The EngagED Midwife
The EngagED Midwife
Inside ACNM: Leadership, Advocacy, and the Path Forward for Midwives
Midwifery is so much more than clinical care. It's about advocacy, education, research, community, and creating the future of healthcare. In this illuminating conversation with ACNM Vice President Dr. Alexis "Lexi" Dunn-Amore and CEO Dr. Michelle Monroe, we explore the heart and soul of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and why every midwife—from student to seasoned practitioner—has a place in this professional home.
The conversation reveals ACNM's dramatic transformation, streamlining from 61 committees to a focused 20, with the Midwives of Color group elevated from committee to council status—signaling the organization's commitment to centering diversity and inclusion. For those considering joining or becoming more active, the benefits extend far beyond journal access and CE opportunities. ACNM provides a supportive community where midwives find mentorship, discover new career pathways, and contribute to advancing the profession through advocacy for full practice authority and pay parity.
As the 70th annual meeting approaches in Palm Springs, both leaders express excitement about bringing midwives together to celebrate, learn, and forge connections. Whether you're a student sleeping four to a hotel room or a seasoned midwife, the message is clear: your voice matters, and ACNM is stronger with your involvement.
Ready to discover how you can shape the future of midwifery? Listen now and find your place in this vital professional community!
#MidwivesWhoLead #MidwifeLife #ACNMEngagement #MidwiferyAdvocacy #BuildYourCommunity @acnmmidwives @lexithemidwife @mmunroecnm
Welcome to the Engaged Midwife podcast. This is Kara.
SPEAKER_00:And this is Missy. Welcome back. Today's an exciting day. I know I'm really excited about this episode. We've been priming it for a few weeks.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, we get to talk to two leaders in the American College of Nurse Midwives or ACNM. And I think it's going to be really cool for students and new midwives to really hear from these excellent midwives, but also to learn about the professional organization.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, and we're going to get a sneak peek into what's coming at our ACNM conference at the annual meeting in Palm Springs. And so also giving some tips about like how do you get involved with ACM and what ACNM can do for you. And this episode, I think, is something that our listeners have been waiting for.
SPEAKER_02:Awesome. Well, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Alexis or Lexi Dun Amore. She is vice president of the ACNM and a certified nurse midwife. And Michelle Monroe, who is also a certified nurse midwife and CEO of ACNM. Lexi and Michelle, thank you so much for joining us here. Would you like to give just a little bit more background about yourself for our listeners?
SPEAKER_01:Well, thanks for having us. It's always so interesting when you get these introductions. I'm like, it's so formal. I'm just Lexi the midwife. I just keep it simple. So I love being a midwife. I've been a midwife since 2010, is when I certified. Before that, I was a labor and delivery nurse, did some travel nursing, which landed me in Georgia. And that's where I discovered Nurse McWiffrey. And I did not know that there were modern-day midwives, actually. I, when I met one, Pandora Hartman was one of the first ones I met and Marcia Ford. And I think midwives in 2007 or whatever year it was. And they were like, yeah, they're nurse midwives. And so I took the journey, went to Emery, and just fell in love with become being a midwife. Um, later returned to get my doctorate to do research and lots of other cool things. And so um, yeah, I've I've loved it. I've always wanted to deliver babies from when I was a little girl, age three, telling people not to smoke when they're pregnant. Where I got that from, I don't know. But here I am today as a nurse midwife. So thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_02:That's awesome. And where are you at now, Lexi? Because you were in Georgia. Are you still there?
SPEAKER_01:Uh, you know, that is a little complicated. So I technically reside in the state of Mississippi, but I practice as a midwife at Choices Center for Reproductive Health. I'm the director of Mittwire there with uh Dr. Nikia Grayson, and I'm a professor of Mittwifery and nursing at uh NYU, Rory Mars College of Nursing. So I'm kind of like You're all over. I'm all over. You know, that's that speaks to my personality. I love to keep it spicy, I guess. And so yeah. I love that. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02:How about Michelle?
SPEAKER_03:Hi everyone. I'm Michelle Monroe, and I'm your uh ACNM, the American College of Nurse Midwives CEO. I'm so excited. I've been in this this role for over two and a half years now. I can't believe it's been that long. It seems like just yesterday I took it on.
SPEAKER_02:I was gonna say blink of an eye and a lifetime all in the same.
SPEAKER_03:Yes, absolutely. Yeah. I have a little bit different background. I was a midwife in the military actually, and became a midwife after trying to figure out what my path for my master's degree would be. I went to the University of Maryland for my midwifery school, and which no longer currently does not exist, but um it was a really good path. And I got to spend some time at the Baltimore Birth Center when it was open and took really those experiences from a civilian training into the military. What I loved about being in the military is that you truly had independent practice, and you were really recognized as that expert in midwifery care, and you would teach residents and interns and medical students and all kinds of students about the midwifery model of care. I got to spend some time in the military, but kind of going up those executive leader paths and spent about 10 years in an executive leader track final, finishing out my career as the CEO of a hospital here at Fort Stewart, Georgia. So right outside Savannah. And I was the hospital CEO during COVID, which was lots of fun.
