwifery mentors, colleagues and students who have inspired and helped guide her professional endeavors.

 

Aleida Llanes-Oberstein, CNM, LM, MS, FACNM - Receives the Dr. Donald Scherl Faculty Excellence Award

 

Aleida Llanes-Oberstein received The Dr. Donald Scherl Faculty Excellence Award
in Recognition of her teaching innovation, scholarship, service and student advocacy.

 

 

 

Aleida Llanes-Oberstein, CNM, LM, MS, FACNM- Receives the ACNM Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award

 

This award was granted to Professor Llanes-Oberstein for demonstrating excellence in teaching through academic and clinical education, as well as exemplifying and supporting the highest standards of midwifery practice. SUNY Downstate Midwifery students selected Professor Llanes-Oberstein for this Award.

 

 

 

Valerie Roe, CNM, LM, MS, FACNM - Honored as one of SUNY Downstate's Extraordinary Women

 

Valerie Roe was honored in March 2009, in celebration of Women's History Month, as one of the "SUNY Downstate Extraordinary Women" for her acheivements and accomplishments at the medical center and in the Brooklyn community. She is congratulated by her son, Jessie Knight.

MaryAnne Laffin, CNM, LM, MS, FACNM is the President Elect of the National Perinatal Association

Press Release:

NATIONAL PERINATAL ASSOCIATION Expands Board of Directors. New York Midwife Elected to

Serve as President Elect.

Alexandria, Va:  2009

The National Perinatal Association announced the election of  existing board member, MaryAnne Laffin   RN, NP, CNM, FACNM as President Elect.

Laffin has been involved in women’s health care for more that 30 years: first as a Family Nurse Practitioner, then as a Midwife for the last 28 years.  She has a large private practice and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Midwifery Education Program at State University of NY (SUNY) / Downstate. She is very active in women’s health issues on the local, state and national level. She is a founding board member of the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives ( NYSALM) and  the Immediate Past-President for this organization. She is also an active member of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) and the New York State Perinatal Association.

NPA’s board has responsibility for the direction and strategy of this important organization. Since its beginning in 1976, NPA has been dedicated to fostering optimal perinatal health by promoting education, supporting research and influencing national health policy.

NPA is a multidisciplinary organization made up of pediatricians, obstetricians, family physicians, midwives, social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, genetic counselors, developmental specialists, respiratory therapists, consumers, and all others interested in perinatal health.

 

Aleida Llanes-Oberstein, CNM, LM, MS, FACNM
Immediate Past Chair of the New York State Board of Midwifery is appointed to a third five year term by the New York State Board of Regents as an extended member of the Board.