Drs. Lori Christ and Angela Lober delve into the complexities of caring for late preterm infants. They highlight what makes these babies unique and how early intervention and proper support from clinicians and parents can dramatically improve their health and development. Use this episode to learn about practical strategies, education points, and resources that can prepare you and your colleagues to care for and educate families with the best evidence-based care. A must listen for postpartum or NICU nurses caring for this population!

Lori Christ, MD

Dr. Lori Christ is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, working in both the NICU and newborn nursery. She has been recognized for excellence in clinical care and teaching, including the Faculty Teacher of the Year and the Penn Medicine Patient Advocacy Award.

Dr. Christ oversees quality and patient safety initiatives for full term and preterm newborns, including reducing disparities in breastfeeding, guidelines for late preterm care, and promoting kangaroo care. She also mentors trainees with an interest in quality improvement, reducing disparities in healthcare, and health care innovation.

Angela Lober, PhD, MPH, RN, IBCLC 

Dr. Angela Lober is Director of Research and Grants at AWHONN, where she advances nursing science to improve outcomes for women and families. A registered nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, she has delivered evidence-based care since 2001. With a PhD and experience as a Clinical Associate Professor, she is an active researcher and dedicated educator. Angela is a committed advocate for maternal-child health, engaging in professional and community efforts to support families. Through mentorship, scholarship, and advocacy, she works to strengthen the nursing profession and promote equitable care.

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In today’s nursing world—AI is no longer optional, but essential. Dr. Linda Burke reveals how nurses can harness AI as a powerful support tool without compromising their humanity or wisdom. This conversation centers on shaping the role of ethical, effective AI in your EMR, eagerly streamlining workflows, and better predicting conditions based on patient data trends. The nurse’s role is irreplaceable and deserves a seat at the table to train AI. Health care practitioners—tune in today!

Linda Burke, MD

Dr. Linda Burke is a board-certified OB-GYN with extensive experience in maternal health improvement. She’s the founder of Perinatal Solutions LLC and has collaborated with nursing professionals in public health settings throughout her career. Currently, Dr. Burke provides consulting services to federal and state agencies. She’s a graduate of Stanford’s Health Futurist Leadership program and holds an AI certification, positioning her at the intersection of clinical practice and emerging technology. Dr. Burke also earned a certificate in Clinical Informatics from Johns Hopkins and has served as a federal subject matter expert in maternal mortality case reviews.

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How do trauma-informed care and Respectful Maternity Care converge to strengthen readiness across maternity care settings? Our guest experts discuss where practice gaps persist and how new and revamped tools support more consistent, respectful, and trauma-responsive care throughout the perinatal continuum. Listeners will gain practical perspectives on aligning these complementary frameworks, strengthening clinical readiness, and fostering systems that prioritize dignity, autonomy, and psychological safety for birthing individuals.

Nursing Contact Hours: 1.0 nursing contact hours (NCPD activity available through 1/20/2029)

To receive contact hours for this continuing education activity, participants must:

Claim Your Credit: Access the evaluation and documentation

Shawana Burnette, DNP, NEA-BC, ANLC-P, CLNC, FAWHONN

Shawana Burnette is an innovative thought leader with over 20+ years of nursing leadership experience and 22+ years of experience as an OB nurse. Shawana works closely with AWHONN’s efforts to impact cultures of Respectful Maternal Care (RMC), serving as a member of the evidence-based group to develop the framework and toolkit for RMC initiatives.

She is currently the Director of Nursing Excellence Programs for Advocate Health Enterprise Nursing, where she supports the ANCC designation program portfolio through resource alignment and strategic collaboration. Shawana has been recognized as one of North Carolina’s Great 100 Nurses, a Daisy Nurse Leader award recipient, and an inaugural AWHONN Fellow. She is an ardent advocate for rightful care outcomes with a commitment to creating inclusive care cultures for all.

Maggie Runyon, MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM (she/her)

Maggie Runyon is a nurse, educator, writer, and speaker. She began her nursing career in 2009 and has since practiced in hospitals and communities around the country. In 2019, Maggie founded the non-profit Your BIRTH Partners with a mission to cultivate inclusive, collaborative birth care environments rooted in autonomy, respect, and equity. Maggie is currently pursuing her PhD in Nursing and loves educating, mentoring, and learning alongside nurses. She recently authored her first book, I Thought I Was Here to Help, which chronicles her early career journey and the lessons she has learned. Her advocacy focuses on improving perinatal care in hospital environments through trauma-informed care, affirming nurses’ agency, and community collaboration.