SPEAKER_01:Wow, I did not know that.
SPEAKER_03:Oh my goodness, me either. Wow. So I had 1,800 employees in a$131 million budget that I managed. And we managed through COVID. And I'm very happy to say that I did not lose not one patient in my time as the commander and was just really excited. But as all military careers come to an end, I also retired in 2020 after my time as the CEO and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do next. And I dipped my hands in a couple of different things, but then ACM reached out and said, Hey, will you come be our interim? And I really have loved, loved, loved it. I did do some time at the Savannah Birth Center in the interim and enjoyed being at that birth center and getting to that clinical practice again. But now I just say, I am midwifing midwives. That's right. That's right.
SPEAKER_02:Well, Michelle, every time I think of you, I picture you in your, you know, kind of I don't know if it's formal or dress dress, dress uniform, I guess, at the annual meetings. And um, I think I'll always think of you as a military midwife. Um, but I'm guessing that's okay. Um, it's a nice legacy.
SPEAKER_03:Absolutely. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Well, thanks both for joining us here. Um, I know that you know, I got involved as a student. I'm pretty sure Missy probably did as well. Um, and certainly all of us as educators and being involved with students are always trying to get our students involved in the professional organization, but it's never too late. It's never too late. So, new midwives, experienced, seasoned midwives, whatever we want to call them, everyone um has an opportunity to get really involved. And now's a really good time, I think. So let's learn more about the organization.
SPEAKER_00:Well, so I want to start kind of at the beginning, and um, I'll let either one of you answer this question for me. So, for students and newer midwives um who might not be as familiar, how would you describe ACNM and why it exists?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, for me, this is your professional organization. And I say it that way because it is your professional organization. A CNM does not exist without the midwives as members. And we really do rely on that membership to carry our mission and vision forward. And the mission of Midwife Midwifery for every community really is what we use as how we advocate for our midwifery at the federal, state, national levels. And it's so important to have that kind of background and really have uh that presence from that student level voice to that season midwife voice, because everybody has a little bit different perspective. And so every midwife should and support their professional organization.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I agree. I think as uh, you know, reflecting back when I was a student, I think I understand, understood the importance of AC and M at that time. I mean, we were when I was in my program, we were required to go to like the annual conference. And when I first went to it, I I struggled a little bit because it didn't look like what I thought Mitt Weffrey looked like. It was rather homogenous, a little crunchy, you know, and I was like, hmm, I don't know about this. And so I actually um was not very involved professionally in the organization for a while because I just felt like it was not reflective of who I was as a midwife. But when I was in Georgia, um the opportunity came around to get active in the affiliate. And so I guess I would tell students, you know, you want to get involved with ACM, you need a professional organization that is not only going to represent you, but really advocate for the profession as a whole, um, but also work to improve maternal and community health, right? So you need professional people who are not necessarily at the bedside, who don't really have the time, you know, to push the organization and push Mittwiffrey forward. So just find a way to get involved. It could just be going to the affiliate meetings, maybe participating in an event. It doesn't have to be a heavy lift. You don't have to take on a position and make it all formal. Just find your community of midwives and find a way to get connected. Um, and realize that being a midwife is more than just the care that we provide. We have to, as Michelle said, you have to midwife midwives, but you have to midwife communities, you have to midwife these legislators. You know, you need people who can get into all those rooms and apply that midwifery model of care in those different settings. So I think when I think about AC and M, that's what I think uh we represent.
SPEAKER_03:I I'd like to add just one little thing. Last year we changed our bylaws to allow students to vote. And so they really do have a huge voice in the professional organization. And from my perspective as a student, we didn't actually have a uniformed services affiliate at that time. And it was three midwives, a Navy, an Air Force, and Army midwife student, who then we lifted up this opportunity that now carries forward. So students' voice are really heard and leveraged.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And every year we have the student report, which I think um, you know, for any students that haven't been, it really is a big part of the annual meeting and the annual process for ACNM that people look forward to. And we really want to hear what the voices of the students are. I know as a program director, I'm always really interested in what the students have to say, but it is really something we look forward to. And I remember when you guys formed that affiliate, it was really, really great. Excellent.
