In anticipation of the first AWHONN Rural Health Summit, Mandy Pugh and Teresa Horak highlight the adaptability and innovation rural health nurses need to solve unique challenges. Tune in to this inspiring conversation on resilience to overcome obstacles, creativity in personalized care, and community relationship building, sprinkled with a couple of myth busters.

Teresa Horak, MS, RN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, FAWHONN 

Teresa Horak has been an RN for 39 years, with 29 years in nursing leadership. She’s worked in every Maternal Care hospital level (I through IV), during her career and became an AWHONN member in 1995. During her tenure, Teresa has served as Iowa Section Chair for six years and has represented District IV on the Section Advisory Committee, where she’s currently the chair; she’s also the chair of the planning committee for the Rural Health Summit. In 2024, Teresa was named an AWHONN Fellow and in 2025 she was honored to receive the AWHONN award for Excellence in Leadership.

Mandy Pugh, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM 

Mandy Pugh is a labor & delivery nurse at UT Health Jacksonville in East Texas and a Certified Nurse Midwife student at the University of Cincinnati. She chairs AWHONN’s Rural Special Interest Group and founded iROAR—Improving Rural Obstetrics through Advocacy and Readiness, a grassroots movement connecting and empowering rural OB nurses and midwives nationwide.

Mandy is passionate about community and treasures delivering entire families across generations and seeing her patients at church, ball games, and even in Walmart. She’s committed to amplifying rural voices, strengthening collaboration, and advancing maternal health equity.

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Disparities in the NICU are a critical issue, with many families facing barriers to equitable, high-quality care and support during some of their most vulnerable moments. Jenné Johns from Once Upon a Preemie and Adriauna Davis from the Harmonie Grace Foundation are inspiring leaders who transformed their personal experiences into powerful advocacy and support for families. Listen to learn how your team can enhance patient and family-centered care in the NICU, improve health outcomes, and foster a more inclusive health care environment.

Jenné Johns, MPH

Jenné Johns is a national health equity thought leader, author and advocate for reducing health care disparities. She is President of Once Upon A Preemie, Inc., and Founder of Once Upon A Preemie Academy, the first and only virtual training academy focused on delivering health and racial equity educational programs for perinatal and neonatal healthcare professionals. While advocating for the needs of her own son, Jenné wrote, “Once Upon a Preemie”, the first of its kind children’s book written for parents of preemies while in the NICU. A graduate of the Disparities Leadership Program at Harvard University Medical School, Jenné has over a decade of experience advocating for policy, and community changes to improve health equity and health outcomes for low-income communities. She’s also led quality improvement and health equity transformation strategies with the nation’s largest health insurance companies.  

Adriauna Davis

Adriauna Davis is a compassionate advocate and Founder of The Harmonie Grace Foundation. She currently serves as the organization’s Executive Director. In this pivotal role, Adriauna orchestrates the foundation’s mission to provide unwavering support to families navigating the challenging terrain of premature births and infant loss. Her personal journey, vividly captured in the book “Perfect Harmonie: My Journey As A Preemie Mom,” serves as a testament to her resilience and commitment to making a meaningful impact. 

Her dedication is evidenced by her involvement as a speaker and panelist for several speaking engagements, membership on various boards and volunteer appointments. Adriauna’s outstanding contributions have not gone unnoticed, earning The Harmonie Grace Foundation – nonprofit of the month, recognized in Voyage Houston Magazine and The Courier Newspaper. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Adriauna finds solace in Houston, TX where she resides. Her holistic approach to life and work reflects a deep-seated commitment to creating positive change for families facing the challenges of premature births and infant loss. Through her leadership, Adriauna continues to inspire and uplift those touched by the Harmonie Grace Foundation’s mission. 

The post Neonatal Equity: A Call to Action appeared first on AWHONN.

To continue our conversation from 2024, research professionals from the University of Alaska Anchorage share their insights on the evolving landscape of polysubstance use across the lifespan and its complex implications for health care. Tune in to learn evidence-based strategies for screening and how to provide patient-centered treatment through innovative methods. Empathy, education, and open dialogue can transform lives in your nursing practice and enhance patient care.