Accreditation Statement

The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. AWHONN is also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP580

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Dr. Helen Hurst emphasizes the rising rates of syphilis in pregnant individuals and pinpoints the critical need for open, nonjudgmental conversation and education between clinicians and their patients. Use this episode as a guide to discuss sexual health, address myths, implement talk, test, treat at the point of entry to care, and collaborate with community partners to create campaigns that will improve the awareness and health of those in your surrounding zip codes.

Helen M. Hurst, DNP, RNC-OB, APRN-CNM

Dr. Helen Hurst is a distinguished leader in nursing education, research, and clinical practice. She’s served as Associate Dean of Nursing and Professor at Creighton University since July 2022, where she provides oversight and leadership for the College of Nursing. Her years in clinical practice encompassed being an RN in L&D and women’s health. As a CNM, she provided antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and women’s health care at a community hospital in southwestern Louisiana.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Hurst has cultivated expertise in academic administration, innovative curriculum development, and healthcare partnerships, positioning her as a pivotal force in advancing nursing education. Among her notable achievements is being a co-patent holder along with her team at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, for a women’s mobile health unit for use in emergency preparedness.

Dr. Hurst is an esteemed member of professional organizations, including the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and the National League of Nursing. As a nationally sought-after speaker, Dr. Hurst is committed to advancing nursing education, empowering women’s health, and fostering scholarly excellence to inspire and shape the next generation of nursing professionals.

Her dedication to nursing education, maternal health, and nursing leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Certificate of Achievement in Innovation, and the Cols. Jean & Philip Piccone Nursing Faculty Development Award. Additionally, Dr. Hurst was a Fellow in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership in Academic Nursing Program.

The post Breaking the Silence on Syphilis appeared first on AWHONN.

Dr. Nicole Rankins, a seasoned OB-GYN, shares her insights on empowering women during childbirth, particularly in hospital settings. Dr. Rankins discusses how evidence-based information can be shared by centering informed decision-making for patients. She emphasizes the critical role of L&D nurses in shaping patient outcomes and highlights the significance of collaboration between nurses and physicians. Dr. Rankins underscores the value of patient education and preparation and offers resources to support expectant families and healthcare providers.

Nicole Calloway Rankins, MD

Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins (a.k.a. Dr. Nicole) is a board-certified OB/GYN with 20+ years of experience and founder of Birth With Power, a bold education and advocacy platform empowering women to approach hospital birth with clarity and confidence, while championing a new era of maternal care rooted in evidence, autonomy, and respect. She’s the host of the Birth With Power podcast, ranked in the top 0.5% globally with over 2.6 million downloads.

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This collective of guests has all significantly contributed to the success of AWHONN’s Emerging Leaders Program. The discussion explores the program’s impact on leadership development and personal growth through its immersive education, strategic networking, and advocacy training. Listen and keep watching for the greatness of these nurse leaders.

Miriam W. Yeung

Miriam Yeung is a social justice leader who has successfully fought for and improved the lives of young people, women, LGBT people, immigrants, and people of color in the United States. Currently, Miriam is the lead faculty for the AWHONN Emerging Leaders Program and runs a consulting practice that focuses on helping leaders and organizations spend their resources most meaningfully to improve the world we live in.

Miriam led the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF (2008-2016)), the nation’s only national multi-issue organization dedicated to building power and winning reproductive justice, economic justice and immigrant rights for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls. She co-founded We Belong Together, a campaign that organizes women for immigrant rights; spent 10 years at NYC LGBT Community Center organizing youth, improving policy and government relations; and built the Causes in Common coalition, a cross movement initiative to more closely align the LGBT liberation movement with the reproductive rights, health and justice movements.

Miriam played a key role in developing the NYS and NYC Dignity for All Students Act, supported LGBT inclusion within the foster care system, and successfully advocated for the inclusion of LGB youth in statewide data collection efforts.