SPEAKER_00:So we love I wanted to like say, no, I was just gonna say when Lexi was talking about like they had to go to meeting when they were a student. You know, I also, when I was a student at Vanderbilt, Barbara Peterson was like, every student at Vanderbilt goes to annual meeting. Like it was a thing. And if you can't afford it, we will figure out how to make you afford it. And I honestly, now that I've been a program director and I've been a practicing midwife for almost 20 years, I really appreciate when I see a whole group of students there because I think when programs, for lack of a better word, mandate their students to go. I think there's so much to be learned. And it's outside of just continuing education, right? Everything that we do in CE at annual meeting is stuff that they're learning in their programs, right? So it's a bigger purpose of being at the meeting than just to go to sessions, right? It's the networking, it's the learning about ACNM, it's the, you know, who can you meet? I remember meeting people who wrote my textbooks and just being like so awestruck that I was in the same place as these midwives who'd come before me. Um, and and I'm I don't, I don't, I don't not know if I have a strong opinion about like program directors making, you know, mandating students to go to meeting, but I do think it's just such an important experience to have when you're learning to be a midwife.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. There's also something about, you know, four to six students sleeping in a hotel room. Like, I mean, there's nothing like that. And midwives will pile in to save a buck, that is for sure. Okay, so one of the things that we love on this podcast is really thinking like getting practical, thinking about like what are the tangible things that we can take away from something. And especially for our students and new midwives, what are things that students um that members can take advantage of right away? Like what are some of the benefits of membership that are you think the most useful?
SPEAKER_01:Um, if I were just thinking off the top of my head, you know, outside of me being in my current role when I decided to join, I think the biggest thing I was looking for was community and networking. You know, sometimes you get into these silos, you get out of school, you get into practice, and you are just on call and working in the clinic constantly. And so there was some part of me that needed to see the bigger picture. So for me, one of the most immediate benefits is you have a supportive community that you can learn and grow in. We have access to journals, you have groups you can join, uh, there are all kinds of resources, there are conferences, mentorship. I mean, there are just tons of like anything that you want to find, ACNM has it. So I think for me, that was the for me, the biggest thing I was looking for was a place to land outside of my clinical practice home. And it gave me a bigger vision of what a midwife actually is. That's when my eyes got open to research and that you could do policy work. Um, I got involved in my affiliate, really started pushing local initiatives there in Georgia. So I think if you join, you never know what kind of midwife you're actually supposed to be. You know, if you just go to school and go to practice, that's noble. But ACNM really helps to show you the breadth and depth of what you can be as a midwife.
SPEAKER_03:Well, and one of the things, whether you're a member or not a member, you have access to is our professional practice documents. And they really guide our day-to-day practice in the clinical settings. And those are updated all the time through your member benefits because it's a committee and a volunteer structure that actually reviews and updates those practice documents at least every five years, sometimes a little bit more, but at least every five years. So those practice documents are reviewed and updated and make sure that they're evidence-based. And all of those that is done through a volunteer leadership structure.
SPEAKER_00:This is such a good segue because I want to talk about getting involved, and that volunteer leadership structure is so important. I think students particularly don't understand how that works and don't understand how they can get involved in that early on in their careers. And so, um, Michelle, could you talk some about opportunities that you see for students to really like insert themselves into that structure? And then um, Lexi, maybe talk a little bit about um the opportunities that students will have an annual meeting this year to meet with some of that volunteer leadership structure.
SPEAKER_01:You know, I think I actually we might want to reverse that question. Yeah, I was gonna say. Um, yeah, let's reverse that question. So I'm gonna go first and then I'll let Michelle kind of talk about how students can get involved. So, and I say that because our volunteer leadership structure, we recently reorganized, and I have been involved with that along with a lot of uh great midwives who volunteered their time to really look at our structure. So I know we use a lot of fancy terms. So the volunteer leadership structure is just a fancy term to describe our committees and how we do the work of ACNM. So prior to this year, we actually had an organization that was divided into six divisions, and then within those divisions were committees, and there were 61 committees. So at some point, ACNM that that fit our needs, right? But as the Michelle and other leaders, as we start to really look at the work of ACNM, we realized we really need to figure out what do we need to be in this current time. And so we undertook the process of reorganizing. And so a group came together, we looked at some data, we looked at what are the needs of ACNM, we looked at our new strategic plan, and uh we were able to streamline our current our new structure. So in the new structure, there are no more divisions. So we wanted to break down as many silos as possible, so there are no more divisions, and we are able to um just have committees. So we have 20 committees, 15 general membership committees, and five board committees. So what that does is as opposed to having 61, we have smaller buckets, right? And we're in this process of really looking at what are each of those committees going to do. But the thought is that tighter committees means we'll have more uh set plans of how to move forward and we could actually march forward and do the work of AC and M in this time. And so if you ever see a picture of the structure, general membership is the core and the heart of the volunteer structure. So we have the 15 committees, the five executive board committees, the general membership is at the heart of that. And around that, we also have the council of fellows. So if you ever, if you're a midwife for five years and you've done great work, you can apply for fellowship in the ACNM. And then we also have the Midwives of Color Council. So the Midwives of Color used to be a committee, but in this new structure, we realize that it's really important to center the work of midwives of color, and they are core to ACNM. So they're now a council, they're no longer just a committee. And then you have your board of directors along with the committees. And of course, the board of directors is really gonna help steer the ship forward, kind of come up with the vision of ACNM. And so we're kind of in this transition period. Um, hopefully, everything will be active here in the next couple of months. Um, but I think it's it's really gonna push ACNM into a really um great direction.
