Meet Our Certificated Nurse-Midwives!
Our team provides personalized healthcare and support to women of all ages and backgrounds. They are trained in the two disciplines of nursing and midwifery, and are certified by The American College of Nurse-Midwives. In Massachusetts, Nurse-Midwives are licensed as advanced practice nurses and are authorized to write prescriptions.
Our midwives, many of whom are bicultural and bilingual, provide complete care throughout your pregnancy, labor and birth, including prenatal physical exams; lab work; individualized teaching; treatment of common health problems, referrals for amniocentesis and ultrasound; and natural childbirth.
You don't have to be pregnant to see a midwife! The Cambridge Midwives also provide well-woman care including annual GYN exams and pap smears; family planning; preconceptual counseling; safe sex counseling, and diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Leslie Ludka, CNM, MSN
Director of Midwifery
Director of CHA Cambridge Birth Center
Midwifery Education/Training: Yale University
Nursing Education/Training: Boston University
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
I have been a certified nurse-midwife since 1991. It has been my great honor to care for women and their families on the islands of Molokai, Hawaii, Bermuda and Martha's Vineyard, MA and on Native American reservations in Arizona, Montana and South Dakota. For nearly ten years I was a clinician and Director of Midwifery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. Most recently I focused on policy and practice issues as Senior Practice Advisor at our national midwifery headquarters in Washington, DC. I'm thrilled to have returned home in June 2009 to join the amazing midwifery group here at CHA Cambridge Hospital and Birth Center.
The youngest of my 4 children was born at the Beverly Birth Center in 1982 and my first grandchild was welcomed into the world April, 2009 by the CHA Cambridge Midwifery practice. I live in Boston and spend my free time with family and friends.
Connie Breece, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: Yale University School of Nursing, Connecticut, MSN, Maternal Child Health, Nurse-Midwife
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
Since joining the Cambridge Midwives in 1988, I have served women at various office locations in the greater Boston area. I currently see patients at the Cambridge Birth Center. Prior to becoming a midwife, I was the Administrator/Teacher of an alternative girl's high school in Boston, and Director of Women's Education at MCI Framingham. I love my work as a midwife and teacher, and am particularly grateful for the chance to care for women from many different cultures and backgrounds. I am also a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and fluent in Spanish. I live in Jamaica Plain with my partner and my two beautiful daughters who teach me daily about the joys of being a parent.
Marylou Carr, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: Emory University
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
I have been working with women and families since 1987 first as a nurse on L&D and then as nurse-midwife, consultant and public health nurse. I have practiced in the US, Brazil and Mozambique. These experiences have provided me with the tools to care for women from all over the world. Two of my own children were born in foreign countries so I know first hand the cultural and linguistic challenges for women birthing in that context. Having spent 10 wonderful years in Brazil, I am very happy to be settled back into my home state of Massachusetts with my husband and 3 children. I feel privileged to once again work with women and families in this area and I also feel privileged to be part of the wonderful midwifery practice at Cambridge Hospital and Birth Center.
Phary Her, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: UMASS Amherst, University of Rhode Island
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
I emigrated to the US from Cambodia as a refugee, grew up in Rockland, MA and graduated from UMASS, Amherst with a BSN. I worked as a registered nurse in adult medical/surgical as well as labor and delivery.
I then decided to pursue midwifery and graduated from the University of Rhode Island with my MSN and certificate in Midwifery. I now see patients in the office at East Cambridge Health Center. My ability to speak Cambodian/Khmer allows me to care for the large Southeast Asian population in the Boston area. In my spare time, I enjoy the company of my family and outdoor activities.
Lara Holbrook, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: Yale University, Frontier School of Midwifery
and Family Nursing
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
Although a native of Washington, DC, I am now delighted to call Cambridge and the Cambridge Birth Center my home. I trained here as a student of the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in 2003-2004 and I joined the practice as a staff midwife in 2008. This is a wonderful place to be a midwife and to receive care.
