Ellen decided to become a midwife after first studying English literature and poetry and working as an educator. After seeing how hard it was to find safe, respectful care during her first pregnancy, she was lucky enough to stumble upon midwifery care. After that powerful experience, Ellen realized that she was called to midwifery and helping others navigate their reproductive health and well-being through a lens of equity and evidence based care.

She became a doula, then slowly made her way through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs to become a labor and delivery nurse, a midwife and professor of midwifery. She is a fellow of the American College of Nurse Midwives and a board member of Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health.

Ellen’s midwifery practice centers birthing people and their chosen communities, helping them make decisions for themselves with nurturing guidance and support.