SPEAKER_03:And to add to that, students can be a part of every single committee. They are not limited in any way, shape, or form. As a matter of fact, as a fellow, I had a mentee as a student, because in the fellows, we have the mentor mentee program. And part of that is I encouraged the student to be a member of the leadership development committee. And she was like, What? I am a student, how can I be part of the leadership development committee? But she absolutely was great, and she had this voice of, you know, and could share her thoughts, and it was really good to have that younger perspective. So we really love and advocate for having a student on every committee. And I will tell you, our student representative, Nina, is doing a fantastic job. She's already given us the student report at the business meeting that we held in April. And we are looking at implementing many of those student activities that they were rec that they recommended. But I wanted to share with you like how to get involved. So on Saturday, the October 11th, from 12:30 to 1.30, we are gonna actually have a working lunch. And so Lexi, who has really led and spearheaded this whole transformation of our volunteer leadership committees, is gonna give a little bit of an overview, and then we're gonna break out based on the committees by like tables or areas with the chair and the co-chair so you can learn more and get involved in a committee and be able to sit face to face with someone and learn about that committee.
SPEAKER_00:It's gonna be like speed dating for committees. I love it. I um I am lucky enough to have been working with Lexi for the last few months as the new chair of the education committee. So this is my plug. If you're really interested in education, come and see me at the speed dating event. Um, and we are also gonna host another podcast episode with some of the other committee chairs just to talk about what they do and what their work is. But um for students who don't know, one of the big things that the education committee does is the revision of the core competencies every five years. So if you're interested in what students are learning in their programs and how educational programs are shaped and the foundations by which the curriculums are built, that's a great place to get involved with, you know, work that is really, I think, integral to what we do as midwives. So um this I'm excited about the speed dating event. I also will say that I um never have I been at a meeting where people haven't been really approachable. Like if you're interested in doing something and you have you can seek people out. I think every leader of every single one of these committees wants to talk to you as a student or a new midwife. We want to tell you what we do. And most of us, all of us, are really excited about the things that our committees are doing and the work that we're doing with ACNM. So um I think don't be afraid to like come and talk to us. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02:What are some? I'm just curious. Um, you know, going from 61 to 20 sounds incredible. Kudos to all of you. That's a heavy lift. But um, what are some of the other committees so that people just have an idea of what else is out there? You mean like in the new structure?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah. Um, so of the 15 general, you put me on the spot here, Kara. Um I'm so sorry. So you have uh, I know there's diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Um, there's ethics, bylaws, uh, government affairs. So if you're a policy person, affiliate development and support, uh, if you want to get in with your affiliates, um, like we just talked about the education committee. Um, if you're interested in education, and that that could be related to uh student programs, but also general education, program committee, um the practice committee, the clinical practice, leadership development committee.
SPEAKER_03:We kept bylaws and leadership development separate.
SPEAKER_01:Um, there's global engagement if you have a global interest. The one that I really want to talk to the student new Midwiles about because it's a new committee, is uh I think it's like community social and some kind of public engagement committee. So, really, like how do we appear, like how do we approach the general public, right? How do we put things out that are engaging to our communities? And that's um, we had a uh engagement committee before, but we added on the social media piece, right? So I think having students and new midwives who have a fresh perspective who also are a little more hip than some of our other midwifery counterparts, I'm not trying to practice ageism. I'm just saying sometimes you want fresh new perspectives that can, you know, help you with the media piece. So if you're interested or you have any kind of creativity, I think that committee is one that's a little bit newer than some of the others that were from the pre-existing structure.
SPEAKER_03:And just to give an example with that committee that came out of that committee is our Discover Midwives site. And now we have Discover Midwives Facebook page and social media posts. So, and the point of that is for the consumer to understand and know what mid midwives do and the midwifery model care. And so we're always looking for content. And one of the things that we would love to see is send us send the national office your what did I do today as a midwife? Because we would love to have those videos to show on our Discover Midwives page and let people understand hey, being a midwife is fun.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, that's awesome. I feel like I'm I feel bad. Oh, research and standards. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention research, being a researcher. Um, but I'm sure there are some that we forgot, but there are 15 of them. So um, and they're on the website um if you were, you know, want to find out more.