In 2016, Miriam received the Ms. Foundation’s Gloria Steinem Woman of Vision award. She serves on the board of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, MomsRising and GalvanizeUSA. Raised in the projects of Brooklyn, Miriam is a proud, queer, immigrant, woman, activist parent to two amazing young daughters.

Jacquiline Blanco, BSN, RNC

Jackie Blanco is an obstetrical nurse and now a Clinical Nurse Leader with a background in economic development and policy reform. She’s driven by a commitment to advancing equitable, evidence-based care in reproductive health and passionate about empowering all individuals through their reproductive journeys with informed, holistic, and compassionate care that prioritizes autonomy and consent.

Jackie is always pursuing leadership opportunities that integrate evidence-based practice, activism, and a nursing framework that addresses disparities in obstetric outcomes. Her career is deeply rooted in activism and legislative work, with a focus on shaping policies that directly impact BIPOC and Queer communities. Additionally, Jackie is deeply invested in the standardization of policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure consistency, safety, and excellence in obstetric care. Jackie is a native Seattleite, vegetarian, dog mom, and roller skater who lives with her wife in west Seattle.

Elena Jenkins BSN, RN

Elena Jenkins is a Program Manager for Missouri Collaboration for Clinical Community Integration, a HRSA-funded Maternal Health Innovation Grant. She’s also Executive Director and Co-Founder of Nurture Birth & Health, an upcoming Birth & Wellness Center in St. Louis, MO.

Elena has had a career-long passion for improving the health of moms and babies and has led both birth equity and perinatal mental health initiatives at her institution, striving to implement strategies to address implicit bias, maternal health disparities, and promote conditions of optimal births for all people. She served as an AIM Clinical Champion in the 2022-2023 cohort and has been integrally involved in the implementation of several AIM Patient Safety Bundles with multidisciplinary team members at the hospital level. Elena is also a member of the 2022-2023 AWHONN Emerging Leaders Cohort and is an Entrepreneurial MBA student at William Jewell College in the OneDay program. Elena and her partner have 3 daughters, and in their free time enjoy creating art and spending time with their 4 grandchildren.

MioNeshia McDonald, MSN, RNC-OB, CLC, C-EFM

MioNeshia McDonald is a nurse leader and educator with extensive experience in women’s health, ambulatory operations, and quality improvement. She currently serves as a Regional Nurse Manager, overseeing multiple OB/GYN clinics and leading initiatives focused on patient safety, operational efficiency, and evidence-based practice. As an adjunct nursing faculty member, she’s passionate about mentoring future nurses through reflective learning and professional development. Her scholarly and professional interests include patient safety, process improvement, leadership development, and advancing high quality, equitable care through data driven decision-making.

The post Inside AWHONN’s Emerging Leaders Program appeared first on AWHONN.

Dr. Noor Al-Shibli, a board-certified OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine fellow, shares how remarkable advancements in antiretroviral therapy have drastically reduced HIV transmission rates during pregnancy. Listen to discover the collaborative efforts of health care professionals and community advocates in supporting pregnant individuals living with HIV and learn about the evolving guidelines that empower shared decision-making in infant feeding. This is an inspiring conversation on breaking barriers and fostering hope in maternal health.

Noor Al-Shibli, MD

Dr. Noor Al-Shibli is a board-certified OBGYN and third year Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow at Emory University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Tennessee and completed her OBGYN residency training at Duke University. Throughout her time at Emory, she has cared for high-risk obstetrics patients at Grady Memorial Hospital, including a specialized high-risk obstetrics clinic for pregnant individual living with HIV. Her clinical and research interests include infectious diseases, maternal nutrition, and community health. Noor has a passion for educating and empowering her patients about their reproductive health.

The post Breaking Barriers: Advances in Perinatal HIV Care appeared first on AWHONN.

Many nurses face barriers in advancing their careers due to limited access to structured professional development, leadership training, and mentorship opportunities. While clinical expertise is well-developed through practice, gaps remain in areas such as leadership skills, strategic decision-making, health care business knowledge, and professional networking. These gaps can limit opportunities for advancement into leadership, management, or specialized roles. Addressing this gap by providing targeted education, mentorship, and career development resources will empower nurses to expand their career trajectories, enhance job satisfaction, and contribute more effectively to improving patient outcomes and organizational growth.

