In this episode, Kristin Stovern, APRN-C, MSN, CNM, FACNM, interviews Elisabeth Howard, PhD, CNM, FACNM. Dr. Howard is the director of the Academic Division of Midwifery at Women and Infants Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. They explore Dr. Howard’s passion for empowering women and families to birth in the way they desire and her team-based approach to healthcare, in addition to her efforts to rectify inequities in care. Dr. Howard reflects on the changes she has observed in healthcare since beginning her midwifery practice in 1991, including a decline in episiotomies and a focus on quality measures. They also address the current state of healthcare in the United States, and the significance of collaboration and advocacy to bring about change.
Stovern and Dr. Howard delve into the significance of education and collaboration in preventing poor maternal outcomes, particularly given the increasing number of comorbidities, maternal deserts, and restricted reproductive rights. They also discuss mental health as a major driver of preventable mortality, and highlight the availability of The Women’s Day Hospital for behavioral health, which has adapted to provide virtual panels and support for pregnant women during the pandemic. They underscore the importance of empowering women in healthcare, especially in obstetrics, and how this can have a ripple effect on healthcare overall.
Dr. Howard’s Bio:
Elisabeth Howard, CNM, Ph.D., FACNM (Liz) is Director of Midwifery at Women and Infants Hospital RI. She has been a CNM for 32cyears and is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alpert Medical School, Brown University. She received her BA in Sociology from William Smith College, her MSN from Yale University, and her PhD in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. She is a Watson Caring Science Institute Senior Scholar. She has conducted research on physiologic birth, reproductive decision making. quality of life, and interprofessional education. She has served as the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) representative to the National Quality Forum and as the project manager for Women and Infants quality improvement project with the Healthy Birth Initiative: Reducing Primary Cesarean Project, the multi-hospital nation-wide quality learning collaborative. She is the contributing editor for the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing’s Clinical Expert Column, associate editor of the book Obstetric Triage Protocols, and author over 40 peer reviewed publications.