SPEAKER_02:That's awesome. And I, you know, you have mentioned it a couple of times, Lexi, that I think it's so important to talk about of that when you join ACNM, you're also joining your state affiliate or the um armed forces, whenever your appropriate affiliate is, and you can join more than one, I will say, as a member of two different state affiliates where I um teach and where I live. But um that is such a good way to get involved as well and network and find preceptors and um make those connections, have a have someone to share a hotel room with when you go to annual meeting. But it is such an important part of being active in your local affiliate as well.
SPEAKER_00:When we talked about the committee structure, um, I know ACNM has been doing really great work around diversity, equity, and inclusion. And I'm really interested in hearing um your perspectives about what some of the current initiatives are that are happening within ACNM and what they really mean for the future of Midwifery.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, ACNM, I feel like we've been very open about our commitment to anti-racism. And we've had several initiatives in the past, truth and reconciliation documents and um different things that we've sent out to our membership to show our positionality on that. And I think in this new season, um with mock, so mock led a lot of that um when they were a committee, and right now they are restructuring too. So I think where we go from here, honestly, I would like to lean more on what the mock, the new council says about what our next step should be. I think um that's something that's still kind of open and not uh solidified. But we do have a lot of partnerships with other um organizations that really are focused on addressing health disparities. Uh, we have mentorship programs for underrepresented midwives. So I think there are a lot of initiatives still there. But the future of ACNM, I think, as I told you in that structure, the Midwife of Color Council, they are a core piece of that ACNM bubble. So I think we're waiting for their leadership and their um uh instruction, I guess, on how ACNM should move forward as it relates to that.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I think our partnership with the ACM Foundation and the multiple scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged students and and um is a really good thing. And this year so far, the ACM Foundation has given up to$110,000 in scholarships. And I don't part of being an ACNM member gets that value added for those scholarship opportunities.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I know that in my committee where we also house the racism and education toolkit um that was developed by the ACNM volunteer leadership structure. And we will be continuing to update that um and disseminate that as part of um what's gonna come, what will be coming out of the education committee in partnership with our new um diversity committee as well. So I think good things are coming. Absolutely. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and Michelle, you mentioned um membership dues and what you, you know, like what you get for it, that kind of idea. And certainly ACNM needs members to pay dues. Um we we've had a little bit of a rough history over the last five to ten years with financial situation for our organization and so forth. But but other than just paying dues and getting the journal and that sort of thing, what does it look like to you for someone to be an active member?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, I we have definitely mentioned it here on this podcast, getting involved. And whether you start at your affiliate level and just go to an affiliate meeting and participate at the local level, that's a great place to start. But even as a student, we'd love to have you at the national level and participate in these new committees that we're building and getting, and one of them is membership committee. So you know what's the value of that for you and and why are you a member? And bringing your kind of mindset to helping us to bring our membership back home to ACNM. And our our membership is not just it. The American College of Nurse Midwives supports certified nurse midwives and certified midwives, and there's been a lot of momentum around the certified midwife credential. And so we really do want people to participate and become members. And the other thing I will say is that we have an associate membership. So for our certified professional midwife or even any midwife supporter, you can be an associate member. And all of those things help to advocate for full practice authority and pay parity and all the things that Amy Cole is our director of government affairs, is lobbying for on a daily basis to get the job done and change and to support and have midwives at the table. And she does every day she's on the hill.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and you mentioned, Michelle, the social media aspect of it. And I feel like one of the things that I've noticed, and you you may not want to take um ownership of this, but I feel like it's been during your leadership tenure that um ACNM has been more responsive to things that are happening. Like just this morning, there was a post about Tylenol. Um and I'm so happy to see that we're much more timely in our response to things. Um, we're getting messages out quickly, like ACOG does and AAP and so forth. And so I think being an active member is also being active in your social media and sharing with our networks. Um, I think the post this morning I saw had already been shared like 80 times or something. And I'm like, yes, midwives, let's go, let's own it and have our voice be heard.
SPEAKER_03:So thank you, Kara, for saying that. And I I really want to point that out too. We have a staff of 10. So if you see something that you think, A C and M, we got to be responding. Into this, please send it our way because we are not necessarily all knowing. And so we really do need every person to be to share that information up to the national office. And we definitely have a very responsive team and trying to figure out ways that we can that we can respond into situations that actually have our mission and vision in mind.
