KAREN JEFFERSON

Karen Jefferson, DM, CM, FACNM is the Director of Professional Practice and Policy for the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the professional association for certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives. She was formerly the Program Coordinator for the Doctorate in Midwifery at Thomas Jefferson University. For 17 years she co-owned a private midwifery practice in New York City, attending births in both home and hospital. A State University of New York-Downstate graduate, Dr. Jefferson is a former member of the board of directors of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the past president of the New York State Association of Licensed Midwives. Her advocacy work helped pass two major midwifery bills in NY, and she is now working to support licensure for certified midwives in all 50 states. Her scholarly focus is on strengthening midwifery associations as well as changing public policy surrounding licensure and regulation of midwives in the U.S. She is a  founding board member and treasurer of FAHM.