From maternal health to menopause, women face gaps in care. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is addressing this through its new Nurse-Midwifery Program.
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Dominique Gómez DuBois, Ph.D., APRN, CNM
Assistant Director, Nurse-Midwifery Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing
Recent advances have furthered our understanding of women’s healthcare in the United States, but access remains an urgent concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. maternal mortality rate remains high compared to other developed countries, a crisis compounded by a shrinking obstetric workforce.
Roughly 1.3 million women enter menopause each year, yet many struggle to find appropriate care. Add to this the disproportionate burdens of anxiety, depression, and chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease that women face — coupled with a shortage of primary care providers — and the need for comprehensive, accessible care becomes clear.
Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) are part of the solution. CNMs are nurses who return to graduate school to gain skills for providing care across the lifespan, from adolescence through menopause and beyond. Their holistic approach centers the woman as a partner in her care.
CNMs practice in a variety of public and private settings, including hospitals, clinics, and birth centers. Their flexibility in practice-setting allows them to meet patients where they are, easing the burden of an overextended system.
In Arkansas, the maternal mortality rate underscores the need for new solutions. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is striving to address that need by launching a nurse-midwifery program for training future providers. The 2.5-year program, which prepares students to sit for their national boards upon graduation, welcomed its inaugural cohort this fall. UAMS sees this as a pivotal step toward reshaping women’s health across the state of Arkansas and beyond, adding to the growing ranks of CNMs who are meeting a rapidly expanding need.