SPEAKER_02:Well, and I can tell you that sometimes as a member, you email the national office and Michelle responds to you about your membership inquiry. It's it is a small staff. And I do think you guys do an incredible job of knowing your members and being really responsive. So thank you for that.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I was gonna add to that. Michelle, you and that team, you know, if if it's anything that the whole organization needs to see, is the power of how you all have come together. You have all but given us the cheat code to what we need to do in this new season. Because, like Kara's saying, you all came together, crunch time, real time, responding to issues. You, you know, sometimes chaos breeds innovation. And I think that's what has happened in this time and how you all engage. I think if I were gonna talk about what an active member is, it's being engaged in whatever capacity you need to be. So your team has shown like they're an engaged team, you're an engaged CEO, and that is what drives change. So students and new midwives need to just figure out how to engage. It might just be paying attention to a social media post or sharing a post. It does not have to be a heavy lift, but when you're active and you're engaged, that is what shapes policies and priorities, and that is what gives us that stronger collective voice. And so, like you said, even though that team is small at the national office, I feel like they have been way more communicative and engaged than when the staff was three or four times that size. And so that same with our membership. Our membership is way smaller than it has ever been. And so if we take that same model and apply it, I think we can be as effective, if not more.
SPEAKER_00:We may not be, we may be small, but we are mighty.
SPEAKER_03:That's my mantra. Yes, correct.
SPEAKER_00:Well, I am actually really excited because annual meeting is just around the corner. I know that that's probably stressful for the two of you as we get ready to like um embark on all of these midwives and palm springs. And it is a highlight of our year, and it's different, right? This year because we've switched time of year. We're going out to be together in the fall versus in the spring. And um, anybody want to give me some highlights of things that attendees have to look forward to this year?
SPEAKER_03:Well, I want to just say 17 days and counting. 17 days, but our whole design of the annual meeting is different, and so we actually are this is our 70th year for annual meeting. We are celebrating Nurse Midwifery week, and we are all coming together. Over a thousand midwives are coming together in Palm Springs to have this huge celebration. And with that, we are not having a paved gala event. So that Saturday night party is included in your registration. So you do not have to pay anything extra to come celebrate and network with midwives and friends. And so that that's one of the huge things, changes that we did this year. It is uh smaller in the amount of days, it's only three days with the workshops being the fourth day on the Friday, but it is gonna be jam-packed, full of fun, and we are so excited to have everyone out in Palm Springs who's attending.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I'm really excited, Queen. I I just it it because we didn't have one last year. I mean, we were virtual, so anytime we can get together, I think it's just really important going back to that community piece. Sometimes just being with each other, I think helps to remind us of why we do what we do. So I think I'm just really excited about the community. I'm excited about everybody signing up to be on these new communities and us kind of entering into this new season, like locked and loaded, ready to go, new strategic plan, new committee structure. It's just gonna be a good time. So I'm just looking forward to to all the positive energy.
SPEAKER_02:I'm so excited to be together with everybody again. And I love the fall time frame. So whoever chose fall, yay! I love that.
SPEAKER_01:I'm telling you, she is rock solid. I mean, there are times where she says some things are like, okay, Monroe.
SPEAKER_02:And Palm Spring sounds lovely, but Kansas City is even better next year.
SPEAKER_00:Well, Kara and I always we always used to say when we when our midwifery cups felt empty, that going to meeting was the thing that made it feel full again. And so, you know, as somebody who's been going, I think I've been to 17 of the last 20 annual meetings. Um, and so it is very much a time for us to like refresh. But do um, Lexi, do you have any advice for somebody who might be coming to annual meeting for the first time?
SPEAKER_01:Um, just try to enjoy it, you know, be bold, you know, introduce yourself if you're a student. You know, don't feel afraid to, you know, if you see someone that you recognize, like, oh my God, this is Dr. So-and-so, whoever it is, just go up and introduce yourself. Use the opportunity to network, um, attend the sessions and the social events. So don't skip out on the sessions. I think we have some really great speakers lined up. Um, great opportunity to get some CEUs. Um, and use the meeting to find mentors. If you are passionate about reproductive justice or whatever the topic is that you're interested in, do your homework ahead of time and then seek those people out. It's it's a great opportunity. Um, I find that that when you meet people in social settings, I think this is how rich people do it. Like they go out to these fancy dinners and they drink and then they mastermind how they're going to take over the world. Well, we can do the same thing. So use annual meeting as an opportunity to really make those connections and um, you know, push yourself forward however you want and just have no fear. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And one of the things I would say is maybe plan your agenda ahead of time. Because our agenda is so packed and we have tracks this year for policy practice and research. There may be multiple uh educational offerings that you want to attend. And so you may want to look at those ahead of time and plan that out. The show app is our app that'll be opening up and you'll get a message probably early October. And you, I believe you'll be able to plan that ahead of time through right through the app. And you can click through it, and then it'll be your own daily agenda versus the full agenda that is in the app.
SPEAKER_02:I'm curious, Michelle, because in the past, some sessions have been recorded and you could watch them later. Will there be some of those virtual sessions this year?
SPEAKER_03:Not this year. We're not doing any recording. So everything is a face-to-face only option. Okay. And as we look at it, as as I think about it, if we have those sessions that are like jam-packed, people love them. The thing that I thought about doing is have that person come do a webinar later in the year. And that will absolutely maybe double tap them.