Faith Ozer Green, MPH

Faith Ozer Green received her undergraduate degree in medical anthropology from Trinity University. She earned her Master’s in Public Health, specializing in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan. Since 2021, she’s worked as a research professional and project manager at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services, specializing in community-led research projects around health care access in rural Alaska, and has designed and proctored multiple provider-facing trainings around effective communication.

Kathryn Davis, MPH, MPP

Katie Davis received her bachelor’s degree in health sciences at the University of Alaska Anchorage. She completed dual Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Policy at the University of Utah. Since 2019, she’s worked at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services, as a research professional working in project evaluation and health communication.

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Local Chapters are the heart of AWHONN member engagement. Listen to how three dedicated volunteers transformed into influential AWHONN Section Leaders. They welcomed mentorship and leveraged diverse networking opportunities that are also available for you. Be inspired to elevate your nursing career path and learn new resources that can give you and your statewide colleagues a boost.

Marin Skariah, DNP, MBA, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, IBCLC

Dr. Marin Skariah is the Director for Women’s and Children’s Services and Pediatrics, and member of the Board of Directors for the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification. She’s a long-time AWHONN member who’s passionate about early-career nurses and is a key stakeholder in ensuring that nurses with a strong interest in the field are provided with the necessary resources to be successful. Dr. Skariah currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer for AWHONN in New York, she was also an AWHONN Emerging Leader in 2018.

Amanda Staab MSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM

Amanda Staab is a Clinical Nurse Improvement Coach for the Iowa Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative, incorporating quality improvement and simulation in obstetrics for birthing hospitals, critical access EDs, and EMS crews. One of her previous roles was at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, IA. She’s served 13 years in the Birth Care Center and 5 years as House Supervisor. Amanda is currently the AWHONN Chapter Leader for East Central Iowa and the Secretary/Treasurer for Iowa; she’s also a 2023-2024 AWHONN Emerging Leader.

Kristy Wente, MSN, RNC

Kristy Wente is the Operations Supervisor for Women’s Services at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, OK. She’s worked in the field of maternal health for the past 25 years and holds a certification in Inpatient Obstetrics. She has served as the Oklahoma Section Secretary/Treasurer for the past 5 years and as a section chapter leader. Kristy is a member of the Oklahoma Maternal Mortality Review Committee and is passionate about advocating for and improving the health of women and newborns.

The post Mentorship and Leadership in AWHONN Sections & Chapters appeared first on AWHONN.

Two different paths into nursing brought Mandy Irby and Maggie Runyon to the same place. Listen as they discuss that nurses bring their psychological histories into the birth space and that most adults have experienced trauma at some point in their life. Open yourself to the vulnerability of connection with patients and accept that you’ve been complicit in obstetric violence in order to advocate to nurse leaders to change policies, serve as an active bystander, and make trauma-informed care the standard to improve health outcomes. 

Mandy Irby, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM, LCCE, NSI-L1

Mandy Irby is a leading authority in transforming birth care culture through the prevention of birth-related trauma by co-creating The Embodied Trauma-Informed Care Framework. Since founding The Birth Nurse, she’s worked with state quality collaboratives, departments of health, and hospital teams to strengthen psychological safety in childbirth and improve family outcomes across generations. Her paradigm shifting workshops, keynote speeches, and consultations drive the change to patient-centered care within a safe and ethical framework for nurses.

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.

The post How L&D Nurses Lead Trauma-Informed Change appeared first on AWHONN.

In this poignant episode of AWHONN Insights, Jose Perez shares the tragic story of the loss of his fiancé, Christine Fields. Pause as you listen to the details in order to identify the loopholes where a clinician or advocate could have intervened. Jose has now taken up the mantle to fight for respectful care, better parent preparation for childbirth, legislative changes including passage of the Grieving Families Act, and greater community support.

Jose Perez

Jose Perez is an advocate for maternal health from Brooklyn. Since the tragic loss of his fiancée, Christine Fields, in November 2013, he’s been collaborating with lawmakers, health care advocates, and birth workers to help reform the systemic maternal health issues for black and brown women. Currently, he’s fighting for the Grieving Families Act to be passed in New York and continues to build alliances to get quality care in underserved communities.

