Midwifery Education Program Objectives and Philosophy

The purpose of the Baystate Midwifery Education Program is to prepare competent clinicians who:

1. are eligible to take the American Midwifery Certification Board, Inc. (AMCB) examination.
2. are committed to providing equitable care with a particular emphasis on meeting the heath care needs of diverse populations.
3. will promote health equity through practice and involvement in community and professional activities. 

Program Objectives

As a graduate of the Baystate Midwifery Education Program, you will be able to:

1. Utilize a family-centered approach in accordance with the management framework process, principles and skills to:
2. Provide relevant patient education to foster health promotion and disease prevention in an understandable and culturally appropriate format.
3. Assume responsibility for your own professional growth and for fostering the professional growth of other midwives.
4. Work effectively with diverse populations.
5. Work to reduce health disparities using a social justice framework.
6. Develop and evaluate midwifery services targeted to improve health care.

Review our Course of Study

Program Goals

1. Enhance the diversity of the midwifery workforce
2. Recruit, develop, and maintain exceptional, diverse faculty and preceptors
3. Utilize a variety of teaching methods to fully engage learners
4. Utilize a variety of evaluation methods to assess student learning.
5. Promote scholarly activity among faculty
6. Promote excellence in clinical care among faculty
7. Develop excellence in evidence based clinical care among students.
8. Ensure fiscal stability
9. Maintain 100% pass rate on AMCB certification exam for all graduates

Our Philosophy

The faculty and staff of the Division of Midwifery and Community Health, in congruence with the philosophy of UMass Chan Medical School, believe that formal education represents only a part of the learning continuum, and that the primary aim of midwifery education is to provide an experience that will enable students to become caring, knowledgeable, and competent clinicians.

The curriculum is designed to be challenging and to stimulate active learning, logical analysis, and critical thinking, rather than rote learning. While the faculty provide educational opportunities, the student is responsible for their own education and learning both while in school and after graduation. The faculty and staff believe students learn best in an environment that recognizes individual strengths; motivates; and fosters individual growth and self-confidence.

We honor midwifery’s long history caring for diverse and marginalized populations and strive to educate midwives who will continue this commitment. We recognize diversity and inclusion in midwifery education is necessary for effectively addressing the needs all communities.

We also fully embrace the philosophy of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

In addition, we adhere to Baystate Health's mission to improve the health of the people in our communities every day with quality and compassion.

Commitment to Social Justice Work

The Baystate Midwifery Education Program is committed to standing up against racism and discrimination.

We are committed to providing an environment in which all students are respected for the individual differences and varied backgrounds they bring to their education. We welcome students regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, language preference, religious belief, or immigration status.

We are also committed to fostering a culture of equity, inclusion, sensitivity, humility, support, and respect for all students, faculty, staff, patients and their families. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia have no place in our education program or in the larger community of Baystate Medical Center. There will be opportunities throughout the program to engage in education on the topics of racism, bias, and its detrimental effects on health.

Baystate Midwifery Education Program is part of the larger Baystate Health community, and working together, we can decrease disparities in the lives of our patients, students and colleagues of color.