Rutgers School of Nursing Magazine - Summer 2026

L E A D E R S H I P S POT L I GH T Champion for Mothers and Families O ver more than two decades, Julie Blumenfeld , DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, has emerged as a national force in midwifery—champi- oning expanded access to midwifery care, reshaping education, strength- ening the workforce, and advancing efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes while reducing health disparities. Blumenfeld, a clinical associate professor and the director of the nurse-midwifery program at Rutgers School of Nursing, is a fellow of both the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American Acad- emy of Nursing. Her multiple distinctions also include the Dorothea M. Lang Pioneer Award for 2026. As the American Col- lege of Nurse-Midwives Foundation’s highest honor, the Lang award recog- nizes “visionary leadership in advanc- ing midwifery worldwide.” At Rutgers, Blumenfeld prepares the next generation of midwives, strength- ening the workforce pipeline. Under her leadership, the midwifery pro- gram—ranked No. 5 nationally by U.S. News & World Report—offers master’s and doctor of nursing practice degrees, along with a post-master’s certificate. Through the Pathway to Mid- wifery, students can seamlessly progress from a second-de- gree bachelor’s in nursing to a master’s in midwifery. “Educating future midwives is an incredible opportunity to maximize access to a unique model of care,” Blu- menfeld says. “The midwifery model is foundationally patient-centered, relationship-based care. In the birth setting, we avoid intervention unless needed for the wellbeing of the preg- nant person and their fetus.” Blumenfeld’s state-level leader- ship includes founding the New Jersey Midwifery Education Project, launched in 2019 with state funding backed by then-Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health. “We know that states with more midwives have improved maternal health outcomes,” Blumenfeld says. “State funding for midwifery education is an innovative strategy to dismantle 10 RUTGERS NURSING • SUMMER 2026