Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, president of Frontier Nursing University, has been named president-elect of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). ACNM is the professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. With roots dating to 1929, ACNM is the oldest women’s health care organization in the United States. The organization’s elected leaders play an important role in guiding the midwifery profession.   

Stone will work alongside the current ACNM president for one year and officially begin her term as president after the ACNM 63rd Annual Meeting in Savannah, Ga., in May 2018. Stone has been active in ACNM for nearly 25 years. She has also served for more than 10 years with the ACNM’s collaborative partner, the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME), and as chair of ACME’s Board of Commissioners for four years. As president, she will be responsible for establishing and carrying out the goals and objectives of ACNM.

“Our goal is to educate health care providers and the public about the value of midwifery, and the positive outcomes that result from our evidence-based practice,” said Stone. “Midwives are increasingly important as a solution to the impending shortage of obstetrical providers. As president of ACNM, my focus will be on reducing legislative barriers for midwifery practice, continuing to establish effective collaborative relationships with other health care providers and developing strategies to dramatically increase and diversify the midwifery workforce.”

Stone has worked in the field of reproductive health care for women for over 30 years. She is an early graduate of Frontier Nursing University’s (FNU) distance education nurse-midwifery program and practiced full scope midwifery care for several years. Believing that having more nurse-midwives would ultimately serve the goal of improved health care outcomes for women, she shifted her focus to the education of nurse-midwives. She has served as president of FNU for the last 16 years. During this time, the University has grown from 200 students to the current enrollment of nearly 2,000 students. Stone continues in the role of FNU president with a goal of improving health care for families through increasing the number of well-prepared nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Susan Stone to the Board of Directors as ACNM’s president-elect in May. Sue brings expertise and vision to these roles,  particularly in the areas of Board management and strategic financial development which will serve the members of ACNM very well,” said ACNM President Lisa Kane Low PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “We are fortunate to have her, and I look forward to our collaboration over this next year as she prepares to assume the role of president.”

Other Frontier Nursing University faculty who are also newly elected officers include Kathleen Moriarty, CNM, PhD, RN, CAFCI, FACNM, the new Region IV Representative, and Charlotte Morris, CNM, DNP, one of two elected new Nominating Committee members.  Dr. Moriarty has been a member of ACNM since 1992 and a midwife for more than 20 years. She was re-elected to a second term to serve as ACNM Region II Representative. Dr. Morris serves as course faculty at FNU. She has been a midwife for more than 30 years and a member of the Midwives of Color Committee (MOCC) since 1997.  

Other FNU faculty already serving in ACNM officer roles include the DNP Director, Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, CPC, FACNM, an ACNM Board team member and the Associate Dean of Midwifery and Women’s Health Tonya Nicholson, DNP, CNM, WHNP-B, FACNM, an ACNM Nominating Committee member. FNU Board of Directors member Kerri Schuiling PhD, CNM, NP-BC, also serves as an ACNM Nominating Committee member.

About Frontier Nursing University:

FNU is passionate about educating nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners to serve women and families in all communities, especially rural and underserved areas. FNU offers graduate Nurse-Midwifery and Nurse-Practitioner distance education programs that can be pursued full- or part-time with the student’s home community serving as the classroom.  Degrees and options offered include Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Post-Graduate Certificates. To learn more about FNU and the programs and degrees offered, please visit Frontier.edu.

About the American College of Nurse-Midwives:

The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) is the professional association that represents certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) in the United States. With roots dating to 1929, ACNM sets the standard for excellence in midwifery education and practice in the United States and strengthens the capacity of midwives in developing countries. Members are primary care providers for women throughout the lifespan, with a special emphasis on pregnancy, childbirth, and gynecologic and reproductive health.Learn more at acnm.org.