Kandis Mclean, DNP, FNP, RNC-OB, RNC-MNN, CHSE, NEA-BC, FAWHONN

Dr. Kandis McLean is an Associate Professor for Maternal Child Simulation at Nassau Community College and appointed Director of Nursing for Maternal Health over Suffolk County, NY State. She is also a practicing family nurse practitioner in the obstetrical department at Columbia University/NYP Allen.

Her maternal consultant work has been sourced to Pearson, the National League for Nursing, and a 12-system hospital, NYC Health and Hospitals, to deliver AWHONN fetal monitoring and simulation. Dr. McLean utilizes simulation to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in maternal care and obstetrical training. In her efforts to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality, she travels internationally to teach health care teams best practices for obstetric complications and how to work collaboratively to decrease adverse outcomes.

Dr. McLean is also a current member of the NY State Maternal Mortality Committee for the Department of Health in New York State for legislative recommendations. Her current research focuses on the use of virtual reality in clinical settings to enhance training for students, as well as to address perinatal mood disorders, substance use, and the gaps in maternal care delivery that are impacted by social determinants.

The post Maternal Mortality: A Father’s Perspective appeared first on AWHONN.

Since its inception in 2018, AWHONN on Capitol Hill has seen increasing attendance and engagement. This episode offers an in-depth exploration of the critical role nurses play in shaping health care legislation. It also highlights how AWHONN’s advocacy program is designed to empower nurses to share their personal experiences, illustrating how proposed bills impact their workplace, their health, and the lives of their patients.

Amy Scott, MSN, WHNP-BC, RNC-OB

Amy Scott is a Senior Consultant for the Women & Infants team within Strategic Collaboratives at Premier Inc. She’s a dedicated partner to approximately 40 of the 200+ hospitals participating in the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Perinatal Improvement Collaborative (PIC). Amy has twenty-five years of healthcare experience serving as a labor and delivery nurse, clinical nurse educator, and perinatal leader. Currently, Amy serves on the AWHONN Public Policy committee and as California Section Southern CA legislative coordinator.

The post Nurse Advocacy on Capitol Hill appeared first on AWHONN.

This rockstar team of nursing, medical, and legal experts kick off AWHONN Insights live in Phoenix, AZ. Nurses and providers at any career stage caring for pregnant, laboring, and postpartum people will learn more about your best defense for when litigation occurs. The time to improve your clinical practice is now.  

Support for the AWHONN Insights episode How Nurses Are Coping in the Current Climate was provided by Medela.

Adam Snyder

Adam Snyder is a trial lawyer with an unparalleled commitment to litigating birth trauma, catastrophic injury, and women’s health matters. He founded the Birth Injury Alliance in an effort to bring about positive change in the way perinatal care is provided and to help those who need help most. He frequently lectures on obstetrics and pediatrics litigation, serves as co-chair of a leading perinatal care conference, and is invited to be presenting faculty at clinical and legal seminars throughout the country. Adam is also a leader on the boards of multiple hospitals and charitable organizations that are dedicated to improving women’s health care and women’s health research. He is recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and the Leading Lawyers Network for his dedication.

Jamie’s work crosses sectors into the arenas of public health, education, and patient advocacy. She has a long history of advocacy and is involved extensively in AWHONN on the state and national level. She was an AWHONN Emerging Leader in the 2022 cohort. Jamie is regularly featured on the AWHONN Insights Podcast as a member of the content advisory board. Jamie is a nationally recognized public speaker and thought leader. Through her efforts, Jamie seeks to center the voices and amplify the stories of those most impacted by adverse outcomes to help make meaningful improvements in the health of all those giving birth.

Alexandria (Lexi) Hill, MD, FACOG

Dr. Alexandria (Lexi) Hill is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Dr. Hill is licensed in multiple states and currently practices telemedicine full-time to service communities in need of high-risk obstetrical care. She’s extensively involved with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and serves on multiple committees to raise awareness and advocate for maternal health care at both the state and national level. Dr. Hill enjoys incorporating her study of the Spanish language into her daily clinical practice and educating medical professionals; she’s been a part of America’s Board Review Course since 2017.

Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN

Dr. Suzanne McMurtry Baird is owner of Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and has extensive clinical experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Her past roles include Assistant Director of Nursing – Clinical Program Development at Texas Children’s Hospital’s Pavilion for Women in Houston, TX and faculty at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN teaching obstetric and critical care nursing. Dr. Baird has authored and edited numerous programs and books for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing, such as Critical Care Obstetrics Education, Perinatal Education and Orientation Program, and AWHONN High Risk and Critical Care, 4th edition.

Dr. Stephanie Martin

Dr. Stephanie Martin is the medical director and co-owner of Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics. Through her consulting business she advises hospitals of all sizes on improving care for high-risk and critically ill pregnant women. Due to her extensive clinical experience, Dr. Martin is a highly regarded speaker and educator. She’s served on the Board of Directors for the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, been a peer reviewer for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and authored numerous journal articles and book chapters on critical care obstetric topics. Dr. Martin is currently Course Director for America’s Board Review MFM Oral Board Exam Review Course, helping MFM candidates prepare for the oral board certifying examination and co-host of The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast which has reached #4 on the Apple Podcast Charts in Medicine.

The post A Beginner’s Guide to Liability Issues in Perinatal Nursing appeared first on AWHONN.

The AWHONN Insights Content Advisory Board discusses the current challenges faced by nurses and how they’re coping. The conversation centers on self-care strategies, emotional coping, and the importance of support within the nursing profession. The group explores ways to nurture creativity and resilience amid the constantly evolving and demanding landscape of obstetrics and women’s health.

Support for the AWHONN Insights episode How Nurses Are Coping in the Current Climate was provided by Medela.

Jamie Agunsday, MA, MSN, RNC-OB

Jamie Agunsday is a master’s prepared Registered Nurse who has spent 11 years serving women and birthing families in New Jersey. As a labor nurse, Jamie was deeply impacted by seeing women experience serious pregnancy related complications. She spent 5 years telling the stories of women in NJ who died from complications of their pregnancies to the NJ Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Jamie recently joined a nonprofit where she partners with clinicians, leaders, and community members to ensure that healthcare teams have the knowledge they need to support birth equity, family empowerment, and joy in safe clinical settings.

Jamie’s work crosses sectors into the arenas of public health, education, and patient advocacy. She has a long history of advocacy and is involved extensively in AWHONN on the state and national level. She was an AWHONN Emerging Leader in the 2022 cohort. Jamie is regularly featured on the AWHONN Insights Podcast as a member of the content advisory board. Jamie is a nationally recognized public speaker and thought leader. Through her efforts, Jamie seeks to center the voices and amplify the stories of those most impacted by adverse outcomes to help make meaningful improvements in the health of all those giving birth.

Lakisa Ballard, RN, MSN, C-EFM, RNC-OB

Lakisa Ballard is a Clinical Nurse Education Specialist in Labor and Delivery. Her years of nursing experience span labor and delivery, high-risk antepartum, and postpartum in hospitals across the US. Her mission is to impact the perinatal workforce through tools, knowledge, and support that produce the best patient outcomes. She’s passionate about fostering supportive learning environments derived from evidence-based practice. Lakisa is a Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Team board member. In November 2022, she was awarded the Sandy Chapman Rising Star award at the National Perinatal Leadership Conference.

Shannon Francois, MSN-E, RNC-OB

Shannon Francois is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner with a strong commitment to supporting women’s health across all stages of life. She is currently pursuing certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to expand her expertise in providing holistic care. With a background in nursing education and inpatient obstetrics, Shannon is deeply passionate about women’s mental health and its critical role in overall well-being. As the mother of twin girls, she is personally and professionally dedicated to supporting mental health, both for women and their families. Shannon is committed to advancing women’s healthcare by empowering women to make informed decisions about their health and promoting integrated, patient-centered care in the field of women’s health.

