About the Midwives


All midwives are registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario. The college is the regulatory body, which sets professional standards and ensures quality of services.


Jane Erdman R.N., B.Sc., B.H.Sc., R.M.

Jane graduated from Conestoga College's nursing program in 1977. She brings with her 17 years experience as a critical care nurse, specializing in cardiovascular nursing. Jane obtained a B.Sc. in Biology in 1989 followed by a B.H.Sc. in Midwifery from Ryerson. She has been a preceptor for the Midwifery Education Programme since 1998.

Jane was drawn to midwifery by a desire to have more autonomy and responsibility in her professional life. Midwifery's focus on non-authoritarian relationship, self-responsibility and its esteem for women meshes with her personal philosophy and values. "After years of nursing, it is a pleasure to work with clients who are well and to focus on prevention of problems".


Marie Hatherall B.A.Sc, B.H.Sc. R.M.

Marie graduated with a B.A.Sc. in Child Studies from the University of Guelph in 1977. She has been passionately interested in pregnancy and birth since her first child was born in 1980. Since that time, she has been involved in birth alternatives in London, as a consumer, a trained childbirth educator and a doula. Marie worked as a Parent-Infant Therapist at C.P.R.I from 1989-1996. In 1999 she completed a B.H.Sc. in Midwifery from Ryerson.


Elana Johnson R.M.

Elana has been active as a midwife and educator for over 22 years. She is a graduate of the Michener Midwifery Programme. Elana established a midwifery practice in London in 1985, which has grown into Womancare Midwives.

Elana's experience includes sitting on the Board of Directors of the Association of Ontario Midwives, serving as President of the Association in both in 1987/88 and since April of 2004. She is the past coordinator of the Canadian Confederation of Midwives, and has participated on committees such as the Interim Regulatory Council for Midwives, Transition Council of Midwives, and College of Midwives. In addition Elana acted as Head Midwife for London Health Sciences Centre from 1996-2003.

She has also designed curriculae and taught education programmes in Labour Support and Advocacy, Childbirth Preparation, and the History of Midwifery in Ontario.


Samantha Schuster B.H.Sc. (Nursing), B.H.Sc, R.M.

Samantha Graduated from the University of Windsor in 1987. Her degree in nursing lead her to a variety of experiences in urban medical centres, maternal child care work in West Africa as well as community nursing in remote and isolated Native and Inuit communities. Following this, in 1992 she obtained a Diploma in Community and Outpost Nursing from Dalhousie University. Her experience with midwifery began in 1995 when she started the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University. She graduated in 1998 and since that time has practiced with an established group of midwives in the Whitby-Oshawa area, travelled overseas and worked at the Rankin Inlet birthing centre.

"I believe midwifery is 'good work'. Birth and the power of women during their childbearing years continually amaze me. I am very committed to the model of midwifery care that emphasizes the central role women play in the process of receiving midwifery care".


Nicole Versaevel BSW, BHSc., R.M.

Nicole is a graduate of Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) from the University of Western Ontario. An apprenticeship with a Missionary midwife in Haiti in 1997 confirmed her decision to pursue a career in midwifery. Nicole received a Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery) from McMaster University 2001. Her training included an international elective placement in Scotland. Nicole has written an article that was published in the AOM Journal in 2002. She is currently working with the Association of Ontario Midwives as a researcher investigating clinical practice guideline development. Nicole is interested in breastfeeding education and participates on a breastfeeding committee.

"I am committed to empowering women to make choices about their health and lives and I feel that women have been the best teachers I have had throughout my learning process about birth".


Katherine Wallace BHSc (Nursing), BHSc, R.M.

Katherine graduated from Nursing in 1992. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Women's College Hospital providing Sexual Assault Care from 1992 to 1997. Her background has focused largely on the issue of violence against women. Working from this woman-centered approach furthered her interest in midwifery. She received a Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery in 2002. Katherine is a past Associate Editor of the Association of Ontario Journal and is currently a preceptor for the midwifery education program. She currently sits on the Postpartum Depression Coalition for London and Middlesex. Katherine views pregnancy, labour and birth as a powerful and meaningful time in a woman's life, which embodies strength and creativity.


Elizabeth Vander Heide B.Sc., B.H.Sc., R.M.

Elizabeth graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery degree in 2005. Prior to that Elizabeth had graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 from Calvin College. Elizabeth's desire to become a midwife was driven by the midwifery philosophies of continuity of care, informed choice and choice of birthplace. It was important to her that the women she cares for are receiving holistic care and being educated and given the opportunity to be the primary decision makers for their care.