This podcast episode provides 0.75 nursing contact hours. The NCPD activity is available through October 7, 2028. To earn contact hours, you will need to:

Claim Your Credit: Access the evaluation

Cost: Free

Marie Biancuzzo, RN, MS, IBCLC

Marie Biancuzzo is a nationally recognized educator, consultant, and content strategist whose career spans bedside nursing and far beyond. As the founding editor of Nursing for Women’s Health, she shaped the conversation on evidence-based care. She has successfully pivoted into non-traditional roles—developing healthcare courses, serving as university faculty, running a consulting business, and advising medical device companies on education and certification. Her expertise blends clinical insight with instructional design, publishing, and strategic content creation, helping nurses explore new career paths and design learning experiences that deliver real-world results.

The post Helping Nurses Navigate Career Transitions With Confidence appeared first on AWHONN.

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is life-threatening, unpredictable, sudden, and complex. Miranda Klassen and Kayleigh Summers are two remarkable survivors and leading voices in AFE advocacy, education, and research. In this episode, they describe their life changing experiences, reflect on how AFE can impact nurses and other health care professionals, and share their mission driven work to heal. Immerse yourself in this episode in order to connect with the tools and resources you need to prepare for an AFE or to support survivors.

Miranda Klassen, BSc

Miranda Klassen is the Executive Director of the Amniotic Fluid Embolism Foundation, a non-profit organization she founded in 2008, after surviving an AFE during the birth of her son. Miranda is also a co-investigator for the Amniotic Fluid Embolism Registry and Biorepository and has authored several publications on AFE and support after a severe maternal event. She is a frequent lecturer and serves on multiple boards and maternal health initiatives. She lives in San Diego, CA, with her husband Bryce, a critical care nurse, and their son, Van.

Kayleigh Summers, LCSW, PMH-C

Kayleigh Summers is a licensed therapist, writer, and content expert in perinatal trauma. Drawing from her clinical expertise and lived experience as an amniotic fluid embolism survivor, Kayleigh is dedicated to supporting families navigating perinatal trauma and collaborating with healthcare institutions to implement trauma-informed care tailored to pregnant and postpartum populations. As The Birth Trauma Mama, Kayleigh has cultivated vibrant support communities through Instagram, TikTok, and her podcast, offering connection, storytelling, and valuable resources for individuals impacted by perinatal trauma. Her work bridges clinical knowledge and personal insight, fostering hope and healing for those in need.

The post Understanding AFE: A Dual Survivor Perspective appeared first on AWHONN.

Delve into the groundbreaking Neonatal Advanced Life Support (NALS) program, a collaborative effort between the American Red Cross and AWHONN. Experts Jonathan Epstein and Julie Bacon discuss the critical need for innovative education in neonatal resuscitation as well as how to bridge the gap and provide this evidence-based training in maternity care deserts. Learn how NALS differs from existing programs, what it offers health care professionals, and how you can bring it to your team.

Jonathan Epstein, MEMS, NRP

Jonathan Epstein leads the Healthcare Product Management team at the American Red Cross, bringing over 30 years of expertise in EMS, healthcare education, and customer-focused innovation. A nationally registered Paramedic with a master’s degree in Emergency Medical Services, Jonathan has shaped training programs for healthcare and public safety professionals and served in leadership roles, including Executive Director of Northeast EMS, Chair of International Trauma Life Support and a Domain lead for the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). Passionate about education, he continues to teach and advance life-saving practices worldwide.

Julie Bacon, MSN-HCSM, NPD-BC, NE-BC, CPN, CPEN, C-NPT

Julie has over 25 years’ experience in emergency transport medicine, with expertise in pediatric and neonatal transport and critical care. As Program Manager and Chief Flight Nurse at Johns Hopkins All Children’s LifeLine in St. Petersburg, Florida, she manages both a high acuity national/ international transport team as well as the transfer and dispatch center. She is a subject matter expert for newborn resuscitation and pediatrics for the American Red Cross. Julie holds multiple clinical and leadership certifications, as well as serves on the Florida EMS Advisory Council.

The post Innovative Solutions for Neonatal Resuscitation appeared first on AWHONN.