SPEAKER_00:That's such a great idea. I also was thinking about Lexi, what you were saying about finding the people. A lot of us who've been active in AC and M for a long time are what I call connectors. I might not be the right person for what you're interested in, but I know enough people and maybe I can be a connector and introduce you to the right person. Um, so also for those of you who are have been midwives for a long time, who are listening to us, please be connectors for younger people and for students and for people who are younger in this profession, because you know, that was one of the greatest things somebody like did for me when I was a when I was a new midwife is I know you're really interested in education. Let me introduce you to Barb Commune at the time, who is was a longtime division of education leader. And that connection like really sort of prompted a lot of the work that I did with ACNM. So find your connector people too, right? We we can definitely send you or turn you in the right direction, introduce you to the right people.
SPEAKER_02:The other thing is if you ever wonder if you're gonna fit in, um, probably a midwifery conference is the best place for anyone because there will be someone that you fit in with. Um, I feel like there's people in business suits all the way down to um, you know, I'm not as sure it's quite as popular now, but there used to be a whole lot of um leggings and tunics. Um, but certainly every kind of attire. Home Springs feels like it might be a little bit more resort wear. I could be wrong. Um, but you're gonna find the place, you're gonna fit in. There's nobody that really stands out at at AC and M. So it is a good place to come find your community. Um, also bring some spending money because there's midwifery market and there's different ways to purchase your fun swag and t-shirts and all kinds of different items for people that haven't been before. I think that's one of my favorite things.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, me too. I always say I'm only going to spend and I have a little budget. And then, of course, to get there, there's some Q cup or some little uterus, whatever. And I'm like, oh my god. A uterus, uterus. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:And then you need to buy it for your friends and partners and all of that.
SPEAKER_00:It's where I spent all the money on my doll, my midwife doll. I I always say that she is like my alter ego, right? She sits in my office and like watches over me. She's got a baby on the breast all the time. So, you know, it's all good. But I was like, so once in a lifetime chance to buy this very personalized thing for me. So it's really fun.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah. And the doll vendor will be there this year. She's one of my favorites.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's so funny. I should post a picture when I post this podcast of me and my doll because she very much looks like me. She is very much like a oh Kara's got hers. Um I know. So I think we might have a little in the same year.
SPEAKER_02:She has a little bag that says midwife, and she has a little fetoscope and a little chuck's pad. She's adorable.
SPEAKER_00:They are adorable. It's such a fun like thing to buy for yourself. It's like a fun little splurge, right? It's also the place where I get my t-shirts that say, you know, cheeky things, right? Um, this is just a fun. Yeah, we do all have them. Oh, um, Michelle's wearing her midwife doctor, and Kara and I both have that shirt as well. It was a fundraiser, I think. For was it for Penn? I think so. A few years ago. Yeah. Um, all right. So as we kind of wrap up our conversation, I'd love for each of you to share what ACNM means to you both personally, um, and you know, give some maybe parting advice to our listeners.
SPEAKER_01:You know, for me, um, especially being in this role, I think I never imagined that I would ever step into the leadership role that I did. And it has been very rewarding and inspiring. It's been a lot of hard work. Um, and I haven't been, you know, I lead by being a servant leader. And I think in my role, people are like, I haven't really seen you out there as the vice president, but I tend to honker down and want to work behind the scenes. And I think um the things that I've been able to work on, I feel like are things that really will help Mitt Wifer. Like my term is coming to an end in about six months. And I think as I get ready to leave that office, I leave with a sense of feeling like I did something for Mitt Wifery. Like something that, um, not me alone. I worked, of course, with a team, but just really taking on that monumentous task. I'm like, yeah, that makes me, I'm getting a little emotional thinking about it. Um, leadership is really about showing up and using your voice. And I I think if I were talking to midwives and students, uh, use your voice. Um, don't wait. It's needed now. Um, see it as an opportunity to engage not only in your own growth, but the the growth of the profession. And so for me, I think ACNM has really stretched me to uh show what true leadership is because it has not been easy. There have been, I mean, we're leading at a time where uh people are are not in love with ACNM. There's been financial challenges. Uh it's not hard to, it's not easy to lead when it's hard. We don't get the financial perks, like a lot of times people are like, oh, you get this and you get that. We get we don't get any of that. Um so I think it has really shown me like, but it's been still rewarding. I still like I feel like I've received great things from it by serving in the capacity that I've been able to serve. So I think I'm gonna take a nice little break after this, of course. Um, I still will be active. I won't lead anymore for a little while. Um, but I'm grateful for the person I've become because of my opportunity to lead in ACNM.
