Guiding Birth, Shaping Futures: Midwives Lead the Way

By Office of the President | Feb 11, 2025

The School of Health Professions celebrated the Midwifery Class of 2026 in January at the Blessing of the Hands/White Coat Ceremony in the Alumni Auditorium. This special moment marked their shift from students to practitioners, prepared to deliver compassionate, skilled, and culturally aware care to families. As they put on their white coats and received their pins, they became trusted caregivers, advocates for mothers and babies, and champions of women’s health.

This celebration is part of a national movement recognizing the invaluable contributions of midwives across the U.S. According to the American Midwifery Certification Board 2023 Demographic Report, as of January 2024, there are 14,198 certified midwives nationwide, including 14,067 Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and 131 Certified Midwives (CMs). Midwives are increasingly shaping the landscape of maternal care—attending 12 percent of all births in the U.S. in 2021, a testament to the growing trust in their expertise.

Diversity in midwifery is also rising, ensuring more families receive care from providers who understand their cultural and community needs. Black midwives now represent 8.3 percent of those certified, up from 7.7 percent in 2022, alongside other midwives of color who are expanding access to equitable maternal care.

As we honor this next generation of midwives, we also celebrate their commitment to ensuring safe, supportive, and empowering birth experiences for all families. Their dedication is to change lives, strengthen communities, and advance maternal health.

Let’s applaud their journey and the future they are shaping!

 

Tags: White Coat, Midwifery