"Building on my experience as a midwife, helping people have babies, I am now focusing on midwifing people through another wonderful and powerful life transition: menopause!"

Susan Kamin, CNM, MSN, MPH, CSC

When I graduated college as a psychology major, I was planning on a career working with domestic violence survivors. Shortly after graduation, I discovered midwifery and knew that was a better career path for me. I had the opportunity to work with midwives in Israel, Europe, and Boston and I learned from them about the scope of midwifery care through the lifespan. I was drawn to the holistic foundation of midwifery which places equal importance on spiritual, emotional, and physical health. I loved how the midwives I met gave care to their clients, their families, and the community with respect, equity, and humility.

I view midwifery as a form of activism. Racial inequity and a lack of universal health care coverage for all leads to poor health outcomes. My goal is to offer inclusive, accessible, and evidence-based health care following the rich tradition of midwifery.

In the years I have been practicing,  I have worked in hospitals and clinics in Boston, New York City, and Maine, and have attended over 1,000 births. I have also worked as a volunteer midwife in Guatemala, Haiti, and Mississippi.

As I moved through my career and my life, I began to both personally and professionally experience health care injustice that many people face as they age. Despite working and spending most of my waking hours in healthcare environments, menopause was never discussed and I had to navigate the process on my own, which means I got no care. I do not want other people to have to experience this. I was then inspired to pivot my career from catching babies to delivering holistic midlife and menopause care.

Education:

• Simmons College, BA in Psychology, 1978-1982

• MGH Institute of Health Professions, RN/MSN, Women’s Health Clinical Specialist, and Nurse Practitioner, 1984-1987

• Boston University School of Public Health Nurse-Midwifery Program, CNM/MPH, 1993-1995

• University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program, 2018-2019

• Herman and Wallace Pelvic Floor Level 1, 2019

• Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Course, 2019

• Hormone Advanced Practice Module, The Institute for Functional Medicine, 2020

• GI Advanced Practice Module, The Institute for Functional Medicine, 2021

Professional Memberships:

• American Academy of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists

• The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health

• Maine Nurse Practitioners Association

• National Nurses United

• North American Menopause Society