Standing on the Shoulders of Giants with Elizabeth Brandeis, President, Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM)

Today, your host Ellen Gardner, Communications and Marketing at HIROC, speaks with Elizabeth Brandeis, President of the Board of the Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM).   For Elizabeth, the road to becoming a midwife started with her own personal experience with midwifery care, during the birth of her daughter 25 years ago. Now, on the 25th anniversary of regulated midwifery in Ontario, she looks back on where we've been and where we are headed.   Elizabeth speaks to the long history of midwifery in Ontario. As President of the Board of the AOM, she shares her view on the critical role the AOM has played in developing a model of care that promotes partnership and informed choice.   Key Takeaways: [1:18] The unique history of midwifery in Ontario [2:27] The resurgence of Indigenous midwifery in Ontario [3:21] Funding for Indigenous midwives within the Ontario midwifery program [4:29] Elizabeth's own experience with midwifery care and her exposure to the model and the issues that the newly-regulated profession was facing at the time [7:00] How the midwifery model can be applied to other aspects of the healthcare system (palliative care, senior care, acute care) [9:30] Championing pay equity for midwives and how it sets a precedence for gender equity legislation [14:00] The unpredictability of midwifery as a constant challenge (along with a lack of sleep) [15:02] How the Ontario model blends beneficial elements of midwifery from different systems across the world [18:15] The current misconceptions around what midwives do, with a view toward shifting these misconceptions in the future [19:50] Midwives make a difference because they create true partnership and promote informed choice with their clients [23:40] Elizabeth's mentors – the giants whose shoulders she stands on [27:05] Transforming the view of midwives as leaders in healthcare [28:09] Who runs the world – girls, a song that motivates Elizabeth   Mentioned in this Episode: Six Nations Birthing Centre Jay MacGillivray Elizabeth Allemang Katrina Kilroy Vicki Van Wagner Toronto Birth Centre National Aboriginal Council of Midwives (NACM)   Listen to more interviews with Healthcare Leaders at HIROC.com Follow us on Twitter, and listen on iTunes and Google Play Music. Email us at [email protected].