2020 WHO Year of the Midwife: Interview with GW Director of Midwifery, Tina Johnson

Maria Christina “Tina” Johnson, CNM, MS, FACNM, joined The GW Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA) in January of 2018. She is Director of Midwifery and provides administrative, educational and clinical leadership for the Midwifery Division within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to joining GW MFA, she was Director of Midwifery Practice, Education and Global Outreach at the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), the professional association representing certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives in the U.S. In her role at ACNM, she developed national midwifery and women’s health policy, practice and educational standards and legislation. She is a published author, peer reviewer for the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, and has presented internationally on clinical and professional issues. She was honored for her contributions to midwifery and inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives in 2016. Ms. Johnson is an expert in evidence-based maternity and women’s health care and research, quality improvement, health policy and workforce, physiologic birth and cesarean prevention, and collaborative practice and education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Virginia Tech in 1985, a nursing diploma from Bronson Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1996, and a master of science in nurse midwifery from Stony Brook University in 1999. She practiced in a freestanding, accredited birth center in Baltimore, providing personalized midwifery care in a homelike environment. She went on to serve as the founding director of midwifery services at Maryland General Hospital, developing a collaborative model where midwives, physicians and nurses worked alongside and learned from one another to care for women. Ms. Johnson is dedicated to promoting equitable access to optimal health care for all women throughout the lifespan, promoting innovative models of collaborative education and practice, and advancing the profession of midwifery. She is a board member for the Developing Families Center in DC.

1.      What led you to this career?

My mother was given chloroform, was unconscious, and my father was not allowed in the delivery room during my birth in 1964. No one remembers my birth story. Mom remembered seeing me for the first time, and the pain of her episiotomy. I wanted a different experience, low intervention, so I sought the care of a midwife, who was the only one in my area in the 1980s. She was 75 miles away and I went to her for my first 3 births, and then had my fourth baby at home. My experience was amazing, so I decided that this was something I would do once my kids were a bit older. No one should have to drive that far for midwifery care. We need more midwives!

2.      What do you enjoy most about work?

I love connecting with clients and families, and providing education and support for wellness. I love the look on new parents’ faces when the see their babies for the first time. I love working with my wonderful midwife colleagues.

3.      If you are a parent, how was your birth and postpartum?

My experience was awesome. I was blessed to have four spontaneous, physiologic births without unnecessary interventions, surrounded by my family. I went home shortly after (or was already home!), and was supported afterwards with breastfeeding.

4.      What resources would you want parents to have?

Parents need access to information about all options for their pregnancy and birth experience. They need to be listened to and respected, and they need help in the postpartum period.

5.  What is one unique thing about your Midwife/ OB practice that your patients love? 

Our clients love our diverse midwifery group and the access we’re able to provide to low intervention birth and choices in a hospital setting. They love our collaboration with our physician and nursing colleagues.

6.  What's one thing you think the world needs to do to improve the lives of new parents (or people living in our service area)?

The world needs to promote access to midwifery care and holistic support for all families, in their own neighborhoods.

7.   What do you think is the hardest part of expecting a baby or becoming a parent?

There is no way to anticipate the intensity of new parenthood, from the incredible transition that both the birthing mother and the baby endure immediately postpartum, to the ongoing evolution, growth and needs of the family. They need support and information and the love of their village to get through it!

8.  What products or services do you personally love?

I love yoga, spin and massage.

9.  How do you start each day?

I get up, exercise and walk to work. I’m lucky to live in a vibrant neighborhood so close to work.

10.  What's your favorite thing to do in the DMV?

There are so many natural wonders and historic places in this area, so I love getting out and exploring.

11.  What do you want people to know about WHO’s Year of the Midwife and/or Black Maternal Health Week in 2020?

Midwives are the front line and backbone of care for new families around the globe, and are critical for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, and improving newborn health. Black women suffer intolerable levels of morbidity and mortality at rates 3-4 times higher than other groups. This must end. We know that access to quality, skilled midwifery care can meet the vast majority of the world’s maternal-newborn needs. Governments and communities need to ensure that every neighborhood around the globe has access to midwives. Midwives are key to the health of the world – after all, what is more important than birth? Birth affects 100% of all people - every human is born.