I did my undergraduate studies in International Politics at Yale, with a particular focus on international development and human rights. I lived and worked in Zimbabwe in health education and curriculum development, where I learned that I was most interested in providing direct, culturally competent, woman- and family-centered care. Upon my return, I trained as a doula and went to nursing school at the University of Pennsylvania, then practiced in Rhode Island for several years. After my preceptorial here, I worked in a hospital and birth center practice in DC, a demonstration project in the US ward that at one time had the worst pregnancy, maternal, and neonatal outcomes in the country. That group has been able to confirm that midwifery care is not only appropriate for, but is particularly well-suited to, women at high social and economic risk. My interest in serving the needs of the underserved continues. In 2008, I volunteered as a midwife and midwife educator in Ghana and I intend to continue to work abroad as I am able.
In my leisure, I love to travel, sail, and run with a very silly athletic club. In addition to the above, I have lived in Sydney, New York City, Oakland, and Alexandria. I've been accused of being a nomad, but I believe I'm here to stay!
I'm grateful that you took this time to try to learn a bit more about me. I look forward to serving you and your family in the future.
Ellen Lapowsky, CNM, BSN
Education/Training: University of Arizona, MSN
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
I graduated from the University of Arizona Midwifery Program in 1985. It seems hard to believe that I have been a midwife for 25 years. I can honestly say that I still love my work. What I find most fulfilling is building lasting relationships with women and their families, and helping women to create the birth experience they desire. And of course, catching babies is still a thrill!
Cambridge Hospital hired me in 1992 as the Director of the Midwifery Service, a position that I held for 7 years. I am proud to be one of the founders of the Cambridge Birth Center, the Boston area's first urban out of hospital birth center. I am a strong believer in out of hospital birth and providing birth options.
Becoming a mother in 2001 after working as a midwife for so many years was an amazing experience. However, I struggled with breastfeeding. This was especially humbling because I had assisted new mothers to nurse for so long. I learned that life is not always as we expect. Since the birth of my son, I became a lactation consultant (IBCLC). I am now better able to help women who struggle as I did. I now work part time, which suits my life style, allowing me to be a midwife, and still have time to spend time with my son.
Heidi Lyle, CNM, MPH
I was born a midwife on the day my daughter was born in 1981. Surrounded by my loving husband and the midwives of North Shore Birth Center, I delivered my first child and knew that I must support birthing women and their families. I felt there should be a midwife on every corner. I became a midwife in 1995 and worked at Boston Medical Center for the next 14 years. I loved working with the diverse population at BMC, especially the teens. In 2009, I began working on the Navajo Indian Reservation in Chinle, Arizona. That experience re-taught me that birth is a natural event and family is an integral part of that formula.
Before becoming a midwife, I worked as a Labor & Delivery nurse at Cambridge Health Alliance. In 2010, I returned to CHA. I am delighted to be part of this wonderful group of experienced midwives and to work at a hospital that supports women's choices.
I have been married for many years and have three semi-launched children; Laurel, Daniel and Eric. We live in Ipswich with our dogs and cats. I enjoy cooking, camping (creative camp cooking) gardening, and travel.
Therese McMahan, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: MGH Institute of Health Professions;
University of Rhode Island
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
Since a very young age I was drawn to birth, and imagined this fascination would lead me to medicine. Over time my interest expanded to include all aspects of women’s health- issues affecting women throughout their lives, from adolescence to beyond child-bearing age. The focus became supporting women in what they were already doing to care for themselves, and empowering them to make positive healthy choices. I discovered Midwifery was a natural fit, but my path has been somewhat circuitous. Prior to becoming a midwife I was a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. I worked for the Indian Health Service on a reservation in Arizona. My family is here so with the birth of my first child I returned to Boston and worked at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. I loved working in the community where the women I care for live. Upon completing my Midwifery training I worked at Boston Medical Center honing practical skills in assisting women in the delivery of their babies and teaching physician residents . BMC was a busy and intense place and made me appreciate the importance of preserving the normalcy of birth while at the same time being comfortable with managing more high risk situations.