Binh Huynh, B.H.Sc., R.M.

Binh graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences Degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2001. She believes in a wholistic approach to health care and the important role individuals have in defining and achieving wellness in their lives. This led her to enroll in the Midwifery Program at Laurentian University. During her midwifery training, Binh has provided individualized care to families in both Sudbury and London.

Prior to joining the team at Womancare, she enjoyed the challenges of rural practice as a midwife working in Eastern Ontario. It is a joy for Binh to be once again working closely with the families in London---a community she considers home.


Carly Griffith BHSC, R.M.

Carly came upon midwifery at a young age and it has been her career path ever since. Ingrained with the strong principles of feminism and holistic health care from her family, midwifery seemed the perfect choice.

After a year of studying Humanities at McMaster University, with a focus on women's issues and languages, she began the midwifery program at McMaster. Throughout the program, Carly spent her clinical placements in urban and suburban communities throughout South-Western Ontario and spent five weeks in Brisbane, Australia working with at-risk women and young mothers in an urban development program.

"There is nothing more gratifying to me than seeing a woman discover her strength after a birth, and every birth teaches me something new and amazing. I feel so lucky to work in this field."


Sara Chambers B.H.Sc., R.M.

Sara is a graduate of the Midwifery Education Programme at Ryerson University in Toronto. She completed her midwifery training in the GTA. For her elective clinical placement, Sara spent time in Iqaluit, Nunavut attending births and providing prenatal care. Prior to becoming a midwife, Sara attended births as a doula. In addition to her clinical experience, Sara has worked for the Ontario Midwifery Program at the Ministry of Health, and the Ontario Maternity Care Expert Panel.

Sara is committed to providing compassionate, woman-centered care based on the principles of midwifery care, including informed choice. She believes in giving women all the information available to help them make choices in pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum. She is inspired by women's strength and the diversity of their choices.

"My goal as a midwife is to help women have positive pregnancy and birth experiences and to feel their own ability in the process. I feel honoured to be able to work with women and their families doing something I love."


Annette Rudel B.A., B.H.Sc., R.M.

Annette is a graduate of the Ryerson Midwifery Education Program. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto with a major in Women's Studies. Her midwifery training brought her to London where she has had an opportunity to work with a diverse group of women in both urban and rural settings. During her midwifery education, Annette focused some of her learning on increasing her awareness of the history and culture of First Nations Peoples. Annette also has a particular interest in substance abuse in pregnancy and in supporting breastfeeding for new mothers.

"I am excited to be working in a field that is founded on principles that promote humanity and equality. I believe that pregnancy and birth are powerful, life-changing events for a woman and her family. The midwifery model of care supports women in fulfilling their unique hopes and dreams on the path to motherhood. As midwives we strive to make this journey positive and meaningful."


Aimee Fehlner, B.Sc, B.H.Sc, R.M

Aimee graduated with her Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery from McMaster University in 2007 and has worked as a midwife in Toronto since graduation. During her student midwifery placements, she had clinical experiences in London, Ottawa Valley and Toronto. Aimee also has a degree in Kinesiology from the University of Waterloo. She has experience working in chiropractic and physiotherapy clinics as a Kinesiologist. She also spent several years in a community called L'Arche supporting adults with developmental disabilities.


THE ADMINISTRATION

Wendy Rush

Wendy brings with her experience from many positions over the years in the field of social work, including working at Bethesda Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, and Rehabilitation Services of Canada. In addition she has worked for 10 years with the Addiction Research Foundation in an administrative capacity, as well as Office Manager for the Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) and the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline. Wendy joined Womancare Midwives as the office administrator in 2002. Wendy feels that she has learned a lot in this position and enjoys being surrounded by young clients who are at a happy stage in their lives. "And I even get paid to hold babies! How good is that?"


Leslie Shipp

Leslie has worked at Womancare since 2002 in the role of Adminstrative Assistant. She plays an important role in the "behind the scenes" work of the functioning of the office. You can usually find her at her desk and on the phone! Leslie's education includes a Diploma in Travel and Tourism. Her background also includes Doula training and she is currently a member of Birth Positive. When she is not at work she is the mother of two small boys. Having received midwifery care herself, she understands the impact that the midwife/client relationship can have on one's birth experience.