LaShea Haynes, M.Ed, MSN, AGCNS-BC, APRN, RNC, C-EFM

Lashea Haynes has obstetrical and perinatal nursing experience and expertise that spans 26 years in labor and delivery, antepartum, and mother/baby. She’s worked as a board-certified clinical nurse specialist, nursing instructor, and perinatal outreach educator. She’s provided high-risk perinatal education to various hospitals and audiences throughout her region. LaShea is the editor of Healthy Mom&Baby magazine and the founder and owner of her own nursing mentoring and education consulting company. She’s also a Designated Instructor Trainer in Fetal Monitoring and Obstetric Patient Safety. LaShea is an active AWHONN member, Vice Chair of the AWHONN Section Advisory Committee, and past two-term Georgia section chair. In 2022, she received the AWHONN Distinguished Professional Service Award and The Award of Excellence in Education.

Jennifer Peterman, MSN, CRNP, PMHNP-BC, IBCLC

Jennifer Peterman has been a Women’s Health nurse for over 30 years. She received her bachelor of science in nursing from The College of New Jersey and is certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. She received her master’s degree from Drexel University and is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Jennifer has been an advocate in the field of lactation, mentoring hospitals on achieving Baby Friendly Designation. She is currently a Clinical Practice leader on the Postpartum and Well Baby units at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Jennifer has been an active AWHONN member, including on the editorial advisory board for Health Mom&Baby Magazine. Jennifer is passionate about maternal mental health and continues to advocate for increased awareness and resources.

Kimber Stovesand, RN, BSN

Kimber Stovesand is an experienced labor and delivery nurse and newly graduated midwife that has a passion for delivering quality, evidence-based care before, during and after childbirth. She recently graduated with her Masters in Nurse Midwifery from East Carolina University. She is an AWHONN Emerging Leader in the 2024-2025 cohort. She enjoys assisting birthing bodies in the liminal space of the delivery room and loves being a witness to the miracle of each person coming into their own strength. Her goals include eliminating disparities in care, increasing patient and provider collaboration and empowering patients with the knowledge and resources to claim birth as intimately and unmistakably theirs.

Jessica Irrobali, MSN, RNC-OB, CHSE, C-ONQS, C-EFM

Jessica Irrobali is the Director of Collaborative Clinical Programs at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). With extensive experience in perinatal high-risk critical care, she has served as a perinatal educator, maternal designation/critical care coordinator, and surveyor for Levels of Maternal Care. Jessica has demonstrated her expertise and dedication by leading the expansion of the post-birth warning signs education toolkit and improving resources for rural and critical access hospitals. Her initiatives include developing a post-birth warning signs app and translating patient materials into 50 languages. She has also produced educational videos for clinicians and patients to enhance their understanding of post-birth warning signs. Jessica travels nationwide to teach AWHONN’s Obstetric Patient Safety Program and advocate for simulation-based learning in various healthcare settings. Additionally, she co-hosts the AWHONN Insights Podcast and directs AWHONN’s Emerging Leader Program to cultivate future nursing leaders and advance the profession.

The post How Nurses Are Coping in the Current Climate appeared first on AWHONN.

How well do you know the anesthesia providers’ critical role in caring for OB patients? This conversation delves into the importance of open communication and collaboration through teamwork. Our guests discuss how to best prepare for emergencies, centering the birthing person’s emotional needs, environment cues, and assessment of blood volume and hydration status.

Shafonya Turner, MD

Dr. Shafonya Turner is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience in medicine. A proud graduate of Hampton University, her commitment is to uplift and advance the Black community. After earning her medical degree and completing her training at UNC Chapel Hill, she joined the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Through her work providing care and engaging with the community, she recognized the urgent need for accessible health information. This passion led to the founding of Caring 4 Us Corp to empower patients and families with knowledge and tools to actively participate in their healthcare journeys.

Norman Roberts, CRNA, MSN

Norman Roberts graduated from Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Allied Health Professions in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Immediately after graduating, he went on to provide care in Neonatal and Pediatric ICU’s across the country as a travel nurse, until deciding in 2011 to enter University of Miami’s Nurse Anesthesia program in Coral Gables, FL. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Nurse Anesthesia in December 2013 and has been practicing in the field ever since with a recent primary focus on Labor and Delivery anesthesia. He presented on the fundamentals of neuraxial anesthesia in labor and delivery at the 2024 AWHONN Section Conference in Maryland.

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