I have now in many ways come home. I grew up in Somerville and Cambridge and am excited to be living and working in my own community. I ride my bike to the hospital and walk to the Somerville Women’s Health Clinic. I catch babies at the hospital where my daughter was born and at the Birth Center. I love using my Spanish language skills and caring for a diverse group of women. I feel blessed to be working with such an exceptional, committed group of midwives. I continue to have a passion for birth and a calling to care for women across their life cycle.
Maureen McSwiggin, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: University of Rhode Island
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
I love being a midwife. I became a Registered Nurse at age 21, and quickly realized my passion for working with laboring women. I had the privilege of assisting with many births attended by all types of providers and felt the “calling.” Being well aware that all births do not go exactly as planned, I wanted to be in a position where I could help empower women during their journey to becoming strong confident mothers!
My many life experiences have helped prepare me to be at this exceptional midwifery practice. Being a lover of travel has allowed me to spend time in Central America where I stayed with a midwife in Nicaragua, learning the language while experiencing a rich culture. In Colorado, I spent time attending healing arts classes, and became certified in many types of massage as well as acupressure. I also have been a Reiki practitioner since 1999, and really enjoy blending Eastern and Western philosophies while caring for my patients. I have also been fortunate to be able to practice the art and science of midwifery in Chicago.
I recently joined the Cambridge Midwifery Group and am happy to be closer to my family. I look forward to learning and growing with my extraordinary colleagues while caring for the women and families of the Cambridge Health Alliance and Cambridge Birth Center community.
Joyce Nichols, CNM, MSN
Educational/Training: St Louis University School of Nursing, 1979 BSN: Georgetown University School of Nursing 1987 MSN Nurse-Midwifery.
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
My interest in midwifery began in nursing school when I witnessed a "natural" delivery with a woman using the then new Lamaze training. At that time, husbands were not allowed in the room unless they had the "Lamaze paper." I have since seen the evolution of women's health and maternity care run the gamut of totally "natural" with full family participation in all aspects of care, to the acceptance of modern technology and procedures and everything in between. Central to this has been family education and facilitating the family's desired birth experience, whether "natural" or high-tech.
Becoming a midwife has been a natural extension of labor and delivery nursing. I've worked with immigrant women in the Bronx, private patients in New England and am now happy to be with the Cambridge Midwives at the Birth Center and Cambridge Hospital. The midwives provide a wonderful combination of services and patient education for a culturally and philosophically diverse population. This is the best of both worlds.
Laurie Ososky, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: Columbia University; New England School of Homeopathy
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
Born at home, delivered by a local doctor in a small Pennsylvania town, I feel I was destined to become a midwife! But, it wasn't until much later that I studied midwifery and healing at Columbia University. As a certified nurse-midwife, I have delighted in the joy of attending births first at Quincy Hospital and now at the Cambridge Birth Center and Cambridge Hospital. I have studied and practiced homeopath and herbal formulary for our midwifery practice.
Kathryn Rowan, CNM, MSN
Education/Training: Yale University School of Nursing
Certification: ACNM Nurse-Midwife
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by pregnancy and birth. By the age of 8, I knew that I wanted to catch babies as a career. It was not until I studied abroad in my junior year of college, however, that I seriously considered a career as a midwife. After graduating from college, I became a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a birth doula. As a doula, I mostly attended births in a volunteer capacity, serving women who often had no other support. I was honored to attend each birth and my desire to become a midwife was strengthened. A year after I became a doula, I entered the Yale School of Nursing Midwifery Program. During my last rotation of midwifery school, I had the privilege of caring for women at the Cambridge Birth Center and Hospital. I was thrilled to be in a place that provided women with different options on how and where to give birth. I loved learning from the Cambridge midwives and feel very honored to have joined such a wonderful team.
When I am not working at Cambridge, I am often out on adventures with my husband and our dog, Sherlock. I can generally be found hiking up a mountain, kayaking down a river, or running around a field playing softball or ultimate frisbee.