Division of Global Engagement at the 2019 ACNM Annual Meeting

“Everything DGE” was amazing at the 2019 Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Just ask Division of Global Engagement (DGE) volunteers who not only attended sessions, but had great fun volunteering at the Silent Auction.

The numerous education and research sessions that focused on global work were of high quality and well attended, thanks to the hard-working members of the Program Committee including Jane Dyer, DGE Education Committee Chair, Nicole Warren, DOR DGE Liaison, and all of the wonderful presenters.

Many new faces attended the DGE Open Meeting which explained DGE and encouraged interested attendees to participate in globally focused sessions and activities. DGE Chair, Robyn Churchill, announced the ACNM Global Health Competencies and Skills for Midwives and discussed the future of global work for midwives.

The Reception and Silent Auction was a rousing success, thanks to the hard work of all the volunteers, especially DGE’s Program Planning Chair, Debbie Price who’s efforts led to over 80 treasures being donated resulting in more than $5,000 being raised! Because of the record setting amount, DGE is able to fully support the 2020 Pedersen Award, which sponsors an international midwife’s attendance at the ACNM Annual Meeting. In addition to generously supporting DGE’s efforts, attendees were able to indulge in tasty treats and a cash bar while networking with representatives from six global health organizations and chatting with other midwives interested in global health.

At the Awards Dinner, global health was again in the limelight when the Hattie Award went to a very surprised Deborah Armbruster. The Hattie is given annually to a member who has been certified for at least 10 years and has made continual outstanding or historically significant contributions to midwifery, ACNM, or maternal child health.

Debbie Armbruster, CNM., MPH, FACNM, was recognized for her work in the global public health arena. As Senior Maternal and Newborn Health Advisor at USAID, she has focused intense effort on ensuring the supply of drugs and equipment critically needed for safe maternity services. She has directed the Bill and Melinda Gates-funded Oxytocin Project and led the way in global advocacy for hemorrhage prevention with the USAID-funded Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage Initiative. In Mali, she was responsible, with Bonnie Pedersen, for ACNM’s work on the education of traditional birth attendants, and with Lynn Sibley, for the development of the ACNM Home-Based Life Saving Skills program. As a sought-after global health consultant, she has worked with the International Confederation of Midwives, the International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization, ministries of health, local implementing partners, and schools of midwifery globally. There may be few childbearing women in this world, especially among those in underdeveloped countries, who have not benefited in some way from at least one of her many projects and efforts.

Plan to join the Division of Global Engagement at the 2020 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX!