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ACNM Recognizes Its Outstanding Leaders for 2018

This year at the 63rd ACNM Annual Meeting & Exhibition, hosted in Savannah, Georgia, ACNM honored certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives (CNMs/CMs) who are leaders, innovators, and visionaries in the field of midwifery. Named as the 2018 award-winners are the following:

Hattie Hemschemeyer Award
Named in honor of ACNM's first president and a pioneer of the profession, the Hattie Hemschemeyer Award is ACNM's most prestigious. It is given annually to a member who has been certified for at least 10 years and has made continual outstanding or historically significant contributions to midwifery, ACNM, or maternal child health.


Nancy K. Lowe, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN 
Nancy Lowe is a Fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and ACNM. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing and a professor with the College of Nursing at the University of Colorado. Her legacy in the midwifery field will span generations due, in part, to her service as a teacher and a mentor to midwifery scholars. She has been described as "a woman of impeccable character and graciousness" and is known for her "brilliance, eloquence, and meticulousness." The recipient of multiple teaching awards and a Distinguished Professorship, Nancy was named one of the 20 Outstanding Professors of Women's Health Nursing by NursePractitionerSchools.com. She has authored or co-authored more than 100 publications, more than 75 presentations, and more than 80 invited papers and presentations.


Kitty Ernst Award
Affectionately known as the "Young Whippersnapper Award," this award is named after the college's fourth and youngest president, a dynamic living legend. It honors a member who has been certified for fewer than 10 years and who has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in clinical practice, education, administration, or research relating to midwifery and women's health.


Char'ly Snow, CNM

Detroit resident Char'ly Snow, is a certified nurse-midwife at Henry Ford Hospital and founder of Metro Detroit Midwives of Color, a nonprofit professional organization and network designed to increase access to resources that will enhance the care of women and families through community based programs, mentorships, and professional support. Char'ly is a proven leader whose resiliency and courage are acknowledged by all. "She leads by example with humor, friendship, and passion," and, as a team member stated, "any obstacle put in front of her, she jumps over." After serving as a registered nurse for 10 years, Char'ly obtained her master's degree in midwifery and began strongly advocating for minority outreach in the field. Her work demonstrates deep commitment, and she strives tirelessly to reduce the prevalence of health disparities among people of color.


Dorothea M. Lang Pioneer Award

The most distinguished honor bestowed by the A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc., the Lang Award honors exceptional "unsung heroes" who have demonstrated pioneering vision and innovative leadership in midwifery. It is named in honor of ACNM and A.C.N.M. Foundation past president, the late Dorothea M. Lang, CNM, MPH, FACNM.


Barbara Hughes, CNM, MS, MBA, FACNM, NE-BC

Barbara Hughes is a true pioneer in the midwifery profession. She not only started three practices, she did so in two facilities with no prior CNMs. She also served as the first non-physician president of the Colorado Perinatal Care Council, the first CNM in the state to serve on a Medicaid Managed Care Health Quality Improvement Committee and was the only CNM to serve on both the Governor's Collaborative Care Committee and the Colorado Medicaid Medical Assistance and Advisory Council. Barbara currently serves as President and CEO of Wilson Hughes Consulting in Denver. She specializes in supporting and educating health professionals about to run an effective midwifery practice.


Anne M. Richter, CNM, MPH

With more than 40 years of professional accomplishments in both domestic and global midwifery, Anne Richter defines the word passionate. Her international work continued through the 1970s with her service as a midwifery advisor in Afghanistan and the Gambia. Throughout the next decade, she was one of the early promoters of Frontier Nursing University's Community-based Nurse-midwifery Education program, serving as its education coordinator and negotiating student clinical experiences in Florida. After retiring, she traveled to war-torn Kabul, Afghanistan, as a consultant, teaching and providing direct care. She has bettered the lives of families around the world, and her energy inspires countless new midwives.


Louis M Hellman MD Midwifery Partnership Award

The Louis M Hellman MD Midwifery Partnership Award is given by the A.C.N.M. Foundation, Inc., ACNM, and the Midwifery Business Network to recognize an obstetrician gynecologist and Fellow (or junior Fellow) of ACOG who champions midwifery practice.



Judith Kimelman, MD

Judith Kimelman, MD, has shown exemplary dedication and advocacy for women's health. Throughout her career, she has been a powerful champion for women and, subsequently, a driving force for legislative change. Dr. Kimelman's goals are not only to provide optimal health care to her patients,but also to provide them with education. Dr. Kimelman has been an invaluable mentor to many, including midwives. She currently practices as at the Seattle Obstetrics & Gynecology Group and serves as ACOG District Officer of the Northern and Western States.


Distinguished Service Award
This award recognizes a CNM/CM or other professional for an unusual and exemplary effort in the field of community service, innovation in midwifery practice, education, or research.

Linda Chong-Tim, CNM
Kim Garcia, CNM, DNP
Pandora Hardtman, CNM, MSN, DNP
Nikki May, CNM, MS


Clinical Star Awards

This award honors midwives in clinical practice for 25 years or more who have demonstrated excellence in clinical practice and positive mentorship.

Susan Cockburn, CNM
Judith Fry, CNM
Joani Slager, CNM, DNP, CPC, FACNM
Patti Smith, CNM


Best Research Podium Presentation

Jeremy Neal, CNM, PhD
"Retrospective Use of a Physiologic Partograph Protocol to Identify Opportunities for Safely Decreasing Cesareans among Nulliparous Women with Spontaneous Labor Onset"


Best Research Article Award

Nicole S. Carlson, CNM, PhD; Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, RN, FAAN; Nancy K. Lowe, CNM, PhD, FACNM "Labor Intervention and Outcomes in Women Who Are Nulliparous and Obese: Comparison of Nurse-Midwife to Obstetrician Care"

Best Review Article Award
Loren Fields, WHNP-BC, MSN :Alison Hathaway, WHNP-BC, MSN
"Key Concepts in Pregnancy of Unknown Location: Identifying Ectopic Pregnancy and Providing Patient-Centered Care"

Mary Ann Shah New Author Award

Katie Page, CNM, MSN; Co-authors: William F. McCool, CNM, PhD; Mamie Guidera, CNM, MSN "Examination of the Pharmacology of Oxytocin and Clinical Guidelines for Use in Labor"

Immunization Champion Award

Michelle Collins, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN;  Amy Langenfeld, CNM, MS, SANE, PHN; Pamela Meharry, PhD, CNM;  Linda Sloan-Locke, CNM, MPH, LSW, FACNM

Outstanding Preceptor Award

Debra Adams, CNM, APNP; LaTonya Armstrong, CNM; Jacqueline Cleland, CNM; Amy Cutting, MS, FNP; Kelly Ellis, CNM; Allison Forbes, CNM; Amy Giles, CNM, MS; Alicia A. Huntley, CNM, MSN, APN; Christina Jacobson, CNM, MSN, WHNP, BC; Shawna King, CM; Sheila Lorentzen, CNM, NP; Phyllis Lynn, CNM; Nancy MacMorris-Adix, CNM; Christina Majszak, CNM; Mary Anne Markowski, CNM; Anne Miller, CNM; Denise Smith, CNM, PhD; Leslie Stroud, CNM; Diane Utz, CNM; Trinisha Williams, CNM; Edith Ziegler, CNM; The Grandy Hospital Midwifery Service, (Emory); The Birth Center at Lifecycle WomanCare, (Penn)

Excellence in Teaching Award
Jill Alliman, CNM, DNP, FACNM; Nicole Carlson, CNM, PhD; Angela Deneris, CNM, PhD, FACNM; Cindy Farley, CNM, PhD, FACNM; Heather Findletar-Hines, CNM, DNP; Sukey Krause, CNM, MSN, FACNM; Barbara Hackley, CNM, PhD; Lisa Hanson, CNM, PhD, FACNM; Tonia Moore-Davis, CNM, MSN, FACNM; Elizabeth Niederegger, CNM; Barbara Reale, CNM, MSN; Judith Schlaegar, CNM, PhD, LAC

Exemplary Affiliate Award
Region I: New York; Region II: Washington DC;  Region III: Florida;  Region IV: Michigan;  Region V: Kansas;  Region VI: New Mexico;  Region VII: Washington


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