Eugene B. Feigelson Award
Karen Burgin received a diploma in nursing from St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, a Bachelor's degree from Barnard college and an MA in Nursing Education from Columbia Teachers College. she practiced nursing and taught in a nursing school until she entered SUNY Downstate's Midwifery program, earning a certificate in midwifery in 1981. She practiced full-scope midwifery at Gouverneur-Bellevue from 1981-1984, then worked for a private doctor-midwife practice from 1984-1986.
From 1986-1988 she was on the academic faculty on SUNY Downstate; she then returned to clinical midwifery at SUNY for the next 12 years, at the same time serving as a partner in a private practice, Nurse-Midwifery Associates. After 14 years with this practice, she worked with Park Slope Midwives until her retirement.
Mary Ann Shah, CNM, MS, FACNM, LCCE, received the Eugene B. Feigelson Award for "dedicated leadership in advancing midwifery"
Mary Ann Shah was on the SUNY Downstate midwifery faculty from 1995 through 1999. She served as an Editorial Board Member of Downstate's Brooklyn Women's Health Newsletter from 1998 through 1999. She wasy a member of the Advisory Council for SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Ms. Shah was elected President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) for a 3-year term (6/01-5/04). The ACNM honored her in 1992 as a Distinguished Fellow and in 1997 as the recipient of the Hattie Hemschemeyer Award, the highest honor conferred by the organization. After a distinguished 25 year tenure as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nurse-Midwifery (JNM) / Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health (JMWH), the ACNM conferred upon her the honorary title of Editor Emeritus for JMWH on May 31, 2000. She has also received an Alumni Achievement Award from Fordham University (1999), an award for Individual Contribution to Maternal and Child Health from the National Perinatal Association (2000), and through her journalistic leadership, midwifery has gained greater visibility and credibility, both nationally and internationally. Concurrent with her editorial role, she also made significant contributions to clinical practice, education, and administration. For example, at a time when midwifery was virtually nonexistent within the District of Columbia, she wrote the initial grant that funded the Georgetown University nurse-midwifery program which flourishes to this day. She also initiated the Fellowship program within the ACNM and chaired its Board of Governors for 8 years. In addition, she pioneered and coordinated, over an 11-year period, a human sexuality education program for 5-21 year old physically and cognitively challenged students on behalf of the New York City Board of Education. As the Special Projects Coordinator for the State University of New York Health Downstate Medical Center, she coordinated the first midwifery program for non-nurses to be ACNM accredited and state approved, thereby helping to create a new model of education for the entire USA.
The Midwifery faculty congratulate Mary Ann Shah on all her achievements.
Ms. Shah received a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, a master of science degree in guidance and counseling from Fordham University, and a certificate in nurse-midwifery from New York Medical College. She is certified in nurse-midwifery, childbirth education, and special education. As an independent editorial consultant, she continues to contribute to the perinatal health of families through the authorship and editing of health professional literature. She served as editor of the National Perinatal Association's Resource Guide, "Transcultural Aspects of Perinatal Health Care".
Professor Aleida Llanes-Oberstein was the recipient of the 1999 Eugene B. Feigelson Presidential Outstanding Project Award.
Professor Llanes-Oberstein is described in the award as a visionary health care provider and educator. Through grant funding, she established the first international program on this campus.
The project brought together health care professionals and students from Cuba and the United States for the benefit of patients in both countries.