Rutgers School of Nursing Magazine - Summer 2024

June 24, 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the School of Nursing’s nurse- midwifery education program. As the only such program in New Jersey, it has long served as a statewide model, training many generations of nurse- midwives to offer women quality care before, during, and after childbirth. Through the years, increasing numbers of women have turned to nurse-mid- wives for their maternity care, embracing a model that stresses wellness and offers good outcomes. In 1998, there were 6,000 certified nurse-midwives in the U.S. Today, some 14,000 midwives practice in hospitals, clinics, and birth- ing centers across the country. Despite this growth, midwifery in the U.S. is underutilized. Many studies show that increasing access to midwives can improve equity and outcomes. Increas- ing such access is definitely on the School of Nursing’s agenda, particularly in light of the state’s high maternal morbidity and mortality rates, says program director Julie Blumenfeld, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, clinical assistant pro- fessor and director of the school’s nurse-midwifery and dual nurse-midwifery/ women’s health nurse practitioner programs. “There is ample evidence that midwives are part of the solution to the maternity-care crisis,’’ she notes. To celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary, a networking and awards reception was held on May 23 in Newark. The school presented awards to several distinguished alumni. The reception also marked the launch of a scholarship fund campaign aimed at accelerating the growth and diversity of the midwifery workforce. The fund will enable the school to train a greater number of nurse-midwives and expand access to high-quality, cost-effective, reproductive and perinatal health care throughout the state. The nurse-midwifery education program was founded by nurse-midwife Teresa Marsico, who served for many years as the program’s first director. She passed away in 2007, bequeathing $250,000 to the school for scholarship funds. Through the years, the program transitioned from a one-year certificate course to a comprehensive program educating students in both midwifery and women’s health. Today, Rutger’s midwifery students can earn a DNP, post-master’s certificate, or MSN degree. The school also offers a dual-track DNP program combining specialization in nurse-mid- wifery and women’s health. For more information on giving to the scholarship fund or other School of Nursing initiatives, contact Bernadette McGeever, director of development, at bernadette.mcgeever@rutgersfoundation.org or 610-416-1998. $2.6 Million Primary Care Training Grant Graduates its First Cohort The Rutgers University Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (RU-ANEW) program marked an exciting milestone as its first cohort of students completed the program and graduated this May from Rutgers School of Nursing. Fourteen advanced practice nursing students from various specialty tracks completed the immersive, year-long program, launched in 2023. RU-ANEW, funded by a $2.6 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to increase the number of primary care nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives trained to provide care in underserved communities. Eligible students include those in nurse-midwifery, primary care, pediatrics, adult-gerontology, family, women’s health, or psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner programs. Margaret Quinn, DNP, CPNP, CNE, a clinical associate professor and specialty director (pictured left), is the project leader. The project team also includes Caroline Dorsen, PhD, FNP-BC, professor and associate dean for clinical partnerships; Jeffrey Kwong, DNP, MPH, AGPCNP- BC, FAANP, FAAN, professor; and Dani Scarmozzino, BS-BA, MS-HEA, administrator for academic support services. For more information, contact Dani Scarmozzino at  dani.scarmozzino@rutgers.edu. Nurse-Midwifery Education Program Turns 50 Elaine Diegmann, a member of the midwifer y program’s first graduating class (1974) and former professor and program director, attended more than 5,000 bir ths throughout her career. n R U T G E R S N U R S I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 2 4 2 / 3