SPEAKER_00:I love this. Lexi, it's so it was, it's been so amazing to watch you really lean into that role as well and to be um, you know, part of the vision of what we want ACNM to be. So while I will be sad to watch you, you know, step back for a minute, I know you'll be back. We're too young to, we're too young to uh to to call it quits quite yet. We've got some, we still have some things to do. We've got some good trouble to cause. I know.
SPEAKER_01:I don't want getting emotional thinking about it. It's like, you know, and Michelle knows I've kind of been fussing the whole time, like it's all this stuff to do, but you're like, it's such great stuff when you really sit down. I guess we don't get to talk about, we just do the work. You know, nobody really asks us like what's your experience in doing the work. So I think it's the first time being on this podcast, an opportunity to really reflect on it because we're just in the trenches. So thank you too for even having this platform. I think um, yeah, we should do this kind of stuff more often because clearly I needed to let that out.
SPEAKER_00:Well, we Kira and I are nothing if if not criers. So um it's it's good to sometimes let all those emotions out, and we're so thankful for you.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Michelle, what do you want to add?
SPEAKER_03:So I am just so grateful. You know, when I stepped in as the CEO, uh this for me, this is my professional organization. And people were saying, you know, we're on the brink of failure, but I was like, we're not gonna go there. I'm not gonna let this organization fail because this is my organization. This is my professional organization, and we need this voice. And it is through the team, through the staff and the board who have made lots of sacrifices and jumped in together to ensure that we this organization is successful. And that has happened. We have not only, you know, looked at our mission and vision and made sure that that they were in alignment with where we needed to go, as Lexi said multiple times, we have streamlined our strategic plan so that we are focused on few things instead of many, so that we can be intentional about the work that ACNM is doing. That goes to the volunteer leadership structure where it was too large and we streamlined it so now we can be intentional to the work that ACNM needs to do, and to make sure that five to 10 years from now, you are gonna look at ACNM and not believe where we were, because we are already seeing the momentum with the certified midwife programs come in Colorado, the states that are recognizing the certified midwife credential. We are moving midwifery forward, and that can is not just because of what's happened at the national office, but it's because of the work that's being done by all midwives. We are stronger together.
SPEAKER_02:That's so true, Michelle Lexi. I am so, so thankful. I know Missy is as well, that you guys joined us today, and it's been a really inspiring message. Um, one of my very favorite things is seeing people celebrated and letting them get recognition when they do good work. And um, that's always been one of my favorite parts of annual meeting is the awards and those different things. But I hope you truly feel it, Lexi. Um, that the members are so thankful for your service to our organization. And um, I know you said you would like to hunker down and get the work done. It sounds like you've done incredible work. Um, so please, please, please um feel that from all of us. And Michelle, um, it's been a tough couple of years. You've done a really, really incredible job. And um, it's been tough for educators, it's been tough for researchers, it's been tough for practitioners, everyone. Um, but I love that you're always willing to have the tough conversations. And um, I think I and many other members had a little sigh of relief when you stepped into your role. So um I hope you know how much we appreciate you and and love that you're one of us. Um, it is different having a midwife at the helm. Um, so thank you, thank you, thank you for all you've done for our organization as well.
SPEAKER_00:I would like to add that when I heard, Michelle, that you were taking over that role, I was like, we are doubling down. This is like what we need. I was like, you know what? She's gonna bring all of the intensity and structure of her military background to this thing. And we it, we are not, it, we are not going down like that. This ship will not sink. And it is the very first thought I had when I found out that she were gonna step into that role. I think at the time as the interim, and I was like, well, if they don't make her the permanent CEO, then I am gonna have words. So Kira said it so much more eloquently than I will, but I absolutely was like, this is the right person and the right time for this job. And you're right, we are stronger together, and um, and we have nowhere to go but up and continue to go up and continue to support our profession. And um, and I'm thankful for the both of you.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Thank you. That was so kind. Thank you for this.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, thank you so much.
SPEAKER_00:Well, for our listeners, if you're not already a member of ACNM, now is a great time for you to get involved. You can go to acnm.org. Kara and I have been posting resources on our website. So we'll post some links for you. I will also post the volunteer leadership structure. I do have that. Um, Lexi, I have been privy to that information as being part of it. So um, now that it is common knowledge, we'll post it for everyone to see on our website as well. So um you'll be able to find it in a couple of different places. Um yeah, and then we will get this podcast episode out to all of our listeners.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah. And for the annual meeting, if you're there, please, please, please come find us and say hi. Missy and I will both be there. Lexi and Michelle, we will all love to have a high five, a hug, whatever, whatever it floats your boat. But um we hope to see everybody there.
SPEAKER_00:Kara and I will be in our pink engaged midwife podcast t shirts. So we will be glowing in fluorescent pink. So if you see us, come find us. But well, thanks for joining us for the Engaged Midwife podcast. We can't wait to talk to you again. Take care.