South Middlesex Times

Rutgers graduate Naja Damallie keeps track of the number of births she attends at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, where she works as a certified nurse-midwife. Since October 2023, when she started at the teaching hospital, she has attended almost 80.

“I love this job,” said Damallie, beaming as she prepared to start another shift. “It doesn’t even feel like work.”

Damallie is one of hundreds of New Jersey midwives who have graduated over the past half-century from the midwifery education program at Rutgers School of Nursing. As healthcare providers, these Rutgers alumni work with women and birthing people, families, and communities to provide care throughout their patients' lifespans – from annual preventative visits to reproductive health care needs.

“Being there for a woman,” and “then to deliver their baby, it's beautiful,” said Damallie, who was inspired to become a healthcare professional by her late uncle, Earl Damallie. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Rutgers and was a board-certified surgeon. “Rutgers wasn’t easy, but it opened the door to so much joy,” she said.

For five decades, the Rutgers nurse-midwifery program has been educating and training much of the state’s midwifery workforce. Since Teresa Marsico, the program’s founder, was awarded a U.S. Department of Health grant on June 24, 1974, the midwifery program has expanded from humble beginnings into a long-standing program that consistently graduates a diverse class reflective of New Jersey's population.

Rutgers midwifery students earn either a master of science in nursing, post-master’s certificate or doctorate in nursing practice – all preparing them for national certification by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). The school also offers a dual-track nurse-midwife/women’s health nurse practitioner program.

Marsico was a midwifery pioneer who not only founded and led the Rutgers midwifery program for more than a quarter-century but also served as president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). She received ACNM’s Lifetime Visionary Award for her exemplary contributions to the profession over her lifetime.

Elaine Diegmann was among the first class of graduates from Marsico's program. She joined the faculty in 1978 and became director in 1990. During her tenure, Diegmann founded midwifery practices at three Newark-area hospitals and attended more than 5,000 births before retiring in 2016 after 38 years on faculty. Subsequent directors Joyce Hyatt and Ginette Lange have also made significant contributions to midwifery education and practice.

While celebrating its legacy of academic excellence spanning half a century, Julie Blumenfeld emphasized that there is still much work ahead to advance midwifery profession and expand access to care.

“I came to this program with very specific goals,” said Blumenfeld. “One was to provide excellent education for aspiring nurse-midwives; another was to grow and further diversify New Jersey's midwifery workforce.”

New Jersey currently has nearly 400 practicing midwives attending about 10 percent of all births in the state. Increasing these numbers is part of state strategies aimed at improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing racial disparities.

Recent awareness around maternal health inequities places New Jersey ranked 27th according to America’s Health Rankings. Black women are nearly seven times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes.

In response to these issues, state leaders are working towards expanding access to midwifery care due its proven positive outcomes such as lower rates cesarean births preterm births low-birth-weight infants higher rates spontaneous vaginal deliveries vaginal births after cesarean birth breastfeeding patient satisfaction during birthing process

First Lady Tammy Murphy launched Nurture New Jersey Strategic Plan in 2019 designed improve health outcomes mothers babies especially those color Among goals expanding practice building robust workforce pipeline

Blumenfeld founded New Jersey Midwifery Education Project with state funding backed by Gov Phil Murphy First Lady collaboration NJ Department Health project established initiatives including compensation support preceptors training students clinical settings research projects related education state-of-the-art simulation center student scholarship fund

“We know that states with more midwives see improved maternal health outcomes,” Blumenfeld added State-level funding part innovative strategies realized NJ dismantle inequities affecting many women birthing people Rutgers proud impactful work

To commemorate its anniversary Rutgers hosted celebratory reception recognizing Marsico leadership highlighted outstanding alumni launched fundraising campaign new scholarships Eight graduates honored Distinguished Alumni awards: Elaine Diegmann Shirley White Walker Kathy Gater Dawn Durain Susan Rutledge Stapleton Frances Ganges Viola Berkeyheiser MaryAnne Markowski Catherine McCabe

Scholarships critical expand workforce pipeline Blumenfeld told attendees Ashley Hannon recipient scholarship agreed funds lifted huge burden enabling focus meaningful volunteer positions underserved communities rather than paycheck driven choices

“Being able choose do work I love because feels meaningful honor privilege” Hannon said